BORNA BARISIC has endured a Champions League nightmare with Rangers. Now he will live a World Cup dream with Croatia.
The left-back was unable to help Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side end their Group A campaign with a win on Tuesday night as Ajax emerged victorious at Ibrox.
All focus is now back on the Premiership title race as Rangers gear up for fixtures with St Johnstone, Hearts and St Mirren in the coming days.
Barisic will then head off to Qatar as Croatia take on Morocco, Canada and Belgium and aim to repeat their run that took them to the final in Russia four years ago.
The mid-season World Cup will be a unique experience on and off the park but Barisic is determined to make the most of it as he savours the opportunity to represent his nation on the biggest stage in the game.
Barisic said: "I cannot wait to go to the World Cup, I am very excited about that. That motivates me a lot.
"Unbelievable. Playing Champions League and World Cup would be something amazing.
"I could not imagine it, but that's the now, that's the result of the things I have done in the past few years, how much I train, how much I sacrifice. I did that for this moment and I am proud.
"For the World Cup, for players I think it is better because we are fresher now than in June. But when we come back, it will be different, for sure.
"I don't know how we will feel, but listen, this is the top level and if you want to go to the World Cup, you need to come back and perform again.
"No-one will ask you if you are tired mentally or physically. We will see, we have never experienced this."
