Croatia have learned from Turkish trauma: Kranjcar

Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar believes they have learned from the bitter experience of their quarter-final defeat by Turkey four years ago and are ready to make a real push in Euro 2012.

Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar believes they have learned from the bitter experience of their quarter-final defeat by Turkey four years ago and are ready to make a real push in Euro 2012.

Croatia-s-national-football-team-midfielder-Niko-Kranjcar-R-gestures-during-a-press-conference-with-headcoach-Slaven-Bilic-L-and-midfielder-Luka-Modric-in-Warka-AFP-Dimitar-Dilkoff

The Croatians looked to have sealed a place in the last four when they grabbed the lead in Vienna with just a minute of extra-time remaining only to allow the Turks to draw level seconds later and eventually win on penalties.

A semifinal clash with Germany slipped out of Croatia's hands but Kranjcar, who this week sealed a move from Tottenham Hotspur to Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev, is convinced such a slip-up will not be replicated with a more mature squad.

"If a similar situation to the Turkey game comes around then that scenario is not going to repeat itself," he said.

"The reason we lost to Turkey was a lack of experience. Now we are at our peak and we are more experienced."