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World Cup: Igor Stimac sacked as Croatia boss following Scotland defeat

Image: Igor Stimac: Sacked as Croatia coach following defeat by Scotland

Croatia coach Igor Stimac has been sacked following his team's 2-0 defeat to Scotland in their World Cup qualifier.

'Against me'

Croatia will go into next month's play-offs but the former Derby and West Ham defender had spoken to president Suker after the Scotland defeat to put his fate in his hands, after becoming fed-up with the criticism that has followed him during the whole campaign. He said on Tuesday night: "It is a bad defeat. I offered my mandate (resignation) to the president of the Croatian football federation because of the latest results of our team, because everything that surrounds us. "Never mind that we qualified for the play-offs, I want to show some morale, certain responsibility and if there is anyone in the federation that does not believe in my work I want to give them the chance to change. "They will have a meeting to discuss it." Stimac continued: "It is all about the positiveness surrounding the football in our country. "It seems we are not happy in Croatia to qualify for the play-offs. "We were not happy after the first game even though we beat Macedonia, we were not happy in the second when we drew against Belgium or beating Wales 2-0, they said it was supposed to be 15-0. "After Wales we went to Macedonia and beat them 2-1 and they said that was not good because they were on the up, we beat Serbia 2-0 and they said we barely survived and the goalkeeper saved us. "We beat Wales 2-1 and they said we were lucky. That's how it works in Croatia. "There were a lot of people against me from the beginning."

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