Croatia need to put together a much more convincing performance against Euro 2008 co-favourites Germany here on Thursday if they are to really reflect the confidence their coach Slaven Bilic has that they can win the title.
Croatia did win their first match but the manner of their 1-0 win over co-hosts Austria was laboured to say the least with bizarrely several of their players looking jaded by the start of the second-half and a similar performance against the Germans could result in a real hammering.
The Germans looked alert and sharp in their 2-0 victory over Poland, with Polish-born Lukas Podolski grabbing a brace and showing once again that he is the man for the big stage.
Bilic, though, is convinced that his young side will step up to the plate and that…