Croatia star Luka Modric has warned England to prepare themselves for further heartache in Zagreb.
Croats in confident mood heading into crunch qualifier
Croatia star Luka Modric has warned England to prepare themselves for further heartache in Zagreb.
The Three Lions slumped to a 2-0 defeat on their last visit to the Croatian capital, during Euro 2008 qualifying, while they were also humbled 3-2 at Wembley by Slaven Bilic's men.
With the two nations once again paired together on the road to the 2010 World Cup, revenge is the word on everyone's lips.
England know that victory over their biggest rivals in Group 6 would make them favourites to take top spot and the automatic place in South Africa which would follow.
However, Tottenham playmaker Modric insists confidence is high among Bilic's squad following an impressive showing at this summer's European Championship, and fully expects to send Fabio Capello's men crashing to another morale-shattering defeat.
Triumph
"England will want revenge and they will be better prepared then before but I believe that, yet again, we will win," Modric said.
"We are full of confidence and have faith in our ability. Before a wonderful audience we will once again be ready for another great triumph.
"I can't talk about the tactics we will employ or whether we will play the same way as we did in 2006 and 2007.
"We will see but maybe we will have a surprise for them.
"England have dangerous players but we have to worry about how we play, not them.
"It is down to us. We have beaten them the last two times."
Disaster
Meanwhile, Croatian keeper Stipe Pletikosa thinks England's desire to right the wrongs of the past could count against them.
"What we did to them here and at Wembley will be in the England players' heads because nobody has allowed them to forget about it.
"But if they arrive looking for revenge then that will be a disaster for them.
"We just want to play against England and are looking forward to it. That is an advantage for us. They will be wound up."
