ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Croatian team came to the United States for this year’s games. world cup It doesn’t seem like we’re quite ready to enter a new era.
Why would this happen after consecutive appearances in the semi-finals?
Croatia has arrived in the Washington, D.C., area and has set up camp through at least the group stage, but three games will be played in Arlington, Texas. Toronto; and Philadelphia. The roster also includes 40-year-old Luka Modric and 37-year-old Ivan Perisic, two of the game’s greatest players. Both players contributed to the team’s second-place finish in 2018 and third-place finish in 2022.
“I think it’s big for any young player to have players like Luka, Perisic, (Mateo) Kovacic and (Andrej) Kramaric in the team,” 23-year-old striker Igor Matanovic said through an interpreter on Wednesday, referring to each of the four players on Croatia’s national squad who have played more than 100 international games. “I think it’s a great privilege to be able to see them in action, down to the smallest detail. I try to learn as much as I can.”
Croatia first participated in the World Cup in 1998, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, and the team reached the semi-finals. The Vatleni, as they were called, certainly made their mark on the event, and not just because of their familiar plaid shirts. Croatia finished third in 1998 and 2022 and reached the final in Russia in 2018, but lost to France.
Modric won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, the only time Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo did not win the award between 2008 and 2021. The midfielder, who is two international appearances away from reaching his 200th appearance, suffered a fractured cheekbone in April, but scored a goal in Sunday’s 2-1 friendly win over Slovenia while wearing a protective mask.
He has already appeared in four World Cups, the first in 2006 when Matanovic was only three years old. Croatia failed to qualify for the 2010 tournament.
Not only did Vatleni retain some experienced players this year, he also has the same coach, Zlatko Dalic, in charge in 2018 and 2022. This is a team that does not lack continuity and experience. The question is whether age will ever catch up.
That will be answered soon. Croatia’s opening game will be against England next Wednesday in one of the most anticipated group games of the entire tournament. This is a rematch of the 2018 semifinals.
“It’s a footballing powerhouse, it’s a big team. There’s a reason why the English Premier League is the best in the world,” midfielder Christian Jakic said through an interpreter. “I was a little surprised by their opinion.” Final member list Because they were probably missing some players that you would expect. But it also says a lot about their quality. They have a high motivation to win. ”
Jakic was still with the team in 2022, but only played one minute in the third-place game against Morocco at the World Cup.
“That moment was the highlight of my entire career, of my life,” Jakic said. “I would be lying if I said that I was expecting more than a minute, but I will give my all for the team and I will be very happy with everything I will be playing for the Croatian team.”
Jakic has scored twice in qualifying for this tournament, and Croatia will need to develop a new generation of players at some point. The coming weeks will determine how quickly that day comes.
“Croatia knows how to play against the best teams in the world,” said Jakic. “So we’re hoping for a good result for us.”
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
