Croatia change nine starters for Poland game

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic rested nine first-choice players for their final Group B match against Poland today.

Croatia won the group with victories over co-hosts Austria and Germany, allowing Bilic to rest players, including those on a yellow card or with minor knocks, ahead of Friday's quarter-final with Turkey.

The Croats will start in a 4-4-2 formation, with defender Dario Simic taking over the captaincy while left back Danijel Pranjic and forward Ivan Rakitic were kept in the starting line-up.

Poland, who need to win by two clear goals and have the result of the Austria v Germany match in Vienna go their way, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation with Marek Saganowski on his own up front.

Their coach Leo Beenhakker dropped out-of-form striker Ebi Smolarek, their top scorer in qualifying with nine goals, in favour of right winger Wojciech Lobodzinksi.

Playmaker Roger Guerreiro, scorer of their goal in the 1-1 draw with Austria, has retained his position while Mariusz Lewandowski and Rafal Murawski will play in a holding role to protect the back four.

There are two changes in defence, with Mariusz Jop and Jacek Bak being replaced by midfielder Dariusz Dudka dropping back and Jakub Wawrzyniak coming into the side.

Teams

Poland

1) Artur Boruc,

13) Marcin Wasilewski, 14) Michal Zewlakow (captain), 5) Dariusz Dudka, 3) Jakub Wawrzyniak,

19) Rafal Murawski, 18) Mariusz Lewandowski,

8) Jacek Krzynowek, 17) Wojciech Lobodzinski, 20) Roger Guerreiro and

11) Marek Saganowski.

Croatia

23) Vedran Runje,

2) Dario Simic (captain), 6) Hrvoje Vejic, 15) Dario Knezevic, 22) Danijel Pranjic,

16) Jerko Leko, 8) Ognjen Vukojevic, 13) Nikola Pokrivac, 7) Ivan Rakitic,

17) Ivan Klasnic and 21) Mladen Petric.

Referee

Kyros Vassaras