±«Óãtv

Vienna

Prior to the start of Euro 2008, the ±«Óãtv ran a campaign across its various outlets asking "who will you support?" in the absence of the home nations. Presenters were asking guests, reporters, etc what their thoughts were. But, when the question was put to me on Radio 5 Live, I could only say who I was looking forward to watching, rather than winning. I really didn't mind who won.

But those thoughts of ambivalence disappeared after spending time with Croatia. In my first blog, I wrote about what a character their coach Slaven Bilic is. Since then, having seen them overcome the handicap of losing star striker to win all three group games, including a hugely courageous performance against Germany, I have to admit to feeling utterly deflated by their dramatic quarter-final defeat by Turkey.

I'll explain why. Many journalists formulate or amend their views on certain clubs depending on how they're treated. If the press officers are rude and obstructive, you can dread going there. If, however, the press officers are friendly and efficient - such as John Simpson of West Brom, for example - it makes life so much easier and you can get on with doing your job. Croatia have been a joy to deal with - press officers, players and manager alike.

As soon as Bilic came off the pitch after the , I was poised with mic in hand to interview him. I half expected him to either go straight to the dressing room or to at least be curt with his answers. But no. Despite clearly being distraught at having lost the game in the way they did, he still came over, smiled, shook my hand and tried to put his emotions into words. He was full of dignity and gave Turkey credit when he could easily have just said that the better team had lost.

I then moved to the "mixed zone" to try to catch a few words from the English-speaking players. This area's not for the faint-hearted. Barriers are erected behind which journalists gather, jockeying for position, trying to persuade players to stop for interviews on their way from the dressing room to the team bus.

Cameraman Jon had reserved us a spot near the dressing room, but he was mightily annoyed when a rather large Turkish man with an enormous bouffant barged in, leaving us barely any room. He can get quite feisty, our Jon, a handy trait in these situations.

As expected, the Turkish players waltzed through with smiles on faces looking like they had a party to get to. was happy to stop and talk - in his broad cockney accent, of course - about his team's victory, while humbly admitting that he personally didn't have a great game. Then the Croatian players trudged through, some looking as though they'd suffered a bereavement, others looking like they wanted their mums.

Niko Kranjcar fell into the latter category. "Niko, a quick word for the ±«Óãtv, please?" I asked more in hope than expectation. His eyes were moist and bright red. He shook his head and went straight to the bus. I couldn't blame him. Who'd want to face the media after having victory ripped away from you like a carpet beneath your feet? But credit to Josip Simunic and Vedran Corluka. Both stopped for us and spoke eloquently despite looking thoroughly dejected.

The Croatia players were staying in the same hotel as us and I'm told that a few stayed up drowning their sorrows until the early hours. In the morning, as they waited to leave the hotel, we thought it would be nice to end the chapter of our coverage of the team by asking Mr Bilic if he would speak to us for one last time. The press officer Davor had already said that Bilic wouldn't speak, but I thought it was worth asking the man himself as he'd been so good with us over the past three weeks.

I saw he was hunched on a bar stool, smoking a cigarette whilst texting on his mobile phone. I felt uneasy at the prospect of disturbing him but wanted to at least pose the question. I tapped him on the shoulder and, instead of telling me to get lost, he again smiled and shook my hand. I commiserated with him about the nature of the defeat and asked whether he'd mind speaking to the ±«Óãtv for one last time. Initially, he wasn't keen but fortunately for us changed his mind and agreed to the interview.

Visibly shattered with sunken eyes, Bilic said he'd found the defeat so hard to take that he'd come back to the hotel after the game and told his son that he was going to altogether. After a few hours' sleep, he realised he'd been a little hasty and needed more time to think. He didn't rule out a future move to England, which he described as his second home.

England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 partly because of the qualities of this man and his team, but, on the basis of what we've witnessed over the past three weeks, perhaps they could learn a thing or two from the Croats about humility and conduct, if not how to take a penalty.