Croatia vs Brazil in quarterfinals: what does coach Dalic believe?

On the soccer field, Croatia has been punching above its weight for years now. Therefore, it is only natural for Croatia to have a strong belief system while entering a quarterfinal against the five-time champions Brazil on Friday.

“Never underestimate Croatia. Croatia is a small nation. But we are brave, defiant, and loyal,” Coach Dalić commented. “We will always give everything we’ve got, especially this generation of players.”

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic prevented three spot kicks in Croatia’s penalty shootout victory over Japan on Monday. Mario Pašalić converted the decisive penalty for Croatia. The shootout win came after a 1-1 tie post-extra time. “That shows the will and the commitment and the faith of the whole team,” Dalić remarked. “It’s one thing playing for the clubs — it’s a matter of contracts, it’s a matter of prestige. But it’s a totally different thing to represent your country because this is patriotism — it’s pride, it’s emotion, so it’s different.”