Croatia rocked by key absentees
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Article summary
New Croatia coach Slaven Bilić is finding life far from easy in charge of the national team with disciplinary and defensive worries as they face Russia.
Article body
Curfew broken
Bilić expelled three players from the squad after they left a team training camp and broke a curfew as Darijo Srna, Ivica Olić and Boško Balaban hit the headlines in Croatia. Bilić's plans have been further disrupted by the absence of three of his four regular defenders, with Dario Šimić and Josip Šimunić suspended (cards) and Igor Tudor out injured again. A possible replacement, Igor Knežević, is also unavailable as the AS Livorno Calcio defender has a calf injury.
Striking pair
Bilić has announced he will play with a 4-4-2 formation with Eduardo da Silva and Ivan Klasnić in attack and he said of facing Russia: "We have a good quality team, although we have faced some troubles. I still believe we can win this match if we get a little more luck."