ZAGREB, DEC 12: A hard-fought victory over Ukraine took Croatia to the World Cup finals in France next year, marking their biggest success in soccer since emerging as an independent nation six years ago.

Croatia first drew the attention of the soccer world when they qualified with impressive ease for Euro '96, topping a qualifying group featuring 1994 World Cup runners-up Italy.

But this time round, they qualified the hard way.Although they won four games and lost only one -- an away match in Denmark -- a string of three home draws put them on the verge of elimination halfway through the campaign.

Their ordeal finally ended successfully in Kiev on November 15 when a 27th minute equaliser by Lazio striker Alan Boksic tamed the young Ukranian side who would have needed three more to win.

Game ended 1-1, Croatia took the playoff 3-1 on aggregate. The dream had come true and Croatia now play Argentina, Jamaica and Japan in the Group `H' matches.

Returning to Croatia Zagreb this season after 10 years away with spells at Red Star Belgrade, Real Madrid and Barcelona, he has been an inspiration and he set up the first goal, providing the cross for Slavan Bilic to score with a header.

Prosineci commanded the midfield with the authority of his younger days. Goran Vlaovic scored to make it 2-0 and Croatia had one foot in France.

After winning their opening qualifier 4-1 against Bosnia in neutral Bologna in October 1996, Croatia embarked on a poor home run that almost cost them France `98'.

The dip in form began in November 1996 when Croatia, rated as favourites in a relatively weak Group featuring Denmark, Greece, Slovenia and Bosnia, drew 1-1 at home with Greece.

In March 1997, they drew 1-1 at home with Denmark and three days later 3-3 at home with Slovenia.

But the draw was more worrying. The team almost fell apart and coach Niroslav Blazevic was on the brink of resignation.

Blazevic claimed all along his team was at their best under pressure and vowed they would win all remaining four games and go through to the World Cup finals. They won three, enough for the second place in the group behind Denmark -- and a second chance in the playoffs.

In the first of those do-or-die matches, Real Madrid striker Davor Suker scored in the 74th minute for a 1-0 win in Greece that gave the Croats some breathing space.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.