Euro 2016: Spain and Croatia managers react to Tuesday’s clash

Croatia manager Ante Čačić hailed the character of his team during Tuesday’s victory over Spain that ensured they topped Group D, while his opposite number Vincente del Bosque says he will not defend his side’s performance excessively.
Čačić’s men came from behind to win and top Group D thanks to a dramatic late goal by Ivan Perišić goal, leaving Bosque and his troops to play confirmed group E winners Italy in what would be a repeat of the Euro 2012 final.

Speaking to the press after the encounter, an elated Čačić believes the victory was not only an important result but a confidence booster considering the fact that it came off the defending champions.
“This was an important result for us. We beat the European champions, a really strong team, but it isn’t about this one match. We are a very strong team, we can play anyone and try to be successful.
“Today I was able to change five players as I wanted to play the next round with fresh players and test some young players. That makes this result even more important. We wanted to win the group and we have achieved that.
“What has especially pleased me is that we were really aggressive. We played to win every single match, but this couldn’t have happened without such great supporters. We play and fight for Croatians all over the world. This team is like our nation and our players show how you represent your country, how you have to act.” Čačić told UFEA.com
Bosque who preferably would have loved to avoid the Azzuris by topping the group says his side played well but rues their loss of concentration in the final minutes.
“The players were sat in silence. They don’t enjoy losing. We had the game under control, I’m not going to defend our performance excessively. We played quite well but just one slip of concentration at the end; I don’t have any complaints about the players.
“We have time to analyse what the game against Italy means. It wasn’t the path we wanted to take but that’s football! [This was] a game it looked like we had under control but we will try and recover as well as possible from this setback and be in as good a condition as possible on Monday. We didn’t play badly but this is the result and we need to prepare to play against Italy.
“We didn’t hold on to the ball as well as we should have [before the winning goal] and weren’t ready for the counterattack. We know the quality [Ivan] Perišić has but that’s it. We’re still in the competition, we are not on the path we wanted to be but we have to rise to the situation.” Bosque added.