Boban impressed with Italy but not Croatia
By Simon Evans
SENDAI, Japan, June 6 (Reuters) - Former Croatia captain Zvonimir Boban has criticised his country's team and gives them little hope against group G rivals Italy on Saturday.
Boban, part of the Croatia side that reached the semi-finals in France in 1998, is working during the World Cup as a columnist for a Croatian newspaper and made a surprise appearance at Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni's press conference on Thursday.
Boban said he was hugely impressed by Italy's start to the World Cup but much less so by Croatia's. "I think the match will depend above all on Italy," Boban told reporters.
"The Croatia I saw in the first game (a 1-0 defeat to Mexico) had no play and that is going to be a big problem -- above all against Italy who I have never seen start a competition as convincingly, so determined, so strong and practically perfect on a tactical level," he said.
"But every game has its own story and so there is still hope," added Boban.
Italy beat Ecuador 2-0 in their opening game.
Boban said Croatia's defeat to Mexico might provoke a response out of his compatriots but was sceptical about their chances against Italy in Ibaraki, Japan.
"They will give all they have and more. But you have to look at what they have to give," said Boban.
"The psychological situation is not the best. There is no enthusiasm...but there are good individuals.
"I hope the coach puts out a good team because the Italians are so strong and can exploit every area of the field," said the former AC Milan player who retired from football last season after a brief spell with Spanish club Celta Vigo.
Boban is one of several members of the Croatian team of four years ago who have since hung up their boots but, despite his reservations about the current side, he is optimistic about Croatian football in general.
"A lot of things have changed. But what has not changed is a certain continuity in Croatian football, which has enabled us to qualify for a second World Cup after the cycle of the previous generation came to an end.
"It was success for these lads to qualify. But what struck everyone a bit about the first game was the lack of play. We didn't play and we lost the game.
"Croatia need to play because they have the quality to perform," added Boban.
With Boban in the playmaker role Croatia beat Germany 3-0 in the quarter-finals in France four years ago before losing to the hosts and eventual winners 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Boban won four Italian league titles in eight seasons with Milan and was part of the side that lifted the 1994 European Cup.
06/06/02 09:41 ET
Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
By Simon Evans
SENDAI, Japan, June 6 (Reuters) - Former Croatia captain Zvonimir Boban has criticised his country's team and gives them little hope against group G rivals Italy on Saturday.
Boban, part of the Croatia side that reached the semi-finals in France in 1998, is working during the World Cup as a columnist for a Croatian newspaper and made a surprise appearance at Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni's press conference on Thursday.
Boban said he was hugely impressed by Italy's start to the World Cup but much less so by Croatia's. "I think the match will depend above all on Italy," Boban told reporters.
"The Croatia I saw in the first game (a 1-0 defeat to Mexico) had no play and that is going to be a big problem -- above all against Italy who I have never seen start a competition as convincingly, so determined, so strong and practically perfect on a tactical level," he said.
"But every game has its own story and so there is still hope," added Boban.
Italy beat Ecuador 2-0 in their opening game.
Boban said Croatia's defeat to Mexico might provoke a response out of his compatriots but was sceptical about their chances against Italy in Ibaraki, Japan.
"They will give all they have and more. But you have to look at what they have to give," said Boban.
"The psychological situation is not the best. There is no enthusiasm...but there are good individuals.
"I hope the coach puts out a good team because the Italians are so strong and can exploit every area of the field," said the former AC Milan player who retired from football last season after a brief spell with Spanish club Celta Vigo.
Boban is one of several members of the Croatian team of four years ago who have since hung up their boots but, despite his reservations about the current side, he is optimistic about Croatian football in general.
"A lot of things have changed. But what has not changed is a certain continuity in Croatian football, which has enabled us to qualify for a second World Cup after the cycle of the previous generation came to an end.
"It was success for these lads to qualify. But what struck everyone a bit about the first game was the lack of play. We didn't play and we lost the game.
"Croatia need to play because they have the quality to perform," added Boban.
With Boban in the playmaker role Croatia beat Germany 3-0 in the quarter-finals in France four years ago before losing to the hosts and eventual winners 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Boban won four Italian league titles in eight seasons with Milan and was part of the side that lifted the 1994 European Cup.
06/06/02 09:41 ET
Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.