Croatia has reached the semi-finals thanks to a brilliant performance, stopping defending champion France on their way to their third straight title. One key figure in this match – when he was awarded best player - and of the entire World Championship is playmaker Domagoj Duvnjak. In this interview with www.ihf.info, the playmaker of German club HSV Hamburg talks about his role in the team and his objective for the final weekend in Barcelona, which will start for Duvnjak and his team with the semi-final against Denmark.

Is Croatia now the big favourite for winning the gold medal after eliminating France in the quarter-final?

Domagoj Duvnjak: This is a very difficult question. Though we have beaten France after a long series of defeats for the first time in a crucial match we have to stay modest and keep our feet on the ground.

But it could be the first World Championship gold exactly ten years after Croatia has taken the title in Portugal in 2003. How did you watch the matches in 2003?

Domagoj Duvnjak: I was 15 years old and I watched every match on TV, sometimes even together with my teachers at school. I was completely excited about the team.

Is the current Croatian team in Spain stronger than the 2003 squad?

Domagoj Duvnjak: Another tough question. I think you cannot compare both teams. In 2002 Croatia ranked on the last position of the European championship, one year later we were World Champion, then Olympic champion. Legends were born in this team.

One of those legends was Ivano Balic, who is not nominated for the current World Championship in Spain. Do you agree that you already fill in his footprints as his successor?

Domagoj Duvnjak: The World Championship in Spain is the first tournament I play without Ivano in the national team. Unfortunately – as I learnt so much from him, in every match, in every training session. Ivano always helped me to develop.  But currently the rest of the team is helping me to fulfill my tasks. So I have to say ‘thank you’ to all of my teammates.

Are you already the new boss in the Croatian team?

Domagoj Duvnjak: No, no, no! We have other bosses with much more experience than me like Igor Vori or Blazenko Lackovic, who unfortunately is out after a finger injury.

How do you estimate the Croatian performance in Spain in general?

Domagoj Duvnjak: We have won all seven matches up to now, including the victories against host Spain and the defending champions France. We showed some really perfect performances, and we were able to adapt our tactics to all our opponents. But still we have nothing in our hands, but have to focus on another highly strong opponent, Denmark.