Croatia v Spain: 45 minutes of great football entertainment

[buster. 5,257]

The second half was just fantastic old fashioned football entertainment.

 

Best 45 minutes that I can remember.

 

End to end with two good quality teams who wanted to win the game, 5 goals, injurytime winner.

 

 

[ian1964 10,761]

 

[buster. 5,257]

Ivan Rakitic: ‘We saw Football’s Coming Home and thought: yeah, but you still have to play us’

 

 

 

Ivan Rakitic packed his bag, kissed his family goodbye and said see you on the 15th. It was early June and he was not planning to be back until mid-July, four days after his daughter’s birthday. His wife, Raquel Mauri, told him he had better explain, so he made a promise: “I told her: ‘Don’t worry, when it’s over we’ll have a big party,’” he grins. “And I kept my word.” The day Althea turned five, he was still in Moscow. That night he called, wished her happy birthday and said sorry: daddy wasn’t coming home just yet. He had a World Cup final to play.

 

Belief had built early, growing with every step, a sense of destiny; by the time they met England, there was a sense of mission about Croatia, a kind of indestructibility. Rakitic says their opening victory against Nigeria got them thinking “maybe we’ll be OK”. Then came the hammering of Argentina – “we had to ensure the ball didn’t reach Messi” – victory over Iceland and two penalty shootouts, first against Denmark then hosts Russia. And that, he insists, “is no coincidence”.................

 

Full interview

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/16/ivan-rakitic-barcelona-croatia-england-world-cup-semi-final-interview

 

[Pensively Staring 46]

Always enjoy the opportunity to watch the likes of Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos and Ivan Rakitic display their footballing prowess in its many forms. 

 

A very enjoyable game and if I'm being honest I'm pleased Croatia got the win. 

[buster. 5,257]

England v Croatia this afternoon.................... Winner of match wins group (draw puts Spain through)

 

Should be a cracker but you have to wonder if Croatia will be able to summon up the physical and mental strength for another match like that of Thursday ?

 

England firm favourites with the bookies.