Ante & Markus from CroatianSports.com discuss the best possible formation for Croatia at the 2026 World Cup, starting XI and who needs to sit.
Vušković, Petar Sučić and Marco Pašalić are all locks for us.
Croatia 2026 World Cup Strategy: Formation & Starting XI
By 89 Comments
https://croatiansports.com/croatia-2026-world-cup-preview-formation-starting-xi/#comments/528004
@A Tin U
[Anything can happen, and anyone and any team can have a bad tournament. It happens. But we can have some confidence that back among his fellow Croatians, representing lijepa nasa domovino, again playing for coach Dalic, Sutalo will rise to the occasion in WC 2026 as he did in Euro 2024. If Dalic goes with the back four — Stani, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gviardiol — and if they play well, if everything comes together as it can, those four could end up being the finest group of defenders at World Cup 2026. Period. The possibility is there that they could be that good.]
Well said. Yes may Sutalo rise to the occasion back among his fellow Croats and wearing the checkers. I recall he has played great games for us in the past: 1-0 win vs France in UNL 2022, 0-0 draw vs Spain in UNL final 2023, 0-2 defeat to France in UNL quarterfinal 2025. Although we have been leaking goals lately (without a clean sheet for our last 6 games, conceding 10 goals along the way), I do believe if this back four can click well together, our defense along with the in-form Livi, has the potential to become formidable. Let’s see how they deal with Harry Kane and co. next week.
@Bartolec1912
There has been a great deal of discussion and prognostication here since that great run at WC 2022 . . . and I have enjoyed reading all of it.
Your memory of Sutalo’s solid play for the national team accords with my own. I might triumphantly conclude that great minds think alike, but that will just encourage our illustrious friends on this listserv, who will only be too happy to remind us that fools seldom differ . . .
It is indeed time for Sutalo and the rest of the team to hit the field in Dallas and show what they can do at WC 2026. It has been a long, four-year, wait.
We’ll see what happens next week!
England just fucked up Costa Rica pretty badly – shooting gallery in 2nd half
That’s part of the reason Dalic is going to start the 5 senators and not play Luka V
Dalic knows we’re getting pumped so he wants the senators to enjoy their last WC fully (despite the score)
All the young players need to wait till 2030
Dalic respects the hierarchy – so we should respect it too
*pumped 5-0
That’s the minimum
Probably ends up worse
Sutalo unfortunately has peeked and is on the decline. He had a terrible season at Ajax. Transfer loan to Dinamo in the works.
He can’t be trusted as a started in the WC. A CB pairing of Gvardi and Vusko would be one of the best in the World.
England, Panama & Ghana are licking their chops hoping that DCC, Erlic, Pong or Sutalo are in the starting 11.
Was it Dalic’s goal to bring as many mediocre CB’s to the WC as possible?
Please, somebody give me guidance if I am clueless, but isn’t 3 at the back completely wrong for the group we were drawn into? It seems that the experimentation with 3 at the back should have stopped when we found out our WC group. Do we not need to play with 4 at the back to defend against the attacking speed of England and Ghana? Whatever combo of Stanisic, Jakic, and Gvardiol as outside backs that you want. Against Panama it doesn’t matter, because we should top them with any formation.
Dalic saying he didn’t play Pandur in the friendlies as they’ve been utilizing him as a striker behind closed doors
Dalic also said Pandur will start as the #9 vs England
Interesting
Wouldn’t be surprised if most seniors start.
Also I wouldn’t be surprised if we play 3 at the back against England.
Dalic has said in past he knew starting lineup months ahead of tournament so I think he saw something in England and us that wanted him to make this switch. To play 3 friendlies against strong opponents in that system I think says something. Dalic has many times publicly said what he will do and actually does it. Only thing that makes me pause is perisic sub it doesn’t exist in that wingback role. And I can’t see him going 90 mins.
Also if we go 4 at back I’m more and more convinced that gvardiol should go back to CB. Just don’t like any of the CB pairing that don’t include him. Perisic isn’t ideal for LB but isn’t terrible. If I take the pros and cons between the two I think the pros outweigh the cons. We went to a World Cup final with strinic, perisic at LB isn’t worse than strinic. I think perisic at LB is better than stanisic at LB in order to make this happen. If I had to pick between perisic at LB or jakic at RB I’d take perisic.
Just play Stanišić at LB (like he does at Bayern at times).
Stani actually played better for Bayern at LB when Davies was injured. He played so well he was keeping Davies out of the lineup when we returned from injury.
Asking a 37 yr old Perisic to play as wing back is just crazy.
