CroatiaWeek translated Zlatko Dalić’s post-match press conference following the 2-1 loss to Wales Sunday. In the press conference, Dalić says:
“The fact is that what we played is unacceptable, and we need to seek better and more quality solutions. I said earlier, in the last 30 matches since the Euros, we’ve only lost two, and now two in three days. I had my ideas, thoughts about what I should do, but I didn’t want to change anything while things were going well. But now I have to. We can expect new call ups. This has been good for me to make decisions I had been thinking about before and to go with fresh strength and energy, to give other players a chance.”
New call-ups? Dalić just called up Brekalo, Beljo, and Moro. Is he going to bring up the entire U21 team? I just don’t understand who he can be talking about when he says “we can expect new call ups.” Personally, I don’t think Wales will win both matches against Armenia and Turkey in November.
With that logic, if Croatia defeat Latvia and Armenia, which they should (knock on wood), Croatia will qualify automatically for Euro 2024. So why shake up the team now with new call ups in two must-win matches?
I understand bringing up Šimić and Sučić. But who else?
Kramarić and Ivanušec should both be healthy in a few weeks and expected to be part of the Croatia squad for November. Krama has a thigh bruise (reported by Hoffenheim) and Ivanušec rolled his ankle in Champions League three weeks ago. He should be back to full health before October ends.
Is Dalić referring to injured veteran players when he says “new call ups? Or is talking about the new generation?
I am Kurdish , and Croatia has been my national team for nearly 30 years ,
I have watched Croatia from 1996 I have never missed a single game , I have never seen Croatia playing poor like this ever , I tell you the problem ,
Get brozovic into the bench he is not performing ,maybe ask raktic to come back , plus Barasic isn’t this level ether I would play Gavardiol on the left back ,
I will play Roko simic as a center forward ,as he can go through with pases from modric , majer, Ivanušec ,
Can I also say why Rebic not coming back play for Croatia ? The punishment should be enough !
Also if it is me I will also includ Antonio Colak to the squad
I don’t think it’s that cryptic. He’s trying to motivate the veterans and maybe push guys like Barisic and Vida towards the door. Maybe Brekalo too, who is a guy I respect, but appears to have peaked as a nice dribbler without pace or finishing. Either way, there aren’t many ready options that aren’t already on the squad.
When healthy, Sucic could motivate Majer and perhaps Kovacic if he doesn’t regain his form soon.
If we’re talking about a wildcard that might start over an underperforming veteran, it’s probably a matter of time before Vidavic is called up to play the left side.
People are talking about Kramaric playing. From what I have read a few days ago the guy is out for 6 weeks with a muscle tear.
Ivanusec is also in doubt and even if he starts playing in a week or so in what form is going to be? I would call Simic and Sucic from the U21 and recall Budimir for the two matches. Budimir is a hell of a lot better than Musa and Beljo and has the experience on his side. Musa has not shown anything, Ok maybe lack of service ? but at least put in an effort, chase the ball and put a bit of pressure on the opposing defender’s with a bit of aggression.
I’m not optimistic that Wales will drop points against Armenia and for that matter in Cardiff against Turkey. If they play at the level, they displayed against us they will beat both Armenia away and Turkey at home. We just need to hope that Italy qualifies directly, and we avoid them in the March playoffs.
He is correct, but I am surprised that he even said he was thinking about making these decisions before. Dalic is a creature of habit, and I had been saying for a while now that he should have given younger players a chance. Musa and Beljo were not able to produce these past few matches because the service was poor. With a player like Perisic on the wings, or even Sosa when he’s in form, there will be plenty of oppurtunities for Beljo or even Musa to convert a header. It shouldn’t take back-to-back losses for Dalic to wake up and give the younger players a chance, this has been long overdue. Let them play with the veterans, and let them learn.
Apart from Šimić and Sučić I cannot think of any other younger players. How about Baturina?
I think he is correct, we desperately need controlled movement upfront and young blood with agility and creativity to score.
Just some thoughts on the games with all the injuries so forth we don’t have yet a lone cf to play with our mid… 4-5-1 really hasn’t worked out for us since Mandzukic deperture.. and especially now because Perisic especially or Rebic would be that attacking wing that that would combine with him.. our pace there now stinks… we need to play with two forwards maybe Kramaric and a combo of either Beljo/Musa or someone else..
3-5-2
———————————————————————
—————Kramaric———Beljo———————
————————————————————————Sosa—————Kovacic————Juranovic
—————Modric———Brozovic——————
———————————————————————
———-Gvardiol—Sutalo—-Stanisic—————
————————-Livakovic—————————
I think it this line up has merit.
