PLAYER: Robert Kovac (D)
CLUB: Juventus (Italy)
GROUP OPPONENTS: Australia, Brazil, Japan
Croatia doesn’t play as conservative as it did under former coach Otto Baric, but its biggest strength is still the back line, led by Kovac. The 32-year-old defender gives the “Vatreni” (fiery ones) a defender with not only strong man-marking abilities, but also one who can make the solid pass. Croatia allowed only five goals during qualifying, three of which came with Kovac on the bench.
Did you know: Kovac’s older brother Niko is a midfielder on the squad. Making the team even more of a family affair is forward Niko Kranjcar, who is the son of team coach Zlatko Kranjcar.
SUNDAY: CZECH REPUBLIC
![The Ravinia Festival Association filed a motion to dismiss the complaint by Karen Ettelson, former member of the organization’s Women’s Board, who sued the musical festival nonprofit and it’s Board of Trustees for “defamatory conduct,” along with seven other counts, after the Board of Trustees expunged her from the working board for an alleged conduct violation. The motion from the music non-profit, which hosts an annual music festival of the same name each summer, argues the lawsuit should be dismissed because there is no justified reason for the courts to intervene with Ettelson’s volunteer status, board members are immune from […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lake-County-News-Sun.jpg?w=620 "The Ravinia Festival Association filed a motion to dismiss the complaint by Karen Ettelson, former member of the organization’s Women’s Board, who sued the musical festival nonprofit and it’s Board of Trustees for “defamatory conduct,” along with seven other counts, after the Board of Trustees expunged her from the working board for an alleged conduct violation. The motion from the music non-profit, which hosts an annual music festival of the same name each summer, argues the lawsuit should be dismissed because there is no justified reason for the courts to intervene with Ettelson’s volunteer status, board members are immune from […]")
