Croatia plan double trouble for Israel

Croatia will look to complete a Group F double over Israel when Luis Fernandez's side visit the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb.

• Two goals from Niko Kranjčar proved decisive on 9 October last year as Croatia ran out 2-1 winners in Ramat Gan. The Tottenham Hotspur FC playmaker struck twice in the space of five minutes before half-time – his first coming from the penalty spot – before Etey Shechter reduced the deficit after 81 minutes.

• Croatia's record in seven games against Israel reads W6 D1 L0 (W3 D0 L0 at home, including two 1-0 wins in Zagreb).

• The two nations produced a classic in Tel Aviv on the road to UEFA EURO 2008. Roberto Colautti put the hosts ahead, but Croatia turned things around before half-time courtesy of a Darijo Srna penalty and a goal from Eduardo. The Brazilian-born striker then completed his hat-trick with two strikes either side of a Yossi Benayoun effort for Israel, for whom Colautti struck again late on in a 4-3 loss.

• Eduardo registered the only goal of the return fixture on 13 October 2007, which was the most recent meeting between the teams before the start of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying.

• The two countries began their rivalry in a friendly in Tel Aviv on 17 August 1994, when Croatia recorded a 4-0 triumph. The victors promptly followed that result up with friendly wins in Varazdin and Zagreb, beating Israel 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.

• The only time Israel avoided defeat against Croatia came when the teams contested a 3-3 friendly draw in Jerusalem on 9 February 2005.