Emotional anecdote from 2006 World Cup moves HRT host

As Croatia prepares for its opening match against England in the World Cup, former assistant coach Tomislav Ivković shared a deeply emotional memory from the 2006 tournament in Germany. Speaking on HRT's "Americana" program, Ivković recounted a moment that remains vividly etched in his mind.

He described standing beside head coach Zlatko "Cico" Kranjčar during the Croatian anthem before a match against Brazil. Ivković recalled Kranjčar turning to him and saying, "Tomek, I can die now." This profound statement, reflecting the immense pride and fulfillment of leading the national team on such a stage, deeply moved the broadcast host, Valentina Miletić, who admitted to getting goosebumps upon hearing the story.

Kranjčar, a legendary figure in Croatian football as both a player and coach, led Croatia in the 2006 World Cup. The team opened their campaign against defending champions Brazil, losing narrowly 1-0. Subsequent draws against Japan and Australia saw Croatia eliminated in the group stage. A memorable image from that tournament was Kranjčar himself, visibly emotional with tears in his eyes while singing the national anthem before the Brazil match.

Zlatko Kranjčar passed away in 2021. The current Croatian team is set to face England in Dallas, with kickoff scheduled for 10 PM Croatian time. England is considered a strong favorite, with their squad valued at approximately 1.36 billion euros, compared to Croatia's 387 million euros. Despite being seen as underdogs by many, Croatia has a history of performing well against top-tier teams, including their historic 2-1 victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semifinals.