World Cup: The team will ‘fight till the end’, say SPL’s Croatian players
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Croatia players celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out of the round of 16 match against Japan on Dec 5.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
SINGAPORE – Tanjong Pagar United midfielder Mirko Sugic is not joking when he says Croatia will come to a standstill when they play Brazil in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday.
Such is the football fever in the nation of only four million people that “even if you head out to a shop to buy something.... the shopkeeper is going to get mad at you”, said the 28-year-old.
“Every single Croat will be watching the match. Everywhere now, all you see are Croatian flags outside shops and on cars. It is really cold at the moment here so most of us will be watching from inside coffee shops, bars or at home.”
Four years ago, Sugic was among at least 500,000 Croats at Zagreb’s Ban Jelacic Square to give a heroes’ welcome to the national team.
Their surprise run to the final at Russia 2018 was a milestone moment for Croatia and years later, Sugic is still waxing lyrical about that squad and recalling the scenes in the capital then.
But there was a nine-second silence down the line from Nova Gradiska – a small town Sugic calls home and where he is back for a holiday – when he was asked if a victory over Brazil would eclipse that improbable run four years ago.
He finally said: “I think so, yes. This is Brazil. One of the biggest national teams. And in this World Cup, they are the favourites.
“Everyone is expecting them to not just win this match, but also the whole tournament. If we knock them out, it is huge. It will be incredible.”
Croatia have never beaten Brazil and, despite the mismatch, Sugic is putting his faith in coach Zlatko Dalic and his men.
Like Sugic, compatriot and Hougang United midfielder Kristijan Krajcek will be watching the game at a bar with a group of friends.
Krajcek, who was the hat-trick hero in Hougang’s Singapore Cup final triumph last month
“It is in our nature to fight with all we have until the final whistle. Anything is possible.”
Kristijan Krajcek holding the Croatian flag after Hougang’s Singapore Cup triumph on Nov 19.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF KRISTIJAN KRAJCEK
Former Singapore Armed Forces FC forward Mislav Karoglan – who won the S-League (now SPL) Player of the Year award and Golden Boot in 2011 – said Croatia will turn their underdog status into an advantage.
Karoglan, now coach of one of Croatia’s biggest clubs Hajduk Split, said: “Some countries have more registered football players than we have people overall.
“Croatia is a small country that has been through a lot throughout its history. That’s why players wearing the national team jerseys... always give everything they have on the pitch for Croatia.”
Former SAFFC forward Mislav Karoglan said Croatia will turn their underdog status into an advantage.
PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
Croatia have won all three of their World Cup penalty shoot-outs to date and he is confident they can take Brazil to spot kicks.
“Croatia need to be disciplined, compact and brave at the same time. A low-scoring game is a chance for us,” he said.
“We have players who are capable of creating chances and scoring goals and using some defensive weaknesses that Brazil have in their playing style.”
The 40-year-old is also tipping his club player, forward Marko Livaja – who has one goal in four appearances in Qatar – to make an impact against Brazil if given the opportunity.
Karoglan said: “We as a club are very proud of Livaja. He has deserved his chance due to his dedication and domination... I hope to see him on the pitch helping his teammates to face one of the strongest teams in the world.”
