Three wins in a row without conceding ensured Croatia's fate was in their own hands until the most recent round of fixtures when drawing 2-2 with Slovakia.

Croatia twice fell behind in that game and needed a Luka Modric strike 19 minutes from time to ensure they dodged a first defeat since losing to Spain at Euro 2020.

With Russia winning four on the spin, Zlatko Dalic's men now trail the previous tournament hosts by two points heading into the penultimate round of games.

Russia are at home to bottom side Cyprus, so Croatia will not be realistically relying on any favours elsewhere on Thursday.



译文(自动翻译仅供参考):

连续三场不失球的胜利确保了克罗地亚的命运掌握在自己手中，直到最近一轮比赛2-2战平斯洛伐克。

克罗地亚在那场比赛中两度落后，19分钟前卢卡·莫德里奇(Luka Modric)的一粒进球确保他们避免了自2020年欧洲杯输给西班牙以来的首场失利。

随着俄罗斯队四连胜，兹拉特科·达利奇率领的俄罗斯队以两分的差距落后上届世界杯东道主，进入倒数第二轮比赛。

俄罗斯在主场对阵底部的塞浦路斯，所以克罗地亚实际上不会在周四依赖任何其他国家的支持。