World Cup 2018: Ivan Rakitic claims he will have trophy tattooed on his forehead if Croatia beat France in final
Barca ace says he'd ask his wife if he can have his head etched if he triumphs in the most important match he'll ever play
IVAN RAKITIC claims he will have the World Cup tattooed on his forehead if Croatia defeat France in tomorrow’s final.
The Barcelona midfield maestro, who will be playing a world-record 71st game of this season, says his nation is being carried on a tide of patriotic fervour and claims the entire 4.5million population would be here if they could build a stadium large enough.
Rakitic also believes the world is behind his underdog team - even if many in England were not impressed with the lack of grace in some of the Croatian players’ comments after Wednesday’s 2-1 semi-final victory over Gareth Southgate’s men.
But in keeping with his nation’s spirit of excitement, the 30-year-old claimed he’d be willing to retire immediately if he could guarantee Croatia becoming the unlikeliest World Cup winners of all time.
Asked whether he had any space left on his arms for a World Cup tattoo, Rakitic replied: “No but I have space on my forehead. God willing, I’d sacrifice my forehead for a tattoo.
“I have plenty of space there - although I’d have to ask my wife to give the green light for such an idea.
“And I would definitely leave my football boots behind forever on Monday if that was the price I had to pay to win to win for my country.”
On the World Cup fever in Croatia, which has made English ‘Football’s Coming Home’ mania sound like choir practice in a parish church, Rakitic said: “There is joy, togetherness unity, pride.
“I think all of us deserve this. It doesn’t just concern the 23 players, coaching staff and backroom staff, but the 4.5m people back home. If there was a stadium big enough for 4.5m it would be full.
“I also have this feeling there will be hundreds of millions of people rooting for us on Sunday.
“I have received messages from Argentina, Spain, Germany, from all four corners of the world. This makes me happy.
“People tell me they could never have imagined celebrating our goals as if it were scored by their own country. This means we’ve reached hearts throughout the world.
“I think there can be no better feeling than being a Croat.
To reach such a final is the fulfilment of the best possible dream. The best feeling is to be a Croat and this is the source of all our strength.”
Rakitic was suffering from a high temperature the night before the semi-final, but he ran a staggering 14.5km as Croatia roared back from a goal down to beat England in extra-time.
And as for his own marathon season, Rakitic insisted: “There will be excess power and energy for the Final - don’t worry about that.
“This is an historic game not only for the whole squad but everybody who’s a Croat. There will be 4.5 m people on the pitch.
"We know this is the biggest games of our life and we want to leave the pitch with our heads held high.
“I’m not trying to say these feelings are superior to the ones the French have for France or Russians have for Russia.
“But we have this special bond. When you put the sacred Croatia shirt on you become another person.”
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Croatia have also received support from Novak Djokovic, despite the tennis star hailing from bitter rival Serbia - where he has received criticism for his stance.
Rakitic said: “I tip my hat to him. I root for him. We are human beings first and foremost. We have to try to put history behind us.
“Djokovic is a fantastic athlete, but even more fantastic as a person.
"We met once in Miami, he’s a great person, I wish him all the luck in the world.”