Niko Kovac praised Antonio Conte, but warned Italy-Croatia “will have to be called off if the pitch doesn’t improve.”
The Euro 2016 qualifier is due to kick off at San Siro on Sunday at 19.45 GMT.
Niko Kovac praised Antonio Conte, but warned Italy-Croatia “will have to be called off if the pitch doesn’t improve.”
The Euro 2016 qualifier is due to kick off at San Siro on Sunday at 19.45 GMT.
However, Milan has been struck by torrential rain and flash floods today, forcing the two teams to abandon their planned training sessions at the stadium.
“If the turf remains in these conditions, then I don’t think the game can go ahead,” Kovac told reporters at San Siro.
“It would be like a game of water polo. The ball simply does not bounce. It will have to be called off if the pitch doesn’t improve.”
Both Italy and Croatia have won all three of their Euro 2016 qualifiers so far.
“Italy are a strong team, even if they are missing some important elements,” continued Kovac.
“Playing at San Siro, we certainly cannot be considered favourites. In any case, we will try to earn at least a point.
“I respect Conte and compliment him, because he has been able to win everything as a player and as a Coach won three Scudetti in a row. He deserves the utmost respect.
“You can already see his influence on the Italy team and the significant changes he enacted. We were both players who contained opponents and maintained that tactical prudence into our new careers, he with a 3-5-2 and I with 4-4-2.
“We both put a lot of importance on to the defence, but that doesn’t mean we won’t attack. We are quite similar as tacticians.
“I won’t give my line-up, as this is not a friendly. I am sure Conte won’t announce his starting XI beforehand either. I have no doubts and everything is prepared, but I am not going to tell you what my plans are.”
Among the possible stars on the field will be Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
“I don’t know if he will play tomorrow, but he will many times in future with this jersey,” smiled Kovac.
“I already beat Italy as a player at the 2002 World Cup. I remember that game well, as Giovanni Trapattoni – who was my Coach at Salzburg – was furious because two goals were disallowed.”