Croatia turn to Butina

'Last minute'
The 30-year-old Club Brugge KV player, who did not appear in any of his country's qualifying fixtures, said: "This is the third or fourth time this season that I find myself stepping in at the last minute. It is not easy, but I'm not nervous because the whole team, including me, think that merely participating here is a great success." Team officials today took the decision to replace Pletikosa with NK Varteks custodian Vladimir Vasilj, subject to an examination by a UEFA doctor.

Tried and tested
Despite the goalkeeping change, Croatia coach Otto Baric is focused on the Group B encounter with the Swiss in Leiria. Pletikosa aside, he is expected to field the team that won 2-1 in Denmark last weekend. "Everyone has made us favourites but we will not underestimate Switzerland because we know we are playing against an excellent side," Baric said. "I am familiar with 90 per cent of the Swiss team and I don't believe they will start offensively; it will be Croatia who control the early stages."

Key encounter
Midfield player Niko Kovac is also confident. "Tomorrow's match will be a big one, but my conviction is that Croatia will win," he said. "Whether it's 1-0 or better, we have to win." This belief was mirrored by striker Dado Pršo who said: "Tomorrow's game with Switzerland is the most important for us. If we win against them, even 1-0, we will be much closer to getting beyond the group stage."