Speaking before his team’s World Cup semi-final meeting with Argentina, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said his players shouldn’t be tired, despite two penalty shoot-outs already in Qatar. Dalić also explained that this team wouldn’t adapt to counter Argentina’s style and would instead impose themselves on the game. The coach said:
“I trust my players – we won’t adapt much. Croatia will impose our own way of playing… We’ve spent a lot of energy, we played two overtime games, but we are in the semi-finals of the World Cup and we are not talking about whether we have the strength or not. We have strength, desire and energy – that is not in doubt. We will do our best as in every game. We’re in a good situation, we don’t have big problems with injuries and the boys are healthy and fit. I hope they are rested, I won’t ask them if they are tired, they don’t want to be tired.”
Croatia have already won two dramatic knockout ties at the tournament, edging past Japan on penalties in the last 16 before a late equaliser and another spot-kick win resulted in Brazil’s exit in the last round.
GWFN
