Boksic to miss World Cup

ZAGREB, May 26 (AFP)

Croatia's World Cup hopes were dealt a vicious blow Tuesday when Italian-based striker Alen Boksic was ruled out of the tournament. The Lazio star, who has a knee injury, left the Croatian training camp in Porec, in north-eastern Croatia, to return to Rome to undergo an operation on a long-standing knee operation. Coach Miroslav Blazevic said Boksic would be huge loss. " We will miss Alen for many reasons, " he said. " He was great for team morale. " The Croatians face Argentina, Japan and Jamaica in the first round of the World Cup, which starts in France on June 10.

© - AFP - 1998