Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hailed his nation’s new technology of gamers only for making it to the World Cup quarter-finals however skipper Luka Modric believes they will pull off a shock consequence in opposition to match favourites Brazil. The Croatians have adopted their exceptional run to the ultimate in Russia in 2018 by reaching the final eight at this 12 months’s match in Qatar after qualifying from their group forward of Belgium after which ousting Japan on penalties within the final 16.
Solely 4 of the gamers who began the defeat within the ultimate in opposition to France 4 years in the past, together with Modric, have been within the line-up at kick-off in opposition to Japan, whereas the rising star of the brand new crew is 20-year-old centre-back Josko Gvardiol.
“This can be a new nationwide crew. We’ve 18 new gamers who weren’t right here 4 years in the past,” Dalic stated of his squad on the eve of the showdown with Brazil in Doha.
“In 2018 we had a nationwide crew that had been taking part in collectively for 10 years. They have been taking part in in the very best leagues and for the very best golf equipment.
“We want time to mature however I consider that for us to be right here at this World Cup among the many finest eight groups on this planet is large.”
Croatia, a rustic of simply 4 million folks, has now made it to at the very least the quarter-finals 3 times in six appearances on the World Cup.
Nevertheless, beating Brazil could also be a step too far for a crew led by a 37-year-old Modric and who have been taken to the draining expertise of additional time after which penalties by Japan.
“I agree that we did an excellent factor by attending to the quarter-finals however no matter that we want to do extra,” stated Modric, who will come up in opposition to his Actual Madrid teammates Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao within the match at Schooling Metropolis Stadium.
“We all know that the best match is forward of us. Brazil are all the time favourites. We’ve to be ourselves.
“I consider that huge issues are potential however the one prerequisite is that we give our greatest.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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