Yeah man. He won’t have 90 minutes in him. Dalic really needs to get his selections right. Modric, Kova, Perisic, and Kramaric can not play 90. Especially in some of the conditions they’ll be playing in. Thankfully Toronto won’t be hot in 2 weeks but Dallas will be in the mid 30s.
The stadium is closed in Dallas
Modric, Kova, Budimir, Krama and Perisic are all starting and playing 90
Dalic already confirmed this to the Croatia media
I agree w him – they’ve earned the right to play and enjoy the WC – players like Baturina should be grateful they get to carry the water bottles
Liv
Stanisic vuskovic Sutalo Gvardiol
Modric sucic
Pasalic baturina perisic
Matanovic
Anything else may be a disaster.
Maybe erlic/pongracic for Sutalo .
I just think Sutalo is faster than both of them, which we lack
All 3 of them are equally bad. Swap Gvardi for Sutalo and start Jakic RB.
Pong & Sutalo were horrible in the last Euro as the CB pairing.
Cro is not Man City and can afford to play Gvardi as a LB.
Jakic goes from Cro’s best player during qualifying to not even being considered to start. I don’t get it.
Lots of great points, enjoying all the posts, including some of the disinformation aimed at England.
But a few quibbles with some of the things that are being said about Sutalo, Kovacic, and others.
Might post a longer reply to some of this in the next 48 hours.
Just Sutalo for now. . . maybe we are being a little too tough with some of the comments directed toward our brother Sutalo.
Let’s not forget . . . Sutalo walked into a total disaster at Ajax in 2023-24. It has been turbulence and chaos pretty well since. Rinse and repeat. Not his fault. The team has been a revolving door, there is no continuity on or off the field, they have played poorly for long stretches, coaching has been disjointed and sketchy.
In his first year, 2023, they imploded. Ajax went several games without a win and were actually in the relegation zone for a time. Their coach was fired in October, there was a caretaker coach for a bit, and then another coach came in who eventually left at the end of the season.
In Sutalo’s second year, 2024-25, Farioli took the helm. He worked well with Sutalo, and Sutalo was a completely different player, one of the VERY BEST defenders in the entire Eredivisie by COMMON CONSENSUS. I don’t know anyone who watched the Eredivisie closely that year 2024-25 who disagrees with that assessment.
Farioli then unfortunately left the Ajax squad and moved to Portugal at the end of the season, and the team descended into more turmoil again, eventually missing Champions League and finishing 5th this year, way behind PSV and well back of Feyenoord. Sutalo had some injury trouble as well that did not help, as he got off to a poor start this past season.
But that is Ajax . . . and it has been a disaster zone given the expectations that surround that team. Sutalo has to be understood in the context of what has happened there. When there was stability in 2024-25, and Ajax played with some cohesion and discipline under Farioli, he was excellent.
What about Sutalo at the Euro in 2024, wearing the checkers?. . . maybe the memory was that he was horrible. Fair enough. But check the stats.
Which defender had the MOST interceptions during the group stage across every single team in the ENTIRE Euro?
Sutalo.
And he was up against Spain and Italy in that group. If I am wrong, and he was not first for most interceptions per game (and first by some distance) he was at least right up there.
His passing completion was also exemplary in Euro 2024. Look at the superb completion rate. Look at him statistically in that tournament overall. He was more than fine, and he played well for his country.
Anything can happen, and anyone and any team can have a bad tournament. It happens. But we can have some confidence that back among his fellow Croatians, representing lijepa nasa domovino, again playing for coach Dalic, Sutalo will rise to the occasion in WC 2026 as he did in Euro 2024. If Dalic goes with the back four — Stani, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gviardiol — and if they play well, if everything comes together as it can, those four could end up being the finest group of defenders at World Cup 2026. Period. The possibility is there that they could be that good.
We’ll see what Dalic does, and we’ll see what unfolds. . . . we have every reason to be optimistic.
Sutalo is on Ajax selling platform – one of 14 players being dumped this summer – so Ajax doesn’t agree w u
It’s too bad Pong and Erlic and DCC are all ahead of him for this WC
Dalic now saying he might put Modric as a sole CB vs England – interested to see the overall formation
@Fabrizio
🚨⚫️🔵 Atalanta are closing in on deal to sign Ljubo Puljic from FC Bayern II. Four year contract agreed.
Croatian U19 centre back to join Atalanta also with +1 year option to extend included. 🇭🇷
Intuitively – a much easier pathway to the 1st team at Atalanta than at Bayern
I hope Dalic does not start Sutalo. His play has deteriorated so much he will end up playing for Dinamo soon.
I think Dalic will play a mixture of the veterans and youth vs England.
