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Writing MOSCÚ

EFE

Mbappé or Modric. Pogba or Rakitic. Griezmann or Mandzukic. Moscow will crown Sunday as world champion France or Croatia, the only survivor yesterday in the Luzhniki stadium a Herculean pulse with the England team, who beat by 2-1.

Zlatko Dalic's students won with the defeated physique, not the pride or honor, after coming back a bit in the 5th minute and forcing the extra time for the third match.

And, after a group stage, where they beat Nigeria, Argentina, and Iceland, the Vatreni changed their course. Its continuity has come to walk on the tightrope.

In two sets of penalties culminating by Ivan Rakitic, against Denmark and Russia, they headed for the semi-finals.

The history of the checkered team could perpetuate the group. Luka Modric, as in 1998 to Davor Suker, Robert Prosinecki and company; but, coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of this bronze, the "2018 generation" deserved an even more prominent place in the memory of Croatian football.

First selection that survives three extensions
° Croatia has become the first selection in the history of the World Cup that plays three consecutive extensions and is still alive.

The Balkans team qualified for the final of the 2018 World Cup after getting rid of the penalties of Denmark, in the second round, and Russia, in the quarters, and in the extra period of England, in the semifinals (2-1) with a target of Mario Mandzukic.

Interestingly the previous team that played three consecutive World Cup prolongations was the English box, Italy's 90, but in his case succumbed to Germany in the shooting session on goal (3-4) after finishing the match with a 1-1 draw. Previously, England had beaten Belgium in overtime, with a goal from David Platt in the round of 16 (1-0), and Cameroon 3-2 with goal from Gary Lineker in San Paolo, Naples. EFE

PHRASES

We do not know what we did. This can only be achieved by a great team, a brave team that plays the tournament with a big heart. " Mario Mandzukic, Croatian player
It was one of the most important goals (in the history of Croatia) and it helped us to reach the final". Ivan Perisic, player from Croatia