PFDC, Osijek
Iran will face their toughest friendly match opposition since October 2004, when Germany came to Tehran, taking on a strong Croatian team in Osijek on Sunday (19:30 Tehran time).

Croatia, who have an impressive qualification campaign, in which they topped group 8 leaving Sweden and Bulgaria behindbehind them, also impressed in recent test matches. After downing Argentina by 3-2 in March, last Tuesday Austria was easily outclassed and thrashed 4-1.

Once more coach Zlatko Krancjar is expected to line up his strongest team in his favourite 3-5-2 system against Iran.

Which goalkeeper gets Krancjar’s nod after Stipe Pletikosa’s terrible blunder against Austria and Joe Didulica’s also not convincing performance in second half of the same game is the biggest question mark. Possible that Tomislav Butina, who was the number one goalkeeper during Croatia’s qualification campaign, will be back in goal on Sunday.

The threeback will most likely consist of Milan’s Dario Simic, Juventus’ Robert Kovac and Galatasaray’s Stjepan Tomas. Two defensive midfielders, Igor Tudor and Niko Kovac will be supported by wingers Marko Babic and Darijo Srna as well as sparkling playmaker and son of the coach Niko Kranjcar in midfield. Upfront, Ivan Klasnic and Dado Prso will form a dangerous attacking duo.

If Iran’s Croatian headcoach Branko Ivankovic will line up his recently most used 4-4-2 or go for a slightly more defensive approach in this difficult away match is the biggest question on the other side.

Should Ivankovic decide to go for a 4-2-3-1, the recently injured Vahid Hashemian and Fereydoon Zandi might find themselves on the bench. Andranik Taymoorian and Mehrzad Madanchi could take their places.

Otherwise, Javad Nekounam, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Fereydoon Zandi and the also recently injured Ali Karimi will start in midfield, while skipper Ali Daei and Vahid Hashemian will play upfront.

Almost certain is that Hossein Kaebi, Yahya Golmohammadi, Rahman Rezaei and Sattar Zare will form the fourback ahead of Ebrahim Mirzapour.

However, Ivankovic already announced that he won’t risk further injuries of the recently recovered Karimi, Hashemian and Zandi which suggests neither of them will play through.

Croatia - Iran

Friendly Match, Osijek

Probable lineups:

Croatia: Butina/Pletikosa - Simic, Tomas, R. Kovac - Srna, N. Kovac, Tudor, Babic - Kranjcar - Prso, Klasnic

Iran: Mirzapour - Kaebi, Golmohammadi, Rezaei, Zare - Nekounam - Mahdavikia, Zandi - Karimi - Hashemian, Daei