Features
DOM 12.06.2016
Croatia are in a tough Group D with Czech Republic, Turkey and holders Spain after finishing second behind Italy in qualifying for Euro 2016. They have four players drawn from LaLiga in their squad, but one of them is a clear favourite with national team fans....
Modric number one
“Luka Modric is the number one for most Croatians,” the editor of Gol.hr website, Ivan Simac said. “Sometimes it seems like Ivan Rakitic is little underappreciated, even though Real Madrid and FC Barcelona share much of the fan base like everywhere else in the world. That said, both of them owe the national team big games. We’re still waiting for them to play like they do in La Liga.
“Mateo Kovacic’s star has faded and he must prove that he can play football at the highest level. When he was transferred from Inter Milan to Madrid, everyone thought Croatia would have a killer trio in midfield, but that hasn’t happened yet. Duje Cop is a little bit of a surprise because manager Ante Cacic picked him ahead of (Real Sporting’s) Alen Halilovic. He had a solid season with Malaga but he didn’t thrill people back home.”
Light the fire
Since seceding from Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatia have emerged as a force in international football. They finished third at the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and have only missed out on a major tournament twice, in 2000 and 2010. But Simac said Croatia were still waiting to really catch Euro-fever this time round. "There isn't the same excitement in Croatia as there was eight years ago for example (the last time the country progressed out of the group stage at a major tournament), he said. "The national team is admired but not to the same extent. Of course, a win against Turkey could quickly light the fires again."
Interest in LaLiga
Croatia has the second highest number of representatives from LaLiga in their national team, with four players, and that has helped boost interest in the league. "Of course, when you have Modric and Rakitic as important parts of Zinedine Zidane's and Luis Enrique’s teams, it helps LaLiga become more popular in Croatia," Simac said. "Real Madrid and Barcelona are by far most popular foreign clubs over here."
Target quarters
Simac was clear about what the team's objectives should be. "Croatia have an amazing team with names like Modric, Rakitić, Mario Mandžukic, Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic and Danijel Subasic etc. The players can do something special and that would be to reach the quarter-finals, maybe more. Anything less than the quarter-finals would be a failure, to be honest."
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