After managing to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions, the Croatian manager Igor Stimac has praised his team by saying that they did extremely well in the recent 4-0 win over Korea Republic. The team was coming into the match on the back of an unbeaten run, which stretched to 4 matches. Croatia has not lost a match in all competitions since suffering the defeat against Switzerland back in August. This impressive form meant that there was a danger of the players becoming complacent ahead of this friendly match. Stimac has revealed that he requested his players not to become complacent.

Stimac has said that it was extremely important that the players did not lose sight of what they wanted to achieve. It was a confident and great performance from the team from the start to the finish. They opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through a goal from Mandžukić. Srna then scored in the 40th minute to give the team a comfortable lead going into the half-time break. Even with a 2-0 lead in the second half, the players did not lose focus and they extended their lead through a goal from the Everton striker Jelavić in the 57th minute. A goal from Petrić 5 min from time gave the scoreline a comprehensive look.

“We played like we planned. And our full engagement brought a nice victory. I am happy the players accepted and understood what I was saying before the match. We will keep on going without any headache and will not lose sight of our goals, but prepare for what is expected of us,” said the Croatian manager. After this friendly match, focus will be returning to the World Cup qualifying campaign. It will resume in March with matches against Serbia and Wales in the space of five days.