Igor Stimac was a key member of the Croatian team which finished third in the 1998 World Cup. Now the Indian national team football coach since 2019, Stimac, 55, spoke to The Telegraph on the Qatar World Cup, his favourite Croatia, why he is betting on Argentina and more.

Excerpts:

Q: Coach, how are you looking at this World Cup and how different will it be from the last one?

A: It will be very different because no one knows what to expect. There is a kind of uncertainty surrounding this World Cup because this is the first time that the national team head coaches did not have time to prepare. It’s only those participants like Iran who stopped the league. But then again they have many players who play in top European leagues who were not allowed to join the camp. I don’t know, to be honest, what to expect. Normally before any World Cup, national team coaches have four to six weeks of preparation time to adjust the team to two or three different styles of play. To analyse the teams, the opponents, but this time it’s different. They hardly have any time.

Q: So you expect the most open World Cup in recent memory?

A: Yes, absolutely. This tournament gives a great chance to smaller teams to surprise the big guns.

Q: The favourites according to you...

A: Normally there are huge expectations from Brazil. France, even though not in good form, are always a strong team. Yes, they have some problems but when a tournament of this magnitude comes then teams leave aside their differences and fight for a common cause. Germany, with their collective spirit, are always there. But to me, Argentina is the team to watch out for. They are looking very good in the last six to seven matches. For the first time since 2014, when Lionel Messi took them all the way to the final, I am seeing Argentina playing very good football. Also, since they do not play top European teams very often these days, there is a sense of unpredictability. That makes them all the more dangerous. Belgium are good and probably the last chance for their generation of players to shine on the biggest stage. But once again I will say Argentina have a very good chance of going the distance.

Q: How do you see Croatia’s chances?

A: Croatia are in great shape. We finished the Nations League in a spectacular way beating France and Denmark away. I think it’s very strong. Reconstruction of the team post the 2018 World Cup has been successful. After the 2018 World Cup, some of the older faces left and the new boys were brought into the system. And the transition has been top level. It’s quite a new team with a good mixture of youth and experience. We have fivesix young players who are very good. Now it depends on how we handle the pressure of expectations, how they adjust themselves. Croatia has always been a team who suffers in the group stage. We are expected to qualify along with Belgium from that group and if we are past the group stage, then we will be the most difficult team to face. Nobody will like to play against Croatia.

Q: What about your captain Luka Modric?

A: I spoke to him a few days ago and he’s very excited about what could be his last Cup. Yes, we never know what will be your last but given his age, 37, I think we can say this would be his last. He knows how important he is for this young Croatia side. And I would say this is the first time Croatia is going to the World Cup as one of the favourites and Luka knows that. Everyone is convinced that we are strong and powerful enough to go all the way. Of course, you need a little bit of luck as well. But as I said earlier, for Croatia the most important thing is to finish the first stage of the tournament. From there they should take one game at a time.

Q: Would we see teams playing more open football or take a safety-first approach?

A: Nobody will play open football. Most of the teams play similar football these days. It’s low-block defending and then once you gain possession you pass the ball to the opponent’s half. Ninetynine per cent of the teams are playing similar football. You won’t see a national team play like Manchester City who leave space behind and go on to attack. You do not see teams in the World Cup like that. It’s a tournament and you need to cover all your bases. You need to have a complete package. You need to have a package plan. Teams which are strong will save their energy. Some of the stronger teams will not put their cards on the table in the group stage. Then there will be some teams who may not even go past the group stage because smaller teams will surprise them. Let’s see what happens. Overall it will be very interesting. Some players will say goodbye after this tournament, some new stars will be born.

Q: Very few teams these days play in a three-back system. Croatia for example in 1998 played with a three-back system with you being one of the defenders. Why have coaches shunned the system?

A: That’s because you do need players for that system and the coaches now do not have footballers who can settle well in a three-man defence. It’s not 1998 that we played with three backs. Even in 1992 we were playing the same way. It was normal for us. We had great centre-backs who could defend against six players. We had great holding midfielders who had the power and solid attacking midfielders. Maybe when some teams need to take risks then maybe you will see that system.

Q: Talking about dark horses, do you have any team in your mind?

A: Serbia. They have a very strong side. Even though they have a tough group with Brazil, Cameroon and Switzerland, Serbia have the ammunition to fire. This generation of players reminds me of our time in Croatia. This Serbian team has finally found a great manager in Dragan Stojkovic. They were brilliant in the qualifiers earning a berth beating Portugal. They are very similar to what Croatia were like in the 90s with strength and the physicality they bring to the field. But let’s see. It’s a new experience for them.

Q: Cristiano Ronaldo. He is in the news for all the wrong reasons. How important a tournament will it be for him?

A: I am expecting some great work for him. Yes, he may not have much game-time for Manchester United but that will suit Portugal fine. He is fresh and comes to Qatar with a mission. In 1998, Croatia had players who were not regulars for their club teams. For example, Davor Suker hardly got starts in Real Madrid. But they were important players. And as we all saw, Suker went on to win the Golden Boot with six goals.