‘WE’VE GOT THE LEGS TO RAK UP A WIN IN FINAL’

CROATIA have enough energy in the tank to take on France despite playing extra time in all three of their knock-out games claims midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

Tomorrow’s World Cup Final will be Rakitic’s 71st match of the season – the most played by any top-flight footballer this year.

The Barcelona star has clocked up 55 games for his club and will make his 16th appearance of the season for Croatia.

But he said: “There will be excess power and energy, don’t you worry about it.

“This is an historic game not only for the players, but also for everybody who is a Croat.

“There will be 4.5 million (the population of Croatia) players on the pitch.

“We will carry each other, we will have the energy. We want to leave the pitch with our heads held high and to say we did everything.”

Croatia reached the last four at the 1998 World Cup, but lost 2-1 to eventual winners and hosts France.

Rakitic (below) added: “We have to put that game behind us.

“History is history and the past is the past. “They won that tournament. And we want to win on Sunday.”

The 30-year-old said he would trade in all of his trophies for the World Cup and would even retire on Monday if that was the price he would have to pay.

“I would exchange all of the titles I have won,” he said.

“I would definitely leave my boots at home if that was the price I would have to pay.

“I would pay any price for the success of my country. Individuals don’t matter. It is all about us.”