BHUBANESWAR: The two have been friends and teammates. Igor Stimac, in fact, spoke of how he helped compatriot Aleksander Ilic settle down when he joined Spanish club Cadiz FC in 1994 and the bond they shared playing club and international football together.
However, when their wards get out on the field at Kalinga Stadium on Thursday, the old camaraderie will make way for stern competitiveness as a lot will be at stake for the Croatian coaches. India, who have booked their place in the final of the Intercontinental Cup with wins over Mongolia and Vanuatu, will have in sight a return into the top 100 of FIFA rankings by outplaying the 99th-ranked Lebanon, who are two rungs above the hosts and the top-ranked team at the tournament.
