Given braced for Hungary test

Shay Given believes that Ireland’s friendly in Hungary on Monday is an important stepping stone towards Euro 2012 for his side.

With Ireland’s opening game against Croatia in Poznan less than a week away, the Aston Villa goalkeeper is looking for a confidence-boosting win in Budapest.

“I think it’s important. Obviously the big game is next Sunday and we would like to go into that game with a win under our belts,” Given told RTE.

“Hungary had a very good result on Friday so they are obviously a very good team.

“We don’t know a lot of their players and they are at home as well, so it will be a tough game for us.

“It is just about us keeping our match fitness up. It’s important that we all put a good shift in.”

Despite some concerns over his knee injury, Given insists he is fully recovered and said the blisters that kept him out of training on Saturday are a minor irritation.

“It’s just nice to be out there again. Yesterday I had a problem with my two big toes. I have blisters on my two big toes,” he said.

“I just felt it was better to leave it yesterday because I could train today and I feel fine now.

“I’m just looking forward to getting playing again. It’s been a couple of weeks since the Premier League. I didn’t play in Dublin or in Italy during the week, so it’ll be nice to get a game under my belt before Sunday.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/given-braced-for-hungary-test/95861/

Croatia lose Olic for Euro 2012 World Soccer Shop

Croatia have been dealt a major blow with Ivica Olic ruled out of Euro 2012 due to a thigh injury, the striker replaced by Nikola Kalinic.

Olic: WIll not take part in Poland and Ukraine

Scans have revealed the full extent of departing Bayern Munich frontman Olic'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 Kalinic, the former Blackburn Rovers striker.

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."

Olic, who is to join Wolfsburg later this summer, suffered the injury in a friendly draw with Norway at the weekend.

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

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17743/croatia_lose_olic_for_euro_2012

Olic ruled out of Euro 2012

Croatia striker Ivica Olic has been ruled out of Euro 2012 with a thigh injury, the country’s football federation has announced.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic had been sweating over the fitness of the Bayern Munich striker since he sustained a thigh injury in the 1-1 friendly draw against Norway at the weekend.

A scan has revealed a partial rupture of the biceps muscle of the 32-year-old’s right thigh, with an estimated recovery of four to six weeks.

Bilic has acted quickly to replace Olic, calling Dnipro’s 24-year-old striker Nikola Kalinic, who has 13 caps to his name, into the squad.

Croatia will kick off their Euro campaign against Republic of Ireland before taking on Italy and Spain.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/olic-ruled-out-of-euro-2012/95843/

Croatia´s Olic in doubt for Euro 2012

Experienced Wolfsburg striker Ivica Olic is in doubt for Croatia’s Euro 2012 campaign due to a thigh injury.

Olic, 32, picked up the problem during his team’s 1-1 friendly draw against Norway on Sunday, and may not regain fitness in time for the tournament.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic may now be forced to reconsider his attacking options ahead of their Euro 2012 opener against Republic of Ireland on June 10.

“I cannot guarantee that Olic will play at the Euros,” Croatia squad doctor Zoran Bahtijarevic told Sportske Novosti.

“We did the first medical exam at the stadium in Oslo to check the flexibility of the muscle. It seemed fine, but he will undergo a complete scan on Monday in Munich.

“I’m an optimist. So far the medical evidence suggests he could (play at the Euros), but let’s wait until the scan.”

Following the Group C match against Republic of Ireland, Croatia take on Italy and then tournament holders Spain.

Olic has agreed a switch to Wolfsburg on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, bringing an end to his three-year stay at the Allianz Arena.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/croatia%c2%b4s-olic-in-doubt-for-euro-2012/95827/

Croatia leave out injured Lovren

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has had to leave injured defender Dejan Lovren out of his final Euro 2012 squad.

The Lyon centre-back has failed to recover from a foot problem he sustained in last month’s Coupe de France final success over Quevilly.

Lovren has also omitted Hajduk Split goalkeeper Goran Blazevic, Dinamo Zagreb defender Sime Vrsaljko and Dnipro attacker Nikola Kalinic.

Croatia play Norway in Oslo on Friday before heading for Poland, where they will kick off their European Championship campaign against Republic of Ireland on June 10.

The Croats, who qualified courtesy of a play-off win over Turkey, also have Italy and Spain in Group C.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Ivan Kelava (Dinamo Zagreb).

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham), Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb), Gordon Schildenfeld (Eintracht Frankfurt), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Domagoj Vida (Dinamo Zagreb), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Jurica Buljat (Maccabi Haifa), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Tottenham), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Tomislav Dujmovi (Dinamo Moscow), Ivan Perisic (Dortmund), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (Tottenham), Milan Badelj (Dinamo Zagreb).

Strikers: Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich), Mario Mandzukic (Wolfsburg), Nikica Jelavic (Everton), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg).

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/croatia-leave-out-injured-lovren/95462/