In the 1998 World Cup in France, the Croats got revenge against Germany — and how. After defender Christian Woerns was sent off in first half, Croatia made a meal of their opponents, winning 3-0. The man of the match was Croatian striker Davor Suker, who scored one goal and provoked the foul that left the Germans shorthanded. It was Germany’s worst World Cup defeat in 44 years and cost coach Berti Vogts, who had masterminded the 1996 Euro win, his job.
“I thought it would be a one-goal game,” Vogts said immediately after the debacle.
Croatia lost to eventual winners France in the semis and came in third — that’s still the best-ever result for the team, which has only existed in its current form since 1990.
This is what the team is trying to do in 2018. Aready, they have upset big teams, including Barcelona and look dangerous going into the knockout stages. Croatia are still in dreamland. They handed Argentina their heaviest group-stage defeat in 60 years on June 21, 2018 to advance to the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since Davor Suker and Co went all the way to the semi-finals at France 1998.
Big players from big clubs
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus and Liverpool home members of Croatia’s squad, meaning the likes of Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic, Dejan Lovren, Mario Mandzukic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic and Ivan Rakitic are regularly training with and playing against the world’s elite. Furthermore, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Rebic are fresh from fine seasons in the German Bundesliga, with the latter brilliantly undoing Bayern Munich in May’s DFB-Pokal final, and there is Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.
Experience means self-confidence
Zlatko Dalic selected one of the oldest squads in Russia. With an average age of 27 years and ten months, Croatia have vast experience and the self-confidence that goes with it. Every man is aware of his capability and almost all of them are first-choice players at their respective clubs.
Dalic the brave
How many coaches adopt a safety-first strategy for a World Cup curtain-raiser? Not Dalic. The Croatia boss sent out a clear message of intent by starting with four attackers – Ante Rebic, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Mario Mandzukic – against Nigeria, and his bravery was rewarded with a 2-0 victory. He tweaked that set-up slightly for the showdown with Argentina, bringing in central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic for Kramaric, but the strategy remained the same: to attack. “With such great players in the team I have no right to play differently”, stated Dalic.
Belief
Croatian sides have long been in the shadow of the class of ’98. Rather than temper expectations, however, Dalic’s pupils all went into Russia 2018 repeating the same objective: ‘Our goal is to reach the knockout stage’. Now Modric is calling for more: “This is our chance to do something.”
The 12th man, the fans
Croatians have flocked to Russia in their droves – and, oh my, they can be heard. In Kaliningrad almost everybody in the stadium was draped in red and white checks, while the pro-Vatreni atmosphere in Nizhny Novgorod was incredible. “This is a win for everyone in the stadium and for all fans in Croatia”, said Sime Vrsaljko.
As Ivanišević and many Croatian sporting teams have proved in the past, momentum and confidence can do wonders for the Croatian mindset and anything is possible, but this year could possibly be the strongest World Cup to date with a number of serious contenders. Argentina, led by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, the ever reliable Germany and Spain are all to be reckoned with. Roberto Martinez’s Belgium side, with the likes of Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku could be worth looking out for, as too the likes of Columbia and Uruguay. And we have not even mentioned Portgual, France, or England.
Much of Croatia’s chances in Russia will depend on the form of its key trio – Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić, Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitić and Juventu’s Mario Manđžukić. Modrić in particular will be vital to Croatia’s chances, with Croatia struggling to look threatening during qualifying when Modrić has gone ‘missing’, as much of their play revolves around the midfield maestro.