Croatia star Ivan Perisic has revealed that he feels that he and his team-mates are close to fulfilling their dream of lifting football’s most prestigious prize, the World Cup.
The Inter Milan attacker has been in superb form in Russia this summer, scoring a goal and providing an assist in his sides 2-1 extra-time win over England in the semi-final.
Victory over Gareth Southgate’s has now set up a mouthwatering World Cup final on Sunday in the Luzhniki Stadium against France.
This game against Les Blues will have extra significance for the Balkan nation, whose first ever appearance at a major tournament as a newly formed nation came at the 1998 World Cup when they sensationally reached the semi-final, but were ultimately defeated by home nation and eventual winners, France.
Perisic has admitted that his side will be looking for pay back for the 1998 defeat, although he also conceded that Didier Deschamps men will be favourites heading into the game.
“France stopped us in the semi-finals in 1998,” he told Fifa.com.
“We will have some extra motivation because of that, for sure. But this is a totally different story.
“They are favourites, but we will do our best to surprise them. We have three days to prepare ourselves.
“We are all happy to be staying in Moscow, that was our goal. Our dream is so close now.”
