The time has come for Croatia's strikers to end their goal drought, Ivica Olic said on Friday. Croatia's hitmen have failed to find the net since Mladen Petric struck in the 3-2 qualifying win over England at Wembley in November, a barren sequence of four friendlies. Olic and his colleagues launch their Euro 2008 campaign against co-hosts Austria in Vienna on Sunday. “Although our (injured) top scorer Eduardo da Silva is not here I think we have enough firepower up front as all five strikers have worked hard in training and it's time we delivered,” Olic told reporters. “We will have to work hard in what is likely to be a tough match with few clear-cut chances.” Striker Olic, who netted Croatia's second goal against England, is hoping the team can reproduce the performance at Wembley that he said would always live in his memory. “We need to repeat that on Sunday and I would gladly settle for the same scoreline,” he said. “We will show against the Austrians how much progress we have made in training.” Coach Slaven Bilic said Croatia would have to show respect for the co-hosts, who are rank outsiders for the tournament. “We will not underestimate them for one second because they have had two years to build a side capable of upsetting more heralded rivals,” said Bilic. “On the other hand we want to make a good start and we have a lot of faith in this squad because the players have never been in better physical shape than they are now.” It will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides. Croatia has won all three friendlies against Austria including a 4-1 drubbing the last time it clashed in Vienna in 2006. Croatia may be favorites but Austria coach Josef Hickersberger said his side was in tip-top shape. “The attitude is excellent, most players are in absolutely great form and we are very optimistic about giving the Croats a good game,” he said. “We can even spring a surprise because we are playing at home and our fans will get behind us.” The media have criticized Hickersberger for refusing to choose between Alexander Manninger and Juergen Macho as first-choice goalkeeper. “I've told the goalkeepers who will start but I will not disclose it,” said Hickersberger. “We have very good goalkeepers and if England had had any of our top three on the road to the Euros they would have been here.” Croatian-born midfielder Ivica Vastic is likely to be used as a substitute by Austria. “It is going to be a special match for me whether I play or not,” said Vastic. “I have received many teasing but good-natured messages from my hometown in Croatia because they all know how much I want to win every game.” – Reuters __