As everyone already mentioned, there is no one else to be called-up. If anyone was good enough, they would have already been on the team.
I’m a huge Dalić fan, but am disappointed that he actually went begging to Livaja, a guy who underperformed on the National Team. And this is coming from a Hajduk fan.
It used to be a privilege to be on the team. Now we’re begging them to play?
Musa is totally lost. You would think he’s a scrub, but when you see him play with Benefica, he makes good runs off the ball. On the National Team, he gets no service and looks like a totally different guy.
Having no one on the left flank with Perišić, Ivanušec and Oršić all out REALLY killed the team. Starting Brekalo back-to-back games cost the team dearly. Gets killed on counter-attacks and reminds us why we lost to Spain in Extra Time in the last Euros.
New call ups.. Simic and Susic. That’s it. I don’t get the confusion. You don’t really think he’s going to call up 10 new players ? Simic and Susic, and replace old useless players with youth. Barasic, Vida,
If u want to bring pjaca, might as well bring in coric, muric and halilovic. His form is not good enough yet.
Just no more vida pls.
Sosa is more 3-5-2 player than 4-4-2 player. Bradaric might be a better option
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Imagine Rakitic in his present form controlling our midfield in the absence of Luka, Kovacic or Broz on any kind of form these days. That might be enough to get us to the Euros. Yes he retired from the repka, but that could always be reversed temporarily if Dalic invites him on pilgrimage to Medjugorje and explains that the domovina is calling him in its hour of need. He’d become a legend.
If Raquel lets him play
If the playoff were today
Croatia v estonia and poland v italy
Lets face facts was reading a good article Dalic sere lets take a look
Livi is the number one
Gvardiol set cb erlic sutalo who is 4 stopper CC pongracic sarlija uremovic instead if vida
Barisic bye bye Dalic doenst trust sosa alot onky other optiin bradaric or okay gvardiol at lb. Maybe his old favorite meljnak gets called again
He will till they cant play always play MKB midfield
Ivansusec when healthy is the lw Petko will be the cf and rw majer or Pašalić he is not changing anything maybe jokers from bench simic beljo pjaca baturina maybe frigan Bukvic from osijek.
Dalic is bluffing imo beacuse if healthy next month lineup will be Livakovic Juranovic Gvardiol Sutalo Sosa MKB Ivanusec Perković Pasalic
Petkovic sorry
Ante Budimir
If it wasn’t for him, we never would have medaled. I can’t remember if Majer was involved, but Modric won the ball and Orsic passed it to Petkovic and Petkovic found the back of the net.
Budimir pulled the Brazilian marking off to the right by pressing to the net and that left Petkovic all alone to take his heavy boot to the ball and send it in. And Budimir was watching the strike and was ready to try to pick up the rebound/deflection.
This team has their moments. But they haven’t been having moments lately. Hopefully they can find moments again. And hopefully they can find a way to deliver service into the box again.
Dude, you are grasping at straws. Just watched the goal. Budimir does nothing any other forward would do, just running towards the goal and marked by a defender. If that’s considered a major contribution, we have big problems. And his contributions for Croatia have been minimal.
I really appreciate you watching the video and reminding me that he was the only other attacking Croatian and also that he forced the Brazilian defender into the splits, and that he stayed onsides and a goal ensued.
I’m looking forward to your future comments regarding things I don’t understand.
that goal was because Petkovic shot the ball into a Brazilian player. Sometimes you need luck
Well it cuts both ways, Croatia loss to France in 2008, because of Mario’s head, and Ivan’s left hand. It is kind of like shaking a bunch of dice in a mug, and see what you get when it relates to attacking offenses.
Oh genius here. Ffs. Shut up
How the fuck do you know
OK renato
Budimir was part of some of Croatia’s best moments (Euro 2020 comeback v Spain, Nations League success, World Cup 2022), but Beljo and Musa are there, and Roko Simić is coming up. Unless Budimir plays for Osasuna the way he did at the end of last season, I doubt he gets called up again. And I like the way he plays and the attitude he brings!
So I read his interview in Croatian, I think they misinterpreted the translation a bit in that article. The way I took it was that basically the starters we’re not safe, so the underperforming players like Kova, Broz, Barišić, Musa, Vlašić, Majer, Stani should have a fire lit. Baturina, Both Markos from Rijeka, Roko, Meljnak, Bradarić, Mišić, Moro, Smolčić could all get looks.
