from yahoo!
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Goalkeeper Drazen Ladic plays his last game for Croatia against France on Sunday and revenge for a bitter World Cup defeat will be uppermost in his mind.
France beat Croatia in the semifinals of the 1998 World Cup and added salt to the wound by beating them 3-0 in another friendly last year.
``But that defeat was a mishap,'' said Arsenal's French midfielder Emmanuel Petit. ``And I'm sure that Sunday it's going to be a totally different match...It could be a very tough and good game.''
His caution is shared by many in the squad, including coach Roger Lemerre.
``It's a warm-up game and we must take it as such,'' Lemerre said. ``But we must be wary even though the Croats did not make it to the Euro finals.''
Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic agreed. ``It is not going to be easy for us, but neither is it for them. It is the biggest possible challenge ahead of the World Cup qualifications,'' he said.
The French squad should be complete for the match in Zagreb although striker Nicolas Anelka who helped Real Madrid to Eurpean Cup victory on Wednesday is almost certain to be rested.
Anelka's absence will leave room for Monaco's David Trezeguet up front. He could start alongside former team mate Thierry Henry as Bordeaux's Christophe Dugarry is still recovering from a thigh injury.
Lemerre is also likely to leave out sweeper Laurent Blanc and defender Lilian Thuram, who took part in Italian play-off matches on Tuesday.
Chelsea's Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly should start in central defence, while Thuram could be replaced by AS Roma's Vincent Candel, back after a lay-off through injury.
``The match in Zagreb is part of a wider schedule including a game in Morocco next month, which must help me have a good picture of the players' shape before the European championship,'' Lemerre said.
CROATIA WITH A FACE LIFT
Blazevic has started building a new team after dismal performances in the Euro qualifications and the departure of captain and playmaker Zvonimir Boban.
Another key figure in the team that made it to the final stages of two big competitions in two years, 37-year old Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Drazen Ladic, will play his last game for the national squad before making way for young Zeljko Pavlovic.
Blazevic has been increasingly relying on the Kovac brothers -- midfielder Niko and defender Robert -- and another Germany-based player, Robert Zivkovic, who added some Bundesliga speed and toughness to an otherwise technically refined team.
Zivkovic is out through injury but the rest of the team is fit, including Inter Milan defender Dario Simic. Simic missed friendlies against Spain and Germany, which Croatia managed to draw to somewhat restore their shaken self-confidence.
Davor Suker and Alen Boksic will team up in the attack, with Aljosa Asanovic and Parma's Mario Stanic in support roles.
Probable teams:
Croatia - Drazen Ladic (Zeljko Pavlovic); Igor Stimac, Dario Simic, Robert Kovac; Zvonimir Soldo, Niko Kovac, Robert Jarni, Aljosa Asanovic, Mario Stanic; Davor Suker, Alen Boksic.
France - Fabien Barthez; Vincent Candela, Frank Leboeuf, Marcel Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu; Didier Deschamps, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet.
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without boban, i doubt that croatia can make a revenge!
i think France will win!!!
