Advertisement

Croatia Class of 2018 can go further than team who finished third at 1998 World Cup, says Dejan Lovren

10 out of 10: Luka Modric celebrates after scoring Croatia’s second with a stunning 25-yard curling finish: AP
10 out of 10: Luka Modric celebrates after scoring Croatia’s second with a stunning 25-yard curling finish: AP

The remarkable third-place finish at France 98 remains Croatia’s World Cup benchmark but Dejan Lovren believes the Class of 2018 can do even better after last night’s 3-0 win over Argentina.

Twenty years ago, in their first World Cup, a Davor Suker-inspired Croatia thrashed Germany in the quarter-finals before narrowly losing 2-1 to hosts and eventual winners France. They beat Holland in a third-place play-off and Suker, who later spent a season at Arsenal, won the Golden Boot.

The victory over a dismal Argentina in Nizhny Novgorod — sealed by brilliant goals by Ante Rebic and Luka Modric and a late third by Ivan Rakitic — booked Croatia’s place in the last 16 and had Lovren dreaming.

“We can do better [than in 1998], of course,” the Liverpool defender said. “When you look on the teamsheet, we have better players than 20 years ago. It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t perform well but if we are like yesterday, through all the tournament, I believe we can go far.

“There are many favourites, we should be honest. Still Germany here, Spain, France — big teams, big names. We are the underdogs and this helps us. I don’t see any [teams to avoid] and we are not too scared against anyone.

“Three-nil against Argentina... this is a big, big game. I don’t know the last time they lost 3-0 at the World Cup.

“The teams and people will realise they should respect Croatia. We have one of the toughest groups but also we showed we can manage to play under pressure. We deserve this win.”

While the brilliance of Modric and Rakitic, who controlled the midfield in a mismatch with veterans Javier Mascherano and Enzo Perez, was not unexpected, Lionel Messi’s subdued performance was a surprise, even given the bizarre decisions of Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli.

The Barcelona superstar cut a frustrated figure throughout and the sight of him clutching his forehand at full-time promises to be one the defining images of this World Cup.

Frustrated: Lionel Messi (REUTERS)
Frustrated: Lionel Messi (REUTERS)

“We respect Messi because he’s the greatest player in the world but he’s also stoppable,” Lovren said. “We defended like a team and this is how we did it. We stopped him together. It was, I would say, brilliant defending. We had a plan for Argentina, not him.

“You play for your country, you give everything to defend quite well and maybe you approach the games a little bit more different than in the clubs,” he said. While so much of the pre-match talk was about Messi, it was Croatia’s own diminutive superstar who delivered and Modric’s superb 25-yard curling finish capped another mesmerising display from the Real Madrid player.

“Amazing,” said Lovren of Modric. “I said to him it reminded me of his goal against Manchester United for Real [in 2013]... fantastic. He was again one of the best players. He has this calmness, so much experience in his career, he knows how to play these big games. It’s a joy to play with him.”

Croatia’s opening goal came after a mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who teed up Rebic rather than clearing a back pass. Sampaoli, who had been under pressure to drop Caballero, took responsibility for the result, refusing to blame Messi or the keeper.

“Our defeat is my responsibility because I’m the coach,” the Argentine said. “Had I set things up different it might have turned out much better. I don’t think it’s realistic to put the burden on Caballero.

“The reality of the Argentina squad clouds Leo’s brilliance. Leo is limited because the team doesn’t gel as ideally with him as it should. As coaches we need to realise these things and I’m the one who needs to accept it.”

Suker-star: Davor Suker was top scorer at the 1998 World Cup in France (AFP/Getty Images)
Suker-star: Davor Suker was top scorer at the 1998 World Cup in France (AFP/Getty Images)

Argentina’s players will watch Nigeria v Iceland nervously and, even if the former do not win, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has said he will rest players for the final group game against them in another blow to Argentina.

Lovren, meanwhile, is looking to the last 16. “To be honest, I don’t mind,” he said. “Whoever comes, we are ready to fight, and even France, they will know they have a tough opponent.”