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‘Tournaments are for results, not for tika-taka’ – ex-Dinamo Zagreb coach Ferdo Milin on Croatia’s FIFA World Cup success

Former Dinamo Zagreb coach Ferdo Milin insists that Croatia’s counter-attacking style of play is the most effective way for the nation to continue progressing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Vatreni have set up a glamorous semi-final tie with Argentina (Tuesday, 7pm GMT), having beaten Brazil on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the quarter-finals.

Zlatko Dalic’s side have built a reputation as a team with a water-tight defence, conceding just three goals in five matches at this tournament, whilst only scoring six goals.

Milin – who coached many of the current national team squad during his tenure as the national Under-19s head coach between 2014 and 2017 – believes that Croatia’s tactics have earned them the respect of world football.

“With our midfield of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Matteo Kovacic, we know how to keep the ball,” Milin exclusively told Park Life Sport.

“You saw against Brazil how they didn’t play with the same style like they did in games before, they respect Croatia, and tomorrow Argentina will do the same.

“We have a great team spirit and we will continue to play in our style: slowly, slowly, and then counter attack and finish.”

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Milin went on to use the example of France’s 2-1 victory over England to demonstrate the effectiveness of counter-attacking football during the World Cup.

“France stayed behind and waited, like Croatia do, because this is a tournament,” Milin continued.

“This is not the tournament to show you can play tika-taka, this is the tournament where you want to be the champion.

“You cannot play tika-taka like Manchester City because you don’t have their players, but you do have players who can be well-organized and good on the counter attack.”

A win for Croatia will see them emulate their 2018 World Cup heroics in Russia, where they reached their first ever World Cup final before being beaten 4-2 by France.

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