Kranjcar: Croatia have learned from 08 trauma
Reuters - Friday 08 June 2012, 10:20
Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar believes
they have learned from the bitter experience of their
quarter-final defeat by Turkey four years ago and are ready to
make a real push in Euro 2012.
The Croatians looked to have sealed a place in the last four
when they grabbed the lead in Vienna with just a minute of
extra-time remaining only to allow the Turks to draw level
seconds later and eventually win on penalties.
A semi-final clash with Germany slipped out of Croatia's
hands but Kranjcar, who this week sealed a move from Tottenham
Hotspur to Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev, is convinced such a slip-up
will not be replicated with a more mature squad.
"If a similar situation to the Turkey game comes around then
that scenario is not going to repeat itself," he said.
"The reason we lost to Turkey was a lack of experience. Now
we are at our peak and we are more experienced."
Croatia kick off their Group C campaign against Ireland on
Sunday in Poznan but they face a tough task to make it to the
knockout stages from a group featuring defending champions Spain
and 2006 World Cup winners Italy.
Midfielder Luka Modric said victory against Ireland is
essential and could kick-start a run comparable to Croatia's
memorable charge to the semi-finals in the 1998 World Cup, their
first major tournament as an independent nation.
"It's our most important match in the group. If we win it,
then I believe we will reach the knockout phase. I believe we
will play at our best and defeat Ireland," he said.
"We are the favourites and I think we will find a way to
beat them. It will not be easy, but I hope we will.
"Our primary goal is to get out of the group stage and then
anything is possible, "I even think we could go all the way to
the end and win the tournament."