Tears and cheers for gallant minnows
THE rain hid Croatia’s tears.
After Luka Modric collected his Golden Ball award in a downpour, he shared an emotional embrace with Croatian president Kolinda Grabar- Kitarovic, both wearing the country’s red- and- white checkered uniform.
Croatia knows Sunday’s 4- 2 loss to France in the World Cup final was a chance that may not come again soon.
“We were so close and we played the best soccer. We deserved more,” said Modric, who at 32 may have played in his last World Cup match.
Croatia’s first golden generation lost to France in the 1998 World Cup semi- finals, and its second went one better.
Besides Modric, goalkeeper Danijel Subasic will be 38 at the next World Cup in Qatar, midfielder Ivan Rakitic will be 34 and forward Mario Mandzukic will be 36.
On the World Cup podium, Grabar- Kitarovic’s team shirt showed her passion for Croatia, a country of barely four million people.
While some of the players shed tears on the field, fans at home still celebrated.
“Overall, we’ve been better,” Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said. “They did it the other way. They didn’t play football. They waited for their chances and they scored. They had their own tactic and you need to respect that.”
When Ivan Perisic scored in the 28th minute after Mario Mandzukic’s own- goal had given France the lead, Croatia looked a real chance. Then came a penalty, called after a video review, which Antoine Griezmann converted.
Trailing 2- 1, Croatia conceded two more goals but kept fighting. Mandzukic then scored after a goalkeeping error to make it 4- 2.