SOCHI, Russia — They’ve gone 120 minutes twice in a week. They’ve endured the emotional tugs of two penalty shootouts, somehow coming out on top both times, the first team since 1990 to do so at a World Cup. They’re dealing with injuries to their starting right back, their goalkeeper and a handful of other players who could probably use a week in the ice bath.
There’s no way the Croatia players will have any juice left for England in the World Cup semifinals, right?
“Of course there’s power left for the English,” Coach Zlatko Dalic said Sunday. “We don’t want to stop. We want to play our best game then.”
What kind of recovery Croatia can muster over the next three days may determine if it has a chance of taking out England and reaching the World Cup final for the first time when the teams meet in the semifinals Wednesday in Moscow.
Croatia may have one of the best individual players in the tournament with what Luka Modric has done in matching the deepest run by his country. But Croatia is also exhausted. Physically. Mentally.
There’s no way it couldn’t be after ousting Denmark on penalties in the round of 16, then being forced to extra time again by host Russia on Saturday. Just before midnight local time, Ivan Rakitic’s winning penalty ignited another celebration that was a mix of excitement and relief.
The team and country are riding a wave of adrenaline in matching the 1998 team and reaching the semis. At some point that wave could crash.
“At certain times we lacked power but we played two times 120 minutes of football in six days,” Modric said. “Of course this will leave a mark on you. You have to pay the toll for such exertions. But thank God we’ve shown our character.”
The emotions were such that Dalic broke down in tears after Rakitic’s winning penalty.
“It came bursting out of me. I felt really relieved,” Dalic said. “We made ourselves happy but we also made everybody back home in Croatia happy. Those emotions burst out of me. I don’t cry often but I have a good reason.”
The team traveled Sunday from Sochi to Moscow to set up camp for two days of training ahead of the semifinal.
The most immediate worry appears to be right back Sime Vrsaljko, who had to be replaced during extra time, walking slowly off the field with an apparent leg injury.
There’s also concern about goalkeeper Danijel Subasic after he required treatment late in the second half after appearing to injure his right hamstring.
A number of other Croatia players received massages and stretched legs before extra time and the shootout.
“It will be difficult,” defender Dejan Lovren said. “Hopefully our right back Sime Vrsaljko is not so injured like he thinks, so hopefully we can manage. But we have a lot of good players on the bench who showed they can change the rhythm of the game.”
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