Ivan Rakitic Reveals He Still Avoids Watching Croatia's 2018 World Cup Final Loss to France

Ivan Rakitic has admitted that he still cannot bring himself to watch any clips from Croatia's heartbreaking 2018 World Cup final defeat against France. The former midfielder described how the painful memory remains too fresh to revisit, even years after the event.

A Historic Run Ends in Heartbreak

The 2018 final in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium saw Croatia suffer a 4-2 loss to France. Rakitic played every minute in midfield during that match and was crucial in leading the Vatreni to their first-ever appearance in a World Cup final. Despite an impressive run featuring three consecutive knockout-stage comebacks, falling short at the final stage left a lasting impact on him.

Refusing to Watch the Highlights

Speaking at a Meet, Greet & Table Football event in Seville before Croatia’s UEFA Nations League clash with Spain, Rakitic confessed the loss is still difficult for him. As quoted by Spanish outlet MARCA, he said:

"It was tough. To this day, I haven't watched a single clip of that final, and if you played it now, I’d turn away."

Pride in Croatia’s Achievement

Even with the lingering sadness of missing out on football's biggest trophy, Rakitic emphasized the pride the team felt after reaching the final. For a country with fewer than four million people, the achievement was remarkable and earned worldwide respect.

He reflected on the international admiration they received:

"Ten minutes after losing, we felt immense pride because Croatia isn't Spain; it’s very small, with a population not even reaching four million, but we achieved something special: we even won over the hearts and respect of so many people in France. I received messages from all over the world, even though I would have much preferred to lift the trophy."

Looking Ahead: Nations League Challenge

Croatia now prepare to face Spain at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium on Tuesday night as part of their UEFA Nations League Group A3 campaign. Managed by Slaven Bilic, the team aims to secure all three points to surpass Spain atop the group after edging Czechia 2-1 in their opening game.

This challenging fixture in Andalusia will be a true test for the Vatreni ahead of two more matches scheduled during this international window.

• UEFA Nations League
• Belgium vs France: 28 Sept 2026, 21:45
• Spain vs Croatia: 29 Sept 2026, 21:45