Livaković: “It’s great to have such a strong defense in front of you”

“I’ve been to two World Cups, and when we came back home, it was a wonderful feeling. I have great memories from those tournaments, and it’s the same now. The preparations have gone well. The atmosphere is excellent. We have outstanding conditions here. Everything is fine. We’re happy to be here.”

On Croatia as a dominant football nation...

“That’s simply who we are by nature. We’re proud whenever we put on our country’s jersey. We get along well, and we have good people leading us. On top of that, we have experienced players who set an example for the rest of us.”

On the welcome in Alexandria...

“I’d like to thank the people who welcomed us. It means a lot to us. When we were kids, we all looked up to our idols, so this is inspiring for us as well. It was a very warm welcome, and everyone was very polite.”

On the heat and how the team is dealing with it...

“It’s hot, but we’re not doing anything particularly special. We drink plenty of water and use ice baths after training sessions. It’s hot in Croatia too, so we’re used to it.”

On the new World Cup rules...

“We’ve already played matches under these rules, so you just have to pay a little more attention. It’s not that difficult.”

On his experiences facing England striker Harry Kane...

“I’ve played against Kane several times. He’s a phenomenal striker. He’s not just a goalscorer—he drops deep to receive the ball and creates chances as well. We talk a lot about him and we’ll have to analyze him carefully.”

On Croatia’s defense...

“We have an excellent defense, and recently Luka Vušković joined us as well. They’re young, they’re quick, and there’s not much more that needs to be said about them. It’s really great to have them in front of you.”

On the possibility of becoming Croatia’s most-capped goalkeeper at the World Cup...

“I’m proud of my first appearance, and it’s much easier when you have goalkeepers around you who have already gone through these experiences. We talk a lot, and I’m grateful for that.”

On his club season...

“It was a turbulent season, especially after I got injured at Fenerbahçe. I want to thank the coach for standing by me, and I’m trying to repay that trust with my commitment and performances. The second half of the season was excellent—we won the domestic double with Dinamo, and I feel great.”

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