catenaccio_L'pool
16 Dec 2005, 01:49 AM
I figure we could open a thread about what press says about the group in our respective countries, since many of you dont speak croatian, and I dont speak japanese nor portuguese...also, what are players and coaches saying about the group...
The Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjčar held a new news conference, where Japanese press was mad after he said Croatia is happy with the draw because they are better than jpn and aus. He was a bit nicer today:
"I respect Japan and Australia very much and Brazil even more. It is clear that Croatia, Japan and Australia will fight for the 2nd place in the group and I have every right to be optimistic because we were better than Sweden and Bulgaria in the qualifications. I do not wand to overrate Australia and Japan, just as I dont wand to underrate Croatia." He goes on about Japan: "It is a good squad, but I must admit I did not follow them until the last WC. My friend and colleague Branko Ivanković (Irans coach, played Japan) will give me all the info about them. They are good technicians and are quick--it wont be easy playing them. With arrival of foreign coaches they improved tactics, but do not worry--we'll scout them well."
On the question who's more dangerous, aus or jpn:
"They are both dangerous but only if we do not play to the best of our ability which we showed in qualifiers. But I am convinced we will play on a high level, we are the only danger to ourselves. After we drew 1-1 with Brazil (friendly), we shouldnt worry about aus nor jpn." He then said he will not underestimate anyone.
When asked what result he'd be satisfied with, coach replied: "i'd be happy with the final. of course, the main goal is to advance from the group stage but afterwards anything is possible. Football is such a game in which a weaker team can defeat a better one."
The Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjčar held a new news conference, where Japanese press was mad after he said Croatia is happy with the draw because they are better than jpn and aus. He was a bit nicer today:
"I respect Japan and Australia very much and Brazil even more. It is clear that Croatia, Japan and Australia will fight for the 2nd place in the group and I have every right to be optimistic because we were better than Sweden and Bulgaria in the qualifications. I do not wand to overrate Australia and Japan, just as I dont wand to underrate Croatia." He goes on about Japan: "It is a good squad, but I must admit I did not follow them until the last WC. My friend and colleague Branko Ivanković (Irans coach, played Japan) will give me all the info about them. They are good technicians and are quick--it wont be easy playing them. With arrival of foreign coaches they improved tactics, but do not worry--we'll scout them well."
On the question who's more dangerous, aus or jpn:
"They are both dangerous but only if we do not play to the best of our ability which we showed in qualifiers. But I am convinced we will play on a high level, we are the only danger to ourselves. After we drew 1-1 with Brazil (friendly), we shouldnt worry about aus nor jpn." He then said he will not underestimate anyone.
When asked what result he'd be satisfied with, coach replied: "i'd be happy with the final. of course, the main goal is to advance from the group stage but afterwards anything is possible. Football is such a game in which a weaker team can defeat a better one."