Croatia v France - PREVIEW
Not quite a rematch
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| French Lilian Thuram (R) scores the second goal for his team after Croatian defender Zvonimir Soldo looks on 08 July during the 1998 Soccer World Cup semi-final clash between host France and Croatia at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near to Paris . (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO PASCAL GEORGE |
France face Croatia Thursday six years on from the epic World Cup semi-final when the Balkan State briefly dreamed of taking a place in the final before going out 2-1 to the eventual champions.
France have, apart from the 2002 World Cup debacle, maintained their high standards but Croatia have slipped way below that level.
The Croatian management appear to have accepted that there is no hope in taking on the French seriously and are preparing to field several second choice players, though many back in Croatia would say they could hardly play worse than the ones who started against Switzerland.
"Our goal is to stay undefeated against France but we will play without pressure because we're not favourites," said assistant coach Drazen Ladic, who kept goal in the 1998 World Cup finals.
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| Croatia's midfielder Ivica Mornar (up) pays attention to Switzerland's midfielder Christoph Spycher, 13 June 2004 at Pessoa stadium in Leiria, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
"It would not be a tragedy to lose to a team like that," added Ladic, who won his 59th and last cap for Croatia in 2000 in a 2-0 friendly defeat by France.
Werder Bremen forward Ivan Klasnic is one of those set to start after coach Otto Baric promised to make changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Switzerland.
The day Thuram dies
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| The French team celebrate after beating England 2-1 in their opening Euro2004 football match, 13 June 2004 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. France and England are competing in Group B with Croatia and Switzerland. |
France are likely to make just the one change from the side that came back from the dead to beat England 2-1 on Sunday with Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele suffering from a shoulder injury likely to be replaced by AS Roma's Olivier Dacourt.
Lilian Thuram broke Croat hearts six years ago with his double strike - his first goals in international football to which he has failed to add despite reaching 100 caps against England - but the 32-year-old is not taking that as a sign he will repeat the feat on Thursday.
"To talk of Croatia takes us back to a magnificent time at the 1998 World Cup. It's fun, but that's all," says Thuram.
"I know the day I die they will show those goals again," added the 32-year-old.
Probable teams
Croatia: Butina - Simic, R. Kovac, Tudor, Zivkovic (capt) - Rosso, Bjelica, N. Kovac, Rapaic - Sokota (or Prso), Olic.
Coach: Otto Baric
France: Barthez - Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu - Pires, Vieira, Dacourt, Zidane (capt) - Trezeguet, Henry.
Coach: Jacques Santini
Referee: Kim Nielsen (DEN)