The Krešimir Ćosić Hall was inaugurated fourteen years ago. Arena, which corresponds to the tradition of Zadar. And of the city and its pride. From basketball, of course. Otherwise it’s not there anyway. The name alone, in honor of her famous child, the insurmountable Kresimir Čosić, says it all.

The rest of the city say. More or less eighty thousand souls. They’re not exaggerating or exaggerating when they say that all but one have always been involved with basketball. his grandfather Dominik Livakovic, was no exception. Radiologist by profession, but has been a member of the Zadar Board of Directors for many years.

His father, Zdravko, an engineer. And a politician. In a previous Croatian government, he was even Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. But he did his part, blaming his basketball-mad city, by building the modern Zadar Arena.

By then his athleticism had waned. He was just beginning puberty, but “Livi” had already spent half his life in football. From the second training session he put on the gloves. Goalkeeper. Conscious, reflected choice. And without the slightest intervention or suggestion. He took the gloves, went to the fireplace, that was it. Six year old child.

Proud to carry on the family tradition – that of letters that mark his family, he expects after the 28-year-old goalkeeper promised to study international relations and diplomacy when he quits football – Zdravko took him to the arena , before the official opening, for a totally private tour. He even says he was the one who shot the first basket at the new stadium. Apparently able to change course, he didn’t stop.

Vrsaliko, Casillas, Cruz and Elena

Four years later he left the Dalmatian coast and moved to the capital for the sake of the pantocrat Dynamo. Same path as its neighbor Sime Vrsalikos. In neighboring apartment buildings, they grew up with the former Olympiakos footballer, three years their senior, who also took it upon themselves to prepare him for championship level.

And like everything in the “blue” factory, to enter the logic of a showcase, a catwalk. Products for sale to anyone who achieves Croatia’s (almost permanent) champions, with the whole domestic football system working and providing further visibility and – of course – the increase in value and expected price.

But it’s still there. On January 9th he will be 28 years old. Many years, over 250 games in the Dinamo shirt. Not many live and play there that much. There aren’t many who don’t deserve to take the step up with gals like this. step abroad. He had the opportunity, with various suitors showing up from time to time.

He didn’t go any further. Married to – his teenage girlfriend – Elena, Cruz, his big and impressive husky, from a puppy they took to Zagreb, has reached the age of six and is now recognizable around the city, Sime’s bestie has in Basically already completed his own football journey, but he, still there.

Not even the three-year legend of Iker Casillas, his great idol – the Croatian considers his compatriot “San Iker”, David de Gea, at home to be the best on the planet – didn’t help. “This year I will keep a close eye on Dominik Livakovic. He plays for Dinamo Zagreb and is 24 years old. Interesting,” the Spaniard’s signature tweet at the time.

Observations in Russia

At that time he had just entered Crvatska for the first time. His first major event, the World Cup in Russia. The only time he felt part of the team was when the opposing penalty takers went awry. An innovation by Selector Zlatko Dalic, he wanted all three goalkeepers of the mission to be present at the study being made on the hujas, the habits of those who would normally be placed behind the goalpost opposite the hearth when the time came.

And with Croatia, bad lies, that time usually comes. Of their last six World Cup knockout games, five went into overtime. At four penalty. The first of this series was against Denmark, in the previous competition in the stadiums of Russia.

The first time the three, the then main Subasic, the second in the hierarchy, Kalinic and his boss (all from Dalmatia), sat down to analyze, discuss and observe Danish executioners. What the Elector was striving for with this concrete initiative, with this innovation, was on the one hand the conversion of all communicants and on the other hand more eyes and looks. You never know.

Livakovic was the only Croatian not to step on the pitch for even a second at the last event. However, his observations helped, as Daniel Subasic later admitted, who with their help saved three Danes from execution, paving the way for the Balkans to the most glorious moment in their history, the march to the final.

In the quarterfinals against Russia, Subasic saved again. Four in total. Croatia beat England in extra time in the semifinals, but France’s majesty was insurmountable in the final.

Déjà vu, in which he is now in the foreground

Four years (instead of a few months) later, Livakovic is the first, the most important. A position he assumed in the hierarchy immediately after the premiere of last year’s Euros. His own cast, unknown – yet – if they have any parallels to his earlier contribution to deja vu.

Not just personally, but collectively, nationally. He also saved three penalties in the round of 16 of the current tournament and thus signed the qualification against Japan. It can’t be a coincidence. Three times in history a goalkeeper has saved three penalties in the relevant World Cup process, both by Croatians. It was in both of them – at least made of a different material.

In yesterday’s quarterfinals, before the volley came, he delivered the best goalkeeping performance of the tournament. He made 11 saves against the Brazilians, the most of any in the competition. All seven came out of his range in trials. Credit to the Croatians for persevering, winning first the 90 minutes and then the 120 and only scoring late in extra time with Petkovic’s first international goal from the penalty spot.

And there he could not escape his radical. Just like Subasic four years ago, he also saved a penalty, Rodrigo’s first, taking his tally to four. Game over. Nothing else was needed. We said Croatia never lose on penalties. His team-mates didn’t make any mistakes, Marquinios sent the Seleção’s last shot to the post and thus “Croatia” into the top four in the world for the second time in a row.

Argentina is waiting there. Or Livakovic’s alter ego from the bullpen in these knockouts, Emiliano Martinez. Baby, how ’bout we skip the two hours of ball next Tuesday and go, pitch and everyone, teammates and opponents, pitch right there and face it?

Another thing he doesn’t want (they want)…

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