IBARAKI, Japan (AP):
HE SMOKES like a chimney, sleeps as soundly as a hibernating bear and rarely comes on time for anything. Not bad for a man who handed soccer giant Italy their first regular-time World Cup loss in eight years.
Milan Rapaic led a rejuvenated Croatian side in the second match of Group G, hammering home the team's winning goal in a come-from-behind 2-1 win.
"I was just lucky, I guess," said the laidback 28-year-old as he strutted his way through the press room -- more than two hours after the match and a good half hour after every other player and official.
"Rapaic is a rare breed," said chief playmaker Robert Prosinecki, who ceded his spot to the erratic star of Turkey's Fenerbahce after a stilted effort in Croatia's 1-0 loss to Mexico in the opening match.
"He can seem distant and disinterested, but there are few players who can turn a game around like Miki, and he was the deciding factor in the win over Italy," Prosinecki added.
Indeed, Rapaic was on fire against the favoured Azzuri, running rings around the midfield and giving Fabio Cannavaro a grave headache along the right flank with some breathtaking dribbling and deadly crosses.
"I gave it my best, but I'd rather not single out my role," Rapaic said modestly. "It was a gritty team effort throughout the 90 minutes, to come back from the dead and to win the match."
The victory came as one of the biggest upsets of the finals so far, ranking alongside Senegal's surprise win over title-holder France and the American defeat of Portugal.
The last time Italy had lost a regular-time World Cup match was in 1994, when Ireland beat them 1-0 in the finals held in the United States. Croatia also beat Italy that year, winning 2-1 away in a qualifying match for the 1996 European Championship.
However, Italy appeared to be headed for their first victory over the Croats in 60 years when forward Christian Vieri rose above the defence to nod in the first goal of the match in the 55th minute. Two prior matches between the Adriatic neighbours ended in a 1-1 and 0-0 draw.
"We were all shattered after the goal, as it is known all too well how difficult it is to strike one back after Italy goes into the lead," Rapaic said.
