Livaković: “The entire team must stay focused, not just the defense”

At the official pre-match press conference, he was first asked about his outstanding penalty-saving performances at the previous World Cup.

On penalty shootouts...

“We have won our last four penalty shootouts and, as far as I’ve been able to verify, we are the only team with a perfect record. Hopefully, that remains the case tomorrow if it comes to that. Concentration is crucial for everyone, especially for the goalkeeper. On both occasions, our focus was at the highest level. The goalkeeper plays a major role, making saves that put the team in a position to win. I hope we will continue to have that same support.”

On Luka Modrić and Cristiano Ronaldo...

“Both have left a huge mark on the world of football. We will do everything we can to help Luka continue his journey in this tournament. They are both strong personalities with extraordinary careers. I know Luka personally, and I can only say the best things about him—about how much he means to us and to the team, and about the way he conducts himself in training. I have nothing but praise for him.”

On maintaining concentration in defense...

“They are one of the best national teams in the world. They are very quick, they patiently build their attacks, and they love to dominate possession. The entire defensive unit must stay focused, but not just the defense—the whole team must remain concentrated. We have all the information we need, and we hope things will end in the best possible way for us.”

On match analysis and preparation...

“We always analyze every detail, and from what I hear, goalkeepers are now being analyzed more than ever, including the specific ways each of them defends. Against England, we played a very good first half and a proper competitive match. Against Panama, there was a bit of tension, but the fans helped us. I hope it will be the same tomorrow. Whenever we feel on the pitch that we need support, we want to feel it from everyone, just as we did from the stands against Ghana.”

On the secret behind Croatia’s success...

“Players like Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, Mateo Kovačić, and Andrej Kramarić set the example for us. We also have the head coach and his staff. We respect one another, and that is the key to our good results.”

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