In Modric we all trust, says Rakitic
SUCCESSFUL World Cup campaigns contain key moments and in the Croatian squad they are already reflecting on one that helped them take a step towards today’s quarter-final with hosts Russia on the Black Sea coast. Having watched their captain Luka Modric miss a penalty in the last minute of extra-time against Denmark, the Croatian squad gathered together before the shoot-out followed and listened to Ivan Rakitic’s instructions to make things good on his behalf. ‘There are no words to describe those emotions,’ said Barcelona midfielder Rakitic. ‘Our captain deserves that we follow him and that was the message. At any moment we do whatever he does and we go where he tells us. Luckily, I’ve been playing alongside him for the past ten years and in each game, ever since he got the armband, he’s led us with power, strength and selfconfidence. At that moment, we had to repay what he gave us on many previous occasions. ‘He was the first who wished to score in the shoot-out — and I spoke from my heart.’ If there is a growing mania for the national team in Russia and indeed in England, then Croatians also feel they are being pulled inexorably towards their destiny. It is not only the English — possible opponents for these two in next week’s Moscow semi-final — who feel the weight of history. A classy Croatia team lost in the 1998 World Cup semi-finals to hosts France and then flunked a shoot-out against Turkey in the 2008 European Championship quarter-finals. Coach Zlatko Dalic said: ‘The whole of our nation is euphoric, upbeat. There are parties going on when Croatia play. In squares and cafes. ‘This week it was 20 years since we won our quarter-final in France, against Germany. Maybe history is repeating itself. We’re on the right track. We have been discussing that (our history) from day one. ‘I attended those matches and later went to tournaments in Germany and Poland and Ukraine and that’s why I’m so proud to be the head coach, having been a fan.’ Tonight in the humidity of the Fisht Stadium, Croatia will face a Russian team that only knows how to play one way. The hosts’ shoot-out win over Spain in the last 16 was a triumph of organisation and stubbornness and it is likely they will approach today’s game similarly. Another penalty lottery would suit them perfectly. Nobody expected Russia to advance past the group stages so for Stanislav Cherchesov and his players, a last-four slot would be reminiscent of South Korea and their progress during their own tournament 16 years ago. ‘I only speak for myself but I am trying not to watch the TV or read the papers,’ said the Russia coach. ‘It’s a great story and great to beat Spain but this is the last eight, so the level will be higher.’ Cherchesov revealed that President Putin has been in regular contact. In Russia’s south, expectation is rising — in both camps.