Bilic tempted to reshuffle team for Ukraine clash

By Igor Nitsak

KIEV (Reuters) - Croatia's 4-1 drubbing by England in last month's World Cup qualifier in Zagreb has left coach Slaven Bilic with little option but to go for a win in their Group Six match away to Ukraine on Saturday (6 p.m. British time).

The defeat, which ended Croatia's 36-match unbeaten home run in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, left Bilic's side three points behind leaders England and Ukraine, who won their opening matches against Belarus and Kazakhstan.

"We have never dropped points where we shouldn't have and we are aware there is little or no margin for error if we are to reach the World Cup finals in South Africa," Bilic said.

"We can't play for a draw in Kharkiv although we wouldn't be entirely unhappy with a point.

"We want to take control of the game from the start and dominate proceedings, meaning that we might start in a different formation and bring in several new players," he said.

Bilic, strongly criticised by Croatian media after the England debacle, will be tempted to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation from his preferred 4-4-2 which looked predictable and uncreative against Fabio Capello's outfit.

Ivica Olic should start on his own up front with Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric and Darijo Srna, who plays for Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk, behind him.

Dynamo Kiev's Ognjen Vukojevic is likely to join captain Niko Kovac as protection for the back four while either Dario Knezevic or Ivica Krizanac will replace suspended central defender Robert Kovac.