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Three stars of the Croatian national team - Boško Balaban, Ivica Olić and Dario Srna - were expelled from the Croatian national team before the qualifying matches for the 2008 European Championship after leaving the team camp and partying in a nightclub.
All three players were expelled from the team by coach Slaven Bilić's decision, and the Croatian Football Federation fined each player 30,000 kunas (about 15,000 litas).
Bilić took these actions when he learned that on Saturday the players were not at the team camp in Slovenia, where the Croats were preparing for Wednesday's match against Russia, but had gone to Zagreb, 25 kilometers away.
"Although we will now be missing seven players, we are going to Moscow without these three," said Bilić. "If I had not made this decision, I would have had to resign."
Bilić said he would consider the possibility of punishing the players for a longer period.
In the Croatian national team before Wednesday's match, in addition to the aforementioned three missing players, defenders Dario Šimić from Milan and Josip Šimunić from Hertha, who are disqualified, as well as Juventus defender Igor Tudor, who is injured, will also be missing.
Another star of the national team, striker Dado Pršo, ended his career in the national team after the World Cup.
Also expelled from the national team were the leaders of the Swedish national team Zlatan Ibrahimović, Olof Mellberg and Christian Wilhelmsson. They received such punishment for not returning to the team's hotel on time on Sunday.
"The players had a free afternoon and evening on Sunday, it was agreed that everyone would return to the hotel by 11 pm," said a statement from the Swedish Football Federation. "All players returned on time, except for the three mentioned, who returned around 1:15."
Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimović, Aston Villa defender O. Mellberg and Nantes midfielder C. Wilhelmsson will have to miss Sweden's national team match at home against Liechtenstein on Wednesday.
