Croatia dark horses for Euro 2016

The likes of France, Germany, Spain and England may be topping the outright market for Euro 2016, but the ever-improving Croatia could spring a major surprise in France this summer.

Les Bleus will be hosting the competition for the third time, having taken charge of proceedings in 1960 and 1984, and are 4.00 favourites to lift the trophy for the first time since 2000.

World champions Germany, who won the event on English soil back in 1996, are also fancied to make a strong challenge at odds of 4.50.

One country that could cause some shock results and enjoy a run to the latter stages of the competition are Croatia, who are ranked 23rd in the world.

Ante Cacic’s men were impressive in qualifying with just one defeat suffered from their 10 matches – that being a 2-0 loss to Norway.

Vatreni secured the runner-up position in the group, with just four points the difference to pool-toppers Italy, who were undefeated with seven wins and three draws.

Croatia’s squad has considerable strength and depth with the likes of Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic, who was the top-scorer in the qualifying group with six, expected to star in France.

The midfield department is also a strong area with Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, and the Real Madrid duo of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, all in good form.

Add in experienced striker Mario Mandzukic, who has 21 goals in 65 caps, and the defensive duo of Dejan Lovren and Darijo Srna, and the quality is clear to see.

Monaco’s Danijel Subasic has also impressed in goal for the French outfit this season and a price of 29.00 to win Euro 2016 looks to be good value.

Croatia have been drawn against Spain, the Czech Republic and Turkey in Group D and are 1.40 to qualify.