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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>UEFA EURO 2008
<SPAN class=art-title2>Croatia back among the big boys</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Smiles all round as Mladen Petric, Ivan Klasnic and Vedran Corluka of Croatia (L-R) celebrate after comprehensively beating Andorra 7-0 in a UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier in Zagreb on 7 November 2006.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>Stringer
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">14 Nov 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Croatia have re-emerged from the shadows into the spotlight of world football.
A barrage of criticism met their dismal performance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, the Croatian media resounding with negative headlines including 'Bottlers' and 'Generation of losers', as commentators prophesied a bleak future for the once mighty Vatreni or 'fiery ones', as the national team is nicknamed.
It would appear the obituaries were penned a shade too early, as new coach Slaven Bilic has swiftly led his team back to a place among the big names in the sport. Precisely 111 days following the controversy-ridden 2-2 draw with Australia, the nation which finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup™ chalked up an impressive 2-0 victory against England, another resurgent force on the international stage.
Croatia meet Israel on Wednesday in their fourth EURO 2008 qualifier, knowing victory would see them spend the winter three points ahead of the English at the top of the group standings. FIFA.com examines the driving influences behind the Croatian renaissance.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>The man behind the transformation, Slaven Bilic, instructs one of Croatia's players as they leave the field at half-time.</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>ADRIAN DENNIS</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Top trio
How is it that the team has brushed off the dense critical flak and is now striding towards a place at the UEFA Euro 2008? The experts unanimously agree on the critical role played by Bilic, a former Bundesliga star with 66 matches and five goals in Karlsruhe colours between 1993 and 1996.
Bilic took over from a demoralised Zlatko Kranjcar following the FIFA World Cup exit, immediately recruiting legendary figures Robert Prosinecki and Aljosa Asanovic as his assistants. "I had to use all my powers of conviction and persuasion, but I ultimately won them over to our project," the 38-year-old Bilic revealed.
The triumvirate known as BAP (for Bilic-Asanovic-Prosinecki) swiftly agreed on a course of action, refraining from a wholesale cull in favour of gradually rejuvenating the squad. Hard work, discipline and a good atmosphere are the watchwords. "We're convinced there's huge potential in Croatian football. We need to combine our strengths, and work hard with plenty of discipline towards our target of a place at Euro 2008," Bilic declared.
The former world-class centre-half duly saw events prove him right. His almost flawless record to date reads played four, won three and drawn
<SPAN class=art-title2>Croatia back among the big boys</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top>
<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Smiles all round as Mladen Petric, Ivan Klasnic and Vedran Corluka of Croatia (L-R) celebrate after comprehensively beating Andorra 7-0 in a UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier in Zagreb on 7 November 2006.</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>Stringer
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">14 Nov 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Croatia have re-emerged from the shadows into the spotlight of world football.
A barrage of criticism met their dismal performance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, the Croatian media resounding with negative headlines including 'Bottlers' and 'Generation of losers', as commentators prophesied a bleak future for the once mighty Vatreni or 'fiery ones', as the national team is nicknamed.
It would appear the obituaries were penned a shade too early, as new coach Slaven Bilic has swiftly led his team back to a place among the big names in the sport. Precisely 111 days following the controversy-ridden 2-2 draw with Australia, the nation which finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup™ chalked up an impressive 2-0 victory against England, another resurgent force on the international stage.
Croatia meet Israel on Wednesday in their fourth EURO 2008 qualifier, knowing victory would see them spend the winter three points ahead of the English at the top of the group standings. FIFA.com examines the driving influences behind the Croatian renaissance.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>The man behind the transformation, Slaven Bilic, instructs one of Croatia's players as they leave the field at half-time.</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>ADRIAN DENNIS</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Top trioHow is it that the team has brushed off the dense critical flak and is now striding towards a place at the UEFA Euro 2008? The experts unanimously agree on the critical role played by Bilic, a former Bundesliga star with 66 matches and five goals in Karlsruhe colours between 1993 and 1996.
Bilic took over from a demoralised Zlatko Kranjcar following the FIFA World Cup exit, immediately recruiting legendary figures Robert Prosinecki and Aljosa Asanovic as his assistants. "I had to use all my powers of conviction and persuasion, but I ultimately won them over to our project," the 38-year-old Bilic revealed.
The triumvirate known as BAP (for Bilic-Asanovic-Prosinecki) swiftly agreed on a course of action, refraining from a wholesale cull in favour of gradually rejuvenating the squad. Hard work, discipline and a good atmosphere are the watchwords. "We're convinced there's huge potential in Croatian football. We need to combine our strengths, and work hard with plenty of discipline towards our target of a place at Euro 2008," Bilic declared.
The former world-class centre-half duly saw events prove him right. His almost flawless record to date reads played four, won three and drawn