Delighted debutants

Croatia cherishes outsider status in World Cup

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Posted: Sunday July 05, 1998 11:26 PM

Blazevic considers the French to be the favorites for the title but also thinks they are beatable (AP)

VITTEL, France (AP) -- Croatia's coach admits his team is the outsider in its semifinal against France. Then again, he likes it that way.

Miroslav Blazevic delighted in proving the doubters wrong with Croatia's stunning 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Germany. He says there's no reason to stop there.

"This is a surprise only for people who are ignorant," the Croatian coach said Sunday. "Of course, we benefited from the outsider's role to surprise some favorites. Nobody paid any attention to us. When we play, we rebel against this attitude."

No stranger to cocky predictions, the wily 63-year-old coach has told anyone who would listen that Croatia could make the final. Now the small soccer-mad country on the Adriatic is only one step away. It has already made World Cup history as the first debutant to reach the final four.

Even Blazevic, who has coached clubs in France, rates the host nation -- and not his own -- the top title contender.

But after watching the French struggle to defeat Italy on penalty kicks in its quarterfinal, he said he is convinced they are beatable, too.

"I am too ambitious to say we have achieved everything we can," Blazevic said after his triumphant squad returned to its training camp in this idyllic spa town from Saturday's triumph over Germany in Lyon.

Wednesday's semifinal in Paris is likely to be the toughest test yet of Croatia's defense, which appeared tight under German pressure until a red card for defender Christian Woerns shortly before halftime tipped the quarterfinal in Croatia's favor.

To come off the patriotic euphoria that pushed them to new heights against Germany, the Croatian players relaxed at the local mineral baths Sunday.

"The hot springs do wonders for my players," allowed Blazevic.

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