The favourites are home now: Dalic

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said that there are no favourites in this World Cup as all the teams remaining are equally capable of lifting the trophy as Croatia prepares for a feisty semi-final against England after edging past Russia in penalties. Dalic also said that the teams that came with the ‘favourites’ tag are already home now and the ones that worked hard remained.

 Dalic’s Croatia advanced to the final four for the first time since 1998 after winning a penalty shootout 4-3 against hosts Russia in Sochi on Saturday. The two teams could not be separated even after extra time as the game finished 2-2, leading to penalty shootout. However, two unsuccessful Russia penalties and Ivan Rakitic’s match-winning penalty saw Croatia in the semi-final against England.

Croatia will now have to overcome England to take a step further than the 1998 Croatia heroes, who lost to the hosts France in the last-four of the tournament.

With the teams like Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Germany already out of the tournament, Dalic pointed out the fact that all the teams remaining in the competition are equally capable of achieving the ultimate glory and Croatia need to work hard to overcome England in the semi-final, who outclassed Sweden 2-0 in the quarter-final of the tournament.

“They breezed past Sweden. They were better. They are young and alive. Attacking team,” Dalic said according to a report from Goal.com.

“There are no favourites in this World Cup. It’s all 50-50. You have to fight it out. The favourites are home now. Those who work hard and organised are still here in Russia. This is the character of the teams remaining.” Dalic added.

Dalic who burst into tears after Rakitic’s penalty that took Croatia a step closer to the trophy congratulated his team for this achievement during his post-game news conference, as reported by the Goal.com.

“Congrats to my lads but also to Russia who fought well,” Dalic said.

“This wasn’t a beautiful game but a fight. A battle for the semis. We were lucky, thank God.

“I was concentrated throughout but after Rakitic’s penalty, it came bursting out of me. I felt really relieved. We made ourselves happy but also everybody back home in Croatia happy. I don’t cry often but now I have good cause. Croatia are in the semis. This is a great result.” Dalic added.

Dalic also said that Croatia still have some power left to outwit England in the semi-final and that they would not like to stop here.

“We have power left for England. We won't want to stop. We will try to play our best. We have two matches to play. We are very motivated. We are giving our all. It will be a battle again but I believe in us.” Dalic concluded.