heroic, Croatia makes an appointment with the Blues in the final

At the end of a frantic race that ends in front of the grandstand packed with their supporters, the two giants slide on their knees in perfect synchronization. Like their team, Croatian defenders Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida were, Wednesday, July 11, heroic, in the semifinals of the World Cup. At the end of the suspense of overtime, Croatia eliminated England (2-1), who already saw themselves back at the top of the bill.

Seconds later, it's Captain Luka Modric and coach Zlatko Dalic, hand in hand, who greet the crowd victoriously. Then, the hyperactive side of Atletico Madrid, Sime Vrsaljko, ground his coach when the Barcelonan Ivan Rakitic is carried in triumph by a giant of 2.01 m, substitute goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic. Still others brandished custom flags in the name of their stronghold, a true tour of Croatia: Zadar on the Dalmatian coast for goalkeeper Danijel Subasic or Slavonski Brod on the Bosnian border for scorer Mario Mandzukic.

Beyond Fatigue, yet led 0-1 entry by English too sure of them, the team of Croatia qualified for the first final of a World Cup in its short history. Twenty years after a defeat at the tournament 1998 on the same score (1-2) against the Blues Lilian Thuram and Aimé Jacquet who had denied them a final.

The feat is huge for an independent nation since 1992 and which has just over four million inhabitants. "It's amazing! I think we are not yet aware of what has just happened. It's not really a miracle, we've accomplished something that only great players can accomplish. We played with the heart, " said Mandzukic, author of the second goal, that of victory.

Third consecutive extension

On the Croatian side, the time was still long minutes after the whistle final to the celebration. While waiting to rest, the communion is total. We forget the cramps, the incessant races and the contacts which were more and more rough over the minutes.

A multitude of toddlers, red and white checkered jersey on the back, run in the middle of their paternal ones. One is caught in the face of rock Vida. Tail-of-horse detached, the defender raises the little blonde head and kisses it under the cheers of his family. A man of character, he was galvanized by the whistles of Russian spectators with each hit ball. He was criticized for his support for Ukraine on Saturday in Sochi, after the winning quarter against the host country.

In 1998, the legendary generation led by Davor Suker finished in third place. The successors of Robert Prosinecki or Zvonimir Boban have taken an extra step. Today president of the Croatian Federation, Suker, top scorer of the French World Cup, can count on Ivan Perisic or Mario Mandzukic to score goals.

It is Perisic, former Sochalian, who attended two seasons the reserve of the club doubien before his 20 years, who equalized; he was again voted best player of the match. The Juventus player, Mandzukic, is a kind of Olivier Giroud, a center-forward who defends more than he attacks. With one difference, he scores: two goals in six games. In the middle, the pair Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic is of course the object of attention. It's very simple, there is no greater technician than the first named. His outside of the foot is silky and he prints the rhythm of his team. And the second is far from being awkward.

In what state of form will they all be? For the first time since the knockout matches, Modric, for example, asked to come out before the end. Real boss of Croatia, he trailed behind him an exhausting season with his club Real Madrid, with which he won at the end of May a third final of the Champions League in a row.

After the early eliminations of the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentinian Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar, the awesome number 10 is more than ever a contender for the Golden Ball. "At one point, I wanted to make replacements but no one wanted to go out. It's amazing, nobody wanted to give up. This shows the character of this team " launched the coach Zlatko Dalic in a press conference.

No victory against France

Sunday On July 15, when entering the same lawn of the huge Luzhniki stadium for the most important match in their history, the Croatian footballers will have played three times thirty minutes, one more match in just ten days, than their opponents French. Not to mention the two penalty shootouts, necessarily energy-hungry, in the round of 16 against the Danes and quarter-final against the Russians. To top it off, the Balkans will have benefited from one less day of rest.

Without doubt, Vatreni physiotherapists ("the flamboyant") will have to handle the thigh and calf. The advantage will be obvious for the proteges of Didier Deschamps, who, in addition, assert themselves since the beginning of the competition like one of the selections with the most glowing physical condition.

Between France and Croatia, the opposition of style will be complete. On the one hand, Blues who appreciate to leave the ball to the opponent to better take speed. On the other hand, there are some Croats who like to have possession of the ball but have sometimes seemed uninspired since the end of the first round, when they had their best match by crushing Argentina (3-0). [19659006] "Nobody can be happier than me to play France in the final. I saw almost all the matches [des Bleus] in this World Cup. They increased their level as the competition progressed. It is a team that knows how to play defensively, who has a very good coach and very good players " analyzed Ivan Perisic

Surrealist scene in the Moscow metro, when an official doppelganger of the English coach Gareth Southgate , pushing the resemblance until wearing his famous vest, fraternizes with a Croatian supporter on the back of the French rival: "Against France, it will be difficult but the guys, you have your chance. I hope you beat them.

In five games (three defeats and two draws), this is something that Croatian footballers have never managed to do. Just as they had never reached a World Cup final. The Blues are warned