SUMMERS in Ivor Pandur’s native Croatia tend to be long and hot.

It was a particularly resplendent one in 2018.

Eight years ago, the Hull City goalkeeper, then in his teens, was coming through the ranks at his home city club of Rijeka.

The third largest city in Croatia, Rijeka is considered a gem on the country’s stunning Adriatic coast.

HIGH TIMES: Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur. Picture: Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — HIGH TIMES: Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur. Picture: Tony Johnson.

For a young footballer in his off-season, sun, sea and sand were never far away.

That summer also saw the Croatian national team produce a magnificent story to reach the 2018 World Cup final.

Zlatko Dalić’s side famously broke English hearts in the semi-final stage in Moscow, with Mario Mandzukic scoring an extra-time winner.

It extended England’s wait to confirm a first final in the global showpiece since 1966.

Pandur celebrates Hull City's win against Norwich City following the final whistle during the Sky Bet Championship match at MKM Stadium, which clinched a play-off spot. Photo: Ian Hodgson/PA Wire.

Dalić remains in charge of Croatia. This time around, instead of watching back home as a fan, Pandur is part of their World Cup squad.

The beach will have to wait this summer with Croatia starting their latest tournament odyssey against England in Dallas on Wednesday.

Pandur, who played a full part in helping Hull make their Premier League return in 2025-26, told The Yorkshire Post: "In 2018, I was young. I don't know what I was doing, I was probably on the beach or something.

"But I was always dreaming about football.

Hull City and Croatia goalkeeper Ivor Pandur keeps Middlesbrough at bay in the Championship play-off final. (Image: Ben STANSALL / AFP via Getty Images)

"I try to be home as much as possible in the summer, to be fair, because I don't go much during the season and it's the best place to be for me with all my family, my friends, the people I care about.

"You watch football in the summer, but it (World Cup) was different in 2022 because it was during the winter.

"Maybe it is a little bit different because of the prices (this summer), but I think everybody who lives there from Croatia (supporters) will try and come."

For a nation of less than four million people, Croatia’s reputation for punching above their weight in a footballing sense is pretty unsurpassed.

Their success under Dalić has been remarkable. He has led them to second and third-place finishes respectively at the last two finals.

He is revered alongside one of his esteemed predecessors in Miroslav Blažević, who was at the helm when that great Croatian side of Robert Prosinečki, Davor Šuker and Zvonimir Boban finished third in the 1998 World Cup.

That was a tad early in terms of involvement for Croatia’s greatest ever in Luca Modrić, whose first cap arrived in 2006.

At the age of 40, the midfielder, a more graceful footballer you would struggle to see, still provides the heartbeat for his country.

This is Modrić’s fifth successive World Cup and he should surpass the 200-cap mark in North America.

His inclusion has nothing remotely to do with sentiment or milestones, mind.

Modrić’s days of winning the Ballon d’Or and Champions League titles may now be over, but he remains a vital cog for his club – AC Milan – and country. He scored in Croatia’s final warm-up game against Slovenia.

Since gaining independence in 1991, Croatia have appeared in seven finals, missing out only in 1994 and 2010.

Their latest squad is undoubtedly a senior one and not just due to the presence of Modrić.

Another top-class performer in Ivan Perišić is 37, while Mateo Kovačić and Andrej Kramarić are among other seasoned stars.

Joško Gvardiol is somewhat younger at 24, yet the Manchester City man is a player who still seems to have been around for a fair while.

There is a smattering of youth, that said, alongside him in the shape of his central defensive partner in Tottenham’s Luka Vušković.

Dinamo Zagreb’s Dominik Livaković is the first-choice keeper, with Copenhagen’s Dominik Kotarski behind him. Pandur provides further back-up. At 26, Pandur still has time on his side, more especially given his position.

Given that he only received his first senior call-up last November, he has pledged to cherish the whole experience of tournament football as he bids to round off a year which he will never forget.

Pandur, who missed just one league game last season for Hull, continued: "It's something really exciting.

"Just to experience this World Cup, people fighting for everything, playing, fans; everything, it’s incredible.

"I've never been to a World Cup (before). It fills me with pride and a lot of energy.

"It's just a privileged situation, to be fair. Everything is going good, I'm healthy.

"That's the most important thing, thank God, that I'm able to do my best and help the team. It starts from there and then everything else is just a plus and I couldn't be more privileged."