Croatian Spirit Shines Through
Barry Marjanovich
Asahi Shimbun www.asahi.com World Cup: Croatian no-name axes mighty
Azzuri
By JEREMY WALKER, Asahi Shimbun News Service
IBARAKI-It's been a World Cup of shocking upsets, and the latest episode
of Tales of the Unexpected aired at Ibaraki Stadium on Saturday.
Italy conceded two goals in three minutes as Croatia came back from the
dead-not only in the match but in Group G-to shock the Azzurri 2-1.
Equally stunned were the legions of Italy fans who had trekked to
Kashima to pay homage to their Serie A heroes.
Although Croatia finished third in the 1998 World Cup and Italy went out
in the quarterfinals, the way the two countries had started this World
Cup pointed to only one result: A second win for Italy and elimination
for Croatia.
But in the five days following their 1-0 defeat to Mexico, the Croats
did some soul-searching and head coach Mirko Jozic injected new life
into his team.
The result was a thrilling, controversial 2-1 victory, with the winning
goal coming from a player who had been no more than an extra in the
theater of Italian football.
Milan Rapaic, the 28-year-old forward now playing with Fenerbahce in
Turkey, spent four seasons with Perugia, from 1996 to 2000, playing an
important part in the settling-in period of Hidetoshi Nakata after the
1998 World Cup.
Rapaic had come on as a substitute in the debacle against Mexico, but
Jozic had seen enough to give him his first World Cup start, dropping
33-year-old playmaker Robert Prosinecki and 34-year-old captain Davor
Suker.
With defender Boris Zivkovic suspended for his red card against Mexico,
Jozic brought in Rapaic, Davor Vugrinec and Daniel Saric, and this trio
gave Croatia an attacking spark to add to their disciplined defense.
Italy, on the other hand, had started Group H handsomely, with two goals
from Christian Vieri in a comfortable 2-0 win over Ecuador.
So when Vieri rose majestically at the far post to head home a
right-wing cross from Cristiano Doni to give Italy the lead in the 55th
minute, even the most optimistic Croatia fans must have feared the
worst.
But this was when the Croatian spirit began to shine through.
Robert Jarni, the experienced left wing-back taking over the captain's
armband from Suker, crossed deep from the left, behind the defense and
in front of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Marco Materazzi, an early replacement for the injured Alessandro Nesta
in the center of defense, was watching the ball, not the man behind him,
and substitute Ivica Olic scored from close range to make it 1-1 in the
73rd minute.
Suddenly, the Croatian players believed they could win and the match was
suddenly wide open.
Three minutes later, Fabio Cannavaro's clearing header went only as far
as Niko Kovac, still deep inside Italy's half, and the Bayern Munich
midfielder headed it back into the box. Rapaic, off balance and under
challenge from the unfortunate Materazzi, saw his left-foot shot loop
over Buffon and take an age to drop into the far corner.
Italy, with golden boy Francesco Totti marked heavily by another member
of the Italian League's supporting cast, Stjepan Tomas of Vicenza, came
close on several occasions in the closing minutes, notably when Totti's
right-footed free kick struck the inside of the keeper's right post and
flew across the face of the goal.
In the four minutes of injury time, the Italians were celebrating an
equalizer as Materazzi's long pass up field rolled into the net, but the
effort was ruled out for a foul by Filippo Inzaghi.
Croatia's coach Jozic said he could still not explain the ``mental
block'' his team suffered against Mexico, and said it took a ``great''
team to come back from that defeat.
``We knew we had to play die-hard football against a very tough Italian
team, and I want to point out the heart of my players.''
Italy's Giovanni Trapattoni suddenly had some thinking to do, after
believing his team could cruise through the group.
``We controlled the game and deserved to equalize,'' he said. ``I cannot
understand why we had at least one, possibly two, goals canceled.''
Italy (4-4-2): Buffon; Panucci, Cannavaro, Nesta (Materazzi, 24),
Maldini (captain); Zambrotta, Tommasi, Zanetti, Doni (Inzaghi, 79);
Totti, Vieri.
Croatia (4-3-3): Pletikosa; Saric, Robert Kovac, Simunic, Jarni
(captain); Tomas, Soldo (Vranjes, 62), Niko Kovac; Vugrinec (Olic, 57),
Boksic, Rapaic (Simic, 79)
(IHT/Asahi: June 10,2002)
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Barry Marjanovich
Croatian young guns push veterans out of limelight
Sun Jun 9, 2002
By EUGENE BRCIC, Associated Press Writer
IBARAKI, Japan - Move over golden oldies, make way for the new generation.
That was the ringing message Croatia's young guns sent out after a stunning
come-from-behind 2-1 win over soccer giants Italy Saturday.
