Croatia and Modric gearing up for EURO 2008

With the European Championship 2008 now less than three weeks away, all teams are preparing for the start of the tournament. Also Croatia is hopeful of doing well, and it’s placing its hopes on playmaker Luka Modric for that. Slaven Bilic, coach of the national team said: “When he plays, Croatia is at its best!” So far, Modric played 24 matches for the national team and scoring 3 goals. It doesn’t sound like much, but his real strength is giving assists and dictating the play.

Modric was also quoted saying: “I know all eyes are on me right now, but I believe we could achieve a good result only through team play, and not some individual heroics.”

Croatia is fielding a team of which the main strength is its midfield where the talented duo Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar can do magic on the ball.

Last sunday, the first seven players of the Croatian national team gathered together for training on the Adriatic coast, in the town of Rovinj to start preparing for Euro 2008. The first in line were Vedran Corluka, Nikola Kalinic, Manuel Pamic, Anas Sharbini, Ognjen Vukojevic, Niko Covac and of course also Luka Modric. “Stipe Pletikosa and Ivica Olic will arrive on Monday, while the others will show up by Wednesday” Bilic told the press. The coach also said that they will start with training once to twice per day, and focusing on physical readiness. He also added that the first match against hosts Austria will be the key one. Also in light of a good preparation, on Saturday they will play a match against Moldova in Rijeka and another one against Hungary on the last day of May, in Budapest.

For some more information on Croatia’s chances and their team for Euro 2008, read this excellent article.