Croatia boss claims the pressure is on Argentina to win World Cup semi

‘They have more pressure’: Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic begins the mind-games by claiming Argentina are favourites to win their semi-final because ‘they have Messi’… and says their win over England at 2018 World Cup was their ‘GREATEST of all time’

  • Zlatko Dalic claims the pressure is on Argentina in their semi-final with Croatia
  • Croatia boss believes Tuesday’s opponents are favourites to win the World Cup
  • Dalic believes Lionel Messi gives Argentina a huge advantage in the competition
  • However, Dalic, who led Croatia to the 2018 final, is optimistic he can do it again 
  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has claimed the pressure is on Argentina to win their World Cup semi-final showdown tonight at the Lusail Stadium.

Croatia are bidding to reach a second successive World Cup final after falling short against France in 2018 – and now have Lionel Messi and Co to beat if they are to reach this year’s showpiece. 

Croatia may have lost to France in 2018 but have shown in Qatar that their progress was not a fluke as they beat Brazil on penalties to claim another final-four appearance.

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic claims the pressure is on Argentina in their semi-final meeting

Lionel Messi (right) is bidding to lead Argentina to World Cup glory for the first time since 1986

But while he’s already overcome one South American favourite tipped to win the competition, Dalic and his side must do it again on Tuesday – with Argentina looking to win their first World Cup since 1986.

‘Argentina are a great team, and they have Messi. They have more pressure’, as per reports from Marca.

‘We have prepared for the game and I’m optimistic, because these players have shown their quality and potential.’

In their semi-final in Russia four years ago, Dalic’s side came from behind to beat England after extra-time in Moscow and, while the 56-year-old hails that as a famous victory, he feels another semi-final scalp would surpass it.

‘The semi-final match against England in the last World Cup was the greatest match of all time, the game against Brazil comes in second,’ he said.

Croatia are on the verge of securing yet another appearance in the World Cup final

‘If we win tomorrow that would make it the greatest historical game for Croatia of all time.

‘It is one of the most important, most significant matches for us, after just four years to repeat the success would be such an achievement on the world stage with a new national team is fantastic and I believe it is a great success.

‘We are among the four best teams in the world, that is an extraordinary success for Croatia, it is a great thing for two World Cups in a row to be in the four best nations teams in football.

‘We want more, we are playing the great Argentina, a terrific team led by Lionel Messi, they are highly-motivated and under more pressure than Croatia at this moment in time.

‘I am an optimist by nature, I do trust my players, they have demonstrated a high-level of quality, strength of character as we would not have made it to the semi-finals without that. We will not change the way we play.

‘My pride has no limits, the sky is the limit. Everyone has a dream and my dream was to be head coach of my country but I could never have wished for this.’

Croatia fell short in the 2018 World Cup final after losing 4-2 to France in Moscow

Eight of Croatia’s last nine knockout games at major tournaments have gone to extra-time, with the 4-2 loss to France in the World Cup final the only exception, but Dalic does not feel both of their previous two games going the distance in Qatar will hamper his team.

‘It was exhausting that we played extra-time in two matches but we are in the semi-final of the World Cup so we are not even discussing exhaustion,’ he added.

‘We have strength and energy, we will give our best as we have done so in every match before.

‘We have recovered after each match and this will be the case against Argentina, we will give our best, we have no great problems when it comes to the players, all are healthy.’




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