Croatia's World Cup future is "hanging" by a thread after a "shameful" performance and a goalless draw against Iceland in the first round of the World Cup qualification barrage, local newspapers editorialized Saturday, according to dpa. Croatia must win in the return match Tuesday in Zagreb in order to qualify for the 2014 football championship in Brazil. The country's two largest newspapers, Vecernji and Jutarnji, described Croatia as "clueless" under interim coach Niko Kovac as it was "in the era of Igor Stimac," fired a month ago. Both blasted Croatia's failure to capitalize on the expulsion of red-carded Icelander Olafur Ingi Skulason in the 50th minute and warned that the team will have to show much more to advance to the 2014 World Cup. "Not even that could do for Croatia," Vecernji wrote. "Croatia will have to 'bleed' in Zagreb to reach Brazil." Winners of 10 qualifying groups in Europe advance directly to the World Cup, while the eight best second-placed teams went to the barrage for the remaining four spots.
