Croatian press bids farewell to Bilic

Coach Slaven Bilic is on his way out -- barring a last-minute miracle that puts Croatia into the World Cup finals, newspapers said Wednesday.

"Farewell", headlined Sportske Novosti. "Unless there's a miracle, Croatia will not go to the World Cup and will look for a new coach."

Croatia play their final Group Six qualifier later Wednesday against Kazakhstan, needing a win to retain an unlikely chance of bagging a playoff place ahead of Ukraine.

England, having already secured qualification, lost on Saturday to Ukraine who moved above the Croats.

In their last qualifier, the Ukrainians play whipping boys Andorra, who have no points, three goals for and 33 against from nine matches.

Croatia, missing several stars, lie third in the group, a point behind Ukraine.

"He (Bilic) has been too soft and the players have taken advantage of this to stab him in the back," wrote the Vecernji List newspaper. Some players acted as if international matches were "little holidays", it added.

Slaven Bilic has to go because he has committed serious errors," said leading soccer analysts Tomislav Zidak.

Bilic, who played for Everton and West Ham, rose to national hero in 2007 when Croatia claimed a famous 3-2 at Wembley to deny England a place at Euro 2008.

"Just let us win this match which is very important," against Kazakhstan, Bilic told reporters.

"Hope is such that we cling on to straws, but we have the right to hope."