Kranjcar Warns England

Last updated : 19 November 2007 By Jim Bonner
Croatia may have qualified for Euro 2008 but that hasn't stopped Pompey star Niko Kranjcar thinking that they can come to Wembley and spoil the party.

Kranjcar told the media today that his side are looking to emulate the attitude shown by Israel on Saturday when they defeated Russia despite having nothing to play for.

"We have a responsibility to try and win the match. Israel showed what sport is about in a game they didn't have to win and they gave their maximum against Russia."

"We are going to Wembley to prove how good we are. That is what we want to do there. Wembley will suit us, we are much more comfortable with the ball and we will want to have a lot of possession."

"It will suit the way we play and we want to send a message out to the rest of Europe. We can get even more respect if we beat England again."


A 2-0 win for England on Wednesday will see them somehow managing to top their qualifying group despite some bad results. John Terry could well be fit again which means Sol Campbell will probably miss out.

I can picture it now. The scoreline is 0-0 going into stoppage time, Rio Ferdinand gives away a silly free kick on the edge of the box and Kranjcar steps up to take it.

He bends the ball around the wall, Robinson flaps aimlessly at it and it goes in as Jamo sits on the bench thinking "I would have stopped that."

All English faces around the stadium are glum with despair until news filters through that Andorra have scored in the 95th minute to earn a 1-1 draw in Russia and bail England out once again.

You never know.... it might happen!