FIFA World Cup 2018 – Otto Baric: This is the problem of Croatia

Otto Baric still lives for football at the age of 85.

The former Austrian and Croatian team director is currently badyzing the World Cup in Russia for a Croatian sports television station. The success of the Croatian national team, which plays against England on Wednesday (20 hours in the LIVE Ticker) for the finals, does not really surprise him.

"Croatia have been able to follow the best teams for a while," said Baric. in front of the APA. "What they are getting so far is only a small surprise."

The oasis of well-being Croatia

Croatia shines with big names like Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, Marcelo Brozovic or Ivan Perisic – especially in the midfield the Southeast Europeans are endowed with an exuberant talent

Rakitic and Modric Eighth of Barcelona and Real Madrid, are the support of the team, so Baric. "But the key is the very good mood between the coaching staff and the players, who all believe that they can do great things, which is very important in a tournament." [51] Coach a slate rather virgin (worked in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates), formed an oasis of well-being. "The understanding in the badociation is much better than in the past, better than many years," says Baric, who drove Croatia itself to the 2004 European Championships. At that time, already in the preliminary round was over.

The playoff lost his troupe at this time 2: 4 – calculated against England. "They were just better so we had a lot of problems around, so I had to go," says Baric.

Baric: Only 14 "with the level for the top"

The "Three Lions" of 2018 sees it at eye level with the Croats. "They are a good opponent, but no better than us, they have a bigger league, more potential and, unfortunately, more equal players," said Baric.

Croatia has "special players", but only 14 "high". Locks and wounds, such as Sime Vrsaljko's breath, are hard to handle. The defeat of the right-back is defeated by the central defensive Dejan Lovren / Domagoj Vida, a serious blow to Croatia's latest ambitions, Baric said. "Unfortunately, Jedvaj is still young and not in good shape, Vida has to do it now, so we are losing two of the best caps in the World Cup right up here."

After convincing victories in the group stage, ia. against Argentina (3: 0), everything became complicated for the Croatians in the knockout rounds. Against Denmark and Russia, they could no longer rely on the achievements of the preliminary round and managed each on penalties only upward. "Sometimes you need the luck you need, it's football," Baric said.

That could be an advantage for England

The extra layers could make the difference in England, feared the sevenfold Austrian coach (Wacker Innsbruck, Rapid, Salzburg). "Croatia is already a little tired, this could be a benefit for England."

The last round in Russia gave Baric a satisfactory testimony. "The level is good, but I can not say that it's a very good World Cup," said Baric, pointing out what he thought was the big difference in level, especially between the continents . As a result, he can not win a future XXL World Championship with 48 teams. "The idea with 48 teams is silly – people want to see the best in a World Cup – there are not many good nations."

Baric believes in the ÖFB team

Austrian football follows the boss of the ÖFB 1999 -2001 still intense. The expert comment was rare: "Austrian football is solid." A qualification for a major tournament should not be taken for granted for a country like Austria.

Baric is in a good mood: "Austria will qualify again in two or four years. The current ÖFB manager, Franco Foda, is just as "in order" as his predecessor Marcel Koller. "Unfortunately, European federations are changing too quickly their team bosses, this is not good."

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