For a country that survived a bitter war and gained independence just three decades ago, perseverance is in its DNA. Be it in an individual sport or a team event, Croatia, with a population of just four million, has always been there competing with the top nations. So if you have a Goran Ivanisevic or Blanka Vlasic or a Marin Cilic in individual sport, in a team game like football, Zvonimir Boban, Davor Suker and Luka Modric are the players who shone on the biggest stage.

The world first got a glimpse of Croatia’s grit in Euro 1996 and then in the World Cup in 1998 where they finished third. Had Croatia not become nervous — they were leading France 1-0 in the semi-finals — they could have played the final against Brazil in Paris. As Igor Stimac, a key member of that squad and at present India’s national team coach, had said during a media interaction in May: “Once we took the lead, the fact that we had one step in the final made us so excited that we just forgot the basics.” The transition from 1998 took a bit of time but once it got going there was no looking back.

Cut to 2018, the Modrics, Ivan Perisics and Ivan Rakitics went a step further than what their heroes did in 1998 only to lose to France in the final. “Croatia, in general, not just in football, but in general, has talent in sports. I do not why, but it’s always been like that. We love sports, we do a lot of good work in the academies teaching the children the rudimentary of the games. I cannot zero in on one factor. It’s a combination of many,” Modric said ahead of the World Cup quarter-final match against Brazil. “We are survivors, we saw a war and that steeled our nerves, that makes us gritty,” says Stimac.

Brazil got a taste of Croatia’s grit on Friday when trailing by a goal, Croatia equalised in the 117th minute and then held their nerves to win the tie-breaker 4-2. It’s Croatia’s third come-from-behind win in this World Cup, doing the same against Canada in the group phase and Japan in the Round-of-16. It is also their second successive semi-final entry.

Friday was also their third World Cup quarter-final tie and they have been successful in all three, winning 3-0 against Germany in 1998, via a penalty shoot-out against Russia in 2018 and now the victory against Brazil.

Probably that’s why they have earned this tag of the team you do not want to play against in the knock-out rounds. “If we can clear the group stage then we can go all the way,” Stimac had said during an interview with The Telegraph before the World Cup.

“I do not know why people are surprised by our success. This is Croatia: pride, courage, faith and patriotism. Croatia is the best when it’s needed. When it matters, Croatia always succeeds,” coach Zlatko Dalic said.

Croatia are in the middle of a transition phase where the new faces are being drafted into the side and they have merged well with the old guard. Modric is doing that seamlessly, giving confidence to players like goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic or young defender Jasko Gvardiol. Against Brazil, Modric hardly ventured into the rival half sitting deep trying to negate the Neymar threat. And whenever he had the ball, Modric played it to one of the unmarked players. This also showed his versatility as in Real Madrid unless the situation demanded Modric would hardly come down to help the defence. He had a role in Croatia’s equaliser on Friday by starting the move from the deep which ultimately freed Mislav Orsic on the left to pick out Bruno Petkovic just outside the box.

“It’s difficult to find someone like Modric. He is 37 but doesn’t give up. It is not very common. I would say it’s abnormal,” Dalic, as always, could not stop praising the captain.

Then you have goalkeeper Livakovic, 27, who was just unbeatable against Brazil as well as against Japan. It’s the fighting quality imbibed in them from an early age, the mental strength they get by managing to survive and then thrive amid all the hardships that set the Croats apart.

“This all comes from how we are raised. We always go all the way to the end, we leave everything we got on the pitch and we keep fighting. A fighter will not bow down meekly,” Livakovic, who was the Man of the Match, said.

Croatia need another win to make their second successive final against a team they had defeated in the group stage four years ago. Argentina, who staved off the Dutch challenge later on Friday, are very different from what Croatia handled in Russia. They are strong and with Messi thriving once again, the fans are dreaming of one more final appearance after eight years. Argentina know Croatia will trouble them and despite Messi’s presence, it will be a Herculean task for them.

As Dalic said: “This is not the end; we are moving on. We can achieve a lot.” True. This team has the balance, this team rallies around each other and works hard. No wonder it’s paying off.