At 71, Otto Baric is no spring chicken, but in Euro 2004 the veteran campaigner will once more get the chance to coach a national team in a major tournament.

Two goals in four second-half minutes gave Croatia a remarkable come-from-behind victory which has left another of the World Cup favourites unsure of their future in the tournament.

Two goals in four second-half minutes gave Croatia a remarkable come-from-behind victory which has left another of the World Cup favourites unsure of their future in the tournament.

Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

Paolo Maldini’s father Cesare, the Paraguay boss, is the oldest coach at this World Cup aged 70, while Paolo is one of the few players at the tournament who also played in Italia 90.

Mexico left 10-man Croatia with it all to do to get out of Group G as Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second-half penalty sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the France 98 semi-finalists in their opening World Cup match in Niigata.

Mexico 1 Croatia 0

Mexico left 10-man Croatia with it all to do to get out of Group G as Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second-half penalty sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the France 98 semi-finalists in their opening World Cup match in Niigata.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave Mexico a dream start to their World Cup campaign this morning, scoring the game's winning goal from the penalty spot to deny Croatia.

Nothing can impact upon a footballer’s career quite like a sticking sobriquet. But imagine being branded ‘Glass Legs’, the moniker afforded Robert Prosinecki in his injury-ravaged Primera Liga days.

Croatia coach Mirko Jozic has dropped defender Goran Sablic and forward Marko Babic from his World Cup squad.

Luizao scored the only goal of the game as Brazil gave their World Cup hopes a boost with a victory over Yugoslavia in Rio de Janeiro.