Doha. With organization, intelligence, and pride, you can climb most mountains. With heart and mind, David can rivet Goliath.
Croatia knows. Croatia showed it.
But now they faced Lionel Messi, and it was definitely something completely different.
For the fourth time Argentina played at the great Lusail stadium, ninety percent of the stands, childrenStands from Mano de Dios and remaining remaining From the headphones to keep warm.
Welcome home to Argentina.
But Croatia didn’t come here to be small, they won the bronze medal and they won the silver, they came to win the gold in the World Cup. They bring their people, and play their 2018 song before the game. We are Croats, we will be champions. We are Croats, we will be champions“.
It’s been 24 years since they presented themselves to the world at the World Cup in France, and seven years later the already unproven Zlatko Dalic took over as coach of Varteks from the bronze god Siro Blazevic. Both were born in Bosnia, and both will lead Croatia to the gates of heaven. Old Blazevic said he considered Dalic his son.
Before Croatia’s quarter-final against Brazil, a Bosnian journalist called Blazevic to talk, and maybe get information before the match. Siro He spoke for a while, before interrupting.
– He said I’m sick and impatient. I’m dying.
But of course, the 87-year-old watched the game anyway. He’s battling badly with cancer, and says he’s struggling even though things aren’t really good for him. He can no longer move outside, it’s hard even to stand on his feet, but …
– He said I’m happy. They extended my life. Thanks Dalic and the boys for that.
Can’t bear to be Croatian
And here Croatia stood again, all who did not die watching. Even old national team striker Ivan Klasnic was here, after three liver transplants and a nasty viral infection, hairless and with the same dream as everyone else.
We are Croats, the point is we will Champions.
Dalic largely copied the match plan from the quarter-finals, with the same starting line-up. Quick plays off Dejan Lovren, Kramarić meeting and Mario Pašalić push behind him. Heavy emphasis on sealing in the middle in front of the backline. The difference was that they faced a different team. Argentina stood their ground, Croatia could roll the ball with their midfield geniuses, and the game held.
Brazil managed to get out of the jam, creating a lot but getting out a little.
Argentina? They took it all out.
After half an hour, Luka Modric had the opportunity to break up a counter-attack, but the ball went past him. A moment later, Julián Alvarez came loose and collided with goalkeeper Levaković and won a penalty. correctly? Possibly, but that telling the truth was the very important thing to me and… well, it was simply the kind of punishment a judge might or might not award.
Daniele Orsato gave it a go. Lionel Messi took it. 1–0 to Argentina.
In one group La Skaloneta’s attacking players celebrated, in another the defenders celebrated, in the third six Croatian players gathered around Orsato. Croatia were absolutely the best throughout the World Cup at playing control football, but now they lost the game due to chaos – and Argentina knows all about it. After a corner kick for Croatia, Alvarez received the ball from Messi and kicked it with his feet until it reached the goal. It was a copy of Maradona’s goal against England (the second goal). As if it was carried out by an employee, at the end of the Social Insurance Agency’s Christmas party. Counter-attack, two rebounds, leg protection injury, 2-0.
Croatia couldn’t bear to be Croatia again, Argentina was exactly what it was.
They defended by splitting, falling and slipping, collecting nine men on the line of the penalty area, and looking absolutely panicked. They are Argentina. And it was Argentina, Messi, who stopped the game when the best footballer in the world Wayne Gretzky dribbled past the world’s defender Guardiol and gave Alvarez an open goal at 3-0.
It was some kind of genius sequence that had no answers.
One step closer to destruction
With ten minutes remaining, Dalic even gives up and replaces Luka Modric. He was the best manager to quit in the World Cup, now he’s been knocked out by the best offensive manager in the world, and that was it.
Great little nation to play for medals again, for the third time in 24 years Luka Modric has said he intends to keep playing for as long as Croatia wants him to.
Croatia will not be champions, this time either.
They came to Qatar and they showed it all. The intelligence, the coolness, the playing talent, the amazing midfield, the new general of defence, Gvardiol. They showed what pride is, but they also sang patriotic songs to the same patriotic fascist spinners who were allowed to join the players bus during the festivities four years ago.
One kind of pride can make a small country one of the best in the world, and another kind can take them one step closer to ruin.
This team has yet to learn that balance, they already know how to win WC medals.
