Kranjcar should be ashamed, say Croatian media

ZAGREB, June 23 (Reuters) Croatia's media criticised their team's elimination from the World Cup, saying coach Zlatko Kranjcar should be ''ashamed'' of his side's performance.

A 2-2 draw with Group F rivals Australia in Stuttgart yesterday meant Croatia finished with only two points from three games.

''Our coach did not find it appropriate to criticise himself or his players for an early exit,'' said the popular daily Vecernji List today.

''Croatian supporters were ashamed last evening. But Kranjcar should be the most ashamed as his team displayed a shameful performance in Germany and were among the worst teams in the tournament.'' The Croatians have not reached the second round of a major tournament since finishing third at the 1998 World Cup.

''We did not deserve (to stay),'' was the headline on the front page of the popular daily Jutarnji List. The Vjesnik daily added: ''We have to admit, it is fair Australia go through.'' ''We did not deserve a better result because we scored only twice in three games and we looked confused in a decisive game.

If we cannot beat a team of average quality, we cannot pretend to have a big squad,'' said the Jutarnji List.

Despite calls for Kranjcar's resignation, he said he was ready to sign a new contract and lead the team in the qualifiers for Euro 2008.

''I think the contract is ready, you don't have to be concerned about that,'' Kranjcar told the Vecernji List.

Kranjcar blamed the team's elimination on bad luck and cast doubt on Australia's two goals.

''You judge for yourself whether the penalty was justified and whether the second equaliser was offside,'' Kranjcar told the Jutarnji List.

REUTERS DH KP1705