Luka Sučić: “The fans are always our twelfth player”

On the match against England...

“It will be a difficult game against a strong opponent with many quality players. We’ll need to stay very compact. There will be phases of the match when things get tough, and we’ll all have to fight together as a team until the 90th minute if we want to achieve a positive result.”

On facing Jude Bellingham...

“He’s one of the best midfielders in the world. I’d be surprised if he’s not in the starting lineup against us. He’s an outstanding player. I’ve played against him before, and I know how dangerous he is.”

On the experience of major tournaments...

“It’s important to experience the atmosphere within the national team. I didn’t get any playing time in Qatar, but just being there, among the 26 players, was an incredible experience. This time, I’ll have a different role. Expectations are different now. Back then, I was the youngest player in the squad; now I’m one of the youngest. We have a good mix of experienced and younger players, and the older guys help us a lot.”

On his position in the 3-4-2-1 system...

“This 3-4-2-1 system suits me well. I see myself in the right-sided attacking position, and the coach sees me there as well. It fits me, and I’m happy about that. I’ll give everything I have to justify the coach’s trust.”

On his first memory of the Vatreni at a major tournament...

“Turkey in Vienna in 2008. My whole family was watching the match. We brought the television outside the house and watched it together. After the game, I cried a lot. It was the worst match.”

On his popularity among children...

“It’s wonderful to see our people, to play for them and fight for this team. When I was a child, I used to ask players for autographs, and now I’m in that position myself. I’ll always take a moment to sign an autograph or take a photo. And our fans... they are our twelfth player. We always have incredible support, and we expect a fantastic atmosphere in Dallas.”