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Injury concerns for Croatia coach Bilić
Posted Friday, June 08, 2012 by UEFA.com

Injury concerns for Croatia coach Bilić

Croatia have called up Šime Vrsaljko to replace the injured Ivo Iličević while Vedran Ćorluka also limped out of this afternoon's training session because of a muscle strain.

Midfielder Iličević looked to have only suffered a knock a couple of days ago but the problem turned out to be a ruptured calf muscle. "I am sorry about Iličević," said coach Slaven Bilić. "We have lost another important player who is different to most of our team."

Replacement Vrsaljko said: "I received a call at lunchtime and am very happy. I didn't expect to be at EURO 2012 and was already starting to prepare for the new season with Dinamo Zagreb."

Ćorluka, meanwhile, will travel to Warsaw tomorrow for medical tests on his thigh strain. Bilić said: "It should be OK, he just felt something in his muscle. Based on the prognosis it shouldn't be anything serious." Ivica Olić was earlier ruled out on Monday because of a hamstring injury.

Croatia begin their Group C campaign against the Republic of Ireland in Poznan on Sunday.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

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    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia