Starter for Croatia, Ivanovic lifts the lid on Benfica | OneFootball

Croatia defeated Montenegro 4-0 last Monday in a qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. Franjo Ivanovic made his debut as a starter, not hiding his happiness, and admitting that Benfica has been a very positive point - despite having already talked about leaving.

"I am very happy with my first start for the national team, I gave it my all. We celebrated the victory together and also Luka [Modric]'s birthday. It was a very pleasant day", said the Benfica forward after the match, quoted by Sportnet.

Asked about life at Benfica, Ivanovic was straightforward: "I am settled, I am happy, and I feel good in Lisbon", he stated, quickly turning his attention to the national team, explaining that he will always be ready to take on a prominent role in the team.

"I am always available to play, then it's up to the national team officials to decide. I am ready, new players are joining the national team, and we want to prove our worth. Our goal is to qualify for the World Cup", said the Benfica forward.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.