MOSCOW, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has invited the country's celebrated class of 1998 to attend the World Cup final as the Vatreni bid to win football's ultimate prize for the first time.
Croatia booked a place in the decider against France by defeating England 2-1 in a semifinal that went to extra time on Wednesday.
Sunday's clash at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium will provide a chance for Croatia to avenge their semifinal defeat to hosts France at the 1998 World Cup.
Dalic and Croatia's then-coach Miroslav 'Ciro' Blazevic remain good friends after the pair worked together in the early 2000s at Croatian top-flight club Varazdin.
"I am in contact with Ciro, I want him to come for the final. I want them all [the 1998 team] to come," Dalic told Nova TV.
"My heart is as big as Moscow. [Hopefully] we will bring the trophy back to Croatia. We are ready, we have the quality, support also in Croatia and all over the world."
The Croatian Football Federation also confirmed on Thursday that it had sent a formal invitation to each member of the 1998 squad to attend the final. Enditem
