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KRANJCAR PINPOINTS LACK OF RESPECT
By Bill Pierce
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Niko Kranjcar - scored the opening goal /
Photo: sportinglife.com
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Croatia's Niko Kranjcar, who helped destroy England's chances
of appearing in Euro 2008, believes the national team paid the price for
failing to show respect to the smaller teams in their qualifying group.
The midfielder will again face Scott Carson when Portsmouth visit Aston
Villa on Saturday, a fortnight after he embarrassed the goalkeeper with
the opening goal in Croatia's 3-2 win at Wembley which ended England's
hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 hopes.
The 23-year-old, however, does not blame goalkeeping blunders or any shortage
of quality for England's failure but instead believes the players vastly
underestimated the "smaller teams" in the group.
England drew at home with Macedonia and lost in Russia while Croatia did
the double as their campaign ended in failure and the sack for former
manager Steve McClaren.
Now Kranjcar warns a similar attitude could be England's undoing in the
World Cup 2010 qualifying programme - when Croatia are again among their
opponents.
He said: "You have to show respect to every team in the group. I
think that is the difference between Croatia and England.
"And after the comments some of the England players made again after
the World Cup draw (last week) I don't think they showed a lot of respect
for Ukraine, Belarus or even Croatia.
"They said they thought they had an easy group but after what happened
to them against Croatia maybe it is not a good way to think.
"We know how difficult it will be to go to places like Belarus and
Ukraine in, say, November. And Kazakhstan is a nine-hour trip. So these
are matches you cannot always expect to win."
Asked if England had learned their lesson, Kranjcar said: "We will
see. With the players they have, England should be at the top group of
(international) football but they didn't show it in the European qualifiers.
"Their performances did not deserve to go on to the finals. They
just needed a point against Russia and then a point against Croatia, which
is not much, but they didn't get it.
"They should be in the World Cup finals as well but when you look
at the draw it is not the same as the Euros.
"There is only one tough group, one that people will
call the Death Group (including France and Italy) and England and Croatia
have missed it.
"For me, though, ours is still a difficult group, one of the toughest
draws we could have got. England were the team to avoid but not only can
England cause damage. So can Ukraine and Belarus."
Kranjcar, who played for Croatian rivals Dynamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split,
is more than happy to be distracted by Pompey's own battle for Europe,
especially now he has established himself in the side.
He laughs off suggestions the meeting with Carson will be a key factor
at Villa after the on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper allowed his hopeful 25-yarder
to skid into England's net.
He said: "I didn't embarrass him. I can always shoot from 25 yards
and don't need his help. But I don't think he will focus on me. He is
an international keeper now and I think he will go on and put that behind
him."
Kranjcar has been outstanding in a Pompey team which has gone 10 Barclays
Premier League matches without defeat and are looking for their sixth
consecutive away win.
He said: "I knew I would need all last season to adapt to the English
game which is much faster and much more physical than in Croatia where
I was in dominant teams which attacked for 80% of the time.
"The manager (Harry Redknapp) left me out a lot but it was for a
purpose and now with a run of games I am happy with my performances.
"Villa will be a tough game because we are on the same number of
points. Their front three - Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and John
Carew - will be dangerous. and they have quality in midfield as well.
"But the Pompey system (4-5-1) this season suits me more than last
although I need a longer run before I impress other people, but I am not
thinking about clubs who might wan to buy me."
Kranjcar, a natural right-footer who plays on the left, has built a reputation
for spectacular strikes and has scored three in 11 starts for Pompey since
recovering from a broken foot in September.
He said: "It's not difficult for foreign players with ability to
come into English football but they need time to adapt. It is a change
of culture and I was lucky that Dejan Stefanovic (former Pompey and Serbia
captain now with Fulham) was here and was a great help with the language.
"I'm happy too that my girlfriend (Simona) is here with me and that
helps a lot when you have someone close to you."
Sportinglife.com,
07/12/2007
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