The Hindu : Sport / Football : Croatia puts up a spirited show

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Saturday, Jun 19, 2004

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Sport - Football

Croatia puts up a spirited show

LEIRIA, JUNE 18. Twice coming from a goal down to rescue a match is either the sign of a strong team or a lucky one. The question is, which is France?

The defending European champion struggled again on Thursday, needing David Trezeguet's goal to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw against Euro 2004 group `B' rival Croatia.

``The team needs to wake up a bit,'' was coach Jacques Santini's blunt reaction. ``We did not tackle properly or position ourselves correctly.''

In the team's opening game against England, Zinedine Zidane struck two injury-time goals to turn certain defeat into the narrowest of wins — covering the cracks as France failed to reflect its star billing.

``We can enter into individual analysis, but this must be weighed up in a collective team context,'' Santini said.

He may have highlighted the problem — France is simply not performing as a unit.

``They (France) are brilliant, but mistakes are happening,'' said Croatia coach Otto Baric.

Zidane cannot be expected to save Les Bleus every time.

The Real Madrid star set up France's opener against Croatia — his free-kick clipped Igor Tudor and was credited as an own goal — then promptly drifted out of the match.

Trezeguet's 64th-minute equaliser, where he appeared to handle the ball when controlling it, came from a defensive lapse. It was his 29th in 53 appearances, but first this year.

France has scored four goals in the tournament so far — a healthy ratio at first glance. But all have come from opponent's errors — two free-kicks, a penalty and a goalkeeping error.

What has happened to sweeping cross-field moves, intricate approach play, clinical finishing?

His goal apart, Trezeguet did little against Croatia. Worryingly for Santini, strike partner Thierry Henry did even less.

The Arsenal star has now gone five games without scoring for Les Bleus, an eight-month gap which puts his decreasing international record at 25 goals in 60 appearances. A long way off the ratio he enjoys for the Gunners, for whom he has plundered 151 in 255.

``They would not let him play to his strengths,'' came Santini's rather meek response when asked if Henry is below par. He took 63 minutes before mustering a shot on target.

Although Santini is putting on a brave face, the problems are mounting for his team — with the defence becoming a major headache.

Having gone 11 games and 1,072 minutes without conceding before Frank Lampard struck for England on Sunday, France caved in against Croatia, allowing two goals in four minutes. Santini said his team was ``humiliated'' in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

The first goal came courtesy of a penalty, the second a calamitous blunder by veteran defender Marcel Desailly — returning as captain.

Why Santini persists with Desailly — the 35-year-old was already showing signs of wear and tear in the last World Cup — is a regular debate in the French media. Sluggish and often caught out of position, Desailly's 116th cap was surely one of his least distinguished.

Milan Rapaic converted a 48th-minute penalty to equalise for Croatia, and then Dado Prso sneaked behind as Desailly woefully misjudged a bouncing ball. The striker blasted past Fabien Barthez with aplomb. Desailly was on the floor when the ball went in.

``It was a brilliant match,'' Baric said. ``The essential is that my team can play like this against one of the best in Europe.

``This is the first time Croatia has taken a point against France in an official match, next time we will win.''

Prso, who will join Glasgow Rangers this summer, said his team had been underestimated.

"France maybe played a bit too relaxed after they took the lead, thinking the match was over. But we showed that there are no small teams,'' said Prso, who was named `man- of- the-match'.

Prso complained about the refereeing, saying Trezeguet clearly handled the ball before drawing France level.

Croat coach Otto Baric agreed.

``This team deserved at least a draw, but mostly it deserved a win.''

``At this championship, it is visible that the referees are protecting the stronger teams,'' he added, maintaining that both French goals came from dubious decisions.

The match was a repeat of the 1998 World Cup semifinal, when France needed two goals from defender Lilian Thuram to come from behind and win 2-1 with 10 men.

Santini damned the Croatians with faint praise.

``They are remarkable footballers,'' he said. ``We allowed them to play to their strengths. But we should have organised ourselves collectively after taking the lead. If we had, Croatia would not have come back.''

France controlled the opening exchanges and went ahead when Zidane's 22nd-minute free-kick deflected off Tudor's heel. William Gallas should have made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time but his header flashed wide of the open goal.

``We had a spell for 10 minutes, where we floated aimlessly,'' said Zidane. ``We were unable to force a second goal.''

For the second consecutive match, defender Mikael Silvestre, preferred at left-back to Bixente Lizarazu, gave away a penalty. But this time Barthez could not save it — as he had against England's David Beckham.

``The match was played to a crazy rhythm, it was a miracle we got a point,'' Barthez said. ``This should serve as a lesson never to be repeated again.''

Robert Mornar blazed over the bar from four metres in stoppage time, meaning France just escaped defeat — as it had against England.

Top of `Group B' with four points, France needs only a draw against Switzerland in Coimbra on Monday to ensure a quarterfinal slot. England faces Croatia in the other match.

Line-ups:

France: Fabien Barthez; William Gallas (81, Willy Sagnol), Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Mikael Silvestre, Sylvain Wiltord (70, Robert Pires), Patrick Vieira, Olivier Dacourt (79, Benoit Pedretti), Zinedine Zidane, David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry.

Croatia: Tomislav Butina; Dario Simic, Robert Kovac, Igor Tudor, Josip Simunic, Nenad Bjelica (68, Jerko Leko), Niko Kovac, Giovanni Rosso, Milan Rapaic (87, Ivica Mornar), Dado Prso, Tomo Sokota (73, Ivica Olic). — AP

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