‘Why are you so good at soccer?’
The population is only about 4 million, but even if you are good at soccer, you are really good. It is the grand feat of finishing 4th in a row for the second time in a row. It is the result of playing football ‘to live’ as much as Brazil and Argentina.
Croatia lost 0-3 in the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar against Argentina held at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on the 14th (Korean time). On the 18th, we will receive the final report card through the 3rd and 4th place matches.
No one expected Croatia to reach the semifinals from the 2018 Russia tournament to the Qatar tournament. There is a legendary midfielder named Luka Modric (37, Real Madrid), but soccer is a sport played by 11 players. It wouldn’t be strange if Modric even retired. Contrary to expectations, it was promoted, and in the quarterfinals, it defeated Brazil, a candidate for the championship. Argentina was not able to surpass it, but it became the main character of this tournament. The US’CNN’ explained that although Croatia is a small country with a population similar to Georgia and Panama, it has become a soccer powerhouse in the aftermath of the Balkan War. 안전놀이터
Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. It has been only 31 years since independence. However, following the 1998 tournament in France, he has reached the semifinals three times since the last two tournaments. In the Russian competition, he recorded runner-up. Former coach Igor Stimac, who led the Croatian national team in the past, said, “Our people suffered a lot while fighting for survival and independence amidst the invasion of neighboring countries.” survived,” he explained. “Certainly football was a way to escape from everything that was happening around,” said Modric.
Veteran defender Dejan Lovren had a similar reaction. “We have very strong ‘national feelings’. This is why players always play with all their heart for the national team. In any sport, I run with 100% or more, 110%,” he explained. It was the Croatian national team that reaffirmed the true value of great football that made us forget the pain of war.