Sochi: Ivan Rakitic is hopeful that the present Croatia team can go a step further after matching their country’s 1998 World Cup heroes by making it to the last four stage here, Saturday. Croatia last qualified for the semifinals 20 years back when they defeated Germany 3-0 in the quarterfinals in Lyon.
“We worked so hard and gave everything we had to get through to the semis. I think for a country like Croatia it is impressive and we want to keep going further,” Rakitic, who scored the decisive spot-kick in the shootout, said after the victory.
“We want to enjoy this victory and not put more pressure on ourselves with what happened in 1998 — what they did was impressive but we want to keep writing our own history and enjoy what we are doing which is very positive.”
The Barcelona midfielder was confident that they can outdo their heroes who lost to hosts France in the last four. “I hope we can outdo them. Their generation is more than heroes for us,” Rakitic asserted.
However, Rakitic ensured that Croatia prevailed in the shootout, their second in a row after beating Denmark on penalties in the last round, and they must recover quickly before facing England for a place in the summit clash.