Croatia’s side can surpass stars of ’98, says Lovren

SOCHI: Croatia’s successful run in the 1998 World Cup in France, when they finished third, has been something of a burden for the generations that followed but the current group in Russia could even surpass them, defender Dejan Lovren (pic) said.

In their maiden appearance representing an independent nation, Croatia went out to the hosts in the 1998 semi-finals, then beat Holland 2-1 in the third-place playoff.

The current squad are one win away from matching that feat and they meet hosts Russia in today’s quarter-final at the Fisht Stadium by the Black Sea.

“Of course, we respect the generation of ’98 very much because they achieved the greatest success for Croatian football and the Croatian national team,” centre back Lovren told reporters.

“This has always been ... I can even say some kind of a burden to be better than them.

“Twenty years have passed and no one has managed to do anything in this regard.

“I believe in this team and I believe we can do better than them.

“With a little luck and several other things falling into place I am certain we can do better.”

Croatia have world-class midfielder Luca Modric and a string of top- level forwards including Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, and Ivan Perisic and the team scored at least two goals in each of their three group matches, including three against Argentina.

The defence has conceded just two goals in their four matches in the tournament and some believe they have not had their fair share of recognition.

“It is the norm in today’s football that attackers and midfielders are always praised and more recognised than the defence players,” said Lovren, who plays in England for top English Premier League side Liverpool.

“But we do our job the best we can and we are happy when we do our job right and there are no goals on the receiving end. We don’t need praise, we care the most about what our coach says.”