Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has hit out at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Liverpool's Rafa Benitez.

Bilic has rapped Ferguson and Benitez for not letting Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves join up with England.

He told The Sun: "When your league and clubs are much bigger than the national team you have a problem.

"You can't help the national team. Put it this way - did Gerrard have to go have the operation now? Is Hargreaves really so injured that he can't even come to try?

"Of course if my players are injured they're not playing.

"Firstly because of them and secondly because we have to have a fit guy playing. I never had a problem with a club that told me, 'he ain't gonna come'.

"But using the international break to rest players or for them to have an operation, well you need to address that."

He added: "I'm relieved Stevie G won't be there - as I was when he was suspended two years ago. He's one of those players who can decide a game with his energy, technique, skill or strike in one second, even when we're ready for him.

"I'm relieved big time. The blow couldn't be bigger for England. Your biggest problem last time was injuries."