Ahead of tonight’s match between Croatia And Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport interviewed Igor Tudor (pillar of the Balkan national team, but also an expert on Italian football having frequented it as a player and coach).
Tudor, what impression did Italy make on you in the first two matches of the European Championship?
“Two very different impressions. In the first, against Albania, the performance was solid and the victory deserved. In the second, against Spain, the performance was not at the level of Italy.”
How do you explain a knockout like the one with La Roja?
“It was surprising, difficult to motivate. Spain is very strong, but everyone expected something more from Italy. I won’t go into tactical reasons, but I am convinced that the difference seen on the pitch between the two teams is not real.”
Let’s move on to Croatia’s first two performances at Euro 2024. Did you expect more?
“Without a doubt. All the fans are somewhat disappointed by this start of the European Championship because in two matches we have only collected one point. However, in all of us there is still hope, the desire to believe that we can beat Italy and move forward Since 2018, this team has achieved results that are impossible to repeat (a second and third place in the World Cup, a second place in the Nations League, ed.) for a country of four million inhabitants. This is why our people have gratitude and understanding for them Boys”.