Saw the Bosnian team in Toronto…Katic is a trader. He would’ve been such an asset for us with his height and aggression. He had a good season with Schalke and helped them back to the Bundesliga. He’s a centre back and wouldn’t have cracked the lineup.
Dalić should’ve considered other defence such as Smolcic and Bradaric. They both had more minutes than Erlic and Šutalo. Pongracic and CC are wild cards. Mlacic and Prpic may be too young and no experience. I just don’t think our forwards can keep up anymore. Perisic and Kramaric have played since 2014/2016. Beljo and Jagusic would’ve been a nice fit too. Segecic and Ivanovic also. Musa, Pašalić and Matanovic better get minutes or it will get ugly to score goals.
I think Dalić (especially with his recent comments) isn’t going to start all five of our older vets. Maybe 2 or 3 of them.
Katić isn’t good enough for Croatia. He’s just a mercenary now. Playing for money and to get more exposure for himself and his career.
Dalić did leave some talent off the call up list. Hopefully it doesn’t backfire if we lose a key player.
Wrong Maminjo
Dalic most recent comments – after enjoying some wine at the hotel (for which a hotel staff employee has already been fired for sharing the type of wine externally) is that Modric, Perisic, Budimir, Kramaric and Kova are ALL going to start vs. England
He emphasized that Kova was just getting up to speed in the friendlies and he’s read to go now
He said he likes what the younger players like Baturina and Petar Sucic and Luka Sucic bring – but it’s not their time right now – they have to wait until the “Senators” retire to get their chance
Will bosnia beat Canada?
Bosnia will absolutely beat Canada. I hope it’s not some snooze fest that ends in a draw of lack of goals. It’s Canadas first match and in Toronto so expect the Bosnian ultras to make noise. Davies may not even be in starting 11. Canada has lots of injuries and they are key players. Bosnia capitalizes on set pieces and use their height so well. Canada does have speed though.
Canada will eat bosnia
Canada will eat Bosnia? Lmaoo I hope so but Bosnia has way more talent. Who has Canada beat in the top rankings? Uzbekistan? lol
Everyone is sleeping on Bosnia. You watch..they will top the group.
Friendly bet?
Perišić has been playing for even longer than that!
I see your point about the defenders, but to Erlić’s credit, he was injured way earlier in the season and played very, very well for Midtjyland as their most active defender. I was impressed by his play against Nottingham Forest, and I’m sure Dalić was too. He’s a reliable player, and humble enough to accept his place if it’s on the bench. Bradarić is a skilled player, but he is not much of a defender. He also lost his starting spot at Verona. Smolčić should have been called up instead of Ćaleta-Car, and I would guess that he will be if there is any injury on the team.
Our women won 4-0 but Kosovo won 8-0. Both are atop the group but Kosovo with a greater goal diff. Do we still have a chance at qualifying? I cant figure it out for the life of me..
After last night’s results we and Kosovo both have 15 points but Kosovo has better goal diff. Head to head it was 1 – 0 win a piece.
MaxSport TV commentator was saying that we won our group in League C and that we have won promotion to League B and go into play offs for the WC.
His reasoning was that results against Gibraltar in our group don’t count and since we have better goal difference against Bulgaria then Kosovo that we have won the group. He was wrong.
Checked the UEFA website and they have us as second in the group and Kosovo have been promoted to League B. One would assume that UEFA know the rules.
Croatia as one of the two best runners up from League C goes into WC play offs. To qualify for the 2027 WC we need to eliminate two teams from much stronger League A or B.
Chances of that happening are big ZERO.
I hope this explains it to you?
Thank you Mart. I was confused with the tie breakers and who goes to playoffs. I know we beat em 1-0 recently too.
Age is just a number
The only way we have a chance vs England is to field EXPERIENCE whose been there and don’t that
Perisic Budimir and Krama front 3
Kova Modric Moro
Stanisic Gvardiol DCC Moro
All the young / next gen needs to wait until 2030 – it will be their turn then
Anonymous is POSITIVE Dalic feels the same way just like we all do
Sorry Mario Pasalic in midfield w Moro as RB obviously
Lol
Hey I have an idea. What was the lineup that beat Czech 5-1 recently? How about play that lineup, whatever it was. Let those players take the starting positions they’ve earned. Everyone else competes to win a place in the team by performances when they get a chance. Job done 🙏🏻
Czechs are a strong tall physical team. They’re not a quick team nor a technically gifted team.
They’re don’t share many similarities with England or Colombia, so I would not look at that 5-1 winning lineup as something that will work against these opponents.
We played a pretty big and physical lineup too, and the game was actually 1-1 until later in the second half when the wheels came off for the Czech.
