the perfect World Cup of heroes by chance – Corriere.it

Croatia is small, but Bruno Petkovic, who became a national hero for his equalizing goal in extra time against Brazil which then led to the triumph on penalties, was still off every radar of the national team four years ago: «I wanted to leave the Bologna retreat to go and see the final against France
. I was the club’s fifth-sixth striker and maybe Croatia’s 78th pick. Now I’m here: I slowly realize what I’ve done and maybe I’ll feel the same feeling again on Tuesday in the semifinal against Argentina. Or in the final».

Petko is playing for the central point position with Budimir ex Crotone and Samp e Livaja, ex Inter, Atalanta and Empoli. In Serie A he left good human memories but no goals, both in Verona and Bologna. In B he struggled with Varese and Entella but came close to being promoted with Trapani: on the night of the match that cost him the championship, he fell asleep on the locker room bench.

Orsic, who assisted him for the goal that sent the Brazilians into a tailspin, was playing for Spezia in 2012, where he put together a dozen appearances. After three years in Korea he returned to the base of Dinamo Zagreb, where he plays together with Petkovic himself and Dominik Livakovic, the other hero by chance of the pious Dalic’s national team.

“Liva” is the very heavy tax that Japan and Brazil paid. And he hasn’t finished surprising yet: he’s not a meteor or an unknown, simply with his seven trophies won at Dinamo Zagbria, where he’s been a regular for five years and with his sixteen appearances in the Champions League, he is part of that middle class of international football who dreams of living at least one month in their life like his.

Only her compatriot Subasic saved four penalties in a World Cup four years ago, Argentina’s Goicoechea (two against Italy in 1990) and Germany’s Schumacher in 1982. None of their three predecessors lifted the cup, but Liva still has time to try and above all to break away from the old record holders e try to emulate all the way his idol Casillas, champion in 2010 with Spain, who complimented him.

Livakovic, in the past chased by Rennes and Montpellier and now on the radars of half of Europe: he saved three penalties against Japan and one against Brazil, sensing the other shots as well, demonstrating coldness in reading the shooter’s movements and great explosiveness. Of course, without Brunone Petkovic’s paw, Croatia would not have even made it to penalties and tomorrow he would not play another semi-final after the one he won four years ago with England in extra time.

But in Croatia everyone carries their brick, without jealousies: «I think one of the reasons for our mentality is the fact that we are a small country – explains Petkovic -. We are young but we know how independence was achieved in the 90s, we learned it from our fathers: you have to fight and work hard, otherwise you will get nowhere. And then we help each other, because everyone believes in themselves, but also in their companions». The curriculum does not count: the Croatian attitude is enough.