Although they are currently at the top of Group H, Croatia will not have the support of their passionate fans as they welcome Italy to the Stadion Poljud in the coastal city of Split. Due to ruckus caused by supporters during the reverse fixture at the San Siro last November, the Vatreni will have to contest their match against the Azzurri behind closed doors.
The voices of fans will not be only thing lacking as Niko Kovac's men prepare to take on Antonio Conte's troops. Both Croatia and Italy have been hit with a slew of injuries, but it is the visitors that have been vastly more affected. Whilst the hosts will make do without Liverpool's Dejan Lovren, and more important, star playmaker Luka Modric, Conte already has defensive duo Giorgio Chiellini - who missed out on the Champions League final between Juventus and Barcelona due to a calf injury - and Andrea Barzagli on the treatment table.
To make matters worse, PSG starlet Marco Veratti, widely viewed as Andrea Pirlo's successor, is also out, as is combative Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi. And news has been circulating that talismanic captain Gianluigi Buffon is struggling with an elbow problem - something that, given his influence on the team will be very concerning for Italy's fans.
Given that Bianconeri players make up a crucial core for Conte's side, it will be interesting to see how the coach uses the group of Buffon, Pirlo, Leonardo Bonucci and Claudio Marchisio. All four men played the entire game in that exciting final six days ago and will certainly be still feeling the effects - both physically and mentally of the 3-1 loss to Barcelona.
For Croatia, midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who scored his team's first goal will also be drained but Kovac will certainly have him start due to his versatility, class, and influence he could play against the Italians, many of whom will be familiar to him from the clash between the Blaugrana and la Vecchia Signora.
As things stand, Croatia have never lost a home match in a EURO qualifier. The Vatreni have won four and drawn one of their five games and sit two points ahead of Italy, who have won three and drawn two. In terms of head to head record, the last two meetings between Croatia and Italy ended as 1-1 draws. The last time the hosts beat the visitors in a competitive (not friendly) fixture was during the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, and one would have to go back to 1942 - well before any of the players or coaches were born - to note the last time Italy successfully got the upper hand over their Balkan opponents.
If Croatia win today, it will not just hand Italy their first defeat but would propel them five points clear at the top of Group H. Should Italy finally break their string of frustrating results by earning all three points, the Azzurri would head into the summer break one point clear at the summit.
Given the wealth of talent on display within both teams' ranks, expect this one to be an interesting one from kick-off to the final whistle, regardless of the fact that the stadium will be eerily quiet.
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