Twenty years after Croatia and Turkey played each other in their European Championship debuts, the two teams will add another chapter in their intimately shared history on Sunday at Parc des Princes.
The Croats beat Turkey 1-0 in England at Euro ‘96 as both teams played at the continental tournament for the first time.
Then, at Euro 2008, both had their most successful tournaments when Turkey beat Croatia in a shootout to reach the semifinals. After Croatia took the lead in the 119th minute in Vienna, Turkey equalized deep into stoppage time and won on penalties.
N Ireland MEETS Poland
NICE: Decades since Poland or Northern Ireland made a mark at an international football competition, both teams will be looking to get their European Championship campaigns off to a strong start on Sunday when they play each other in Group C.
Northern Ireland, playing in its first European Championship, has the longest unbeaten run of any team in the competition, while Poland has Robert lewandowski, one of the most feared strikers at the tournament.
Poland will look to its offensive strength to see off Northern Ireland. lewandowski, the Bayern Munich striker who was qualifying’s top scorer with 13 goals, and Fiorentina winger Jakub Blaszczykowski form a tried-and-tested partnership in attack. And midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak is a solid presence.
GERMANY MEANS BUSINESS
Nothing less than winning will do. Germany’s quest for a record fourth European title, only two years after winning a fourth World Cup, begins Sunday against Ukraine in lille.
“We should write a new story and bring the fourth European Championship star to Germany,”said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.