We just need our youth to back up our elders. If we start Kramaric, Perisic, Modric, Kovacic, and Budimir all at once, we will have broken ankles. Keep in mind, we are using 5 players from our usual lineup from the last World Cup. We don’t have any wild cards forwards to score like Livaja, Orisic and Petkovic. Kovacic can’t start…he’s not the same and has been gone too long. Gvardiol is an exception cause of his youth and we desperately need him for the opener. Baturina, Vlasic and Sucic and maybe Pašalić (younger) start. Matanovic and Musa upfront looks fine to me. Budimir is only good for crosses and headers. Not to mention he scores lots of goals from spot kicks. Ghana and Panama will be an issue for England too. Panama has a decent strikers playing in the Mexican league and Ghana has Williams and Semenyo. All teams will have speed. We can’t start all guys that are over 30 lol. It would be an embarrassment. Wild cards like the players I mentioned only work for so long and that luck runs out. We need to contain England’s midfield, use our height (we are 10th) Bosnia is first and will walk over Canada lol. Also scoring first has always been an issue for us.
Gvardiol will be fine if he’s not asked to do too much offensively. Playing him at LB in a 4-4-2 may be a problem as he’s not quite match fit enough to cover all that ground and we all saw how his passing wasn’t up to par against Belgium.
If we go 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, I’d rather just go with Stanisic at LB and someone like Jakic at RB (pairing Gvardiol with Vuskovic as the two CBs).
Gvardiol playing as a CB or LCB in either a back-four or back-three will be fine.
I feel the same way about Stanisic playing RWB in a 3-5-2. Stanisic is good as a LB or RB in a back-four, but I don’t want him playing as RWB in a 3-5-2. That role should be Marco Pasalic’s role, and Stanisic can focus of defense just fine as the RCB in a back-three.
zapresic boys finally put a song out it is worth a listen
Imagine Dalic brought the 5 old slow pokes just to F with England
Everyone – including us – thinks he will start all 5 of them vs England
But then Dalic surprises everyone by only starting Modric (with the rest of them riding the bench)
He never intended to play them – just did it to bait England into false security
We need gvardiol as CB. Rmb in 2022, when he has bailed us out again and again against belgium, brazil and morocco.
No way to put perisic as LB. He and pasalic are our only wingers
Anonymous you can’t compare that midfield in Euro 2004 with the present midfield of course but I completely understand your logic…. Plus our defenders today are much better playing a two way game…. Vuskovic @ RB to choke out England attack…. Remember what happened when Stjepan Tomas was utilized as a RB many years ago under Heil Otto Baric… don’t think it turned out to well either…. Vuskovic is central player he can wonder off here and there to aid our flank defenders when need be but you want to him to stay away from covering that portion of the field we will get burnt for sure there…
This one’s for Majmune what you think..
——————————Musa——————————
———————————————————————
—Perisic———-—Baturina————Marco.P.
—————Modrić—————P.Sucic—————
Gvardiol——————————————Stanisic
——————Vuskovic——Sutalo——————
—————Baturina—————Musa—————
——————————L.Sucic—————————
——————P.Sucic————Pašalić—————
——————————Modric—————————
—Perisic——————————————Stanisic
——————Gvardiol——Vuskovic—————
Anonymous remembers when Corluka was utilized as RB vs. Germany at Euro 2008 and Croatia cooked – see action from 2:28 on the below (Anonymous’ favourite action from the game) – Corluka bombing down the right-wing flank (and Luka is 100% faster today than Corluka was in this video)
***.youtube.com/watch?v=zSa-tBkMG-w
My point is Dalic would be smart to do something along those lines – which England isn’t predicting could happen – nobody – except for the GOAT Anonymous – would even think about putting Luka at RB
Anonymous yes I agree with the Corluka example although he had a superior person infront of him.. his name was Dario Srna… we don’t have that type of player maybe if we put Perisic on the right 🤔… maybe your on to something my boy
—————————Musa—————————
———Baturina——————Perisic————
—————————Vlasic—————————
—————Modric———P.Sucic—————
Stanisic———————————Vuskovic
—————Gvardiol——Sutalo——————
I dunno but I still would prefer this much more I like Sutalo…. But…Vuskovic is better… 3 pacier players behind Musa.. I like Vlasic and I believe he will be a starter either on RAM or CAM… the goat himself with the future goat beside him solidifying central midfield and wingbacks that function well.. Gvardiol best to partner Vusko centrally… this will be my last lineup explanation as the only guys opinion I cherish here is Anonymous.. I can tell he respects the vision of the Sokol…
—————————Musa—————————
———Baturina—————Marco.P.———
—————————Vlasic—————————
—————Modric———P.Sucic—————Perisic————————————Stanisic
————Gvardiol——Vuskovic—————
Subs
———————(Matanovic)———————
———————-—Budimir————————
———Kramarić—(Fruk)—Pašalić———
——————-——L.Sucic—————————
——————Moro———Kovacic—————
Pograncic————————————Jakic
——————Erlic(DCC)Sutalo——————
In ur line-up with Vuskovic at RB
Perisic on left (unless Dalic thinks Luka Sucic is better)
Marco on right
Vlasic out
Bati in the 10
Dalic to determine whether Sutalo is best CB to partner next to Josko – whoever is best to sit back and defend amongst them (don’t care who that is)
Thats what I would go with
Three-in-the-back is good in theory as it gives more options in front. But Gvardiol is rusty coming off an injury. We don’t have a ton of experience with this set-up. It just seems like it will bite us.
