Croatia’s mental strength has deep roots, says Petkovic

CROATIA striker Bruno Petkovic (right) says the team’s mental strength that has propelled them to two penalty shootout wins at the World Cup has deep roots in the country’s struggle for independence.

Petkovic scored a late equaliser to cancel out Neymar’s opener for Brazil in the quarter-finals, before Zlatko Dalic’s team held their nerve to win on spot kicks. They also beat Japan on penalties in the previous round.