Croatia to step out of shadow of ‘98

Croatia's forward Ivan Perisic (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group D football match between Iceland and Croatia at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don on June 26, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Khaled DESOUKI NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — Just weeks before the start of the World Cup, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic identified a major problem with his team — their obsession with France 1998.

“Croatia hasn’t done well in a World Cup since France 1998 and going on our quality, we should have,” Dalic told one of the country’s main news programs, Dnevnik Nove TV.

“We have a brilliant generation of players who, like me, has to know that we can’t live on past glory.

“Ahead of us is the World Cup, and we have to be at our best there.”

Twenty years ago, Croatia reached the last four, being denied a World Cup final spot only by a Lilian Thuram-inspired France.

Along the way a squad including Robert Prosinecki and Zvonimir Boban beat Jamaica, Japan, Romania then thumped Germany 3-0 in the quarterfinals.

Davor Suker won the Golden Boot and Croatia matched Portugal’s 1966 team in becoming the only other side to finish third on its World Cup debut.

Just seven years after independence, the team was lauded worldwide and decorated by its president on returning to Croatia.

But from a glorious high there have been a number of lows.

Since 1998, Croatia had disappointed in the World Cup, failing to even make it past the group stage once in that time.

And in 2010 they failed to qualify for the tournament altogether.

Now, a new generation, inspired by captain Luka Modric, has a chance to re-create its history.

Their three victories in Group D composed of Argentina, Iceland and Denmark have led many to claim that Croatia could win the World Cup, especially in a tournament where there appears no outstanding favorite. AFP