Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Bilic Has Olic Problem for Croatia







Croatia were dealt a major blow when striker Ivica Olic was ruled out of Euro 2012 after sustaining an injury against Norway in a friendly.

Scans have revealed the full extent of the departing Bayern Munich frontman's thigh injury and he is expected to be out of action for between four and six weeks.

His place in the Croatia squad, who provide the Republic of Ireland's first opponents in Group C, will be taken by Dnipro's Nikola Kalinic.

A statement on the Croatian Football Federation's official website, www.hns-cff.hr, said: 'Unfortunately, Ivica Olic will not participate at the European Championships in Ukraine and Poland, and as his replacement, coach Slaven Bilic has called Nikola Kalinic.'

'It's a disaster,' said Bilic. 'You can't imagine.

'It's not a blow, it's not a problem, it's a disaster. He's a unique player. 

'We have many good players but Olic, you can't replace him because in Europe there are no other players like his. It's not a massive blow, it's more than that.'

Olic, who will join Wolfsberg, was due to fly home from Croatia's training camp in Munich on Monday night.

The Croatians open their campaign against Ireland in Poznan on Sunday evening.



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