Croats don’t believe in miracles

CROATIAN footballers will not be seeking divine inspiration in a visit to a Roman Catholic shrine ahead of a key Euro 2004 game with France, their coach said yesterday.

“Our players do not believe in miracles, they believe in themselves,” the coach Otto Baric said.

Baric added some players will instead seek to have relics which they brought with them to Portugal blessed at the shrine of Fatima.

The Croatian management appear to have accepted there is no hope in taking on the French seriously and are preparing to field several second choice players following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Switzerland.