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WARKA, Poland—Put on a special training program, Croatias star midfielder
Luka Modric has recovered from an exhausting season with Tottenham and is ready
to lead his countrys challenge for the European Championship, coach Slaven Bilic
said on Thursday. Jake Locker Jersey . In the run-up to Euro
2012, Bilic conceded that Modric was jaded and that he needed to be refreshed.
Joining the rest of the squad late and being given a lighter training program
have helped recharge his batteries and hes 100 per cent fit, the coach said.
Bilic, who is quitting his job at the end of the tournament after six years in
charge, needs Modric to be at the top of his game if Croatia is going to get out
of one of the toughest groups, let alone bid for the top prize. Modrics form
dipped towards the end of a season which ended in disappointment. Tottenham had
been fighting for a spot in the Champions League but was denied the opportunity
after Chelsea won the competition by beating Bayern Munich in the final. “He
played every game when he was available, he was a bit tired,” Bilic said. “Hes
ready to play his role, which is very important for us.” Much of Croatias play
hinges on the performance of the 26-year-old Modric. He pulls the strings for
the team with his defence-splitting passes, tireless running and vision. Other
players look to him to launch them forward and he shone at Euro 2008, when
Croatia suffered the cruelest of defeats to Turkey in the quarter-finals. Having
won all three of their group games four years ago, including a defeat of
eventual finalist Germany, Croatia was leading with one minute of extra time to
play. Turkey equalized with the last kick of the game, and went on to win the
ensuing penalty shootout. Modric was one of three Croatians to miss a penalty.
In 2012, Modric is setting the bar high, even though Croatia has been grouped
with the last two world champions, Italy and Spain. “If we can pass the group
..... I think we can go all the way to the end,” said Modric, who is widely
expected to leave Tottenham after the tournament following its failure to
qualify for the Champions League. Modric refused to comment on transfer
speculation which has linked him with Real Madrid, Manchester United and
Chelsea. Niko Kranjcar, who is poised to leave Tottenham after the tournament to
join Dynamo Kyiv, said the team is stronger mentally, as well as physically,
than four years. “We both believe we are at the peak of our careers,” said
Kranjcar. There would be no repeat of Turkeys last gasp equalizer, Kranjcar
insisted. Instead of trying to keep possession, he said the ball “will go into
the stands in the 88th row.” One player whos not going to experience Euro 2012
is midfielder Ivo Ilicevic after an injury to his left calf muscle. Bilic said
UEFA has given Croatia permission to replace the Hamburg midfielder with
20-year-old Sime Vrsaljko. Ilicevics injury came during training Wednesday and
the expectation at the time was that it was only a minor strain. But Bilic said
doctors in Warsaw ruled the 25-year-old Ilicevic out of Euro 2012. Croatia plays
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club to its second straight win. WINNIPEG —Olympian Clara Hughes is adding
another honour to her already impressive resume. The Winnipeg native is being
inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Hughes competed in winter and
summer Olympics as a speedskater and cyclist, winning a total of six medals. “As
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