"Never underestimate a Croatian," coach Zlatko Dalic warned.

Especially if he is a goalkeeper and especially if he comes from the small town of Zadar, a pretty port on the Adriatic coast.

This is where Danijel Subasic was born;

it is also from there that comes Livakovic, 27, his successor in the Croatian goals.

Like his eldest in 2018, he qualified the "Ardents" after penalty shootouts in the round of 16, then in the quarter-finals.

Subasic's casualties were Denmark and then host Russia.

Livakovic was on the bench.

This time, it was he who took on the role of executioner.

Against Japan in the round of 16 (0-0 after extra time), he had already become the third goalkeeper in history to not concede any of the first three shots on goal in a World Cup, a very select club where he joined... Subasic .

Against Brazil, proclaimed candidate for a sixth coronation, the march was even higher, with an incredible second consecutive semi-final at stake for this small country of less than 4 million inhabitants.

But Livakovic did not flinch, stopping Rodrygo's attempt from the start before his right post pushed back Marquinhos's to seal the match.

The joy of Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, congratulated by his teammates, after qualifying for the semi-finals of the World Cup, December 9, 2022 in Doha © GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP

The Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper had not waited for this terrible ordeal to instill doubt in the Brazilians.

Knee, arm, foot, like a handball goalkeeper sometimes (46, 55, 66, 76, 120 + 2), he sickened Neymar, Richarlison, Paqueta, and other Casemiros.

'He made the difference'

"He made the difference throughout the match", "in crucial moments" before his first saved shot on goal "gave us confidence".

No Croatian shooter missed his attempt.

"The hero Livi destroyed the dreams of the Brazilian superpower", headlined the daily Jutarnji List on its website from the final whistle.

Admittedly, Neymar played him on the opener (105th + 1), but the equalizer from his Dinamo Zagreb team-mate Bruno Petkovic put the teams back on the same level.

Being underestimated Livakovic knows what it is.

After the 2018 World Cup, it was Lovre Kalinic who seemed to hold pole position for Subasic's succession.

But injuries and then faltering form from the Hajduk Split keeper made Livakovic's game.

Who knew he was being watched closely.

After qualifying against Japan, "when the players ran up to him, as they had with Subasic four years ago, he seemed relieved", "rid of anger, fear and insecurity “, wrote the daily Vecernji List.

"He had to fight the doubts, the critics, but above all himself", according to the newspaper.

"I started football at six years old. And I became a goalkeeper in the second session", told the Croatian media this admirer of Iker Casillas.

"Like any kid, I practiced several sports, including basketball, until I realized that what I really liked was the football field", continued this little cousin of Josip Skoblar, the Former Olympique de Marseille striker, another child of Zadar.

If he has never played for a club with a rich championship, unlike a Subasic, Livakovic is not his first time.

Zadar's friendly

It was he who in September had forced Chelsea to accept an unexpected defeat (1-0) in the Champions League, with in particular an incredible double stoppage at the end of the match.

It was he again who during the 2020-21 season was decisive in front of Harry Kane to block Tottenham's path to qualification and offer Dinamo Zagreb their first quarter-final of the Europa League.

In the semi-finals, against the Netherlands or Argentina, he will still be a centerpiece for Dalic.

As before each match, he will pray thinking of his deceased grandfather.

"From the start, he supported me, and if I'm here, it's above all thanks to him. He taught me a lot, especially humility," Livakovic told Croatian media.

An admiration for a late grandfather that he shares with Luka Modric.

another child from Zadar, land of Croatian footballers.

© 2022 AFP