Kranjcar: We can beat ‘beautiful’ footballers

Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar rates Spain as possibly the most beautiful football team in history; so it takes a special kind of self-confidence to believe his side can beat them today to reach the quarter-finals.

The Croats go into the final game of Group C knowing they have to win to be certain of going through unless Italy fail to beat Ireland; and to the delight of conspiracy theorists a 2-2 draw would also be enough even if Italy win.

But either way it’s a big ask against a Spanish side that appeared to move up a gear in their convincing victory over Ireland, which leaves them top of the group on goal difference.

Kranjcar said: “I think it’s going to be even more difficult than playing Italy when we drew. It’s against the European and world champions who play the most beautiful football that’s maybe ever been played.

“For me it’s a team that is one to watch and enjoy. But we’re going to do everything to cause an upset and to go through the group; that’s our only intention.

“I think we can do it, and we have to believe it. But the group is so tight. It’s going to be interesting until the last kick of the last game.”

If Croatia do go out then they have a right to feel unlucky. After all they already have four points and have the tournament’s joint top goalscorer in Wolfburg’s Mario Mandzukic, who has already hit the net three times in the opening two games.

“He’s done so well,” said Kranjcar. “He’s a player who is always going to give 100% in a match; he is going to run his socks off. And when he gets his chances he is more than often going to score him. We all knew that, we all believed in him.

“He had a great season in Germany and came really prepared for the tournament and he’s taken his chances.

“He always tracks back as well. I once heard somebody say he was lazy but that’s something he’s definitely not.

“He’s the most competitive player I’ve ever seen. He leaves his heart on the pitch.”

That kind of energy and spirit will be needed in Gdansk against the Spanish, who expect Sergio Busquets to recover from injury and Fernando Torres to retain his place up front after scoring twice against Ireland; but with Croatia likely to name an unchanged team for the third match in succession they at least have a consistent and well organised outfit.

And as for that conspiracy theory, Kranjcar is unconvinced: “It won’t happen,” he said. “I never thought about that; I don’t see that happening. I think Spain will want to go through with a three or four-nil win; and the same with us — we want to win the game and we want to do well.

“But we also want Ireland to get some points off Italy; there are so many results that are possible. We have to focus on ourselves and give everything like we did today.”