As Euro 2024 qualifying moves towards next month's conclusion, Group D's top two convene on Thursday evening, as Croatia host Turkey in Osijek.
The two nations are locked on 10 points apiece heading into this international period, but Croatia have both a game in hand and a psychological advantage from winning in Turkey earlier in the process.
World Cup runners-up in 2018 and, more recently, Nations League finalists, Zlatko Dalic's side are ultimately aiming to break the glass ceiling and claim glory in Germany next year, just before some of their established stars finally depart the stage.
While Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic may be nearing the end of the road, it was another Croatian 'untouchable', Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic, who bagged a brace in their 2-0 away victory over Turkey in March, but their victims that day still pose a threat in tightly-packed Group D.
Only pointless Latvia are totally cut adrift, but Armenia and Wales both have seven points after five fixtures and either could pounce if either Croatia or Turkey slip up this month or next.
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