FIFA World Cup 2018: Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic Says Team Eager to Prove Themselves

"It's so special to do something with the national team. We have been waiting for a number of years to do something great with Croatia. Now we are finally near such an achievement and we will leave every drop of sweat on the pitch to achieve our goal," Mandzukic told a press conference.

Written by: EFE-EPA

Published: July 10, 2018, 10:32 AM IST

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Mario Mandzukic

Mario Mandzukic said on Monday that he and his Croatia teammates won’t let fatigue get in their way when they face England in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup.

The Balkan side played more than four hours of football in their penalty-shootout victories over Denmark in the round of 16 and Russia in the quarterfinals.

Mario Mandžukić on press conference 9.7. ‘18 #Juventus https://t.co/4YZWtzkF9n pic.twitter.com/deYHV7IcrR

— k.j. (@juve_kj) July 10, 2018

“It’s so special to do something with the national team. We have been waiting for a number of years to do something great with Croatia. Now we are finally near such an achievement and we will leave every drop of sweat on the pitch to achieve our goal,” Mandzukic told a press conference.

At the same time, the Juventus striker rejected the idea that Croatia should be seen as favourites against England.

“I agree Croatia has several more experienced players,” Mandzukic said. “That will help us, but the chances are 50-50, I believe because everybody deserves to be at the semifinal.

Croatia has reached the final four on one previous occasion, at the 1998 World Cup in France.

“I think for Croatia team, our biggest pressure was beating Denmark in the last 16. We feel much easier at this point and we are enjoying what is happening,” Mandzukic said.