Australia vs Croatia Match Preview

We have become accustomed over the years to watching Graham Poll take charge of the high profile Premiership matches. On Thursday the Tring official could face the biggest test of his career when faced with Australia and Croatia clash in a tantalising Group F match that will almost certainly decide who joins Brazil in the second round of the World Cup. The advantage is with Australia, who are striving to get through to the second stage for the first time. A victory in Stuttgart will guarantee them a place in the last 16 while they can also get through with a draw, as long as Japan do not beat Brazil by three goals. The equation is even simpler for Croatia; they must win to stay alive in the competition. Ever since the World Cup draw was made earlier this year, there has been much anticipation for this particular fixture, and not just because of the potential for the winners to qualify. The two nations are bound together by ancestral links with seven of Australia's players having Croatian parents, while three of the Croats were raised in Australia. Whoever ends up making it through to the second phase may find themselves with an unlikely opponent in Ghana should the African nation prevail over USA, while Italy and Czech draw. This though is pure speculation and regardless of who finishes top of group E - Australia and Croatia are set to play what should be one of the most physical matches in World Cup history. Premiership followers are well accustomed to the abrasive Aussie style with Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton and especially Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill incurring the wrath of English referees. Croatian players are no angels as well, and won't be afraid of fronting up. Most of the players involved are likely to wake up feeling battered and bruised. Obviously a market of interest for this match is the bookings, although the spreads firms aren't taking any chances whatsoever pricing up mid 70s quote. Nevertheless, we shouldn't allow this to put us off given the quantity of cards during this tournament.At some stage during proceedings, one team or even both is going to lose their cool and that could see a very busy evening for Poll. A small buy at 75 with Cantor Sport.