ZCZC
BSP-01
RUSSIA-WC-2018
Team Russia enjoying advantage at WC owing to fans’ support-opinion
SOCHI, July 5, 2018 (BSS/TASS)- Russia has a strong team and it has an additional advantage at the FIFA World Cup 2018 championship in the form of support from the fans, Croatia forward Ante Rebic told reporters on Wednesday.
Croatia got to the first position in Group D and won 3-2 on penalties in extra time in the knockouts match vs Denmark. It will face Russia in the quarterfinals on July 7 in Sochi.
“Team Russia showed good football at the group stage and in the game vs. the Spanish,” Rebic said.
“It’s a very strong team and what’s more, it’s playing at home and this will be a really big advantage for the Russians. As for ourselves, we’re focusing on our team and our strongest sides now.”
He voiced the hope that, as a minimum, his team would repeat the success it had at the World Cup in France in 1998 where it got bronze medals. “My whole family watched that championship and I remember how we celebrated the success then and I feel proud,” Rebic said.
“It’s true, of course, that twenty years had passed and now the teams show different types of football but still it was a fantastic result for Team Croatia then.”
“I trust that, as a minimum, our team will do the same at this championship,” he said. Rebic called the team’s captain and midfielder Luka Mudric the best Croatian player.
“Luka is our captain and leading player and one of the world’s best players,” he said.
“He can get the title of the best player but it’s too premature to speak about it, since now we’re entering the quarterfinals and several matches are still ahead of us.”
BSS/TASS/AU/07:45 hrs