Croatia internationals' praise

"Srna is a true leader, a great captain, and an even bigger person"

09.08.2016.

"Srna is a true leader, a great captain, and an even bigger person"
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS

Croatia internationals praised Darijo Srna contribution to the national team, following the announcment of his international retirement.

"Darijo is a great player, but above all a great person, and his qualities will be missed. It will be strange to play the next match knowing he will not be on my right side. We have celebrated and cried together, his retirement leaves an emptiness, but also a duty to pull together even stronger. Captain, thank you for everything, I have no doubt you will be our biggest fan!" - Vedran Ćorluka

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

"Darijo helped me a lot when I started my international career, and he was always available for younger players for advice and support. I remember his assist, especially those in Istanbul and Belgrade, and his Croatia and Shakhtar career says all about his football qualities. We'll miss him, but it was an honour to share the locker room with him. However, the most important was to see how good a person he was, we've become very good friends and that will not change. I believe he will stay close to the national team even when he completes his playing career" - Mario Mandžukić

"Darijo was an excellent captain, it was a pleasure having him to lead us to every fight. We went beside him, he was an example to all of us. I want to emphasize that he was an even bigger person, besides being a great football player. I wish him all the luck in the world. I am sorry that he is leaving the national team, but we know he will be our biggest fan. Darijo, I love you as a brother, thank you for everything" - Ivan Rakitić

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

"When someone says Croatia national team, Darijo has become my first thought. He was a captain in every sense, one of the best persons that I have played with. His commitment at every training session and every match is an inspiration to any young player" - Milan Badelj

"Darijo was leading by example, as a true captain, on and off the field. It was a pleasure playing with him. His record 134 caps say enough, only true greats can reach that number. He has set highest standards regarding performance and behaviour to all younger players" - Marcelo Brozović

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

"It was an honour to play with Darijo in the national team. I learned a lot from him, a true leader and captain who gave a great contribution to Croatia. Thank you Darijo" - Šime Vrsaljko

"I would like to thank my captain for everything he has done for Croatia. I've played three years with him, and learned a lot - not only on the field, but also through his personal qualities. That's why he's been our captain for so long. We are sad to see him leave, but we respect his decision. He deserves a beautiful goodbye, and I wish him all the best" - Mateo Kovačić

 

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

"The level of Darijo Srna playing career confirms his excellence. He is a miracle of human being, and even better as a captain. When I was about to make my debut for Croatia in Pula, I was nervous among all these stars, but he came to me, we had a talk, and in a second I was feeling better. His charisma made him a true leader. We'll miss him as a player and a person, but I'm sure he made the decision he considered the best. I would like to thank him from all my heart, for every piece of advice, and I wish him all the best" - Marko Pjaca

"I would like to thank Darijo for everything he has done for the national team, for Croatian people, and to me personally. He made my adjustment to the national team easier, and also assisted me against Azerbaijan. He has shown what it means to be a captain, both in sports and in life. He was an example to all of us, as well as one of the best Croatian full-backs in history. It was an honour and pride to play with him" - Andrej Kramarić

"Darijo was my captain for six years and I can only praise him as a person, captain, and a player. He deserves all the compliments and gratitude for what he gave to Croatia national team" - Ivan Strinić 

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
 

"It was an honour, a pride, and a privilege to share the national team locker room with Darijo. He accepted me from the first moment and developed a honest relationship. He was a great person and captain" - Lovre Kalinić

"I have rarely met so good a person and such a quality captain as Darijo. I've seen in France he is without a flaw, he accepted me well and the entire team followed him. He is a legend" - Ante Ćorić

 

"Darijo is among the greatest examples to all of us younger players. We've followed him for years, learned a lot and Croatia will not be the same without him" - Tin Jedvaj

"Darijo was a real example to all of us in the national team, supporting us and playing for Croatia with so much passion, desire, and commitment. He has shown us the proper way to fight for Croatia jersey, and how to love your country" - Ivan Vargić

"First and foremost, Darijo is an excellent person, a true captain and a leader, and a quality player who would be missed by any club or national team. He helped his teammates, especially young ones, and that's a true captain's behaviour. Thank you Darijo" - Marko Rog

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