Luka Modric may be favored to take home the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player, but Croatia's star playmaker on Saturday said coach Zlatko Dalic was the driving force behind their run to the tournament final against France.

Downplaying suggestions he was likely to claim the top individual prize for leading Croatia to their first World Cup decider at Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday, the Real Madrid midfield maestro gave all credit to the 51-year-old Dalic.

"We are in the World Cup final (and) that is down to the influence of our coach," said Modric, who has averaged over 100 minutes per game following a pair of penalty shoot-outs and an extra-time win on the way to the final.

(Luka Modric)

"He entered the picture in a very difficult moment. Our qualification for the World Cup was in doubt, and in the most important game, the first game (against Ukraine in Kiev), he talked us up to give us self-belief and self-confidence."

"He told us there are still good players (in the team), despite this crisis he filled us with self-confidence."

Dalic was drafted in at the last moment for the European qualifier against Ukraine, only meeting his squad for the first time at the airport before their departure for the fixture.

Since then, he has overseen 12 matches in which Croatia returned nine wins, two losses and a draw. Most importantly, he has given a team hailing from a nation of just over 4 million a shot at soccer immortality.

"He brought us calmness, he perked us up. What we like most about him is his sincerity and his approach, his attitude toward each and every player," said Modric.

"We are very happy that he is here with us, he has shown his values, not just as a coach, but most importantly as a person."

Dalic said he has taken a democratic approach to managing a team full of players used to playing club soccer on the biggest stages.

"I do not take a single decision until I have spoken to the players and got their feedback. On the basis of such information, I take a decision," he said.

This approach has also helped him to navigate some difficult issues.

Modric and defensive stalwart Dejan Lovren have been embroiled in an ongoing legal matter related to the alleged unlawful payment of transfer fees. Dalic, meanwhile, sent home AC Milan striker Nikola Kalinic for refusing to come on as a sub earlier in the tournament.

Adding to the dramas, the team fired an assistant manager for an anti-Russia post on social media just before semifinal.

Despite the hurdles, Dalic has built a relationship of trust with his squad, he said.

"If I can respect my players to the maximum, they will follow suit, they will respect me. Our relationship is frank and sincere. There are no secrets, there are no dilemmas."

"I think that such a relationship is very important in a national team because we are together for a brief time. There is no time for discussions or quarrels."

"We have come here to get a result. We have to respect one another, without that nothing can happen."