Simic gets cake after breaking Croatia caps record

BAD BRUECKENAU, Germany, June 19 (Reuters) Croatia's World Cup right back Dario Simic was given a cake by coach Zlatko Kranjcar today to celebrate breaking his country's appearance record.

The 30-year-old defender won his 82nd cap in the 0-0 draw with Japan yesterday, passing Robert Jarni on the all-time list. Record scorer Davor Suker, with 69 caps and 45 goals, is third.

Captain Niko Kovac also pushed into sixth place after making his 60th appearance.

''I'm very happy,'' Simic told reporters. ''You work your whole career to achieve something like this.'' Croatia need to beat Australia in Thursday's Group F match in Stuttgart to qualify for the last 16.

''(Victory over) Australia would be the icing on the cake,'' said Kranjcar.

With one match left, Brazil have qualified from the group with six points, Australia have three and Croatia and Japan one each.

REUTERS AY PM2136