Ivica Olic: "I wish Andrej Kramaric will pass 100-goal mark"
Former Bayern Munich forward Ivica Olic dreams of one day seeing compatriot Andrej Kramaric line-up alongside Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga, but for now is delighted to see the Hoffenheim man break his own league record for most goals by a Croatian in Germany's top flight and backed TSG's top-scorer in their history to soon surpass the 100 goal mark.
Kramaric passed Olic's 72-goal return with his second successive brace in the 3-0 win over Cologne on Matchday 18, that moved the 29-year-old onto 74 Bundesliga goals - including 12 in 14 appearances this season.
Only Lewandowski (23), Andre Silva and Erling Haaland (both 14) have more strikes this term and ahead of Hoffenheim's visit to the Allianz Arena on Saturday, Olic says there is plenty more to come from the man that stole his record as the most prolific Croatian in Bundesliga history, and was also among the first to congratulate Kramaric on doing so.
Watch: Andrej Kramaric: "I'm happy and proud with record"
"I called Andrej and congratulated him from the bottom of my heart. It was only a matter of time before he would break my record. Before the season started, he said to me: 'I'll overtake you soon.' My answer: 'I know!'" said Olic - who lifted the 2009/10 Meisterschale with Bayern - told Sport Bild.
"I wish that he will soon break the 100-goal mark. You have to say: 'Great respect!' Andrej is a top striker with an incredible nose for goals, a super technician, with quick movement and is an enormous challenge for opposition defenders.
"Andrej is now entering his prime as a footballer. I wish for him that he can play through to the end of this season without injury. Then he will score a lot more goals."
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Kramaric's latest double included a pair of penalties and Olic sees similarities between Lewandowski and Kramaric from 12-yards as he fantasised about what a potent partnership the two would make if they'd ever played in the same team.
He added: "Penalties are definitely Andrej's speciality. He has this incredible calm from the spot and is really cool when shooting. In this respect, you can really compare him to Robert Lewandowski.
"For me, 'Lewa' and 'Krama' cannot be compared at all. Robert is a classic nine and Andrej can play anywhere on the offensive, including midfield. So it would be perfect if the two played together on the pitch."
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