Bilic Hails England As Best In Europe
•
11 Sep 2008, 20:05
•
Journals
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has described his teams defeat last night as a catastrophe - but hailed England, their conquerors, as probably the best in Europe
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is not so much celebrating his 40th birthday today as trying to recover his equilibrium after Wednesday's 4-1 stunning defeat in Zagreb by Fabio Capello's England.
Bilic said Capello's side were now probably the best in Europe, and described Croatia's first ever World Cup qualifier defeat at home as "a catastrophe.''
The damage was done by a superb hat-trick from Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney's first international goal for almost a year.
Bilic reflected: In the first half, we were looking good and we thought we could get a positive result.
"But, we were brutally punished in the second half.''
"We knew that Capello had two options, either Walcott or Beckham,'' Bilic continued. "It turned out that Walcott was the right choice as he was so exceptionally dangerous. England showed they are a mighty team, probably the best in Europe.''
Croatia were down to 10 men from the 54th minute when veteran defender Robert Kovac was sent off for a mid-air challenge on Joe Cole. The Chelsea midfielder was carried away on a stretcher with blood pouring from a head wound inflicyed by Kovac's elbow.
Croatia's Vecernji List newspaper called the game "Bilic's Debacle,'' while popular website Index.hr said the defeat left Croatia "broken down and humiliated.''
"For a few months, we lived in a sweet dream that we were the best in Europe,'' declared the Jutarnji List daily.
"[England] hit us on the head with a hammer.''
Croatia's striker, Ivica Olic, reflecting that his team had beaten England 3-2 at Wembley in November 2007 and 2-0 in Zagreb in 2006, said: "When we compare the two previous matches, especially the one in Zagreb two years ago, the difference was in luck.
"Then, we were the first to score. This time, they were the ones to open the scoring. From then on, it was difficult for us as their defence was as secure as a safe.''
It is debatable whether many who saw last night's game would also attribute England's victory to luck. It was a little too comprehensive for that.
-> Shoutout to Raptus, even the Croatian manager admitted England played better, so now eat your own words.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is not so much celebrating his 40th birthday today as trying to recover his equilibrium after Wednesday's 4-1 stunning defeat in Zagreb by Fabio Capello's England.
Bilic said Capello's side were now probably the best in Europe, and described Croatia's first ever World Cup qualifier defeat at home as "a catastrophe.''
The damage was done by a superb hat-trick from Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney's first international goal for almost a year.
Bilic reflected: In the first half, we were looking good and we thought we could get a positive result.
"But, we were brutally punished in the second half.''
"We knew that Capello had two options, either Walcott or Beckham,'' Bilic continued. "It turned out that Walcott was the right choice as he was so exceptionally dangerous. England showed they are a mighty team, probably the best in Europe.''
Croatia were down to 10 men from the 54th minute when veteran defender Robert Kovac was sent off for a mid-air challenge on Joe Cole. The Chelsea midfielder was carried away on a stretcher with blood pouring from a head wound inflicyed by Kovac's elbow.
Croatia's Vecernji List newspaper called the game "Bilic's Debacle,'' while popular website Index.hr said the defeat left Croatia "broken down and humiliated.''
"For a few months, we lived in a sweet dream that we were the best in Europe,'' declared the Jutarnji List daily.
"[England] hit us on the head with a hammer.''
Croatia's striker, Ivica Olic, reflecting that his team had beaten England 3-2 at Wembley in November 2007 and 2-0 in Zagreb in 2006, said: "When we compare the two previous matches, especially the one in Zagreb two years ago, the difference was in luck.
"Then, we were the first to score. This time, they were the ones to open the scoring. From then on, it was difficult for us as their defence was as secure as a safe.''
It is debatable whether many who saw last night's game would also attribute England's victory to luck. It was a little too comprehensive for that.
-> Shoutout to Raptus, even the Croatian manager admitted England played better, so now eat your own words.
Sunderland had a stormer of a game against spurs at start of the season, we then got knocked back a few steps against man city.
what I'm trying to say is, DON'T JUMP THE GUN STEVE
i was pinching myself in the first half, asking myself who this team i was watching actually was.
all of the drudgery and cackness of england performances in recent games/years just ... wasnt there
but anyway, have england played really so shit lately that everyone finds their play yesterday good? :/
i was like... whahuh?? that pass made it to another person :/ ehhh? we're pressing from the front :/ erm? our defence collects the ball and doesnt hoof it back to them :/
so yes comparign it to an average england performance it was stellar.
but seriously don't be bitter, england were the better side with 11 vs 11, and to say otherwise means that you really are viewing the game through rose tinted spectacles.
on another note england should have had a penalty before that and simunic should have been sent off long before kovac.
and how embarassing were your players after you got a man sent off? rolling on the floor at least 5 times whenever an england player came within 2 feet of them.
heres a secret, if your really hurt, you dont roll aroud, it hurts too much.
My flag = yugoslavia. Yugoslavia = bosnia. Im = bosnian.
btw isn't it allahu akbar?
Depends on where you a from.
oh wait
And the luck was not on our side this time.
I still think we have a better team then england but better teams dont allways win:P
Anyhow was a great nigh for all you english cunts out there enjoy it while it lasts you deserved it:P
I wouldn't take what Bilic says about england being the best in europe too serious, he knows what he's doing ;)
edit: interesting, I've just read all his statements but I can't find anywhere where he said that england is the best in europe, only that england have played their best match in 4 years and that they have been a bit lucky and no one can tell how would it end if it weren't for red card because that's what killed us
+ we are the only nation with fans that will sing for the last 15minutes while we are losing 1:4 where we didn't lose for 14 years. England fans were disappointing. See you next year.
besides, you don't even read croatian newspapers so you don't even know what do they say after each match, i can't remember anyone ever said anything bad about our team so go figure
and don't act so arrogant/stupid everytime u win a game plz (it's not your country which is even worse) ...
U don't see the spanish or french acting arrogant/stupid everytime they win vs a decent team...