Šuker Responds to Tuchel: 'Respect All 211 Football Nations'

Former Croatian national team captain Davor Šuker has strongly defended the significance of the World Cup third-place playoff, directly responding to comments by English manager Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel had suggested the match held little value for his players after their semi-final exit.

Šuker, who recently participated in a legends match ahead of the World Cup final, highlighted that the bronze medal match can represent one of the greatest moments in a nation's history. He recalled Croatia's historic third-place finish in the 1998 World Cup in France, a victory over the Netherlands that he still speaks of with immense pride. "Some people have so much money and trophies that this match means nothing to them..." Šuker stated, contrasting the perspectives of wealthy football nations with those for whom such a match is a career pinnacle.

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Nakon 1998. godine i trećeg mjesta s Hrvatskom protiv Nizozemske još uvijek s ogromnim ponosom govorim o toj brončanoj medalji. Neki ljudi imaju toliko novca i trofeja da im ta utakmica ne znači ništa...

"Let me say something on this topic. I think rich countries do not want to play such a match after being defeated in the semi-final. But do not underestimate this match because it is very important," Šuker urged. He stressed that major football powers should demonstrate greater respect for all participating teams. "I tell them to be quiet and respect all 211 football nations and understand that the world does not belong only to them, it belongs to small nations and everyone who loves football," he added.

Croatia's bronze medal from France remains one of the national team's greatest achievements, laying the groundwork for subsequent generations who have also secured world medals. While some in the football world view the third-place game as a mere consolation prize, Šuker firmly believes that for many national teams, securing a bronze medal represents a career-defining success.

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Govorim im da budu tihi i poštuju svih 211 nogometnih nacija i razumiju da svijet ne pripada samo njima, pripada i malim nacijama i svima koji vole nogomet