The World Cup that cost Bilic his career, but put Croatia on football map

– and if it had gone on another five minutes, we’d have scored seven.

“It’s hard to understand how big it is. It affects any nation, but in Croatia, a new country, it helped mould our identity. It was just a great night.”

Croatia’s World Cup ended at the semi-final stage against France.

Bilic played a central part in that, too, his clash with Laurent Blanc ended with France’s defender getting a red card and missing the final.

As for Bilic, the cost of playing in those finals was personal.

He added: “I was never a big fan of saying, ‘I’ve done something for my country’ – it’s a bit Hollywood.

“But I was 29 at that tournament, I was playing for Everton. After that,

I carried on for 18 months, but my career was effectively over. I broke my hip before the tournament. I spent the next 18 months after the finals in rehabilitation. I played the World Cup games with injections and no training – and that’s it.

“If I’d known then it would have cost me my career... I would have had a decision to make. I would just say I played in a lot of pain.

“It’s one of my biggest achievements, playing the best football of my life. It’s not about money, I could have played three more years and really enjoyed it.

“But with the medal and the memories and the bond with the guys who are still my great friends now – no, I never regretted it.

“Not for one second.”