Slaven Bilic has hit back at claims England's black players will be the target of racist abuse in Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium.

UEFA officials have warned Croatia to expect punishment if there is any repeat of the fans' behaviour in Italy, two months ago.

Hundreds of Croatian fans formed a human swastika in the stands when their team played a friendly in Livorno.

Manager Bilic insists his countrymen are not racists but fears it is almost impossible to stop if a supporter wants to shout racist abuse.

Bilic said: "I would like to say it is not going to happen. I hope it's not going to happen but it can happen, just as it can happen anywhere in the world.

"Even those guys who are going to do it, they are just doing these things to be rebellious.

"You can't judge a country by one or two or 10 or 100.

"My country and my people are friendly, peace-loving people but in a stadium, one fan can go off his rocker and create an incident.

"If one person decides to shoot his mouth off in the wrong way, even the police cannot stop him. What can you do? Cut his tongue out?

UEFA will keep a close eye and an ear on the home fans during tomorrow's Euro 2008 qualifier but Bilic said: "What I'm really hoping for is an excellent football atmosphere in the stands and the country."

The general secretary of the Croatian Football Association, Zorislav Srebric, greeted the England team at Zagreb airport today.

Srebric said: "I would like to protest against allegations that Croatia has racism. That is simply not true.

"Arsenal came to Zagreb in the Champions League and there was not one single incident that was remotely associated with racism.

"Tomorrow you will see how untrue these allegations are."

On the pitch, Croatia are confident of beating England and leaping to the top of Group E.

Bilic said: "England are in the top four or five in the world. We respect them but we are the home side and we have our strengths.

"We are full of confidence and we have positive energy and we will try to use our intelligence and dynamic style to a fine a way to victory.

"Our tradition and our history, our strengths and our qualities, give us the right to look for three points."