Slaven Bilic says he will remain as Croatia coach.

Bilic, who took Croatia to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, was unable to prevent his side slipping to third in qualifying Group Six behind England and Ukraine.

But the 41-year-old boss blamed the poor run of results on a series of injuries, and has been backed by the Croatian Football Association to continue in his post.

"I believe in this group of players," he said. "We have the drive, the motive, and the obligation to ourselves and to the public and we have decided to stay at the helm of the national team.

"This qualifying cycle was marked by handicaps and injuries. Something of this scale is unlikely to happen one more time."

Bilic, who played in the Premier League for West Ham and Everton, has often been linked with a return to England as a manager.