On June 6, 1994, two weeks before the World Cup in the United States, Argentina traveled to Zagreb to play their last preparation match. He came from winning Ecuador and Israel but he met Croatia, an unknown, with whom he could not get past the initial 0-0 despite the fact that Maradona, Caniggia, Batistuta, Balbo, Redondo and Simeone were starters. Four years later, the Sukers, Prosinecki, Boban and Jarni, who played in that friendly, settled in France and finished third.
Barely six years had passed since the UN recognized their independence and five since UEFA had admitted their Federation. And Croatian football was already in the elite, from where it has not come down in its own right. He has only missed one of the seven World Cups and tomorrow he will play his third semifinal... precisely against the albiceleste.
The Vatreni, current runners-up in the world, can repeat the final of four years ago with the withdrawal of Mandzukic, Strinic or Subasic and the goodbye to Rakitic's team in between. A feat for a country with a population of 3.9 million –similar to that of Uruguay–, with an area of 56 km2 and with just over 120,000 federative records.
But if Uruguay is synonymous with football, Croatia is multidisciplinary. She surprised with silver in basketball at the Barcelona Games. She has been a two-time Olympic champion and a world champion in handball. In water polo they have two World Cups and gold in London. That only in the male section.
The density of Croatian talent is very high. Athletes sprout. The passion is transmitted in the families, many disjointed by the war. His technique and quality is usually exquisite. "You work well with the children, you do a great job in the schools," says Modric, 37. And his character and leadership skills are unwavering. Half artists, half warriors, they know when to have hot blood to compete and when to use cold blood to decide.
Maybe that's why they get so much out of overtime and penalty shootouts. Their legs do not tremble, nor their pulse nor their sense of purpose. This is how they eliminated Denmark and Russia in 2018 and in the same way they have already brought down Japan and Brazil. Between the two batches he has taken nine penalties with eight different players. Only Vlasic repeated. “There is enormous pressure that you have never experienced before. The difference is made by how strong you are mentally", analyzes striker Petkovic, author of the 1-1 draw against the Canarinha in the 117th minute but who never scored in Serie A or with Catania, Bologna or Hellas Verona.
He has returned to Dinamo Zagreb. The goalkeeper Livakovic, Sutalo and Orsic also play there. Modric, Kovacic and Brozovic came from there. “Luka, Mateo and Marcelo are the best midfield in the history of Croatia. I don't think it can be repeated. Passing the ball to them is safer than having the money in the bank”, compared defender Juranovic. Croatia is always ready to challenge the big favorites and break the bank. Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Rijeka or Osijek would have been great aliases for Money Heist.
