Well organised Croatia win from Germany, hardworking Modric

Today Croatia played a great game against Germany, winning 2-1. Dario Srna scored on the 24th minute mark, Ivica Olic scored another lucky one on the 63rd. Podolski scored a late goal but after that Germany was unable to keep the pressure on. Croatia was tactically superior and played smart, while some of Germany’s players were very disappointing, making costly mistakes.

Luka Modric played a much better game than the last one. He was very hardworking and everywhere on the pitch, combining with some nice individual actions now and then. Modric also nearly scored towards the end.

Man of the match for me was Olic, what an energy on the pitch this man has! Battling for every ball… Also worth noting was the passion that charismatic coach Bilic displayed near the sidelines, running up and down, giving directions. If he could he would have joined the game on the pitch!

Luka Modric slightly injured, Bilic making changes

Today Luka Modric missed the training because of a slight achilles injury which was the result of a knock in the game against hosts Austria. However he is only being rested more as a precaution and it’s almost certain he will play in Croatia’s next game in the EURO 2008 tournament against Germany on Monday. Instead of training with the group, Modric took some individual training.

Some player should be more worried though since Bilic said he will replace some of them that he believed delivered sub-par performances last game.

Modric selected for EURO 2008 squad

Today, Slaven Bilic, coach of the Croatian national team announced his selection for the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland. Not really surprising, Luka Modric is also part of the team.
“It’s a mixed team, composed of older, but also younger players,” said Bilic, who also extended his contract with the national team by two years through to 2010.
Croatia is part of the tough Group B with Germany, Austria and Poland as competitors.

The Croatian selection for EURO 2008:

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (Lens), Mario Galinovic (Panathinaikos).

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Manchester City), Dario Simic (AC Milan), Robert Kovac (Borussia Dortmind), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Dario Knezevic (Livorno), Hrvoje Vejic (Tomsk).

Midfielders: Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donesk), Niko Kovac (Red Bull Salzburg), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Jerko Leko (AS Monaco), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dinamo Bucharest), Nikola Pokrivac (AS Monaco), Manuel Pamic (Red Bull Salzburg), Anas Sharbini (Rijeka).

Forwards: Mladen Petric (Borussia Dortmund), Ivica Olic (Hamburger SV), Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen), Igor Budan (Parma), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split)