Croatia 4-1 Greece: 5 Talking Points

#5 Only pride at stake in the return leg

Croatia v Greece - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier Play-Off: First leg

This particular tie from the playoffs was always headed in one direction the moment it was drawn. Croatia were the clear favourites to go through, on paper and pitch, both. But the subsequent ease with which the first leg was negotiated, is baffling, to say the least.

A confident and encouraging display by the Pirate Ship in the qualifying, meant the road for Ante Caci's side would have its thorns, but due to the former's own undoing, it was all plain sailing for them.

A gap of three goals is too big to cement for Greece, given that Croatia haven't lost by that margin since the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of England in 2009, and also considering their new found verve which was evident in the first leg.

Although Michael Skibbe's' sky-blue whites only lost once at home during the qualifiers - a 2-1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina - a record which they would look up to for confidence ahead of the return leg, it's, perhaps, too late already. The gulf seems too big to scale.

The Euro 2004 champions were ranked 13th in the world following their march till the round of 16 in Brazil in 2014, despite winning only once in the group stages and also getting thumped 3-0 by Colombia on the opening matchday. But times have changed. Greece have fallen since, and it's only pride at stake in Athens, in the return leg.