Possibly.
But to be fair, we never really played the 3-5-2 with our best eleven yet.
Against Faroes in November, we had Mario Pasalic in the middle (who was responsible for the Faroe goal) and we had Krama in the game (with Baturina not playing a minute). Petar Sucic was played in a bit of a more forward too (instead of the pivot).
Against Colombia, we had Vuskovic flanked between Pongracic and Erlic (who had a bad game). Baturina also barely played in this game (coming late off the bench). Same with Modric.
We had Vlasic, Moro and Mario Pasalic all starting (none of whom should be ever starting for us). Not an actual lineup we would ever play.
Against Belgium, we played Kovacic (who was out of form). Gvardiol was also working his way back into form as well (with his poor passing in the first half). Petar Sucic played a little too far forward (almost as a RW player). Stanisic at RWB (in my opinion) is not as good as Marco Pasalic there. Probably would’ve been better to swap out Sutalo for Stanisic at RCB and play the more offensively gifted Marco Pasalic at RWB.
Other than these games, I can’t think of any timewe played three at the back but actually played our best eleven players at the same time.
That’s true. Dalic also seems more comfortable playing/starting Marco.
We’ll see what happens. Three-in-back is ideal in that it plays to our strength and gives more options in the midfield.
We are in deep shit.
I’m really worried about us 🙁
Can Maminjo or Truth or someone hug me lol
Sure but you’ll have to hold my MAGA hat for me
And your AR-15! Zlatko Dalic has done well in the last two World Cups. The talent isn’t the same this time. But seems to always find a way. We will need a little luck.
The Croatian offensive is the equivalent of drone attacks they can inflict some damage but won’t get you a satisfactory win man
We will take Zlatko’s drones to the Samba Boys dancing any day.
Enjoy 😉 😊
***.cuddletherapy.com.au/
——————————Musa——————————
——Baturina——————————Vlasic———
——————Modrić———P.Sucic——————
—————————Vuskovic—————————
Perišić———————————————Stanisic
—————Gvardiol————Sutalo——————
—————————-Budimir—————————-
——Kramarić———(Fruk)————Marco.P.—
——————Kovacic———Pašalić——————
——————————Moro——————————-
Pograncic——————————————Jakic-
———————DCC————Erlic———————
4-5-1 (4-1-4-1)
I think this would be a killer strategy… Vuskovic anchoring between defence and offence and Moro/Jakic as his possible sub…
Because of his size he could be utilized more offensively and his possible lack of mobility or pace doesn’t put him in a place if he were burnt he would have Gvardiol and or Sutalo to cover…. For a big dude he covers ground pretty darn good has great skill both ways a decent shot and his aerial prowess especially on set pieces are killer.. (the last time in history we used a similar player in this role was a youth-full Igor Tudor). When we defend we would be a brick wall… on counters it would be a Tidel Wave..
What yall think does Dalić have the balls?
These lineups are insane. Please stop, lol.
When we used Tudor in that role – we had 3.5 CBs on the field (also Simunic, Robert Kovac and Dario Simic) and got pumped 4-2 by England at Euro 2004 (our 2nd goal was a consolation, it was really 4-1) – a young Wayne Rooney ran riot on our defence all game and we couldn’t cope
So, that definitely isn’t a good precedent, lol
I however, wouldn’t mind seeing Vuskovic at RB – that would really catch England completely off guard (and have one of the midfielders tasked with helping him defensively so he doesn’t get 1 v 1 vs Anthony Gordon or Rashford)
If I was picking Croatia’s strongest team right now, I’d go with a 3-5-2 because it gets our best players on the field and gives us more control in midfield.
