Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić presented his new book "Russia of Our Dreams" to a packed Cinema Europa in Zagreb on Wednesday, which reveals what happened behind the scenes of his magnificent show through Russia and how the Croatia team reached the silver at the World Cup, reports Gol.hr on December 12, 2018.
“I am proud of this book which is a gift to our fans, not only in Croatia and BiH, but also those around the world because it is proof that with unity and humility you can do great things,” Dalić said and thanked the players who are most valued for Croatia’s historic success at the World Cup in Russia, stressing that he was honored to be the coach of such a great team.
"Dalić's book is intended for Croatians who enjoyed life more than ever from June 16 to July 15, 2018. The book reaches deep into the heart of Dalić, who honestly describes many key events and reveals many secrets - among them, whether or not someone was intrusive or attempting to obstruct him,” the famous sports journalist Anton Samovojska at the presentation.
In the words of the long-time Sports News journalist Drazen Antolić, who wrote the book on Dalić’s account, it wasn’t too difficult to find the words.
"The book has seven chapters and it was easy to write because Dalić was honest as he prepared the team, made decisions and led Croatia to this historic venture. In only nine months, Dalić made the playoffs for the World Cup in Russia and defeated Greece, and led Croatia into the crazy Russian summer where they won the silver,” Antolić said.
The former Croatia coach and leader of the ‘Bronze Generation’ at the 1998 World Cup, Miroslav Blažević, said that the players and the coach are indeed the most deserving of the historical success of Croatia, but the role of the HNS president, Davor Šuker, is unfairly neglected in this success.
"Šuker had the instinct of the best goalscorer at the World Cup in France when he put Zlatko Dalić at the helm of the Croatia national team; thus he became the most successful president in HNS history."
"I hope that the book ‘Russia of Our Dreams’ will help the World Cup silver live eternally for us and this is the main reason I have agreed to issue the book, which I asked that the subheading be 'How we made Croatia the happiest country in the world’,” said Dalić, who revealed that all the money earned from the book published in the edition of Sports News will be used for humanitarian purposes, or be given to the Vatreno Srce Foundation to help children in need.
The presentation of the book was attended by President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, Ministers Zdravko Marić and Goran Marić, as well as numerous representatives from the economy and sport, especially football.
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