Croatia coach Igor Stimac has implored his team's fans to not let history overshadow their 2014 World Cup qualifier with Serbia on Friday.
Stimac's plea —
Croatia coach Igor Stimac has implored his team's fans to not let history overshadow their 2014 World Cup qualifier with Serbia on Friday.
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Sinisa Mihajlovic played for Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2003 and he was on the pitch during the team's matches with Croatia in 1999. Mihajlovic wants both teams to put the war behind them and look to the future.
Links to the past —
Sinisa Mihajlovic played for Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2003 and he was on the pitch during the team's matches with Croatia in 1999. Mihajlovic wants both teams to put the war behind them and look to the future.
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Croatia's leading star is Luka Modric, the Real Madrid playmaker who joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2012.
Marvellous Modric —
Croatia's leading star is Luka Modric, the Real Madrid playmaker who joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2012.
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Serbia's captain is Branislav Ivanovic, the defender who was part of Chelsea's victorious Champions League campaign last season.
Branislav's brawn —
Serbia's captain is Branislav Ivanovic, the defender who was part of Chelsea's victorious Champions League campaign last season.
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The Maksimir Stadium in the Croatian capital city of Zagreb will be the venue for Friday's match. It is the home of Dinamo Zagreb, who reached the group stage of this season's European Champions League.
Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb —
The Maksimir Stadium in the Croatian capital city of Zagreb will be the venue for Friday's match. It is the home of Dinamo Zagreb, who reached the group stage of this season's European Champions League.
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Croatia were fined $99,000 after their fans were guilty of racially abusing Italy striker Mario Balotelli during a match at Euro 2012.
UEFA sanctions —
Croatia were fined $99,000 after their fans were guilty of racially abusing Italy striker Mario Balotelli during a match at Euro 2012.
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Serbia were ordered to play one under-21 match behind closed doors and fined $105,000 following October's meeting with England. A mass brawl broke out after England's Danny Rose was subjected to racial abuse. Serbia's assistant coach Predrag Katic and fitness coach Andreja Milunovic were banned from football for two years and four Serbia players were suspended following the incident. European football's governing body UEFA will appealed against it's own punishments in December, saying they were not strict enough.
Serbia's shame —
Serbia were ordered to play one under-21 match behind closed doors and fined $105,000 following October's meeting with England. A mass brawl broke out after England's Danny Rose was subjected to racial abuse. Serbia's assistant coach Predrag Katic and fitness coach Andreja Milunovic were banned from football for two years and four Serbia players were suspended following the incident. European football's governing body UEFA will appealed against it's own punishments in December, saying they were not strict enough.
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