Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said that his side's EURO 2008 quarter-finals elimination is too difficult to get over. Croatia were within a whisker of a semi-finals berth as Ivan Klasnic scored in the 119th minute, but Semih Senturk equalized in the dying seconds as the Turks won on penalties. "This is a match that not only we will not forget but that will haunt us for the rest of our lives," said Bilic after the game. "Penalties of course are something special but speaking for myself I have no misgivings for my players. "I am proud of them but at the same time we are unhappy because we thought we could make it to the end of this tournament. "I can't say what was on the players' minds but they were not focused on the shootout, mentally they must still have been in extra time and seeing that conceded goal again. That must have affected them. "I can't blame any of the players who missed. Those who stepped up to take the spot kicks were the ones who were strong enough to do it. "There were players who didn't want to take the penalties and I have no complaints against them either." The Croats were tipped to reach the final after an impressive group stage campaign which saw them beating co-hosts Austria, three-time champions Germany and Poland.
