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Croatia must go on the attack

Euro 2004 play-offs/second leg: Croatia coach Otto Baric has called up uncapped Benfica forward Tomislav Sokota to boost his…

Wed Nov 19 2003 - 00:00

Euro 2004 play-offs/second leg:Croatia coach Otto Baric has called up uncapped Benfica forward Tomislav Sokota to boost his attack for their play-off second leg today.

Sokota will replace Ivica Olic of CSKA Moscow, who will miss the game in Ljubljana due to suspension.

Slovenia now need just a goalless draw to qualify for the finals in Portugal.

But Baric told the Vecernji daily newspaper: "We are capable of scoring twice in Ljubljana to secure our place in Portugal. Despite the unconvincing performance in Zagreb, we should have won the game 2-1."

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Croatia also welcome back defenders Robert Kovac, who was suspended for the first leg, and Josip Simunic, who has recovered from his ankle injury.

Baric is also considering drafting in attacking midfielders Marko Babic of Bayer Leverkusen and Dinamo Zagreb captain Niko Kranjcar from the under-21 team that beat Scotland 2-0 on Sunday.

The main problem facing Slovenia coach Bojan Prasnikar is replacing suspended striker Ermin Siljak, who scored in Zagreb and is the qualifying competition's top scorer with nine goals.

The likely solution will be to push Zlatko Zahovic forward.

First-choice goalkeeper Marko Simeunovic has recovered from a shoulder injury, but Prasnikar said Mladen Dabanovic would stay between the posts after a superb performance on Saturday.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

CROATIA: Pletikosa; Zivkovic, R Kovac, Tudor, Simunic; Srna, N Kovac, Rosso, Rapaic; Prso, Sokota.

SLOVENIA: Dabanovic; Cipot, Vugdalic, Knavs; Karic, Sukalo, Ceh, Pavlin, Acimovic, Rudonja (or Kapic); Zahovic

Referee: U Meier (Switzerland)

Today'sFixtures

(7.45 unless stated)

EURO 2004 PLAY-OFFS - Second legs: Holland v Scotland (7.30); Norway v Spain (6.30); Slovenia v Croatia (4.30); Turkey v Latvia (6.30); Wales v Russia (7.30).

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING - African zone - First round, second leg: Ghana v Somalia. South American qualifying tournament: Chile v Paraguay (1.05); Ecuador v Peru (9.45); Brazil v Uruguay (11.50).

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Hungary v Estonia (4.00); Portugal v Kuwait (9.15).

UNDER-20 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY - Republic of Ireland v Paraguay, Richmond Park, 7.30.

EURO 2004 UNDER-21 PLAY-OFFS - Second legs: Czech Rep v Switzerland (3.30); Italy v Denmark (8.00); Poland v Belarus (5.00); Spain v Sweden (8.45).

ENGLISH FA CUP - First round replay: Canvey Island v Southend.