Coach - Slaven Bilic: Tipped for a plum club job after the finals until he revealed he was to sign a new contract, the former Everton and West Ham man won his tactical duels with then England coach Steve McClaren during qualification with something to spare.
Star player - Luka Modric: Resisted a January move away from Dinamo Zagreb but, after rejecting a bumper deal with the capital club, has now agreed a deal to join Tottenham next season. Intelligent and energetic playmaker in the Robert Prosinecki mould who ran the show against England at Wembley last November.
Tactics: Bilic usually operates with a 4-1-3-2 or 4-4-1-1 formation, with Arsenal striker Eduardo the focal point of the attack in qualification but now missing after suffering an horrific injury on club duty in February.
Strengths: Technically adept and with a good mixture of experience (Robert and Niko Kovac) and precociousness (Modric).
Weaknesses: They are lacking a decent goal threat. Ivica Olic's record is patchy and Ivan Klasnic is battling back from a kidney transplant. Goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is not the most reliable.
Verdict: A good bet to get out of Group C, but without the potency of Eduardo up front the quarter-finals may mark the end of the road.
If they were a band they would be: Def Leppard
Useful translation: What happened to that strange man with the umbrella?
