"I don't want to talk about the way we played. We had a goal in this match and we've reached it. The players did their job and they've earned their very well deserved place at the World Cup," Dalic said after the match in Piraeus.

He refused to sign a long term contract with the Croatian Football Federation (CFF) before the end of the playoffs so, technically, the Croatian team is now again without a coach.

However, there is no doubt that 51-year-old Dalic will be at the helm of the team at the World Cup.

"I am ready. It will take a minute from my side to reach the agreement," Dalic said.

Captain Luka Modric was the first to recognize Dalic's contribution to this result and left no doubt about who is the right person for the job. "It would be crazy not to put Dalic at this position. I think he has made a phenomenal job this past month," Modric said.

CFF president Davor Suker said that he expected to meet with Dalic on Tuesday and sign the deal. "We've been talking with Dalic and he will lead Croatia at the World Cup. We just have to talk about the terms but we will agree," Suker said.

The financial terms shouldn't be a problem as CFF has earned eight million US dollars by reaching the World Cup. From that prize money the players will devide among themselves 2.5 millions and 0.7 millions will be a paid out to Dalic and former coach Cacic, as well as their staff members.

The summer of 2018 will probably be the last chance for this generation of players, led by 32-year-old Real Madrid star Luka Modric, to shine on the world's biggest stage and Zlatko Dalic earned his chance to manage them.

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