Suker - won't rule out final fling (Allsport).

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Yokohama

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Davor Suker is refusing to rule out one last hurrah with Croatia - despite the signs looking ominous for the veteran striker.

Suker was forced to sit and watch his side make an embarrassingly early exit from the World Cup, perhaps signalling an ignominious end to his international career as tournament debutants Ecuador enjoyed their first win.

After 63 disappointing minutes in the opening 1-0 defeat to eventual Group G winners Mexico, when Suker was wearing the skipper's armband, coach Mirko Jozic chose not to call upon the 34-year-old's services again.

The intention had been that this would be Suker's swansong with Croatia, who he gloriously led to third place at France 98 by grabbing six goals to earn himself the tournament's Golden Boot.

The last few days is not how the former Arsenal and West Ham forward, now with 1860 Munich, would have wanted to have brought the curtain down on his time with Croatia, for whom he has scored a phenomenal 45 goals in 69 appearances.

But as long as Jozic remains in charge, and that may not be for too long following such a disappointing tournament, then Suker's chances will be limited, if not almost non-existent.

The qualifying campaign for the 2004 European Championships remains a possibility for Suker, who is to weigh up his options while enjoying a break in Spain.

"As to whether this is my last appearance, I haven't yet decided, but first I will take a good, long rest, maybe in Barcelona or Madrid," confirmed Suker.

"I will play another season for 1860 Munich and then after that I will return to Croatia, as well as spend some time at the house I am having built near Madrid.

"I just want to enjoy life now. I've enjoyed football, but I've not had much of a life."

Then, perhaps indicating his days with Croatia are numbered, he added: "I've had some good times and bad times with Croatia, and I have played with some good players throughout my international career.

"It would be easy to feel disappointed at not having played against either Italy or Ecuador, but I am now 34 years old and I realise there are much younger players in the team.

"I understand why the coach made the decision he did. Everybody has their moment, and I have had many good ones with Croatia."

Suker was understandably disappointed to be heading home so early, although fellow striker Alen Boksic felt such an exit was deserved after Croatia blew their chance of reaching the last 16.

Croatia only have themselves to blame for suffering such heartbreak as they were an enigma throughout the group stages, as their brilliance in a 2-1 victory over Italy was sandwiched by some inept, lacklustre football.

With Italy being held to a draw at the Big Eye Stadium in Oita by Mexico, it meant a Croatian victory would have seen them through to the knockout stages.

But such was the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Croatia in the Far East, they again showed their ugly side in the International Stadium in Yokohama.

After being beaten by a sweet 15-yard left-foot half volley from Edison Mendez three minutes after the break, Boksic said: "We had a great chance to go through, but we just didn't play well.

"We didn't play with any passion, particularly in the first half. It was if we didn't know what to do.

"Then after they scored their goal we found it very hard to play. But what are we to do? Football is like this and now we are going home - and we deserve it because we lost against Mexico and now we have lost against Ecuador.

"We might have played well against Italy, but that was just one game. In the World Cup you have to play good football all the time."