Seagullsgonnagetya
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COUCO, Portugal, June 15 (Reuters) - France's comeback win over England has altered Croatia's approach to their Euro 2004 game against the champions and several players are likely to be rested.
Assistant coach Drazen Ladic said on Tuesday that France's 2-1 Group B victory put a different complexion on the point Croatia earned from a 0-0 draw with 10-man Switzerland.
"Our point looks okay now," Ladic told a news conference at the team's base deep in the Portuguese countryside.
"It is not now so imperative to win against France, it is more important not to lose. We always felt the last match against England would be decisive and that is still true."
Coach Otto Baric has a full squad to choose from for the game in Leiria on Thursday, including Juventus defender Igor Tudor who is back from suspension.
After collecting five yellow cards in the bad-tempered match against the Swiss, the coach will shuffle his pack to avoid suspensions and ensure he has his best players available for the England game.
"The coach is definitely thinking about saving some players," said Ladic, who was the Croatian goalkeeper at Euro 96 and in the 1998 World Cup.
"For sure he is going to save one or two but many of our key players have been cautioned so it is not easy to decide."
Striker Dado Prso and midfielder Ivica Mornar were booked for diving, midfielder Milan Rapaic for handball just after coming on as a substitute, and left back Boris Zivkovic and midfielder Nenad Bjelica were cautioned for fouls.
Ladic said the Croatian squad had been impressed by the individual discipline of the French and English teams, adding that they would have to match it to get anything from the remaining two games.
"They both played quickly and physically but what we particularly noticed was the way each player has his own particular role and sticks to it," he said.
"We have to be realistic, both teams have better quality than us. They play very fast with fast passes and don't have too many touches. It is very modern play.
"We have to match them. We have to play against France as England did -- quickly."
Croatia have played France three times, losing all three matches, including the 1998 World Cup semi-final.
Ladic, who was in goal for that Paris encounter, said it was impossible to compare the two games.
"There are different circumstances," he said. "We were in a state of euphoria then and being a knock-out situation it was a different atmosphere.
"This time it's a group game and if it doesn't go our way we have another chance."
Assistant coach Drazen Ladic said on Tuesday that France's 2-1 Group B victory put a different complexion on the point Croatia earned from a 0-0 draw with 10-man Switzerland.
"Our point looks okay now," Ladic told a news conference at the team's base deep in the Portuguese countryside.
"It is not now so imperative to win against France, it is more important not to lose. We always felt the last match against England would be decisive and that is still true."
Coach Otto Baric has a full squad to choose from for the game in Leiria on Thursday, including Juventus defender Igor Tudor who is back from suspension.
After collecting five yellow cards in the bad-tempered match against the Swiss, the coach will shuffle his pack to avoid suspensions and ensure he has his best players available for the England game.
"The coach is definitely thinking about saving some players," said Ladic, who was the Croatian goalkeeper at Euro 96 and in the 1998 World Cup.
"For sure he is going to save one or two but many of our key players have been cautioned so it is not easy to decide."
Striker Dado Prso and midfielder Ivica Mornar were booked for diving, midfielder Milan Rapaic for handball just after coming on as a substitute, and left back Boris Zivkovic and midfielder Nenad Bjelica were cautioned for fouls.
Ladic said the Croatian squad had been impressed by the individual discipline of the French and English teams, adding that they would have to match it to get anything from the remaining two games.
"They both played quickly and physically but what we particularly noticed was the way each player has his own particular role and sticks to it," he said.
"We have to be realistic, both teams have better quality than us. They play very fast with fast passes and don't have too many touches. It is very modern play.
"We have to match them. We have to play against France as England did -- quickly."
Croatia have played France three times, losing all three matches, including the 1998 World Cup semi-final.
Ladic, who was in goal for that Paris encounter, said it was impossible to compare the two games.
"There are different circumstances," he said. "We were in a state of euphoria then and being a knock-out situation it was a different atmosphere.
"This time it's a group game and if it doesn't go our way we have another chance."
