Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Padanho repasi rose, Kovač akatamba kuCroatia mumitambo mishanu yekukodzera ye2002 World Cup uye akarova chibodzwa chimwe mukukunda kweCroatia 4<unk>0 kure neSan Marino. Mumutambo wekupedzisira, akaonekwa semutambi anotanga mumitambo yese mitatu yeboka Croatia isati yabviswa mumutambo nekupedza nzvimbo yechitatu muboka ravo. Akanga ariwo wenguva dzose muEFAFA Euro 2004 kukodzera, achiita mitambo minomwe uye achiwana zvibodzwa zviviri mumitambo yekunze, iyo 1<unk>0 inokunda neEstonia uye chinangwa chekuvhura mukukunda kwechikwata che3<unk>0 pamusoro peAndorra. Akatambawo mitambo yose mitatu yeboka yakatambwa nechikwata cheCroatia mumutambo wekupedzisira weEuro 2004
muPortugal uye akarova chinangwa chokutanga mumutambo wokupedzisira weboka neEngland. Zvisinei, Croatia yakarasikirwa nemutambo 4<unk>2 uye yakadzingwa zvakare kubva mumutambo senyika yechitatu muboka rayo.