'The fans make Anfield special'
Igor Biscan is excited that his compatriots have the chance to play at Liverpool's 'special' Anfield home on Sunday when Croatia take on Brazil in a pre-World Cup friendly.
The sides will continue preparations for this summer’s tournament in Russia by contesting a glamorous friendly fixture on Merseyside this weekend - click here to secure tickets for the match now.
And Biscan, a Champions League winner during his five-season stay with the Reds and a former Croatia international, knows his countrymen are in for a treat when they run out at the ground he once called home.
“When the team is playing there, with the atmosphere and everything, the football world knows it’s one of those special grounds, if not the most special ground in the world,” he said.
“All the fans want to experience it, every player wants to play there and to be able to say when they’ve finished their career, ‘I was there and experienced such a special place’.
“The fans make Anfield special, everything that they mean for the club and all the tradition, everybody knows how important they are, they’re basically part of the team.
“Everybody who wants to speak to me about football, former players or present players, one of the first questions is ‘What’s it like to play there? What’s it like to have the atmosphere?’”
Watch: Firmino on Brazil's Anfield appearance
Biscan anticipates a particularly exciting game this weekend, with both teams boasting world-class talents capable of producing entertaining football.
“Dejan [Lovren] knows the environment. He knows every corner of the stadium and I believe he has special motivation to do well and to be a good host for the rest of the team,” he added.
“They key man is always Luka Modric. He’s been one of the best players in the world, one of the top midfielders in the world and is such a special player.
“It’s a big game, a very big game, with some of the best players in the world involved.
“Brazil is one of the most famous national teams ever and it’s such a strong squad with their tradition, those yellow shirts on the pitch guarantees you a spectacle, guarantees something special.
“Croatia, though, are more than capable of giving them a game, with the players they have and they have some of the very best in the world, the likes of Modric, [Mario] Mandzukic, [Ivan] Rakitic and many more.
“I believe whoever comes to the game will enjoy it, I hope lots of Croatian fans will be there because I know they love football, they love English football, they love Liverpool, so it’s really a game to see.”
Tickets for the match, which kicks off at 3pm BST, are available from £10 for juniors and £30 for adults – click here for more information.