Russia saves the Croatian economy before the quarterfinals? – Mail.Ru Sports

There is such a business Agrokor – the largest private company in Croatia, works in the field of food industry and plays the major role in the country's economy. This company has serious problems – huge debts. And about a quarter of the debt fell on Russian banks. "Sberbank" Agrokor is expected to more than 1 billion euros, VTB – about 300 million euros. And one of these days, it became known that the problem was solved – the business pbades into the hands of creditors, and it is the Russian state bank that will become the biggest owner. The debt is settled. On the eve of the quarterfinals of Russia and Croatia, the news could only arouse the public interest.

Now all the details seem to be of importance. It is clear that the question does not seem to relate to football, but the love of conspiracy forces a lot, if not to draw deep conclusions, at least to joke about the subject: "Russia has bought everything."

And, of course, now, before the game, there were a lot of jokes! – Lobster chronicler Slobodna Dalmacija Frane Vulas.

Indeed, defender Shime Vrsalko and Dejan Lovren, who spoke to journalists, reacted nervously to the question of the economic situation.

– This has nothing to do with sports, the team is completely focused on the upcoming game, we do not want to hear anything about it! – Cut Vrsalko

– Drop Agrokor, but we are on the rise! – Lovren says in turn

– Please, do not ask such questions, – closes the subject to the press officer of the national team Croatian

Lovren celebrated his birthday on Thursday birthday. And at other questions he responded with irritation, often sighing and shaking his head: "What kind of nonsense is being asked of me."

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How is your health? – an English-speaking correspondent is interested

– In the sense?

– Well, you were disturbed by wounds …

– What are the wounds? I was not hurt

– What do you think of your role in the team?

– I think only of the configuration given by the coach

Croatian colleagues reacted calmly.

– He always like that, said colleague Vulas. – Some questions react nervously. But in general, he normally communicates with the press. He always stops in a mixed zone, maybe he's just tired and nervous on the eve of such a match.

The only subject that did not provoke the rejection of Lovren or Vrsalco is the memory of 1998 when the Croatian national team won the world championships in France bronze medals

– All the matches did not seem, if they went late, it was necessary to sleep, – said Lovren. – But my mother shouted with joy every time our goal was scored, that's my main memory.

– I do not remember at all, – admitted Vrsalko, who in 1998 was 6 years old. – But later, I discovered what an important moment for our country.

Thursday. Sochi. Dejan LOVREN (right) and Shime VRSALKO speak to the press

After the press conference Croatia organizes a training session. Everyone was involved – even midfielder Mateo Kovacic, whose participation in the match was involved due to an injury . The last on the ground came Luka Modric. His appearance was a signal for the beginning of the training

Only 15 minutes were open, but during that time several planes were flying over the players

The training ground given to the Croatians is almost in the end landing strip of Sochi airport. The turbines on takeoff mode roar so much that nothing is heard around. But the situation of Croats rather amuses. The next plane flew, and defender Vida inflated the balloon with challenge – as if he was trying to get the liner.

– I live near the hotel of our team, I hear everything, – says Vulas. – Fortunately, nobody steals the night. But in the day constantly. Perhaps, when the players relax after the training, the buzz of planes interferes with them. But I do not think that will really affect the state of the team.

– And how is the state now?

– With Russia, we are favorites. But in victory, no one is sure. Croatia played well with Nigeria and Argentina, there were no questions. But against Zlatko Dalich Iceland put forward a second team plus Modric and Peresic, and there were problems. The game was weak, although still managed to win. We did not care about that, we thought – the second training, but the base was imposed against Denmark, and it seemed just as bad, if not worse. If Denmark won, no one would be surprised. We were lucky. This is alarming. The main question is which of the two Croatians we will see on Saturday

Nevertheless, Croatian journalists say that the real level of the team is the final of the World Cup. Where to play will, most likely, be with Brazil.

– In the final, we are likely to lose, – says Vulas. "Brazil have a team that is too strong, better than us, better than anything, but the rest of the teams – England or Belgium – are in our power, and so is Russia.

Well, we also think that Croatia is in spite of the generosity of the Russian banks

Dmitry ZELENOV
of Sochi