Kek: Croatia's Initial Goal Was to Advance, Now Everyone Wants to Be Champions

Matjaž Kek, the former coach of the Slovenian national team, shared his thoughts on the Croatian team's current standing at the World Cup in an interview with Croatian RTL.

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Of course, I watch the games. Sometimes I watch the night games too, because at my age, you sometimes can't sleep and such a game comes in handy.

The Croatian team finds itself in a precarious position before their final group stage match against Ghana. A victory is essential to secure a spot in the knockout rounds; a draw would likely result in a third-place finish, which does not guarantee advancement.

Kek, who watches the World Cup matches, even those in the early morning hours, expressed confidence in Zlatko Dalić's squad. "It's understandable that the team isn't always in top form. But I believe Croatia will play an excellent game against Ghana, and then its time will come," he stated.

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It's understandable that the team isn't always in top form. But I believe Croatia will play an excellent game against Ghana, and then its time will come.

Reflecting on the Croatian public's expectations, Kek observed a swift change. "I've said many times that I sometimes don't understand you Croatians. You were second in the world, third in the world, played in the Nations League final, and yet I hear criticism of the team. Of course, not everything is ideal, but Croatia currently has everything in its hands," he commented.

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I've said many times that I sometimes don't understand you Croatians. You were second in the world, third in the world, played in the Nations League final, and yet I hear criticism of the team. Of course, not everything is ideal, but Croatia currently has everything in its hands.

Kek concluded by highlighting the evolving ambitions: "First, the goal was to advance from the group, and now everyone suddenly wants to become world champions."

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First, the goal was to advance from the group, and now everyone suddenly wants to become world champions.