Family fued in offing

Emotions will be high when Australia and Croatia meet on Thursday in a tantalising Group F match that will almost certainly decide who joins Brazil in the second round of the World Cup.

Emotions will be high when Australia and Croatia meet on Thursday 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.

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They have similar personnel and styles of playing, and are bonded by ancestral links — seven of Australia’s players, including captain Mark Viduka, have Croatian parents, while three of the Croats were raised in Australia.

Match officials:

Referee: Graham Poll (ENG), Assistant Referees: Philip Sharp (ENG), Glenn Turner (ENG), Fourth Official: Kevin Stott (USA), Stand-by: Gregory Barkey (USA)

(Julian Linden)

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