Niko Kovac to the rescue for Croatia
More on planning
ZAGREB, May 11, (AFP): Former Croatia captain Niko Kovac came to his country’s rescue last October, his lack of managerial experience offset by skills on the pitch to see Croatia through to the World Cup finals.
Berlin-born Kovac carved a reputation in his playing days for hard work and discipline, attributes he used to good effect to guide a struggling side past Iceland in the qualifying play-offs.
The 42-year-old inherited from previous coach Igor Stimac a Croatian side that had come under pressure for trailing a distant second behind Belgium in their qualifying group.
One point from their last four games was the spur that triggered Croatian Football federation president Davor Suker’s SOS to Kovac.
His arrival was enthusiastically welcomed by players and fans alike.
Kovac, whose brother Robert was also a Croatian international, hung up his boots in 2009, having won 83 caps and scored 15 goals for his country between 1996 and 2008.
He had spells with Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Hamburg and Red Bull Salzburg.
Kovac captained his country from 2004 onwards, participating in the European Championship in Portugal that year and in Austria and Switzerland in 2008, as well as the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Having coached at Red Bull Salzburg after retiring as a player, Kovac was put in charge of Croatia’s under-21 team in January 2013.
On his appointment as senior coach he said he was going to “insist on organisation and planning,” explaining that he was “raised and educated to do so.” “Fans will certainly not jeer my Croatia,” he assured.
After missing out on the 2010 finals in South Africa, Croatia are thrust back into the thick of it with the date with Brazil in the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo on June 12.
“We are proud to take part in that match, a great atmosphere is awaiting us and we will provide our maximum to present Croatia to the world in the best of light,” Kovac said.
Despite the enormity of facing the 2014 hosts and five-time champions Kovac has described the match-up as “a privilege and an honour.” month in Sao Paulo.
Nearly 20,000 people attended Saturday’s exhibition between past and present Corinthians players at the Itaquerao stadium, which remains under construction and will not hold a full test event until next weekend.
In the southern city of Porto Alegre, about 35,000 Internacional fans saw their team beat Atletico Paranaense 2-1 in a Brazilian league match at the Beira-Rio Stadium. It was the last test event at the venue hosting five World Cup matches.
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said recently the Itaquerao and the BeiraRio were among the stadiums still causing concern, along with the Arena da Baixada in the southern city of Curitiba.
The Arena Pantanal in the wetlands city of Cuiaba, where a constructor worker died last week, also is yet to be finished with just a month before the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia on June 12.
Sao Paulo’s much-delayed World Cup stadium, which will host the tournament opener between Brazil and Croatia on June 12, was inaugurated Saturday with a match featuring former stars of local club Corinthians.
The game saw the ground’s first goal scored by 1970 World Cup winner Roberto Rivelino and in front of 17,000 fans inside the 65,000-capacity arena.
The official test for the stadium will be on May 18 when Corinthians tackle Figueirense.