Confident Croatia dreams of upset win
June 12, 2012, Tuesday
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After a convincing 3-1 victory over Ireland, Croatia has the wind in its sails and is dreaming of a return to the form it enjoyed in the 1990s when coach Slaven Bilic was a player.
Having outgunned the Irish on Sunday, Croatia meets former champion Italy on Thursday and believes it can win a second successive match.
It has shaken off the impact of injuries that sidelined several key names even before the start of the tournament, including midfielder Ivo Ilicevic, defender Dejan Lovren and veteran striker Ivica Olic.
"We are strong as a team, and I think that after this match we are getting even better and even stronger. I expect to play even better against Italy because the first match is the most difficult, and this is behind us," Bilic said.
The fine start to the tournament tips the odds a little further in Croatia's favor, he reckons.
"One win would be enough to go to the quarterfinals," Bilic said.
"We cannot fly in the championship, but let's go step by step. We respect all our opponents. We have no fear against anyone. Spain and Italy are favorites in our group, but I still think we are able to beat one of them."
The squad is on a high after starting so well. "This is really a big win and it will be easier for us in the next matches," said Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric. His former clubmate, midfielder Niko Kranjcar, underlined that Croatia had come into the Ireland game as favorites.
"Now we have a couple of difficult matches to come against Italy and Spain, where we are not the favorites, but in previous championships we have shown that we can handle them," he said.
"We are ready to make a great impression on this European championship."
Everton striker Nikica Jelavic, whose goal was sandwiched between a double by man of the man Mario Mandzukic of Wolfsburg, said the focus had shifted squarely to the Italy game.
"We're top of the group and of course that gives us confidence," Jelavic said.
Having outgunned the Irish on Sunday, Croatia meets former champion Italy on Thursday and believes it can win a second successive match.
It has shaken off the impact of injuries that sidelined several key names even before the start of the tournament, including midfielder Ivo Ilicevic, defender Dejan Lovren and veteran striker Ivica Olic.
"We are strong as a team, and I think that after this match we are getting even better and even stronger. I expect to play even better against Italy because the first match is the most difficult, and this is behind us," Bilic said.
The fine start to the tournament tips the odds a little further in Croatia's favor, he reckons.
"One win would be enough to go to the quarterfinals," Bilic said.
"We cannot fly in the championship, but let's go step by step. We respect all our opponents. We have no fear against anyone. Spain and Italy are favorites in our group, but I still think we are able to beat one of them."
The squad is on a high after starting so well. "This is really a big win and it will be easier for us in the next matches," said Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric. His former clubmate, midfielder Niko Kranjcar, underlined that Croatia had come into the Ireland game as favorites.
"Now we have a couple of difficult matches to come against Italy and Spain, where we are not the favorites, but in previous championships we have shown that we can handle them," he said.
"We are ready to make a great impression on this European championship."
Everton striker Nikica Jelavic, whose goal was sandwiched between a double by man of the man Mario Mandzukic of Wolfsburg, said the focus had shifted squarely to the Italy game.
"We're top of the group and of course that gives us confidence," Jelavic said.
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