Mateo Kovacic will be attempting to help Croatia reach an unprecedented second-consecutive World Cup final tonight and the Chelsea midfielder discussed the pride he feels every time he represents his nation.
Having reached the final of the World Cup for the first time in their history in 2018, Croatia could equal that best-ever performance with a victory over Argentina in the first of this year’s semi-finals tonight.
Kovacic has been a key player during their run to the last four, starting all five of their matches in Qatar so far, and explained why it is always such an emotional moment to play for his country in any game, let alone a World Cup semi-final.
‘Every time you represent your country it is just something incredible,’ said the 28-year-old. ‘The whole country is watching you. I’m very proud and honoured to wear my Croatian shirt.’
It has been a seemingly nerveless undefeated campaign for Croatia, after securing second place in Group F with a tense goalless draw with Belgium in their last group fixture.
They have since come back from a goal down to win in dramatic penalty shoot-outs in both their knock-out ties, against Japan and competition favourites Brazil, seemingly fitting well with Kovacic’s tournament philosophy and showing the belief Croatia have in themselves.
‘For us the most important thing is to start well, to go through the group stage and then in the knock-out stages you never know what can happen.’
That belief from Kovacic extends back a long way before this World Cup, though, as he explains.
‘I always thought when I grew up that I would be a football player and of course I believed that I could be in that position to play for my national team, but you just need to work hard to get there,’ he added.
‘So it’s not easy but you prepare the same for Chelsea as you do for the national team because you want to give the best on the pitch and be the best player.’
There has certainly been no faulting Kovacic’s effort or performance in helping Croatia reach the World Cup semi-finals and, when they line up against Argentina looking to take one more step towards glory in Qatar, there will be plenty of Chelsea supporters joining the people of Croatia in cheering the midfielder on.