This will be the most complicated lineup Dalić ever puts out against Portugal on Thursday in Nations League. Not only is the national team in a bit of a “transitional phase” with Brozović retiring, Modrić turning 39 next week, and Perišić clubless — but the team has been hit HARD with the injury bug. Majer, Vlašić, Erlić, Stanišić, Juranović have all been ruled out for this week’s games due to injury. Luka Sučić was left off the Real Sociedad lineup this past weekend due to a knock.
So what is Dalić to do?
With defensive players at a premium this week, it’s time for Dalić to implement ‘3 in the back’ to start off this Nations League campaign. Playing three defenders will allow for an extra attacker to fit into the Starting XI, and guess what, the Vatreni can use it. The Croatian offense has been slow the past few years and needs a player or two who can add some spark. Opposing teams have learned to let Croatia have possession in the midfield and kill on the counter. And that has been Croatia’s Achilles Heel.
So with a depleted team heading into Portugal and Poland matches this week, Dalić should start Gvardiol, Šutalo and Pongračić in the back. There’s no reason to start experimenting with Jakić or Pjaca back there. Modrić and Kovačić will anchor the middle of the field. Play Pjaca in his natural position as a winger. At that point, you may as well play Perišić on the left side since we have nobody else, even if the guy hasn’t played one meaningful minute of football since June. Otherwise, why even call him up to the squad?
That will allow 21 year-old Martin Baturina to play in his natural position in front of Modrić and Kova. This kid is the real deal and is Dinamo’s best player at the moment. He can very well be the HNL’s MVP this season. So let the kid play from the opening whistle. It’s time!
Play Krama as a supporting striker just as he does for Hoffenheim — in his natural position. Budimir or Petko up top as the #9 is a coin flip. But Budimir is better in the air if he can get service. The Vatreni are in one of the deepest transitional phases they have been in before Dalić even took over. How is he going to line up the boys with all the injuries that have hit the team?
One thing: if he does not start Baturina and Pjaca, God help us all.
U21 lineup looks great. Interested to see how they play under Olic
Perisica starter? LOL. Some of you are funny.
The World Cup cycle is about to begin. I’m both nervous and excited. Maybe we’ll be in for a wild ride, with the team in transition and izbornik still coming to grips with it. No matter what, let me drink a toast to the success of our beloved Vatreni and let’s hang in there, my brothers.
Bog i Hrvati!
My worry is that it will take a few games for Dalic to realize who to really call up.
I don’t want us to have our seeding hurt by a very slow start in Nations League, and still not know who the real callups should be until well into the WC qualifying campaign.
The U21 theory that Anonymous posted below, could easily happen…where we start finally integrating our younger talented players into our qualifying campaign when it’s already halfway done.
I prefer to start strong and I hate playing catchup, and we’ve been doing this the past three qualification cycles with Dalic.
Need to be ready with guys like Baturina, Sucic (both of them), Marco, Gvardiol, Vukusic (possibly) and any other youngsters who are having a great season…on DAY ONE of World Cup qualifying.
Except for Fubo TV, how can folks in the US watch this match?
https://www.uefa.tv/match/live/271469/2040045
Uefa.tv used to stream these matches for free, but you need to create an account or sign in with FB/Google/Apple.
Its on DAZN in Canada, probably in the US too
Line-up from SN just released
They listened to Maminjo (Sosa no Perisic) and Anonymous (Jakic no Pjaca)
So looks like the 5-4-1 in defence / low-block is going to be the strategy (and hope to hit them on the counter-attack)
Finally some sense from Dalic – no excuses to get done by a ball over top anymore
https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/liga-nacija/vatreni-na-novom-pocetku-pogledajte-kako-bi-mogao-izgledati-udarni-sastav-dalic-napravio-zaokret-u-formaciji-15498967
Verdict from King Luka is in
The young players will be given a chance !
Dalic u keeping up ?
https://x.com/CroatiaFooty/status/1831430656594751543
L. Modrić: “A lot of talented young players have come in, who can be key players in the future. It’s similar to when Ćorluka, Brozović, and I came in.
There is certainly a lot of talent. I feel that when I’m surrounded by younger players, I also feel younger myself.
We have a very bright future ahead. Those of us who are older are here to help them develop and grow into key players.”
More
https://x.com/CroatiaFooty/status/1831428882429571302
🎙️ L. Modrić: “The Euros didn’t end the way we expected. We had high expectations, and rightfully so, because we played well in recent years, but sometimes in football, things don’t go as we wish.
That’s behind us now, and I hope we’ve learned our lessons. Ahead of us is a competition where we were finalists last year.
We want to play well and hope to reach the “Final Four” again. Additionally, we aim to have as many new players as possible step up for the World Cup qualifiers.”
Who wants to tell Dalic that in the new format in addition to the top 2 teams in Nations League (in each of 4 groups in League A – so 8 total) – the remaining 4 spots in Pot 1 for WC draw will be given to next 4 best FIFA ranked teams – so Croatia will qualify w/ 99% chance even before the first ball is dropped
Rumour is new rules were to ensure England (in League B) ends up in Pot 1
Dalic should have been briefed on the new rules by now (well done nose-pickers !)
https://x.com/CroatiaFooty/status/1831432942390014425
Dalić: “We will give as many players a chance as possible, but the result remains the goal.
