DW: Manjukiq, small Croatia and major success

First congratulations on Mario Manjukiqi may have come from the small German country of Ditzingen, where his sister Ivana and her son and husband are still living. A state of emergency reigned in her home, as in all of Croatia and throughout where Croats live. Mario Manjukiq has played in the small German club TSF, in Ditzingen, four years, because he had come there because of wars in the former Yugoslavia. With the goal scored in the World Championship semifinal and the victory over England, Manjukiq has provided himself with idol status in Croatian sympathies. This is the first time this small country has qualified in the finals.

Small Croatia, Big Success

Victory 2:1 over England was reached in the 109th minute of the match, with the Manjukikiq goal. Victory was deserved. Small Croatia, with only 4.1 million people, defeated several major nationals in this championship. The last victim was England, but Russia, Denmark, Argentina... While Manjukiq was one of the pillars of the Croatian team. He scored the decisive goal against England at the moment of his winning the impression that he could not stand from fatigue. This was certainly not his best game, but 32-year-old Manjukiri did not run away from any duel, he did not hesitate to run on and on and on every duel with his feet or with his head, he ran as if it were life or death.

During the match several times, he even quarreled with his fellow players in a loud, low voice. His moment came on when he seemed to be at the end of the physical power when he seemed to be unable to rise out of the green field. Just before marking the decisive goal, he had another chance, but the wonderful English goalkeeper Jordan Peckford was impassable and defended his blow. In the 109th minute, and Peckford was helpless, Manjukiq scored, England lost all hopes of qualifications in the finals. This proves that such players, willing to run even when they feel that they cannot stand, are willing to decide big games by their own will. I like the big game”, Manjukiq said.

The Great Final

Croatia thus qualified for the first time in the grand finale of the World Championship. Twenty years ago (in 1998) Croatia has lost in the semifinals from France (leaded by current coach Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane). Eventually, Davor Schuker, Boban, Jarni, Prosinechki, and others took third place. While the current generation led by Luca Modric, Rakkiq, Manjukiq, Perisic, Subasq... will have the opportunity Sunday “committed against France and win the best title in the world. While England on Saturday will compete for third place in the match with Belgium. /DW