標題: Defoe happy with a point from Croatia clash [打印本頁] 作者: chuu 時間: 2008-9-10 12:45 AM 標題: Defoe happy with a point from Croatia clash
Jermain Defoe has admitted England would be happy with a draw in Croatia.
The Croats completed the double over England to dump them out of Euro 2008 atthe qualifying stage and Saturday's 2-0 win over Andorra hardly suggests coachFabio Capello has drawn a massive improvement from his players since succeedingSteve McClaren.
Few give England much chance of victory in Zagreb, not least because Croatiahave never lost a competitive fixture at the Maksimir Stadium.
And while Capello and John Terry continue to stress the desire for threepoints, Defoe concedes parity would be regarded as a positive outcome.
''A draw would be a great result in Croatia,'' he said.
''We have to be strong and believe we are going to win because it is a massivegame. But the most important thing is to get a result.''
A draw would be welcome as Croatia's general record in qualifying tournamentssuggests they will not drop many points before the two sides square up again atWembley in 12 months' time.
Although the Ukraine and, to a slightly lesser extent, Belarus, will bedangerous opponents, particularly on home soil, Slaven Bilic's team seem able togrind out results from tricky away games, as they did in Israel during theEuropean Championships, something England failed to do.
And with only the group winners sure to reach South Africa and one of the ninerunners-up not even reaching the play-offs, the margin for error is not great.
Rio Ferdinand's return to training should bolster England's defence butelsewhere there are problems.
Defoe did not do enough in a disappointing 45 minutes against Andorra toconfidently predict he will hold off Emile Heskey's challenge for a startingberth, while the same is also true of Theo Walcott and David Beckham, eventhough the Arsenal man lasted slightly longer.
Two-goal Joe Cole is almost certain to replace Stewart Downing, althoughwithout injured trio Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick, thecentral area of midfield looks vulnerable defensively.
What England do have is a burning desire for revenge.
While it could be reasonably argued they were the architects of their owndownfall in both matches against Croatia, through Gary Neville's calamitous owngoal in Zagreb, then with their sheer inept defending at Wembley, England stillnurse a sense of grievance.
And Defoe feels the added hunger will be a major advantage.
''We owe Croatia one. Our two results against them cost us in the end,'' hesaid.
''They were both huge disappointments and it does not matter what sport youplay, if you lose to someone, you want to beat them next time round.''
Defoe can still recall the empty feeling he experienced as the knowledgeEngland would not be in Austria and Switzerland last summer began to sink in.
And he has no desire to feel such desperation again no matter how good Croatiaare on home soil.
''We will be ready this time,'' he said.
''I do not want to feel like that again. It was a horrible experience.
''We know Croatia are excellent at home. We know they are a good side with goodplayers.
''But man for man I honestly believe we are better. It is down to us to showthose qualities.''
