Dress rehearsal
World Cup-bound neighbors Croatia, Slovenia clash
Posted: Tuesday March 26, 2002 8:50 AM
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/news/2002/03/26/croatia_slovenia_ap/
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Winning isn’t everything. Well, not just yet anyway.
Croatia coach Mirko Jozic and his Slovenian counterpart, Srecko Katanec, have other things on their minds ahead of their World Cup warm-up match Wednesday. “The result is not top priority in this match,” said 62-year-old Jozic. “It’s our last chance for tests and experiments.” Katanec echoed the same opinion.
“The result is important, but not imperative. My first aim is to play a tougher opponent to gain a clearer picture,” the former player told reporters in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
Less than two months are left to prepare before the two teams depart for the World Cup finals. Croatia, a semifinalist in France in 1998 is in Group G, to be played in Japan with three-time titlists Italy, Mexico and newcomer Ecuador. Slovenia will be making its debut in Group B in South Korea with Spain, Paraguay and South Africa.
“Although 99 percent of the squad is already fixed in my mind, I still have about 30 to 100 names in the hat. Nobody is absolutely certain and no one is absolutely written off,” Jozic said.
Against Slovenia, Jozic will be missing star defender Igor Tudor, who plays for Italian Serie A club Juventus. Robert Kovac, of German powerhouse Bayern Munich, has also been ruled out due to injury.
Jasmin Agic, of domestic league club Dinamo Zagreb, and Mario Tokic, of Austria’s GAK Graz, have been called up as replacements.
Coming back from injury are World Cup ’98 Golden Boot Davor Suker and robust forward Alen Boksic, who scored Middlesbrough’s winning goal against Manchester United over the weekend in the English Premier League.
Katanec will only be missing Sebastijan Cimerotic, of Italy’s Lecce. Senad Tigan of local club Olimpija will fill in.
The squads are as follows:
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Tomislav Butina, Boris Zivkovic, Jasmin Agic, Mario Tokic, Josip Simunic, Stjepan Tomas, Dario Simic, Robert Jarni, Milan Rapaic, Mario Stanic, Jurica Vranjes, Robert Prosinecki, Davor Vugrinec, Alen Boksic, Davor Suker, Ivica Olic, Danijel Hrman.
Slovenia: Mladen Dabanovic; Marko Simeunovic, Marinko Galic, Aleksander Knavs, Zeljko Milinovic, Goran Sankovic, Milenko Acimovic, Ales Ceh, Nastja Ceh, Sasa Gajser, Amir Karic, Dzoni Novak, Miran Pavlin, Zoran Pavlovic, Zlatko Zahovic, Milan Osterc, Mladen Rudonja, Senad Tiganj.
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