Eduardo Brings Croatia Closer to Euro

In the last home game Croatia won over Israel with a goal by Eduardo da Silva, coming closer to Switzerland and Austria.

Croatia had a harder time than expected at home winning over Israel. Once again Eduardo da Silva’s moment of inspiration was crucial. 

The start of the game showed the intention of the Israelis who defended themselves with discipline and waited for opportunities to smuggle the ball past Croatia’s goalie. The first opportunity in the game went to the Croatians when Luka Modric struck the ball directly towards the goalie from some 20 metres away. The battle was wielded in the centre of the field where the Croatians had more possession of the ball, but could not realise their advantage.

After one corner the Israeli goalie somehow managed to get the ball. In the 20^th minute it was Ivo Olic’s clumsiness that cost the Croatians a shot. Luka Modric shot the ball to Niko Kranjcar, who shot it to Olic, who missed it. After that several minutes of chaotic football ensued and the players reacted quite clumsily. In the 37^th minute the Israeli defence stopped the action by Srna and Corluka. By half time we only saw a yellow card Eduardo got for a complaint.

In the second half time the Croatians started off with more offensive, which was fruitful in the seventh minute of the second half time. Vedran Corluka got a centre shot and Eduardo da Silva was ready for it. After the Croatian goal the match became a bit boring. There was only the shot by Benayoun in the 59^th minute that Pletikosa managed to tame. The Israeli showed their helplessness with rough starts that referee Stark punished with as many as four yellow cards. Their chief target was Darijo Srna who requested a replacement in the 20^th minute due to an injury, but he managed to play the game to the end.

This was the last game played in Zagreb’s Maksimir in these qualification. The Croatian team may play for the Euro 2008 on Wednesday in the score in Moscow where Russia will play England goes to their advantage. The spectators came in great numbers and we hope they will do the same in England and Macedonia if Croatia confirm their position in the Euro 2008, which nobody doubts they will.

Slaven Bilic: We won a great game because Israel was unknown to us. We wanted the old game, but today they played differently. They are aggressive, they do not give up space, they are faster. I would like to congratulate the players, this is their victory. The spectators carried us again and they were our 12^th player. We did not fall at any time, we sought the second goal, to keep possession of the ball in their half. Several times they outplayed us, but we managed to prevent that well. They threatened us seriously for the first time in the 70^th minute, but that was it.

In the first half they did not reach our goal, but we did not use some of their mistakes. It is impossible to create a chance to go for the goal alone, they defend themselves well. We sought patience and persistence, which functioned excellently on the right flank. At half time I warned them not to get ahead of the ball too soon. I shouted at them a little because they looked as if we were in a 5-0 lead. We needed to be calm to get to the goal. This was a pretty good game, tactically ripe, without falling, aggressive, patient and we sought domination the whole time. It was a modern game and who knows football appreciated the game. It was a rough game from their side, but it was  a men’s game.

Eduardo is an excellent player, not just an excellent shot. Tonight he was perhaps not that good because he is recovering from an injury. He will play in Arsenal, I am not worried about him. They are thrilled with him, but his injuries create problems for him.

First me must qualify and we are ready to handle any pressure. This is a completely different team than in 1998, but the spirit is the same. On Monday we knew that Balaban and Petric could not play, but they stayed with us until the end. We all enjoy being together, we are playing a friendly game on Tuesday for which I wanted to give some players a rest, but they refuse to go home.

Dror Kashtan: I congratulate Croatia for their success and position. You are a strong team, which you showed today. This was a game in which both teams wanted to win. One mistake cost us and Eduardo came to collect. There were many changes in our team, we played well for the most part of the match, but we were defeated in the end. With this game we dropped out of the Euro 2008. We played against many good players and we have a reason for optimism despite the fact that we did not create an opportunity. We were good. In the end Bilic told me that this was their hardest game. I hope we will be better against the Russians and that we will rach victory with the help of the spectators.