The scene takes place on the pitch of the Education City stadium. Tears flood the faces of Brazilian soccer players after falling in the round of 16. Croatia has prevailed in the penalty shootout. All the cameras focus on Neymar, disconsolate in the central circle before what may have been his farewell to a World Cup and, who knows, if the canarinha. In full tears, a small figure dressed in the Croatian shirt and the number 4 on his back approaches him. Neymar stretches out his arm and hits him. Shortly after, he hugs her. The creature was Leo, the son of Ivan Perisic (Split, 1989). "Thank you Neymar, it has meant a lot to him", the Croatian striker thanked him afterwards. Leaders are always made of good stuff.
In the shadow of Modric, Croatia's undisputed standard bearer on and off the pitch, Perisic has also played a key role in shaping the soul of a team with unrivaled resilience, which continues to claim its place among the best. The Tottenham forward is part of the young history of Croatia with capital letters. Four years ago, in Russia, he scored the equalizer against France in the final, a historic goal for his country even if it ended up being sterile. In Qatar, against Japan in the round of 16, he forced extra time with an impressive header, almost from the edge of the area. A goal that made him the first Croatian footballer to score in three different World Cups and allowed him to surpass a legend like Davor Suker in goals in major championships. "Records are not important, only the team," he lowered in the preview of the duel against Argentina.
Perisic represents all the values that have led Croatia to the semifinals. Strength, versatility, tenacity. He has always been a globetrotter since he started hitting his first balls as a professional at Sochaux. France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and now England. He has known all kinds of leagues and his game, now in the band, has been enriched. 120 games with Croatia and 33 goals contemplate him, for now.
Off the pitch, Perisic's adventures can also fill the pages of an action novel. To the 120 games of him defending the shirt of the soccer team, we must add another three with the beach volleyball. He represented the colors of Croatia during a 2017 world tour tournament held in Porec. He donated all the profits to the federation for the promotion of sports in his country. But the fact is that the Split striker, who grew up in Omis – he has the Archangel Michael Church tattooed on one cufflink – is also in love with basketball and has been seen practicing kickboxing with Luka Tomic, the Croatian champion. He dares with everything.
At his side in the successes of Croatia has been Dominik Livakovic (Zadar, 1995), the best goalkeeper in the World Cup and signatory of the triumphant journey of Croatia in Qatar. He has already stopped four penalties in two rounds (3 against Japan and one against Brazil), putting his name on a par with legends like Schumacher, Goycoechea and, above all, Subasic, his idol and the Croatian starting goalkeeper in the World Cup. From Russia. Against Brazil, in addition, he signed a heroic second half with up to five interventions of great merit, essential to understand that the duel ended in extra time.
Livakovic defends the colors of Dinamo Zagreb. Before, those of NK Zagreb. There he ends his resume. At 27, he has never left Croatian football, although when the World Cup ends, offers will rain down on him.
He is a different footballer, who brings another approach within the locker room. He tried to combine his studies at the University of Zagreb with his career as a footballer but he had to abandon them. A concern that runs in the family. His father was Secretary of State for Transport in the Croatian government and his grandfather was one of the country's leading radiologists.
In the World Cup, Livakovic has also been a protagonist off the pitch, after FIFA published a video of him chatting with Modric about his fear of failing that has gone viral. Some fears that in Qatar have completely disappeared.
