Croatia injuries are blow to Baric
ZAGREB, Croatia (Reuters) -- Injuries have depleted Croatia's line-up for the Euro 2004 warm-up with Germany in Split on Wednesday, leaving a selection headache for coach Otto Baric.
Baric will hand a debut to 24-year-old Werder Bremen striker Ivan Klasnic, who has been in fine form in the German Bundesliga.
But Baric, whose team squeezed past neighboring Slovenia in the Euro 2004 playoffs, misses injured Juventus defender Igor Tudor and Ancona winger Milan Rapaic who is not match fit.
Benfica striker Tomo Sokota also picked up an injury in league action last weekend, while Portsmouth's Ivica Mornar has suffered a recurrence of a thigh muscle trouble.
Perhaps most disappointing is the absence of Dinamo Zagreb's 19-year old playmaker Niko Kranjcar, who is sidelined with groin trouble.
Croatia are grouped with France, England and Switzerland in Portugal this summer while Germany face Netherlands, Czech Republic and Latvia.
Rudi Voeller's German team are desperate to regain some confidence after 3-0 home defeat by France in November, but were weakened when midfielder Michael Ballack pulled out with a heavy cold on Monday.
"This is bad news because Michael is such an important player," said Voeller.
Defender Marko Rehmer withdrew last week after a bout of 'flu, but midfielder Carsten Ramelow should be fit after missing opening training with a sore knee.
Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann, back after a long ankle injurylayoff, could earn his 50th Germany cap while Stuttgart defender Philipp Lahm hopes to make his debut.
"I will make clear to the team again what I expect and what I haven't liked recently. On the road to Euro 2004, good performances and wins are very important," Voeller said.
