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09-11-2004, 09:00 AM
Croatia hit the ground running http://www.uefa.com/magazine/news/Kind=8/newsId=226324.html
Friday, 10 September 2004
By Elvir Islamovic
The road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals is a long one, but after fine wins in their opening two Group 8 games, new Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar's side are a step closer than most to booking their hotels in Germany.
Successive wins
A 3-0 win at home against ten-man Hungary at the weekend represented a promising, if hardly remarkable, start to Kranjcar's tenure after taking over from Otto Baric after UEFA EURO 2004â„¢, but it was a 1-0 away win against Sweden in Gothenburg that really set pulses racing.
'Superb victory'
A magnificent free-kick from Darijo Srna capped a determined performance from a new-look Croatia side in Gothenburg. "We respected Sweden, but we succesfully stopped them dominating on the pitch and got our goal," said Kranjcar. "This is a superb victory."
Midfield mastery
It was Kranjcar's team selection and tactics over the course of the two games that really gave Croatia hope. The new coach has finally found the men to fill the big gaps in midfield left by the retirement of Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and Aljoša Asanovic.
Boban approval
Hungary may have been reduced to ten men within 13 minutes of kick-off in Croatia's first game, but it was still clear that wingers Marko Babic and Srna had given the team an extra dimension. "Croatia played much faster than before, with more battling and creativity," said Boban.
Kranjcar pleased
"We showed how we have to play," added Kranjcar, whose son - midfield player Niko - was another significant addition to the first team. "Fast, effective, with good passes and goal-scoring. A start like this has created a good atmosphere and given us a lot of confidence."
Son shines
"The whole team is excellent and I enjoy playing with them," added Niko Kranjcar, the NK Dinamo Zagreb captain. "I felt a lot of pressure before the match against Hungary, but after I went out on the pitch the pressure was gone. I wanted to prove that I belonged in the national team."
Solid defending
The midfield showed another kind of effectiveness in Gothenburg as they helped smother a Sweden side who had scored seven goals in their opening qualifier in Malta, but it was the Croatian defence - marshalled imperiously by Igor Tudor - that truly impressed.
Collective effort
"We didn't concede a goal," said defender Josip Å*imunic. "That was proof that the team is working well. We defenders couldn't have done the job without help from midfield and attack, so the whole team did an excellent job. We've made a great start but must keep our feet on the ground."
In reserve
Aside from Niko Kranjcar, Croatia have plenty of other midfield players eager for action, and in Jurica VranjeÅ¡, Ivan Leko, Ivica Banovic, Danijel Pranjic and Hrvoje Å*afaric, the coach has unearthed a fine group to complement Croatia's strengths in defence and attack.
Winning start
The last time Croatia started a campaign with two wins was ten years ago in the qualifiers for EURO '96â„¢. On that occasion they went on to win their first four games, qualifying for the finals in England. With games against Bulgaria, Iceland and Malta still to come, Croatia will not be counting their chickens just yet, but Croatian Football Federation (HNS) president Vlatko Markovic has plenty to smile about.
Presidential approval
"We have had great success thanks to brave and intelligent play and brilliant moves by our great tactician, Zlatko Kranjcar," beamed Markovic. The HNS will not be booking hotels in Germany yet, but it may have found a coach to take Croatia there.
Friday, 10 September 2004
By Elvir Islamovic
The road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals is a long one, but after fine wins in their opening two Group 8 games, new Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar's side are a step closer than most to booking their hotels in Germany.
Successive wins
A 3-0 win at home against ten-man Hungary at the weekend represented a promising, if hardly remarkable, start to Kranjcar's tenure after taking over from Otto Baric after UEFA EURO 2004â„¢, but it was a 1-0 away win against Sweden in Gothenburg that really set pulses racing.
'Superb victory'
A magnificent free-kick from Darijo Srna capped a determined performance from a new-look Croatia side in Gothenburg. "We respected Sweden, but we succesfully stopped them dominating on the pitch and got our goal," said Kranjcar. "This is a superb victory."
Midfield mastery
It was Kranjcar's team selection and tactics over the course of the two games that really gave Croatia hope. The new coach has finally found the men to fill the big gaps in midfield left by the retirement of Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki and Aljoša Asanovic.
Boban approval
Hungary may have been reduced to ten men within 13 minutes of kick-off in Croatia's first game, but it was still clear that wingers Marko Babic and Srna had given the team an extra dimension. "Croatia played much faster than before, with more battling and creativity," said Boban.
Kranjcar pleased
"We showed how we have to play," added Kranjcar, whose son - midfield player Niko - was another significant addition to the first team. "Fast, effective, with good passes and goal-scoring. A start like this has created a good atmosphere and given us a lot of confidence."
Son shines
"The whole team is excellent and I enjoy playing with them," added Niko Kranjcar, the NK Dinamo Zagreb captain. "I felt a lot of pressure before the match against Hungary, but after I went out on the pitch the pressure was gone. I wanted to prove that I belonged in the national team."
Solid defending
The midfield showed another kind of effectiveness in Gothenburg as they helped smother a Sweden side who had scored seven goals in their opening qualifier in Malta, but it was the Croatian defence - marshalled imperiously by Igor Tudor - that truly impressed.
Collective effort
"We didn't concede a goal," said defender Josip Å*imunic. "That was proof that the team is working well. We defenders couldn't have done the job without help from midfield and attack, so the whole team did an excellent job. We've made a great start but must keep our feet on the ground."
In reserve
Aside from Niko Kranjcar, Croatia have plenty of other midfield players eager for action, and in Jurica VranjeÅ¡, Ivan Leko, Ivica Banovic, Danijel Pranjic and Hrvoje Å*afaric, the coach has unearthed a fine group to complement Croatia's strengths in defence and attack.
Winning start
The last time Croatia started a campaign with two wins was ten years ago in the qualifiers for EURO '96â„¢. On that occasion they went on to win their first four games, qualifying for the finals in England. With games against Bulgaria, Iceland and Malta still to come, Croatia will not be counting their chickens just yet, but Croatian Football Federation (HNS) president Vlatko Markovic has plenty to smile about.
Presidential approval
"We have had great success thanks to brave and intelligent play and brilliant moves by our great tactician, Zlatko Kranjcar," beamed Markovic. The HNS will not be booking hotels in Germany yet, but it may have found a coach to take Croatia there.