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Wednesday September 2, 2009

Bilic believes Croatia can still qualify without playmaker Modric

ZAGREB: Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said Luka Modric’s injury is “not a disaster” for the team because other players can fill in for him and secure World Cup qualification.

Modric broke his right fibula over the weekend playing for his club, Tottenham, and will be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Croatia, who are second in Group Six, face Belarus on Saturday, England later this month and Kazakhstan on Oct 14.

England hold top spot in the group with 21 points but Croatia on 14 points hope to hold on to second place and qualify via a playoff.

Modric will likely be out for all three matches, Bilic told Monday’s Sportske Novosti daily, acknowledging that the midfielder has been an important part of the team.

“But we shouldn’t dramatise; it is not a disaster,” Bilic said. “We have a goal and we will achieve it — even without Modric.”

Bilic added that he would not introduce new players to the team to replace Modric but that others — namely Niko Kovac, who plays for Portsmouth, and Ivan Rakitic at Schalke — will have to make up for the injured midfielder’s absence.

On Sunday, Modric said his “whole world crumbled” when he learned that the injury will keep him out of Croatia’s qualification matches.

Modric limped off the field following a light collision with Lee Bowyer in Tottenham’s 2-1 victory over Birmingham on Saturday.

His club said Modric suffered a fracture to his fibula, which doesn’t require surgery. — AP

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