Ivan Rakitic Reveals He Still Avoids Watching Croatia’s 2018 World Cup Final Loss to France
Ivan Rakitic has admitted he still cannot watch any highlights from Croatia's 2018 World Cup final defeat to France. The former midfielder says the heartbreak remains too raw to revisit, even years later.
Reflecting on the Moscow Final
Rakitic played the entire match as Croatia lost 4-2 to France in the final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. That tournament marked a historic moment for the Vatreni, who reached their first-ever World Cup final. Despite their impressive run, which included three knockout-stage comebacks, Rakitic confessed the disappointment still weighs heavily on him.
"It was tough. To this day, I haven’t watched a single clip of that final, and if you played it now, I’d turn away," Rakitic said during a promotional event in Seville before Croatia's match against Spain.
Pride Amid the Pain
Though missing out on the trophy hurt deeply, Rakitic emphasized the pride the team felt for their achievements. For a small country with less than four million people, reaching the final was remarkable.
"Ten minutes after losing, we felt immense pride because Croatia isn’t Spain; it’s very small, but we achieved something special. We even won over the hearts and respect of many people in France," Rakitic shared.
He also mentioned receiving messages from fans worldwide, despite wishing he had lifted the trophy himself.
Upcoming Nations League Clash
Croatia is preparing to face Spain at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 match. Under coach Slaven Bilic, they aim to claim three points to overtake Spain at the top of the group after a 2-1 win against Czechia in their opener. This challenging match in Andalusia will test Croatia’s resilience before their remaining fixtures in this international window.
- UEFA Nations League Fixtures:
- Belgium vs France: 28 Sept 2026, 21:45
- Spain vs Croatia: 29 Sept 2026, 21:45
