Zagreb  - The Croatian sports media on Monday unanimously pressed the nation's coach Slaven Bilic to resign after his team is left with only a vague chance to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

"Go, good man, your time has expired, the arena which until recently cheered for you and glorified your name, now turned the thumb down," the Jutarnji List daily said.

Mass-circulation paper Vecernji List accused Bilic of committing "mortal sins" which have cost the nation a trip to the final in South Africa.

He "failed to find the way to the Mondial ... set up cowardly tactics against Ukraine, underestimated (England coach) Fabio Capello, is too fond of his players and too soft on them, he tolerated wild player parties and allowed his team to squabble," it said.

Croatia rank third in qualifying group 6, one point behind Ukraine who hold second place for a playoff berth. In the final round on Wednesday, Ukraine are at bottom side Andorra while Croatia play in Kazakhstan. England are the group winners.

Capello's England got ot its revenge on Croatia, which ousted it in Euro 2008 qualifying and propelled Bilic from an interim coach to the status of a superstar. (dpa)