GK – Livaković
Still our most trusted keeper. Always seems to show up in big games and tournaments.
LCB – Gvardiol
Easy choice. He’s our best defender, athletic, strong, and comfortable on the ball.
CB – Šutalo
Probably our best pure centre-back. Solid defensively and rarely makes mistakes.
RCB – Vušković
Young, but his potential is too good to ignore. Great size, good passing, and dangerous on set pieces.
RWB – Stanišić
Reliable and works hard. Gives the team defensive stability on the right side.
LWB – Perišić
Even at his age, he still produces. He can get forward, create chances, and chip in with goals.
CM – Kovačić
The workhorse of the midfield. Carries the ball well and does a lot of the running.
CM – Modrić
Still the guy who makes everything tick. His vision and passing are on another level.
CM – Petar Sučić
Adds energy and legs to the midfield. Lets Modrić focus more on creating.
ST – Kramarić
Very smart player. Drops into space, links the play, and helps create chances.
ST – Budimir
Our best option up front. Gives us a target in the box and consistently finds goals.
Why this setup?
Croatia’s biggest strength is still midfield, not attack. This formation lets Modrić, Kovačić, and Sučić control games while the back three gives us a strong defence. Perišić gets more freedom to attack, and Budimir gives us a proper striker in the box. On paper, I think this is the most balanced Croatia lineup and gives us the best chance of making a deep run at the World Cup. NOTE we really lack goals and if we do go far its on luck PKs Imo
3-5-2 sounds like a good tactical setup but it can cause massive fatigue to our wingbacks and also if our opponents have fast wingers, we will have a tough day. I don’t fully disagree with the concept, you make some very valid argument but I honestly can’t remember when we’ve ever been successful with this system.
our strength has always been a possession game. we don’t have a fast team so we create our tempo and force the opponents to constantly shift, lose their defensive shape and force them to make errors.
In that 3-5-2 formation we could be really challenged to create opportunities down the wings, especially if the opposing wingers and defenders double up then we will constantly play the ball backwards and not find space.
also, our strikers would need to be physically tough and I don’t know if either Krama or Budimir are the type to push forward for long periods of time. Musa is much faster than both, Matanovic is also a lot tougher than both.
Krama cannot start over Baturina.
Baturina MUST start and play that “left forward” role (ahead of the midfield) with a striker like Musa up top.
Krama can only play as a forward (alongside a striker) and should never play in the midfield or wing. He’s too slow and doesn’t like receiving the ball in the middle of the field.
Krama is lethal in the box, yes, but Baturina is just absolutely red hot right now and must start over him. I’d put Krama off the bench.
Stanišić should stick to defense only. He’s an ELITE defender, but I think he is doing too much as a RWB. We have Marco Pašalić doing so well for us on the wing, it would be great to have Stanišić at RCB and leave the RWB role to Marco.
I disagree that Šutalo “rarely makes mistakes”. He did not have a good couple of years at Ajax, and if we can run a back-three of Gvardiol/Vušković/Stanišić then we should do it.
@Maminjo
Thank you for ripping off Anonymous’ BRILLIANT idea of Vuskovic being insulated by Gvardiol and Stanisic 😉
I am talking for Croatia not Ajax
Hey @CroatianNon-Sensation
Anonymous already told u we can’t have 4 slow-pokes on the field – and you want to add a half-broken Kova to it – to make 5 – genius !
Modric and 90% Perisic will start
Budimir, Krama and Kova will bench
Mark it
Remember this post when the
tournament starts
I like your three in the midfield. 👍
Move Stani back to right full back so there four at the back: Stani, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol. 👍
Move Perisic up to the wing. Replace Krama with Baturina, and replace Budimir with Musa for the England game. . . .if Musa does not bag one, come back with Budimir in game 2.
P.S.
Once again – here is EVERY SINGLE JAGA ACTION AND TOUCH for PAO apperances + the game vs. Greece U21
MUST WATCH !!!
x.com/pana__X/status/2061705913463984351?s=20
9 spots vs. England are already set
Liva
Stanisic
Gvardiol
Luka Vuskovic
Modric
Baturina
Petar Sucic
Marco Pasalic (n.b. MLS season just started – so he’s fresh – which is important)
Musa (n.b. again MLS season just started – so he’s fresh – which is important)
That leaves 2 spots left to fill:
– The Perisic “LW” position (alternative is Luka Sucic), but 90% Ivan starts
– And 1 CB/FB/WB position
That’s it
Dalic needs to figure out how to tailor formation and tactics based on personnel available and make it all work
It’s gream t he’s said now a few times – he realizes he can’t just start the older-timers (like Budimir and Krama) for the sake of it – also he realizes he needs speed, energy and physicality – he must have read Anonymous who said he’s boycotting Dallas if Budimir, Krama, Perisic and Modric all starts together – as there is no point even watching
Anonymous 100% hit rate as always !!!