We need to try out some new playing systems. It’s important to be among the top two teams for the World Cup qualifying draw.”
Lineup has a lot of holes.
I agree with the counter attacking strategy, but it won’t work if we have defensively inept players out there.
Sosa currently plays in Torino’s 3-5-2 system so he should be ahead of Perišić… but that assumes we want to go with this formation.
How has Pongračić been playing (since his bad first game at Fiorentina)?
Šutalo seems to have bounced back at Ajax, so having him and Gvardiol back there should be good.
I feel like Petar Sučić needs to be in this lineup somewhere.
Injuries are something you cannot control, but Dalic always seems to be unprepared.
His pretpoziv list was weak.
Marko Pjaca and Marco Pašalić were the only players on that list that could help, and he still didn’t activate Pašalić.
Borna Barišić, Ivica Ivušić, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk, Robert Ljubičić were all unnecessary to include on the list, as they were either in positions of surplus or are not worthy of callups.
Hopefully guys like Oršić, Vukušić, Musa, and some of these other young guys continue to play first team football and make headlines.
We need to start calling them up and integrating them ASAP by at least giving them minutes off the bench.
The only logic I see
Stack U21 team to qualify for next summer’s Euro U21 finals
U21 is stacked w/ forward players (incl. wingers) and midfielders (plus of course Vuskovic, Noa Mikic, etc) – senior team needs forward players (for sure) and perhaps midfielders (who end up surpassing Baturina, Luka and Petar)
Qualify for Euro U21 – hope some of our U21 impress during finals (held June 2025) and earn transfer to better clubs / leagues
After June 2025 Euros – the U21 players would have missed 4 out of 10 senior World Cup qualifying games (March and June windows) – but could still be integrated into the final 6 games (plus play-offs if needed – so 8 games left)
The plan is for all the above to work / get pulled off (as opposed to calling any more young players up for Nations League)
If U21 don’t qualify for Euros – we’ll know by mid Oct – then maybe include the best that deserve it to senior team for WC qualifiers (so they’d be available from March 2025)
If that’s not the logic / game plan – than I’m still lost
I like that Kranjcar is there w/ Olic – b/w the two of them – they should be able to figure out who of the U21 stands out / needs to be pushed ahead
I would put Perisic at left back, Pjaca at left-wing and Marco Pasalic at right wing and play Krama at number nine. This way you keep four in the back which has worked for us. I like having Baturina start. I also hope that Luka Sucic is able to play.
Assuming Portugal will line up w their lightning fast forwards jota, Felix and Neto
So dalic should focus on the best lineup from a defensive perspective
Ie we should be low blocking (w 5-4-1) in defensive – to make sure Portugal’s lightning forwards are neutralized
Offensive comes secondary for this game – the aim should be to hit Portugal on the counter-attack (when / if we get the chance)
Point being lineup above could work but both perisic and pjaca need to have a defence first mentality and when one of them breaks forward (more likely pjaca as he still has legs) perisic needs to stay back
Otherwise we’re leaving our cb way to exposed and none of them are as fast as Portugal forwards
Never mind we’ll probably see Silva and Bruno in midfield w at least one of their destroyer type #6
Given defense first mindset
Would not be surprised if we put in at least one of Moro or Jakic on the field (that would explain why)
I always trust Perisic to do whatever is needed. Its why he has been one of our greatest N/T players. Selfless with great awareness. Hopefully he is fit.
would like to see Baturina get the shot. Saw him play in Croatia and was pleasantly surprised. He has chemistry with Petkovic for some reason. He’s bloody fast and we need anybody who can run. NEKA IGRA!!!
I agree with your lineup except that I would put Sosa instead of Perišić.
I would agree it is more his position, but as seen before Dalić will not start Sosa if he is out of form. Perišić has earned his starting spot over the years and when both “out of shape”, Dalić has always opted for Perišić.
čekaj, vi mislite da Perišić mora biti u prvi 11. molim vas da prestanite komentirati HRV nogomet. za vas je američki nogomet granica.
I like your line up and I pray Dalić gives something like this a try. I think something like what you propose (Baturina close to Perisic and Modric next to Pjaca) is a must because we need to balance age with either age or at least with a natural position player up there. I 100% agree for the 3 defenders, and that it is NOT TIME FOR EXPERIMENTS like Dalic proposed. He seriously just over complicates everything.
Knowing Dalić though he’ll probably just put Kovacic in the Broz role now and do his experiments. And if it fails that will maybe allow to fire Dalić and give chance to a new trainer. I really hope they don’t let him push his luck forever
Given Nations League now have QFs which will be in March 2025
And World Cup qualifying starts in March 2025
Not so simple anymore as saying “winning Nations League games = better Pot for WC draw”
Here’s a thread that goes over it
x.com/thehuwdavies/status/1830957564235747700