Croatia Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic Retires From National Team

The 33-year-old keeper, who participated in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and finished the tournament with the World Cup's second-place team.

Croatia International and AS Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic became the third player to announce retirement from international football after reaching the World Cup final in a historic run with Croatia.

The 33-year old announced on Wednesday his retirement from the national team. His compatriots Mario Mandzukic and Vedran Corluka also announced their retirements after Croatia lost 4-2 to France in July in their first-ever World Cup final.

Subasic had a sensational performance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and finished the tournament with the World Cup’s second-place team, confirmed his retirement in a message released by the Croatian Football Federation.

The AS Monaco keeper penned an open letter to fans;

Dear fans of the Croatian national team,

The time has come after 10 years to retire from our favourite jersey. It was a long journey since the first call-up in 2008 and the dreams of one goalkeeper from Zadar have been filled with hard work and effort and years of patience sitting on the bench to become the No.1 or for me my favourite No.23.

I want to thank from my heart all the coaches, I learned something from every one of you!

I want to especially mention Slaven Bilić who was first to call me up for Croatia and Zlatko Dalić with who we won an amazing silver medal with.

Thanks to the people from the Croatian Football Federation and those around the national team who were always at hand when we needed them and who done everything possible so we did not miss anything and made sure we were satisfied, happy and healthy.

Thanks to my family and all those close to me who from day one I have been able to rely on in the tough times, which there had been many.

I made this decision to retire long before the World Cup because I wanted to end my career with the World Cup which was one of my dreams.

Every one of us has an expiry date and it is up to us to judge how long we can play for.

Perhaps I could do one more cycle, but maybe it would be too much.

I want to wish my dear teammates who are waiting for their opportunities to realise their dreams like I did playing for Croatia – the world is in the hands of the youth and they are the future of Croatia.

My journey took me here, to silver in the sacred jersey which I gave my all for with honour and pride in every match. Most importantly I am fulfilled and a happy man that I was able to play for my country and in the most beautiful jersey.

We all dreamed while being awake the unbelievable welcome we received in Zagreb, my Zadar and all of Croatia. They were the nicest, most emotive moments of my career together with the one month in Russia which marked and defined my story in the national team.

Thanks to my teammates, without you nothing would have made sense. We experienced tough moments together but also nice moments together. The togetherness, humbleness and friendship from Russia I will remember for the rest of my life.

I won’t talk about matches, we did our talking together, one for each other on the pitch, giving it our all, crying tears of joy, playing with injections, taking tablets like they were candies, all for us, for the jersey, for our people, for our historic silver medal.

I can not even nearly compare the club matches to playing for Croatia, the feelings and emotions before the anthem Lijepa Naša before every match.

Thanks, everyone from my hear for the unconditional support.

Forever one of you.

Yours, Suba

Above all VATRENI 2018

 
Subasic appeared in 44 international matches with Croatia, taking part in two European championships in 2012 and 2016 and the World Cups of 2014 and 2018.

In his announcement, he waxed nostalgic: “It has been a long journey, from the first call-up in 2008 – when a young goalie from Zadar made his dreams come true… taking No. 1 position.”

He was brilliant in the 2018 World Cup, where he saved three penalties from Denmark, setting a record for most penalty saves made in a World Cup match, helping lead Croatia to the quarter-finals and then in the quarters when, while injured, he insisted on playing the whole game against Russia and ended up saving a key penalty.

(With edited IANS inputs)