"These boys are knocking on the door and are ready to inherit the mantle of
the miracle team that won third place in the World Cup in France, 1998,"
former coach Miroslav Blazevic said Sunday.
"The veterans still have life in them yet, but there must be a way to meld
the youth and experience together," he added.
Coach Mirko Jozic took a gamble on erratic midfielders Milan Rapaic and
Davor Vugrinec, including the younger and fresher attacking players into the
starting lineup to replace aging stars Robert Prosinecki and '98 Golden Boot
holder Davor Suker.
The move rejuvenated the side and triggered a complete turnaround from the
lethargic team that went down 1-0 to Mexico in the opening match of Group G.
Besides Rapaic and Vugrinec, Daniel Saric, Dario Simic and Ivica Olic - all
well under 30 - were also slotted into the new, more dynamic outfit.
"This team had a much higher work rate and more energy in its feet," said
towering defender Josip Simunic.
"We're probably not as strong as the '98 generation, but we have the
potential to get better as every game progresses. What we lacked in
experience I think we made up for with our hearts," the 23-year-old added.
"These are the new heroes of Croatian football," said 34-year-old Suker, who
was content to sit out the match on the bench. Prosinecki, 33, who watched
from the sidelines alongside Suker, was also full of praise.
"Rapaic and Olic made a difference. Their sheer pace and their strength
brought about positive changes, " the mercurial midfielder said.
Although the Croatians dominated most of the play with exhilarating
counterattacks, complemented by short and snappy passing, it was the
Italians who took the lead, through a superb header from Christian Vieri.
With his back to the wall and an early exit from the World Cup imminent,
Jozic then sent 22-year-old Olic into the fray for his World Cup debut. Olic
threw the Italian defense into disarray on several occasions before
squeezing through a handful of defenders to put away Croatia's equalizer.
"I had hoped to start the match, but luckily it wasn't too late to bring us
back into the match," Olic, the Croatian domestic league's top scorer, said.
Coach Jozic, who came under a shower of criticism for his defensive tactics
against Mexico, was reluctant to single out any player or confirm whether
the young guns had secured their place in the standard eleven.
"I think the new players influenced the game, but I cannot single out any
player. I think the key player was the team," he said. "Ecuador is a new
game, we will wait to see how they play against Mexico in their second
match."
Croatia's win over Italy has flung Group G wide open, with all four teams
still in the hunt for a berth in the second round.
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/020608/59/d0ofo.html
Barry Marjanovich
Croatia holds the key to the next round - win by two
Mon Jun 10, 2002
By EUGENE BRCIC, Associated Press Writer
YOKOHAMA, Japan - Forget pocket calculators and scribbled possibilities,
a win by more than one goal is what Croatia needs in Thursday's match
against Ecuador to be certain of entry into the next round.
"There is no philosophy, we hold the key to the final 16," coach Mirko
Jozic told reporters Monday. "Life can be made easier for us if Italy
beats Mexico, but let's secure a victory of two goals so that we don't
need to keep an ear on other results."
Croatia's back-from-behind 2-1 triumph over fancied Italy Saturday has
thrown Group G wide open with a bag full of combinations that could
vault any of the four teams into the final 16.
Even newcomer Ecuador, which has not won a game so far and has a goal
deficit of three goals, has a theoretical chance of making it through —
albeit minute.
On the other hand, Mexico, which sits atop the group with two wins in as
many matches, could still miss a berth in the next round on the basis of
goal difference if Croatia wins and Mexico loses to Italy by more than a
goal.
"It will be extremely difficult to play with the imperative of victory
with a cushion of two goals. One only needs to take a look at other
games at the finals and how few teams registered victories with a margin
of two goals," Jozic said.
"We must go out and seize possession of the ball and control the
momentum of the match. An early goal would ease our worries, but we have
90 minutes to play and there should be no panic until the final
whistle."
It will be crucial that we exploit every chance that comes our way," he
added.
The 62-year-old Jozic has all players available despite a spate of minor
injuries after the grueling match with Italy. The scorer of the winning
goal for Croatia, Milan Rapaic, suffered severe leg cramps but is
expected to recuperate in time to face Ecuador.
Jozic said the mood in the Croatian camp has changed significantly from
the subdued feelings that prevailed after the team's disappointing
opening loss to Mexico.
"The atmosphere is notably more positive and the players are awaiting
the next match with more enthusiasm and less tension," Jozic said.
The Croatian team boycotted the media on the eve of its do-or-die clash
with Italy due to a hail of criticism over its lackluster play and
ultra-defensive tactics against Mexico. Jozic lashed out at the domestic
media and then appealed for support.
"I will never criticize my players in public or expose them to public
criticism, so do not be surprised by our reactions. Let's do everything
we can together to win this upcoming match. Let's win it for all of us."
Jozic said.