#360view: Croatia’s collective spirit gives reason to believe

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  • United: Croatia squad.

    Hosts France are not the only nation at Euro 2016 wrestling with the weight of expectation against past events which occurred on Gallic soil 18 years ago.

    World Cup 1998 was marked by many things: Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo’s dark day in the final, David Beckham’s red card, Dennis Bergkamp’s moment of brilliance against Argentina, but also Croatia announcing themselves on the global stage.

    Seeds had been sown two years earlier at Euro ‘96 with a last eight appearance, but Miroslav Blazevic’s side recorded their best ever finish in an international tournament – in only their second appearance at one – with a third-place in France, having exited at the semi-final stage to Les Bleus.

    The 3-0 quarter-final victory over Germany is buried into the national consciousness and the crowning glory of a generation featuring Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinecki.

    Despite a continuous production line in that corner of the Balkans ever since, bar Bilic leading them to a quarter-final in 2008, Croatia have largely failed to deliver since, with continuous group stage exits.

    The promise of ‘98 disintegrated into frustration at missed opportunities, a wildly run association (something that still resonates in this tournament) and an inability to forge talent into a coherent unit.

    But having set a sizeable marker in the group stage with wins over Turkey, Spain and a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic, in which Ante Cacic’s side were negligent in letting two points slip, it’s not unreasonable to suggest they were the most impressive and consistent team in the tournament.

    And team is the operative word because despite serious doubts over Cacic’s coaching credentials, Croatia have played as a collective.

    Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic as ‘the stars’ have stepped up and while the former has endured injury problems, there’s a feeling their best is yet to come in the knockouts.

    Ivan Perisic has captured the attention, an individual previously known for his sporadic fits of class interspersed with anonymity.

    Defensively, the Czech meltdown aside, they’ve looked resolute and organised, while Darijo Srna’s own personal performances deserve a considerable mention given that Croatia’s games against Turkey and the Czech Republic came eitherside of the sudden death of his father Uzeir.

    It was notable, within seconds of scoring against the Czechs, Perisic ran to Srna, joined in celebration by his team-mates.

    Amid the backdrop of supporter alienation with those who run the game, spilling over into discontent and apathy towards the national side, this is a group of players performing for each other.

    With no Modric or Mario Mandzukic against two-time defending champions Spain, Cacic introduced Marko Rog, 20, Tin Jedvaj, 20, and Marko Pjaca, 21, with just 15 caps between them. Yet there was no loss of continuity; the rookies making a seamless transition into the first team.

    And while Croatia are on the verge of something special in France, it’s that aspect that indicates, should they qualify, the 2018 vintage are going to be a very special team indeed.

    Bar 30-year-old Modric, all of Croatia’s midfield are in their early to late 20s and will surely be along for the ride in Russia.

    There is no Alen Halilovic of Barcelona in this squad, while the latest Dinamo Zagreb protege Ante Coric, 19, is yet to receive any gametime in France.

    But that is for the future, because given their side of the draw and the way they are playing, only Belgium can really match them for overall talent on their set path to the final.

    The feats of the 1998 team will forever be cast in history and act as an inspirational force for Croatian football. But Modric, Rakitic, Perisic and the rest now have the greatest opportunity the Vatreni has had since to write the next defining chapter in the national team’s history

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