This beats Wembley win, says Bilic

AFP - 12 June 2008 20:57

Germany´s midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger(L) fouls Croatian midfielder Jerko Leko during their Euro 2008 Championships Group B football match in Klagenfurt, Austria. Croatia won 2-1 while Schweinsteiger received a red card for the foul.

KLAGENFURT, Austria (AFP) - Croatia coach Slaven Bilic claimed his team's Euro 2008 Group B victory over Germany here on Thursday topped even their win at Wembley last year.

Croatia prevented England from reaching the finals - and cost then England manager Steve McCLaren his job - by winning 3-2 at the new Wembley at the end of last year.

But this win was even better according to the coach who was a rugged centre-back in the Croatia team that knocked Germany out of the 1998 quarter-finals in France in a 3-0 victory.

"Of course Wembley was a special story becuase it's a unique stadium in the world but it was all or nothing for England whereas three days earlier in Skopje (Macedonia) we had booked our ticket for Euro 2008.

"This is a bigger achievement but we prepare for each match individually and we cherish each win."

Bilic cut a nervous figure on the sidelines throughout, seemingly kicking every ball and going in for every challenge as he prowled the touchline, often stepping out of the technical area.

"That's what I'm like, I'm always emotional and I can't change it even if wanted to but I don't want to," said Bilic.

"There are other coaches who sit on the bench all of the time and then there are benches that are much more active or lively.

"I like to take part by giving advice and being as close to the line as possible, within the normal limits of the game, of course."

The victory was especially sweet given that Croatia were roundly criticised by their own press following the drab 1-0 victory over co-hosts Austria in their opening match.

"We try hard and this criticism is always painful, especially if it's not objective but that virtual world didn't affect us much," said Bilic.

"We're a strong team, we're emotional but I think we have been rather successful in not allowing ourselves to take off and fly too high.

"But we don't doubt ourselves after bad performances."

Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar said this result proved what a strong team Croatia are.

"It's a big match for us, it's a big win for us and we've proven we can play any team in the world," he said. "We've had the best start to the tournament."

Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted that his side was beaten by a better team.

"It's clear looking back at the match that we deserved to lose because as a team we were unable to be precise enough and fast enough to really pose problems for Croatia," he said.

"We were unable to play our combinations or a fluid game. The Croatians sat back after they scored their first goal and we were unable to penetrate their defence and so we have to accept defeat."

Loew denied that he had been caught out by a tactical switch from Bilic, though, who opted to play midfielder Ivan Rakitic instead of forward Mladen Petric, or by Croatia's pressing on Michael Ballack.

"We were not surprised, other teams know how dangerous Ballack can be which is why opponents try to throw our players off their rhythm and we were expecting it," he insisted.

"I told my players that Petric would probably not play from the start and that they would add an extra man in midfield.

"I believe that unfortunately we played straight into Croatia's hands by playing lot of high balls and lobbed passes."

Germany's Real Madrid centre-back Christoph Mertesacker denied that his team had underestimated the Croats.

"No, we knew the danger but we weren't able to hold on to a lot of balls in attack," he said.