Croatia manager Slaven Bilic was overjoyed for Ivan Klasnic following his match-winning goal against Poland.
Striker Klasnic underwent a kidney transplant last year and still has to wear a protective fibreglass shield.
"We are proud of him," said Bilic, who saw his side top Group B ahead of Germany after winning all three games.
"He is a very strong personality. When we first learnt the news about his kidney operation, it was him who raised our morale. It really is a fairytale."
Only recalled to the Croatia squad in March, Klasnic took his chance in fine fashion to break the deadlock against Poland after 52 minutes.
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"As I said once, this is like a bonus from God. It's like a dream. I thank God that I'm alive and that I can play football.
"I'm proud to be a part of this team. Hopefully, my coach will think of me when we play the quarter-finals."
With qualification already secured ahead of Monday's game, Bilic made nine changes to the side that beat Germany.
But Bilic's side still outclassed Poland, and were only denied a more convincing victory by a stunning performance from Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
"We are not the first team to win three group matches at a European Championship but there have not been many who have," said a proud Bilic.
"My players were fabulous. They were not only courageous but tactically perfect and played to a very high technical quality.
"I knew that these guys could deliver this type of match. This is a deserved victory. If Boruc hadn't been so brilliant we could have been 2-0 up at half-time."
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