Well now, thanks to you, Tuchel has this information and we’re going to lose
Sorry – there is a typo – Vuskovic is starting in the #9 – and Modric heading in net – Liva will be sipping on one of Igor’s bubble teams in the middle of field all game “people-watching” and just vibing
Happy now ?
I’m ok with everything going into tournament except the CB pairing. I agree 4-2-3-1 and I agree in this formation Marco pasalic should start. I agree Kova bench sub modric around 70 min. I agree baturina start and musa.
However I do find it weird that if we go with 4 at the back the very first time vuskovic would play that with repka would be against England. I dunno I find that hard to believe that what would happen. Makes me think if we do go 4 at back vusko isn’t starting I dunno 🤷♂️
Like makes no sense to play 4 friendlies and out of the 4 not once does dalic try his ideal CB pairing in a back 4 if he has vuskovic in a back 4.
I honestly have no idea what we’re doing for CB pairing and that in itself isnt good. I get Dalic does and that’s all that matters but the fact it isn’t clear is a little nervous.
Also I think our back line are all a little out of form.
Guys, again let’s be so grateful. 3 medals in 30 years
3.8 million
No Africans
We are absolute legends of football and no one can deny it
We do what we can with what we have
And we have enough to perform and if the stars align
More magic can happen
Ajmo
And yeah as someone posted before and I’ve said it for years Mario pasalic needs to become a striker 😉
ok fellas, I’ll help you answer some of your concerns but I’ll start out by saying THANK YOU to Kvartuc for admitting he was wrong about Livakovic…it’s good to see Liva is an asset and not a liability.
as per Kovacic. Dalic was giving him lots of playing time NOT because he was the best option. Dalic has said it at least 2-3 times….he’s trying to help Kovacic get playing time to try and help him get his timing, passing, decision making and rhythm back because he still is a very important part of our transition game. Personally, I want P Sucic playing #6, Modric playing #8 and Baturina playing #10.
Markus, I’m 99.9% certain we will lineup with 4 in the back vs England. I believe Dalic has conceded and see’s they do not have enough time to really master 3 at the back. we just don’t have the personnel to manage our outside wingback positions and regardless of how good our 3 stoppers are, they need more time working together on that system.
Marco Pasalic would appear to have earned his spot in the starting lineup.
I agree with Markus on Musa. he is lively, hard working and in my opinion, the best of our 3 choices for striker.
good point from Kvartuc, I also hate that Perisic has had to live in Modric’s shadow but in my opinion Perisic has, for at least 13 years, been one of our 3 hero’s along with Mandzo and Modric.
Dalic won’t crucify Baturina for that mistake. he is a reasonable guy and know’s it would affect Baturina’s mental state.
No chance (in my books) Kovacic starts against England…ZERO! Dalic has said he is trying to help him get some form back but he know’s he is far from in form.
Budimir, in my opinion, is and has been considered ONLY because of his goals in Spain but you guys are right, he doesn’t fit our system and Budimir (in my opinion) is a sub.
Wow, nice to see Markus agree with me. Still feel like a light in the dark other than Markus when it come to this site. Cheers Markus, for speaking your truth, you are in the minority opinion, but you are right.
Ante your inconsistency is sad, you make allowances for Marco Pasalic, but not Petar regarding MLS issue quality.
The Moose all the way. Sorry to hear you back down to Ante’s pressure near the end of your conversation. Don’t hedge your bet.
Vlasic is playing aggressive, so is Mario, you could play them out of position on Top if you don’t care.
I was also thinking the difference’s from MLS to the World stage can be too much for M Pasalic but I can now see he seems to find ways and he has a good motor. Musa also surprised me recently. I’m actually thinking he could be good, better than we expected….we will see!
on another note, I could be very wrong here but I just do not find Budimir a good fit for us. I feel terrible saying it because he’s a very good and humble guy…its just my opinion.
Hey Slavonac, nice to see your back. I agree. For a while I haven’t seen Budimir as being the it factor for us, I have thought this for sometime. He doesn’t provide the speed or the accuracy. Plus he doesn’t retain the ball very well from what I have seen in the past year or two. Maybe all this will change but I don’t know. I would prefer either of the other two options in Matanović or Musa. Musa has definitely shown that he can press the defense and create opportunities.
In the last game Belgium bunkered well, plus we didn’t see Marko Pašalić play either if we had that extra winger things could have been different.
