Stimac takes over from Bilic

The former Croatia defender Igor Stimac was named the country's new coach yesterday. The 44-year old former Derby and West Ham player succeeds Slaven Bilic, who stepped down after six years in charge after an early Euro 2012 exit to take over Lokomotiv Moscow.

Stimac said: "We plan to improve things gradually and instil more confidence into the squad because we want to go to [the 2014] World Cup [in Brazil] as contenders, not as also-rans."