Going out early will be ‘failure’, says Modric

They struggled at times in qualifying due to injuries but have a full bill of health here and I think as outside bets go Croatia are going to be right up there but they must get past a tricky opening game here against Turkey.

On the other hand, Arda Turan along with Hakan Calhanoglu and Oguzhan Ozyakup are expected to take the spotlight for Turkey in their opener against Croatia.

Turkey and Croatia are in Group D along with the Czech Republic and Spain.

Real Madrid’s Luka Modric believes that Croatia should guarantee a spot in Euro 2016 second round before facing Spain in the last game of the group stage.

“If we play well we can beat anyone but if we don’t we can lose to any opposition team”.

Referring to Croatia, who lie in wait at the Parc des Princes, and their recent history of discord with his own nation, Terim added: “Of course the current Croatia team is a lot different to that one”.

In an interview with “Marca”, Luka Modric said: “We play in a very tough group”.

This will be the third encounter between Turkey and Croatia in the European Championships.

Boris Nemec, Croatian national team doctor, on Monday said Lokomotiv Moscow defender Corluka and Modric suffer nothing serious and will be fine within a few days.

“It would be a failure for us not to progress from the group stages”.

Having high quality individuals isn’t enough “if you’re not focused on the match” as a team, Srna said. In the Euro 2016 qualifiers, Croatia were deducted one point over a racist incident.

“The Turkish showed then that you have to play until the very last second”.

The Turks last featured in a summer tournament eight years ago, making it to the semi-finals when Austria and Switzerland hosted Euro 2008. Manager, Faith Terim is vastly experienced and his ability to manage games well using his players could be a crucial element in their campaign.

“I don’t want to think and talk about a revenge match but it was painful for all our supporters and our players”, he told a pre-match news conference in Paris.

Croatia coach Ante Cacic suggested his “good mix” of veterans, including Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic, and newcomers is ready for a big tournament. “We just have to connect all this individual quality and focus on the team to be at the top level”.