Give Croatia billing that it deserves

VIENNA: It is time to stop talking about Croatia as the dark horse of Euro 2008 and instead recognize it is in Friday's quarterfinal against Turkey on merit and fully capable of going all the way in the tournament.

Indeed, it would be more of a shock if the 1998 World Cup semifinalist did not progress against a battered, bruised but not yet broken Turkish side in Vienna (1845 GMT).

Croatia did raise some eyebrows when it reached the last eight at Euro 96 only four years after coming into existence and it was certainly a stunning upset when it beat Germany 3-0 in the World Cup quarterfinals two years later.