SLAVEN BILIC twisted the knife into Steve McClaren's future as England boss by
crowing: We are so much better than you.
Substitute Mladen Petric dumped England out of Euro 2008 by sealing Croatia's
3-2 win late on.
Frank Lampard's penalty and Peter Crouch's fine volley had hauled England
level after they gifted the visitors two early goals.
But Croatia always looked the more stylish side on the break, defying an
England revival sparked by substitute David Beckham.
And Croatia boss Bilic said:"You didn't lose the game tonight because of
the tactics.
Simply better
"We are simply a better team. I admire your team and your players but my
team is a much better team."
Bilic also claimed McClaren made it easy for Croatia by playing Crouch as a
sole striker.
He said: "We let their two centre-halves take the ball.
"Of course Crouch is a great player but he is not that quick.
"It is much easier to play against a team with just one up front."
And he insisted England's high-paid stars - needing just a draw to go through
- should have coped better with the pressure.
Bilic said: "It's a bit hard, although they are world-class players and
should cope with it. It is hard to cope with that kind of negative pressure."
BILIĆU LEGENDO!!! TAKO JE - PREJAKI SMO ZA VAS!!!