Doha
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic saw that he could compare their upcoming match against Brazil in the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final “on Friday” with the 2018 World Cup final, which they lost to France.
Selecao will meet Croatia at the Education City Stadium for the third time in the World Cup finals after 2006 and 2014, both of which ended with Brazil winning the group stage.
In 2018 Croatia reached the final for the first time in their history, losing 4-2 to the French national team.
Dalic said during a press conference: I think tomorrow’s match is the most difficult, against one of the main candidates for the title, I can compare it to the France final because France was an important opponent.
He continued: nothing is better than playing against Brazil in the quarterfinals, we can dream in this legendary match, we want to win and face this opponent.
Captain Luka Modric will meet many of his Real Madrid colleagues, such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Casemiro, who is now at Manchester United.
In response to a question about whether this would help him give advice to his colleagues, he said that Vinicius: a great player and we have a good relationship, he has made great progress since joining Real, we have a difficult task to stop him and I will give my colleagues some advice in my opinion, I don’t know if this will help us or not, but I will tell them what I know and try to neutralize Vinicius.
Croatia reached the quarterfinals by beating Japan on penalties (3-1) after drawing in regular and extra time (1-1), while the task was easier for Brazil with a rousing 4-1 victory about South Korea.
Dalic said: I wish we had more days off, but that’s the way it is, we’ve achieved good results in two World Cups and we’re not satisfied with this, adding that containing Neymar will be important.
As for Modric, he said: we have to play tomorrow, perhaps the best and most important match of the World Cup, we believe in our abilities.
Modric was in the team that lost 3-1 in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup against Brazil, and his country were eliminated in the group stage.
He said in this regard: “We have great players and I think our chances are good. I have faced Brazil on several occasions and unfortunately we have not been lucky. We hope to write a new story. We have good players in all lines. We have to monitor their play, contain them, press and keep tabs on the game. He added: In the past, it has been shown that such teams have lost and could be contained and fall with their weaknesses.
The issue of Brazilian players celebrating a dance was raised, which angered some of them, especially during the victory over South Korea, as the players not only celebrated together, but their coach Tite also danced with them , who also confirmed: “I will continue to dance.”
When asked if he considers it disrespectful, Dalic replied: “Brazilians celebrate as they always celebrate. They are a people who love to party, dance and express their personality, customs and culture in this way, adding: Disrespect or not.” ? I can’t judge, I don’t want to see my players celebrate like this, but it’s a beautiful culture and they celebrate like this.
In another context, Modric praised the World Cup in Qatar: “I think the organization of the World Cup and the stadiums is a wonderful thing, and we are fine and happy. It’s good to be stable and not have to travel long distances This is good at organization.
And on his future he added: I focus on playing for the national team, and I focus 100% on this or the next World Cup, adding with a smile on maintaining his physical shape at 37: unfortunately I cannot share the secrets with you of my youth.
