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Croatia head to Faro to face off against Gibraltar in their first game of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Behind the Czechs and Montenegrins by six points, Croatia have some catching up to do, and three points are an absolute necessity coming from this match. Kickoff is Friday June 6th at 2:45pm EST. Zlatko Dalić is looking to qualify the Vatreni to their third … [Read more...] about How Does Croatia Kickstart Their WC Qualifying Campaign vs. Gibraltar?

The first leg of the UEFA Nations League Quarter-Finals kicks off in Split as Croatia host France. It's been a while since our beloved Vatreni have seen the pitch, so how does Dalić balance tactics with the players' recent form heading into this tilt? Does he stick to the three at back formation or is the experiment over? Will scorching hot Ante Budimir lead the line or does … [Read more...] about How Dalić Should Start vs. France

The Vatreni host group-leaders Portugal in Split on Monday at 2:45pm EST in what is now a crucial game for quarter-final qualification. Can Croatia change their woeful form against a Portuguese B-team, having sent Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Pedro Neto home? Zlatko Dalić has confirmed he will field a 3-back formation for this crucial encounter, in … [Read more...] about How Croatia Should Lineup vs. Portugal Monday

The international break is back, and that means more Vatreni footy! Croatia travels to Glasgow to face the Scots on Friday, at 2:45pm EST. Last month, Croatia won a gritty come-from-behind match by the score of 2 to 1, with a last minute Scottish equalizer saved by VAR. With a win, Croatia is through to the quarterfinals of the Nations League, but a draw will do should Poland … [Read more...] about How Croatia Should Lineup vs. Scotland Friday

What changes should Dalić make for the Nations League match against Poland in Warsaw Tuesday? Not many. The "3 in the back" defensive line should remain the same. DCC and Šutalo had good games against Scotland and were not at fault for the lone Scottish goal. Although Gvardiol had a disaster of a match, he is our best defender and will rebound quickly. There is never a … [Read more...] about How Croatia Should Line Up Against Poland Tuesday

Croatia edge the Scots at home with the help of VAR after that frustrating equalizer in the 90+5'. After being down 1-0 in the first half, the Vatreni banded together for an equalizer just three minutes later, and a solid second half provided the necessary victory. This game had its ups and downs, but who were Croatia's stand-outs, and disappointments? Dominik Livaković - … [Read more...] about Croatia vs. Scotland — Player Ratings

Croatia returns to Nations League action at 12:00pm EST Saturday October 12th, as they welcome the Scots in Zagreb. Dalić looks to gain three points from a recently struggling Scottish side, and will most likely field a back three due to Stanišić and Juranović injuries. It is an exciting time in Croatian football with Gvardiol, Kovačić, Sučić 1 and 2, and Baturina all in superb … [Read more...] about How Croatia Should Line Up Against Scotland Saturday

Here are my 'Player Ratings' for the 1-0 Croatia victory over Poland in Osijek Sunday night: Livaković - 7. A solid display once again as Livaković has truly grown into a reliable starter for Croatia. Made a crucial save to keep the clean sheet as well. Šutalo - 8. Both DCC and Šutalo are truly proving that this 3-5-2 formation with them anchoring the back is solid (so … [Read more...] about Croatia vs. Poland: Player Ratings

Croatia's 2-1 loss to Portugal on Thursday certainly brought up loads of talking points, whether positive or negative. Dalić fielded a new formation and used fresh faces in the start of his Nations League campaign upon facing crucial National Team retirements and injuries. The 3-5-2 formation caused a lack of defensive cohesion in the first half but certainly utilizes the … [Read more...] about What Changes Will Dalić Make Against Poland?