On Saturday, the Chelsea pair will face off within the third-place play-off between Croatia and Morocco, ending a run which no different clubmates have managed to match.
England trio Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher, together with Brazil’s Thiago Silva, had been eradicated on the quarter-final stage.
Germany’s Kai Havertz, Spain’s Cesar Azpilicueta, Switzerland’s Denis Zakaria, the USA’s Christian Pulisic, plus Senegal duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy had been all eradicated even earlier.
Talking forward of Saturday’s match on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, Kovacic gave an perception into the Chelsea dressing room earlier than the match.
“I am very glad Morocco made it this far, they are a great team,” Kovacic mentioned. “I have been in touch with Ziyech before and during this World Cup.
“All of the others joked that Ziyech and me would come home first… and here we are almost at the end of the World Cup. Both of us are very proud of what our national teams have achieved.”
He added: “Hakim Ziyech is a really great player along with the many others who have stood out at this World Cup.”
Croatia supervisor Zlatko Dalic sat alongside Kovacic throughout Friday’s press convention and challenged the midfielder to assist fill the hole that might be left by Luka Modric when he retires from the nationwide staff.
Whereas each participant and coach insisted the legendary 37-year-old midfielder has not but determined his future, Kovacic praised the Actual Madrid star for his affect on his profession.
“In 2018 I had a different role and I was honoured to look at [Ivan] Rakitic, Luka Modric and [Mario] Mandzukic,” Kovacic added. “I can see their perspective and how they prepare to fight in the World Cup.
“Four years ago, I thought about what it would be like to play like them and defend my colours at a World Cup. For this World Cup, I was prepared. It was quite an honour learning from them and they taught me how to fight and defend the colours of my country.”
FIFA have appointed Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim to supervise the third place play-off regardless of his lesser expertise than a lot of his European or South American counterparts.
With each Morocco and Croatia to play near their strongest line-up on Saturday, Dalic was pissed off to see Al-Jassim given the match.
He defined: “Well, to be honest, I think FIFA has now taken on a huge risk on itself. I am not underestimating anyone, I hope that we will not be talking about the referee after the match.”
Josip Juranovic is predicted to overlook the play-off with a calf harm. There are additionally doubts about whether or not Josko Gvardiol and Marcelo Brozovic will play.
