French Football Weekly: Tell us how you started playing football. What made you want to become a goalkeeper?
Dominik Livaković: I started playing football very early in my hometown of Zadar in Croatia. Like most children, I first played as an attacker, because everyone wants to score goals. But from the second day, I tried to be a goalkeeper. I liked the responsibility, the pressure and the fact that each stop could change the price of the match. From that moment, I have never left the cages again.
FM: A few years ago, you were unknown to the general public. Then everything changed during the 2022 World Cup. How did you experience this sudden notoriety?
DL: It was a big change, but I tried to keep my feet on the ground. I have always thought that our value is measured in the next match, in the next, not the last. Of course, I was proud of what we had accomplished, but I know that the fame can be ephemeral, so I tried to remain constant and work even harder.
FM: Let's talk about this emblematic match against Brazil. What was you going through your head during this meeting?
DL: Brazil was one of the favorites of the tournament, and we knew it would be incredibly difficult. During the match, and especially during shots to the goal, I tried to stay calm and ignore the noise. I repeated myself in a loop: “Concentrate on the next ball”. I did not think too much, I trusted my preparation and my instinct. I felt like all Croatia was behind me.
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FM: Would you say it was the best game in your career so far?
DL: Hmmm is certainly one of the most special. Not only because of stops or penalty fire, but because of what it meant for the team and for the whole country. But I hope my best match is still to come. This is why I work every day.
FM: During the tournament, you also crossed paths with Morocco, the surprise team of the World Cup. What did you think of their performance? Have you been surprised by their level?
DL: I have a lot of respect for Morocco. They were well organized and played with a lot of heart. They have shown that football is not just named on paper, but that it is also team spirit, tactical discipline and conviction. What they have accomplished is historical and fully deserved.
FM: Did you feel a lot of pressure when succeeding Danijel Subašić in the cages of Croatia?
DL: Suba is a legend in Croatia. What he accomplished in 2018 is unforgettable. Of course, there was pressure, but also motivation. I learned a lot by watching him play, and today he is my coach in Croatia. I have never focused on replacing it, but rather on gaining confidence thanks to my own performances.
“When I was a child, I admired Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon.”
FM: Croatia is a small country in terms of population, but it regularly produces world -class football talents. How do you explain this?
DL: This is part of our identity. We grow up playing on concrete, on small grounds, always in competition. There is something in the Croatian mentality, we do not give up easily. Football is deeply rooted in our culture and we are proud to represent the national team. It creates something special.
FM: As a goalkeeper, who are your models?
DL: When I was a child, I admired Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon. Both were leaders, calm under pressure, and always up to the important moments. I tried to inspire myself from their mentality and their constancy.
FM: Who do you think is the best goalkeeper in the world?
DL: It is difficult to choose only one, but I would say Emiliano Martínez, whose stop in the World Cup final was unforgettable, a real lesson in pressure under pressure. Donnarumma also distinguished itself by its calm, its reflexes and its ability to read the game. Both are currently at the top of their art.
FM: You just signed in Liga, it was a championship that you wanted to discover?
DL: La Liga has always been a dream. The intensity, the atmosphere, the passion and the level of competition is something that all the players want to live at some point.
FM: Girona started its season badly. Why this choice after your visit to Fenerbahçe?
DL: I feel at the top of my form, both physically and mentally. I have more experience now, but I always want to progress and improve myself. I am very happy to join Girona. The club has shown ambition and character in recent seasons, and I can't wait to participate in this adventure. My goal is to bring my experience, my consistency and my passion to help the team in the field and outside. La Liga is a fantastic challenge, and I can't wait to grow up with the club and fight to get results.
FM: It is often said that the goalkeeper position is the most difficult in football. Do you agree with this?
DL: Yes, in many ways. Only one error can cost your team for your team, and sometimes you only have one or two moments to prove yourself. It is a position that requires a strong mind. But I also think that it is the most beautiful post, when you make a stop at a crucial moment, it is an incomparable feeling.
FM: A few months ago, we discussed with the Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who told us about the “loneliness” of his role, because of being alone with his thoughts. Do you feel the same?
DL: absolutely. As a goalkeeper, you live a large part of the match in your head. You have to manage your emotions, stay vigilant and keep calm even when the ball is far away. This silence can be a source of pressure, but with experience, we learn to control and use it to its advantage.
FM: You occupy a position still under pressure. How do we relax after a match?
DL: After the matches, I usually spend time with my family or friends. Sometimes I see some parts of the match to analyze certain things, but I also know when it is necessary to disconnect. Recovery is not only physical, it is also mental.
FM: What allows you to disconnect?
DL: I like fashion, especially refined and simple styles. I am also interested in diplomacy and leadership. And I try to spend as much time as possible with my loved ones. This balance is important.
FM: You have recently made a collaboration have the Mackage brand. For what ?
DL: It comes from a common vision. Mackage is not limited to clothes, it is also a question of confidence, details and protection of what matters most to you. This idea of ”protecting your art” really challenged me. It perfectly corresponds to the way I understand my role as goalkeeper and person.
