Time to give Croatia its due

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-20  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

IT is time to stop talking about Croatia as the dark horses of Euro 2008 and instead recognise it is in today's quarterfinal against Turkey on merit and is fully capable of going all the way in the tournament.

Indeed, it would be more of a shock if the 1998 World Cup semifinalists did not progress against a battered, bruised but not yet broken Turkish side in Vienna.

Croatia did raise some eyebrows when it reached the last eight at Euro 96 only four years after coming into existence and it was certainly a stunning upset when it beat Germany 3-0 in the World Cup quarterfinals two years later.

But it is a regular at major events now and comes into Euro 2008 having topped its qualifying group ahead of Russia after seeing off England with home and away victories.

While reaching the Euro quarterfinals in England 12 years ago was cause for celebration in the new country, coach Slaven Bilic, a player then, considers that the minimum expectation these days.

"We don't see ourselves as a revelation any more, although some people perhaps still do," he said. "In our own eyes, we haven't achieved anything spectacular by reaching the last eight because that was our primary objective."

Poland's experienced Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker, whose team was eased aside 1-0 by Croatia's second-string in its final group game, always predicted that Bilic's team would top the section and now thinks it can go even further.

"They have a lot of talent and if they can act as a team and not fall back to individuals showing how good they are, and I think Bilic will make them play like a real team, then they will be very dangerous for anyone," he said.

Turkey, World Cup semifinalists itself six years ago, has it all to do after giving so much, physically and mentally, against the Czechs.

Injuries and suspensions have taken seven players out of consideration and, despite some brave talk, there does not appear to be the depth in the squad to cover such a loss.

Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel is banned after his red card against the Czechs, meaning a recall for Rustu Recber, while midfielder Mehmet Aurelio is also suspended.

Despite the problems, however, its terrific late fightback in the Czech game has given the whole squad a massive dose of self-confidence.