Perisic on a high after Croatia stun Spain

Bordeaux (France), June 22: Ivan Perisic will remember the first day of summer 2016 for the rest of his life as he brought Croatian football fans all over the country and those in the stands of Stade de Bordeaux to ecstasy with his winning goal in the 87th minute of the clash with reining European champion Spain.

It was a stellar performance from Inter Milan forward here on Tuesday evening and the whole of the depleted Croatian team that tiol mager Ante Cacic sent against powerful Spain, reports Xinhua.

Croatian coach left Real Madrid star Luka Modric and Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic on the bench allowing them to recuperate from injuries. Cacic also left on the bench three more players that were in a starting eleven against Turkey and the Czech Republic and gave a chance to young guns, defender Tin Jedvaj, midfielder Marko Rog and forward Marko Pjaca to show that they are part of this team with a reason.

They responded like veterans, playing against world stars Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busqets, Sergio Ramos and others like equals.

“We showed that they are not out of this world, that they are humans like us,” said 20-year-old Marko Rog who was playing in an amateur Croatian league just three years ago and didn’t show any fear when he stood against some of the best players in the world.

“I am glad that we showed that head coach can rely on us. Of course, everybody deserves respect but there is no reason to be afraid of any team,” the 21-year old Pjaca, who is Rog’s teammate in Dimo Zagreb, said.

Their role was to fill the void left by Modric’s and Mandzukic’s absence and to let other stars to shine. So they did do just that and let Ivan Perisic to shine like a sun on the longest summer day of the year. Perisic’s skills were at display throughout the whole match. He was involved in every single chance that Croatian team created at Stade de Bordeaux on Tuesday.

He was all over the pitch, helping Croatian defenders to stop dangerous Spanish attacks and creating a chaos in front of Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea. His perfect right footed cross found Nikola Kalinic in front of De Gea and a little flick was all that it took Fiorenti forward to score an equalizer in the 45th minute.

In the 87th minute Perisic and Kalinic were in the inverted roles after Marko Pjaca’s perfect pass that opened a chance for a counter-attack. Kalinic sprinted with a ball under control and waited for Perisic to get in ideal position on the left side.

Perisic got the ball on the left side of the pelty box, got one step closer and fired a shot that Gerard Pique deflected a little, just enough to make it pass beside de Gea and send Croatian fans to delirium.

“This is a special night but it’s only the beginning,” said Ivan Perisic who was med the man of the match.

Without his goal Croatia would end up second in Group D and would face Italy, another big me in the world of football.

“Italian team can be happy. Now they don’t have to face Croatia,” Perisic added. (IANS)