Four takeaways from the two semi-final matches of the World Cup

Croatia has the mettle to lift the cup

Winning three matches in a row after extra time can take its toll on anybody. And the joy in the faces of the Croatian players and staff after the energy sapping 120 minutes says it all. The small nation of less than 5 million in population reached its first ever World Cup final after only getting independence in the year 1991. And the result is immense for its people and their fans. More so for the players who have not only defied most critics but also won over millions of fans.

Croatia v England - Semi Final FIFA World Cup 2018

The tag of the underdogs made them reach another level and fight for each other. And Croatia’s performance was a perfect answer to the suggestions that they might be tired after playing extra-time twice previously. Mario Mandzukic stayed on the pitch helping his teammates even though he had cramps in his legs. The mercurial Luka Modric played as if it was the last match of his life. Ivan Perisic did all the hard work of assisting and scoring a goal and still ran to help his defence till the end. Teamwork has been the forte in this Croatian team so far, all thanks to their manager Zlatko Dalic.

So, can they go another extra mile to win the World Cup? They probably can. The amount of experience that the Croatian players have in playing for big clubs can help the team go all the way. We also should not forget that they showed their resilience against three good teams in the knockout stages. The likes of Rakitic, Modric and Mandzukic have the experience of playing in multiple Champions League finals which could be crucial during important stages of the match.