MEMORIES OF 1998 PERMEATE THIS WORLD CUP FINAL
Like then, Croatia assumes role of underdog against France on soccer’s biggest stage
There’s a kind of privilege associated with hailing from a soccer behemoth. There’s no need to revel in your history.
If you’re French, for instance, you expect to be in contention at every major finals.
It’s why French coach Didier Deschamps doesn’t speak of Les Bleus’ past, arguing it “belongs to the French people who lived it.”
After all, there’s an assumption that every French generation will experience what Les Bleus achieved in 1998 and 2000, winning a World Cup and the European Championships.
Deschamps’ press conference following Tuesday’s 1-0 semifinal win over Belgium felt vastly different than Zlatko Dalic’s availability 700 kilometres away in Moscow the next day.
While the former French captain-turned coach steered clear of nostalgia, Croatia’s bench boss reminisced about the historical significance of beating England 2-1 Wednesday in the other semifinal.
Croatia, a country with a population of about four million, finds itself in a World Cup final 20 years after Croatian soccer legend Davor Suker captured our hearts and minds during the 1998 tournament, leading the country to an improbable thirdplace finish.
It was the moment when checkered kits became synonymous with success and passion and punching above one’s weight.
Suker, now the Croatian Soccer Federation president, looks back on Vatreni and their run at France ’98 knowing two decades from now the world will recall Sunday’s culmination more vividly than what he and Zvonimir Boban accomplished in 1998.
“I think the Germans underestimated us,” Suker once said of Croatia’s 3-0 quarter-final victory over Die Mannschaft. “They thought their team was stronger, which was perhaps a normal thing for them to think.
“But then there’s a saying: Of all the unimportant things in the world, football is the most important. It isn’t the case that the richest or best is always going to win. The small teams can win, too.
“The charm of football is that a small country can beat a major one. We proved it and people started to respect that from then on.”
Before this week’s semifinals, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic spoke of one-upping his heroes and evoking feelings among his countrymen akin to what they experienced at the turn of the millennium.
“It was one of the craziest evenings of our careers,” Suker added. “It was proud and glorious to be a Croat in Lyon (France) that night.”
If the streets of Zagreb are any indication, Croatia’s current crop has already matched its predecessors.
Scenes from the Croatian capital this week showed tens of thousands of crazed 20- and 30-somethings flooding a main square in Zagreb to take in what would become a historic night.
When Mario Mandzukic put Croatia in front in extra time, the explosion of sound and flares and liquid-tossing was followed by expressions of pride.
Spatterings of middle-aged and elderly Croatians in the crowd were feeling what they felt when Suker provided similar moments 20 years ago.
“In 1998, I was in France for the first three games as a supporter,” coach Dalic, a player with Hajduk Split back then, said upon knocking off England.
“I had to go back (to Croatia) because I was an active footballer,” he added. “Of course, everybody in Croatia remembers (French defender Lilian) Thuram and that we lost 2-1. This has been the topic of discussion for the last 20 years.
“Maybe (the 1998 semifinal) has an historical significance: The chance to settle a score. Both teams have shown their qualities and are deserved finalists.”
The difference, though, is France expected to be a finalist when it hosted that tournament. Les Bleus were expected to at least make a semifinal here in Russia.
The conversation surrounding Croatia hasn’t changed. The team is respected but still unexpected finalists, given they’re not considered a soccer powerhouse.
Croatia has long been thought of more as a soccer factory, exporting talent to sides such as Real Madrid and Barcelona and all corners of Europe.
The fact of the matter is, the smallest nation to make a World Cup final since Uruguay will be satisfied regardless of Sunday’s outcome.
They’ve already outperformed the squad they were being measured against.
But an unlikely win over France would make them legends beyond their country’s borders.
“We do not seek revenge,” Dalic said.
“This is football. This is sports. What we have to do is focus on preparing the best game in the tournament in the final.”