The reality is Dida and Barišić are not at our level – either talent or effort wise. Brekalo too, on je sitan. Nema muda, ni mozga. How ridiculous is it that Luka screams at him to run into open space instead of getting in his way??
We need game-changers not a bunch of didas. Luka’s obviously not burning as bright as he once did but it’s on Dalić to yank him and sub in Baturina or whoever the fuck is going to actually make an effort to SHOOT THE BALL AT THE GOL
I agreee that we’re not to retool with a bunch of younger players at this time but boys we gotta do something. I mean cmon, we had like 3 shots on target in the last game. 3 against wales when you had to score.
I will say that Beljo did look fluid out there. He seems to have something, like a feeling of how to separate from defenders for space to score. If we throw Roko and him on the last 30 minutes we score two goals atleast. Why doesn’t he try two forwards in desperation? We don’t we change tactics?? Start nabijati na bandere Beljo etc let him win some headers in the box for someone who is TRYING TO SCORE A GOL
Hopefully starts calling up young player from the u-23 Roko Simic is long over due. So are a hand full of others.
We also need to give Vida the boot. Thanks for everything, but his times up. Gvardiol on the left. Earlic/Sutalo center and Juranovic right.
Brozovic clearly not up to the level he was few months ago. If he continues to slip let’s call Rakitic back up or go with new talent.
Our biggest problems is keeping out of form and veteran players in and on the squad for way too long.
How is Simic long overdue? Lets give him a few months of consistent play.
How the fuck do you know
He’s talking about Rakitic..
HAHA! Brilliant! Honestly, Rakitić at age 34 or however old he is is maybe the best version of him we have seen. He puts in quality performances week in and week out on a team that is otherwise functional only half the time. Without him, Sevilla might have been relegated from La Liga last season. And they wouldn’t have won the Europa League
I would love to see Rakitic return, but I thought he retired from International football.
We need to try Marco Pasalic on the right
Sorry road back not wrong.
From what I have been reading Krama is out for the November qualifiers. His injury is worse then originally diagnosed….I would give Pjaca a chance 100%. He has had a long wrong back and is hungry to prove himself.
Pjaca with a brace against Estonia in playoffs
One for each bad knee
I actually didn’t know marco pasalic was brothers with mario? Is this true or am I wrong?
Either way
Got to get the pasalic’s and the vuskovic brothers juiced up and on board;)
I don’t think Marco Pasalic and Mario Pasalic are brothers
They added Budimir to the Croatia Squad in EA FC 24 following Livaja‘s retirement, maybe it makes sense as well to call him?
Antonio Colak would be a good striker for Croatia
Dalic can make his cryptic statements and tease us with future call ups, but as far as I’m concerned starting Borna Barasic for both of the last 2 games is grounds for dismissal.
Maybe he is just trying to light a fire, to motivate the current slated players.
I truly believed that Croatia finally resolved their backline and found the next Oblak to go along with it, but the breakdown in defense was ugly the last two days. Hopefully, they are going through a rough patch, but maybe not, the way Argentina rolled right over us just recently.
I was opened to the idea of Juranovic and Sosa as wing backs, as you discussed lately as a temporary solution, but Juranovic became injured. What did the utilization of Vida prove. I would take Sosa over Pranjic 8 days of the week. It was Sosa’s cross on the Russian muddy field, that got us to the world cup.
The return of Kramaric and Ivanušec is promising, but this dream of Modric and Perisic seamlessly handing the team over to Kovacic, and Brozovic without a drop -off in quality of play, seems to be clearly wishful thinking now.
Rebic, Kalinic, and Badelj. Let’s go!!! (Trying to be funny, please don’t light me up too bad.)
Not the best time for new callups.
However, I do have a soft spot for Pjaca and it would be nice to see him make a comeback and become an upgraded version of Rebić for us.
I haven’t watched any Rijeka games, so I’m not sure how well he’s been doing since that two-goal spurt he had.
Give Marko Pjaca a chance on the wing if Ivanusec or Kramaric aren’t healthy. Karma will treat him kindly as his career has been screwed over by injuries. He was on pace to be a major stud pre knee injuries. He is off to a nice start with Rijeka. Marko! Marko!
Imagine that. Pjaca gets slotted into the starting XI and bags a goal to send Croatia to Euro. Simply amazing.
Do they qualify automatically? What if Wales wins both?
If Wales win both they go to Euro and we must qualify through a Nations League playoff in March.