Croatia finished runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022, with Dominik Livakovic starring in penalty shootouts against Japan and Brazil; the goalkeeper also helped his country reach the Nations League final; he spoke to Sky Sports about the strength of the national team and his changing role.
Peter Smith
Pictured: Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic presents the new Protect Your Craft series from Mackage
“The pressure was enormous, because it was Brazil, the quarter-finals of the World Cup. But at the same time you felt a strange calm.”
Dominik Livakovic was one of the stars of the last World Cup. The hero of Croatia's penalty shootout against Japan in the last 16, saving three penalties, he captured the world's attention when their match against Brazil was also being decided.
“You have to not let anyone down,” he told Sky Sports, sharing his experience of what it’s like to be the centre of attention on the biggest show on Earth. “I just tried to focus, not think too much and give it my all.”
“There is no secret formula, it is a combination of preparation, instinct and staying calm. Before important matches I study all the penalty takers with our analysts. But at any moment you also need to read body language and trust your feelings.”
He saved Brazil's first penalty from Rodrigo, and when Marquinhos missed the fourth, Croatia were back in the semi-finals.
Pictured: Livakovic saves Rodrigo's penalty in the penalty shootout between Croatia and Brazil at the 2018 World Cup.
Pictured: Croatia players celebrate their penalty shootout victory over Brazil with Livakovic.
They eventually finished third in Qatar, another incredible achievement for a country with a population of less than four million, and a testament to their brilliant run to the final in 2018.
Only Italy's 98th-minute equaliser kept them out of the knockout stages at last summer's Euros, and they were drawn in the same group as eventual winners Spain, and finished second in the 2023 Nations League.
What is the secret of Croatia's success?
“The Croatia jersey is sacred to all Croatians and representing our country is an incredible honour,” Livakovic explains. “It is our unity that is crucial. Every time we step onto the pitch, we represent something bigger than ourselves.”
“That warmth and unity, both within the team and with the fans, can give you a lot, sometimes even more than financial resources or population.”
“What you really need is a strong football culture and belief in your people.”
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These Croatian players are easy to beat. Most of them have long since achieved success, including Livakovic, who at 30 has played more than 500 matches for club and country.
They are an experienced team, as evidenced by the fact that 11 of the 13 goals they scored in their first three 2026 World Cup qualifiers were scored by players over 30.
World football is getting younger and boasting young stars like Lamin Jamal, but the Croatian national team is full of veterans, proving that skill is the most important quality, especially in tournament football.
Their leader, Luka Modric, is a shining example of this, with the 39-year-old playmaker still setting the tone for his countrymen.
Pictured: Luka Modric, 39, currently plays for Milan and is captain of the Croatian national team.
“Luka is a leader on and off the pitch who sets an example for others,” says Livakovic. “His professionalism, calmness and hard work inspire everyone around him to be better. He’s not just a legend, he’s still one of our most important players and we’re lucky to have him.”
That scoring run in the opening qualifiers, which strangely stalled in Friday's 1-0 away win over the Faroe Islands when, curiously, Modric was benched and there were only four players over 30 left in the starting line-up, has put Croatia in a strong position to reach a fourth World Cup in a row.
They are second in Group L but can leapfrog the Czech Republic into top spot if they win their remaining two games, the first of which is at home to Montenegro on Monday night.
The bright lights are once again beckoning Livakovic and his Croatia teammates.
Pictured: Livakovic presents the new Protect Your Craft series from Mackage
“Our main goal is to qualify, without that nothing will happen,” Livakovic said. “Once we get there, the next step is to get out of the group stage. We know what we are capable of, but we also respect the process. With the right focus and cohesion, everything is possible.”
But it is not only in Croatia that Livakovic is hoping for further success. He joined Girona on loan from Fenerbahce on the final day of the season and is enthusiastically embarking on his first season in Spain.
“I've had some great moments, but I feel like there's more to come,” he says.
Could that ever take him to the Premier League? “There was some interest before, but it didn’t work out,” he says. “Now that I’ve joined Girona and moved to La Liga, I’m fully focused on this new chapter. It’s a great league with a high level of competition and I’m excited to prove myself here.”
Livakovic on Protect Your Craft and his passion for fashion
Dominik Livakovic: “Protect Your Craft is an opportunity to be proud of who you are, on and off the pitch.
“I like clean, elegant fashion that reflects discipline and simplicity. It helps me express myself outside of football.”
What does he like about the Premier League? “The intensity, the speed, the atmosphere – every game is like a final. And of course the goalkeepers have to be absolutely ready to succeed.” Livakovic is certainly that kind of person.
“The role has changed a lot,” he says, discussing the demands placed on goalkeepers in modern football.
Sourse: skysports.com
