The Croatian national team hopes that Argentina’s bad behavior in the quarter-final match of the World Cup in Qatar against the Netherlands, a duel in which both teams were shown 16 yellow cards and one red card, will not be repeated in the match for the semi-finals on Tuesday, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said on Monday.
The Argentines ended up prevailing over the Dutch on penalties after squandering a two-goal lead, but the match was marred by disciplinary violations by both sides during the duel.
Argentine captain Lionel Messi clashed with Dutch manager Louis van Gaal after the final whistle and called a Dutch player a “fool”.
Croatia, runners-up in the world in 2018, got their taste of Argentine temperament in the past after their group stage win at the 2018 World Cup, with then Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli refusing to shake Dalic’s hand.
But Dalic, whose team also eliminated tournament favorites Brazil on penalties to advance to the semi-finals for a second consecutive World Cup, said he didn’t hold a grudge.
“I understand the actors involved and expectations were high at the time (in 2018). It happens and we won’t hold a grudge,” Dalic said at a news conference on Monday.
“I don’t get angry with anyone in an emotional state. Argentina against the Netherlands was also quite aggressive and difficult with a lot of non-football behaviour. I really hope that’s not the case tomorrow.”
Argentine players also mocked the Dutch towards the end of the penalty shootout, while some Dutch players made fun of the Argentines during the match.
“Tomorrow’s match is a great match for Argentina as well as for us. The stakes are high for both of us and a place in the final is at stake,” said Dalic.
Croatia are hoping to reach the World Cup final for the second tournament in a row after losing the 2018 final to reigning world champions France, who will face Morocco in the other semi-final.
Asked about his assessment of Croatia’s success over the past four years, Dalic said their semi-final win against England in 2018 was his biggest match so far.
“For me, the semi-final against England was the best match of all time. The match against Brazil (in the quarter-final in Qatar) comes second and tomorrow’s match would be third on that list,” he said. said Dalic.
“But if we win tomorrow, it will be the greatest Croatian game ever.”
Dalic’s advice to his players and the few fans who made the trip to Qatar was to enjoy the match.
“I always tell our fans and players to enjoy football,” he said. “Each of us must enjoy the job, the profession that he is doing. Only if the players are happy can they be who they are.”
“They have earned the joy of being one of the top four teams in the world,” he added.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
