Croatia is not going to try and cease Argentina celebrity Lionel Messi by man-marking him however as an alternative will give attention to immobilising the complete workforce of their World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, they stated.
Croatia is bidding to make it to the ultimate for the second World Cup in a row after shedding within the 2018 showcase match to France.
It shocked match favorite Brazil within the quarter-finals after going a objective down in extra-time however dug deep to bounce again with a late equaliser and drive a penalty shootout that it ended up successful.
“We don’t have a specific plan yet for stopping Messi and usually we don’t concentrate on stopping one player but the entire team,” striker Bruno Petkovic advised a news convention on Sunday.
“We will try to stop them as a team and not with man-marking. Argentina are not only Messi, they have a number of great players. We have to stop the entire Argentina team,” he stated.
Seven-time Ballon D’Or winner Messi has to date been the driving drive for the Argentines, who additionally wanted penalties after squandering a two-goal lead towards the Dutch of their quarterfinal.
With no gamers suspended and no damage issues following the return of Croatia defender Borna Sosa, Zlatko Dalic’s workforce is brimming with confidence and prepared for extra.
Its midfield comprising captain Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic can be key to dictating the tempo, because it did towards Brazil, and defender Josip Juranovic stated the three had been totally reliable.
“Mateo, Luka and Marcelo are the best Croatia midfield in history. I don’t think it can be repeated. When you pass them the ball it is safer than having your money in the bank,” the defender stated.
Super-sub Petkovic scored the 117th-minute equaliser towards Brazil to drive penalties, with Croatia having now gained all 4 of the shootouts it has taken half in at World Cups.
“I think many people who are not professional footballers can take successful penalties,” Petkovic stated. “The difference is how mentally tough you are. There is huge pressure you have never experienced before. But it also helps when you have a world class keeper.”
Keeper Dominik Livakovic saved one spot kick towards Brazil after additionally saving three of their Round of 16 shootout towards Japan.
But it was Petkovic’s dramatic equaliser after Brazil’s extra-time lead that carried them to the shootout.
“I am becoming more and more aware of the magnitude of this goal with each passing day,” Petkovic stated. “Maybe I’ll experience something similar in the semi-final or beyond.”