Croatia’s former Brazilian-born striker Eduardo da Silva reveals who he will be supporting: “As long as Croatia plays I will support them”
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Eduardo Alves da Silva, Croatia’s Brazilian-born former striker retired from international football back in 2014 after scoring 29 goals.
The former Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk striker, who was a favourite among Croatian fans, said at the time:
“I was selected 64 times in10 years, from my first match for Croatia against Ireland in 2004. With great pride and joy I played in the Croatian shirt and presented Croatian football around the world. It was important to justify the trust that the fans gave me for which I am especially grateful. I will remember playing for Croatia only in a nice way.”
Today his adopted country of Croatia takes on Brazil and there is no doubts who ‘Dudu’ will be supporting.
“I was born in Brazil, but everyone knows that I came to Croatia very early. Croatia gave me the chance to be what I have achieved in my life and of course I am grateful for that and of course, as long as Croatia plays, I will support Croatia,” he told HRT.
“I would like to see how Brazil would react if they conceded the first goal”
“Brazil is the favourite, not only against Croatia, but also the favourite to win the World Cup. Now comes the moment when everything is possible. I don’t know how Dalić will set up the team, maybe he will attack. I guess Brazil will, they have fast and technically strong players. If Croatia survives the first 20 minutes, they will break free in the game. I would like to see how Brazil would behave if they conceded the first goal,” he added.
Croatia’s main weapon is the middle of the field, Eduardo points out, adding that if they are on their game, they will control it.
“Brazilians respect Croatia a lot. However, I noticed that, as they beat the Koreans 4:1, and Croatia went on penalties, they now underestimated Croatia. They think it will be easy.”
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Dudu recalled 2014, when Brazil opened the World Cup against Croatia at home, and then coach Niko Kovač did not include him in the starting line-up.
“I’m sorry about that, I was born in Brazil. No one was more motivated than me to play that game. I expected to play at least a little. If he had at least made the third change, it would have been easier for me.”
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Today da Silva lives in Rio de Janeiro with his wife and two kids. His son, who is 11 years old, plays at Flamengo.
“He said he would (play for Croatia), that it his dream. I hope that he will achieve it,” he concludes.
