EURO 2008 INFO

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Croatia's 3-0 friendly defeat by fellow Euro 2008 finalists Netherlands in Split came as a rude awakening for Slaven Bilic's men.

Potential dark horses for the June 7-29 event in Austria and Switzerland, Croatia performed like also-rans against an inspired Dutch side.

The high hopes inspired by Croatia's 3-2 win over England at Wembley in November were reduced to sombre conclusions that coach Bilic and his team still have much work to do.

"If there is anything good in this, it's the awareness we are not where we should be in terms of being certain of progressing from our Euro 2008 group," Borussia Dortmund defender Robert Kovac told reporters on Wednesday.

"We have to work, work, work and I believe things will get better if we do."

Croatia, who are in Euro 2008 Group B with Germany, Poland and Austria, have never won in nine matches in Split.

Bilic was not too dismayed by the poor showing in front of the 28,000 crowd but acknowledged the team let themselves down.

"You can't afford to have a single despondent player at this level and we had too many," said the coach. "It was a painful defeat but there is no room for panic because it doesn't mean we have lost our quality overnight.