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| Niko Kovac |
Croatia have sacked coach Niko Kovac after the Balkan country's hopes
of reaching Euro 2016 suffered a setback following a 0-0 draw in
Azerbaijan and a 2-0 defeat in Norway.
"The Croatian Football Association's (HNS) executive board reached a
unanimous decision to terminate our contract with Niko Kovac and his
entire staff," the body's president Davor Suker told a news conference
on Wednesday.
"We will interview his potential successors in the next 10 days or so
and come up with a candidate at the next HNS executive board meeting on
Sept 21."
Suker declined to name any of the candidates but Croatian media have
widely touted Lokomotiva Zagreb coach Ante Cacic as Kovac's most likely
replacement.
Kovac, who steered Croatia to the 2014 World Cup after taking over from
Igor Stimac in October 2013, came under fire from the media and his
peers.
He also fell out with captain Luka Modric, who was unhappy after being
substituted against the Azeris on Thursday and then rubbished Kovac's
remarks that the players were not fully committed in Sunday's debacle in
Norway.
The Croatians are third in Group H with a provisional tally of 15 points
from eight matches, three adrift of leaders Italy and one behind
Norway.
Governing body Uefa had deducted a point from Croatia's tally for a
racist incident in June's 1-1 home draw with Italy, when the Balkan
country's fans carved out a swastika on the pitch with a chemical agent.
Croatia appealed the verdict but if Uefa uphold it at a hearing later
this month, they will be reduced to 14 points ahead of their last two
qualifiers at home to Bulgaria and away to Malta in October.
The top two from each of the nine groups and the best third-placed team
qualify automatically along with hosts France, while the other eight
third-placed teams enter a two-legged playoff for the remaining four
berths.
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