We will have to see how Dalic chooses to roll out this lineup against England and to see how he chooses to play. Honestly, at this stage, I have no idea what he is going to do.
I think Slavonac, you might be right and that he is not showing what he is thinking to do against England. Which if this is true, then kudos to Dalic form keeping his cards close to his chest.
Good comments on Budimir. Budimir is a “one touch” striker who can only excel with crosses into the box. He is very strong in the air and is good for finding space in the box to get a touch on the ball. We don’t have the wingers to supply service. Perišič no longer has the pace to beat his defender to get in crosses and we don’t know if Marko P will start. He will be valuable as a Hail Mary presence in the box if we need a late goal and start pumping balls into the box.
World Cup 2018 scorers: mandzukic 3, perisic 3, modric 2, rakitic 1, rebic 1, Vida 1, badelj 1, Kramaric 1, own goal by opposition 1.
Goals will come from different sources. As long as we have some control of games things will happen.
14 goals took us to World Cup final
Qatar 22: livaja 1, Kramaric 2, majer 1, perisic 1, orsic 1, Gvardiol 1
7 goals took us to third place
2026: Baturina 1, sucic 1, modric 1, Gvardiol 1, Kramarić 1, musa, 1, budimir 2, perisic 1, Marco p 1, matanovic 1, luka vuskovic 1, plus 1 from amongst vlasic-jakic-stanisic-kovacic-luka sucic-fruk
That’s 14 goals. Easily enough to win the tournament. As long as we keep it strong and tight 🙏
Oh yeah. Forgot petkovic 1 against Brazil 2022. Apologies Bruno 🙏🏻
Great stuff guys 👏👏👏. Dalic definitely forgives baturina. Weakest part of Baturina game was his work rate and his confidence. He is now THE hardest working and THE most confident on the team. Baturina definitely should start. Kramaric is ice cold, he can come off the bench and score anytime. 4231 best formation agree. Every position is a lock. Marcus has convinced me on Musa. The only question mark is the central defence pairing. Which is usually the foundation of a team. Only Croatia goes to a World Cup with 5 central defenders are no seniority. Let’s just go Luka V and sutalo. Ride or die.
Livi,
Stanisic, luka V, sutalo, Gvardiol;
Modric, sucic;
Marco, baturina, perisic;
Musa
Kramaric,luka Sucic, Mario P, kovacic, budimir, matanovic are all great options off the bench.
Last point. No way kovacic starts. He is not fit yet. It’s as simple as that.
100% with Ante on Petar and Super Mario. Luka make the call. Dalic doesn’t coach the team so it’s Luka’s call all the way.
Dalic doesn’t coach the team? We are lucky to have such coaches. Coach Dalic, keep praying your Krunice as you are apparently oblivious of what’s going on. Viva Zlatko!
They were talking about Marco starting, not Super Mario.
Hmmmm, watched the game yesterday… boy it will be tough. I see us passing the groups and then 120 minutes games as usual with us crossing fingers and toes pfff.
With the 26 players we have, I think this would be the best starting XI
Livakovic
Stanisic – Sutalo – Pongracic – Gvardiol
Modric – P.Sucic
Pasalic – Baturina(or Pasalic) – Perisic
Musa
My concern is who do we play as LB if Gvardiol needs to rest/gets injured?
Agree with most of what Markus says here and his logic
One point not mentioned – and why Anonymous thinks both Musa and Marco will start vs. England – is that they are FRESH – as MLS season just started vs. the rest of the squad at the end of the season (Budimir needs to go sit by the pool for a month) – and they are used to playing in the summer and can go 90 minutes
Mark it
Although given BBC and Sky Sports trying to get tips from Ante – I think going forward – we should be posting only MIS-INFORMATION under these comments – so not to tip off England and Tuchel
Let Anonymous start – Anonymous is 1000% sure that Kotarski will start vs. England and Erlic and Pongracic will be the starting CBs – no other reason why they played against Slovenia – also Fruk with start in the #10 – let’s not be MORONS guys
Ante – please keep this need for MIS-INFORMATION in mind – when you do the next pod about Croatia chances, etc
Don’t forget Perisic had about 3 posts in 2018. Had he cashed those in not only would we have saved energy noting going to extra, but he would have had an amazing tournament.
Marco has the X-factor. He needs to start. When that Slovene took his shot and went down, you saw when he cut in he wanted to shoot. The guy is hungry.
Found highlights of ALL of Jaga’s PAO appearances (same source that posted his all touches and skills versus Greece)
***.youtube.com/@bigmanSport/search?query=jagusic
What’s the inside information on Jagusic shirt number?