Pay a visit to Croatia’s training base at this World Cup and you will find the word ‘obitelj’ written all over the place.
In English, it means ‘family’, and on Tuesday Tottenham wing-back Ivan Perisic will be one of the father figures leading a band of brothers into their semi-final against Argentina.
Croatia have played at six World Cups, reaching the last four in three of them. It is a remarkable achievement for a country with a population of only about four million, and the feeling in Croatia is the spirit in the team is one of the reasons they continue to defy the odds.
The experienced leaders in the squad play a key role. Alongside Perisic is Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida and Luka Modric. They all lead in different ways, with Lovren and Vida known for being the most vocal in the dressing room. Modric and Perisic lead more by example.
Perisic is looked up to by many in the Croatia squad for his knack of delivering when it matters most. The 33-year-old has scored 10 goals in World Cups and European Championships, more than any other Croatian in history.
It is rare for Perisic and Modric to speak, but when they do, their team-mates listen. After Croatia beat Brazil on penalties in their quarter-final on Friday, the pair told the squad to keep celebrations to a minimum. In their eyes, they have achieved nothing yet.
Croatia’s father figures are able to lead because they have the trust of head coach Zlatko Dalic. He allows them to police the dressing room, but steps in when needed. Dalic’s assistants also help the culture. Ivica Olic and Mario Mandzukic, two former players, have contrasting styles. Olic offers humour, while Mandzukic brings discipline.
The spirit has been created organically. When the squad arrived in Qatar, FIFA informed them they could organise team-bonding trips, such as a visit to the desert, but Croatia declined. Instead, players spend their time playing table tennis and darts.
The Croatia team has evolved from the one that beat England in the semi-finals in 2018, with only eight players remaining from Russia
In the past, there have been divisions in the Croatia squad, due to split loyalties to the two main teams in the country — Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. Even that has faded, though, and in the dressing room after beating Brazil the players sang songs from both clubs.
The Croatia team has evolved from the one that beat England in the semi-finals in 2018, with only eight players remaining from Russia. Standing in their way of a second successive World Cup Final are Argentina, who saw off the Netherlands on penalties in a fiery and fractious encounter on Friday.
“We don’t need to fear anyone,” said Croatia right-back Josip Juranovic. “We are all like a family, we breathe for each other, from the first minute to the last. That is the secret of our success.”
