Kranjcar lauds Croatian talent

Midfielder hails team-mates amid Euro 2008 showing

By James Dall   Last updated: 18th June 2008

croatia luka Modric niko Kranjcar

Kranjcar: Backing Croatia

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Niko Kranjcar has offered a glowing appraisal of his Croatia team-mates, insisting that every one of them could handle the Premier League.

Croatia proved their technical quality during qualifying for Euro 2008 as they topped their group, stunning England twice along their route to Austria and Switzerland.

Slaven Bilic's men have continued their fine form at this summer's tournament, claiming victories - including a memorable success over Germany - in all three of their Group B games to advance to the last eight.

And Portsmouth's Kranjcar has hailed his compatriots' talents, while reserving special praise for Schalke midfielder Ivan Rakitic and Tottenham Hotspur-bound Luka Modric.

"It is a great pleasure for us that we have the opportunity to show the whole world we don't have 11, 12 or 13 great players - but that we have 23," Kranjcar said in the Daily Star.

"But we have more than just 23 great players, sure we do, that could handle England.

Upcoming star

"One of them is Ivan Rakitic, a youngster who plays in the first team with Schalke. He is a big upcoming star.

"We would all do well in the Premier League. It is a different type of football in the Premier League and everybody has to adapt.

"But when you have the quality and the talent we have everybody will eventually adapt.

"Rakitic, though, has the physique as well. But wait for Luka Modric, you will enjoy watching his games in England."