Euro 2024 is now two weeks away and the pieces of the puzzle will quickly fall into place on how Dalić will line up the boys in Germany. One hint has already been dropped by Dalić regarding Gvardiol playing left-back against Spain in Berlin June 15th. In a recent 24 Sata article, Dalić says, “If you remember, he (Gvardiol) debuted at left back against England. Pep is praised, I am blamed. The idea is for Gvardiol to be at left-back versus Spain.”
The left-back experiment was unproven for Gvardiol at City in the first half of the season. But boy, did he mature into the role quickly under Pep in Manchester, not only defending well, but scoring goals galore down the final stretch. I’m a firm believer in playing the “hot hand” in any scenario as long as that player fits the system well. In this case, it does. Left back has been an Achilles Heel of Croatian football since Vrsaljko vacated the position. Borna Sosa has never been able to fully embrace the role at the international level and Borna Barišić wasn’t much better. There are always thoughts of playing Perišić there, but that may now be a pipe dream coming off an ACL surgery only eight months ago. If Dalić can figure out a center-back pairing that works between Vida, Šutalo, Erlić and have Gvardiol and Stanišić on the outside of a 4-4-2, that could be the recipe to success at Euro 2024.
Yay or nay to place Gvardiol at LB at Euro 2024?
Decki – Anyone heading out to Germany soon to catch any games?
Curious to know if anyone is selling or wants to exchange tickets . Looking to exchange 2 tix for the Spain game for 2 tix for the Italy game (strongly preferred) or Albany game.
Praying for another deep run for Modric and our Vatreni fans.
My apologies, on this Memorial week, no disrespect intended sir. Would be ideal, the way I humbly see it, to have the most meaning, a croatian coach, win or lose. My point was we should not give away independence that was fought for by people like yourself. All respect to you. Opet, zao mi je.
@krom
I agree with you whole heartedly. I believe my comment was deleted again. Not sure why but the powers that be seem to dislike my posts.
If your comment was directed at mine regarding stolen Valor, I appreciate the apology and fully accept it.
Just to clarify, that I served two tours in Afghanistan ???????? for the Canadian Army not for Croatias independence.
Soldiers are a tight bunch and we vets all understand one another. I also ran into many Hrvati on my tours representing NATO.
Lastly, again I agree giving away independence to EURO and Brussels was a terrible travesty.
Yes I am not sure why they would.
Thank you for your service and glad you are still here to tell your story.
@kromiza
You bring up some valid points but also have an incomplete understanding of economics
I think it is a fair question to ask why fight for independence from Belgrade only to bend the knee to Brussels
The concept of leaving jobs unfilled until pay rises that a Croat will finally fill it is silly… that would be a stagflation producer where you have both less economic growth and higher inflation
Your probably right. Things are always changing I now.
Nemoj! Don’t Rush success. Short cuts make for long journey’s. Worst sin is to fill jobs using foreigner’s that locals do want. MCGA.
Other than Mate Kek, I hope we don’t bring in a foreign coach, I would rather lose with one of our own,
Bringing people into a country, to fill jobs that no one wants is no way to create a great nation. Leave the jobs unfilled, until the pay for those particular jobs rises, and Croatia’s people will be fighting for them. Serve yourself your own coffee when you are there if you have too.
Croatian’s will start having babies again, when each Croatian family becomes rich and is running their own island and employing their own flesh and blood with decent jobs. Don’t rush success.
The world is a strange place, Croatian men fought for it’s independence, only for the next generation to hand over reins to the EU. Marko Thompson and Ante Gotovino are just archaic politically incorrect people that are an embarrassment to the soft youth, that have never fought in a war, and never put their lives own the line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAevbyqUv_A&list=PL-upObx8jM9DK9VaA55xyu2iPTV9heP2j&index=8
Also, Learn the language, start working on your dual citizenship for your eventual return.
If a diaspora Croat prefers to live outside of Croatia, then it is probably for the best.
You get financial security and a comfortable routine…but in the end, you lose your language, culture and identity (and this is inevitable, whether it happens to you directly or you watch your kids grow up without that connection with Croatia).
It’s a choice, and it comes with a price. Oh well. Too bad. 😉
Life goes on, your right as usually, agreed. Back to soccer line-up discussions sorry. To je to.
@maminjo Bjelica got sacked by Union Berlin a few weeks ago. Started very well but tapered off and started to lose again.
Yea he had a bad month it seems.
Vrsaljko was right not left back
If i actually thought a coach could make that big a difference and push Croatia to a world cup victory, i would consider covering the 15mm pep price tag for a year
But i don’t think a coach can generate enough impact to push a declining Croatia team over the hump in wc 2026…assuming they qualify
Pep also knows this. He’s a front runner and will only join teams that are favorites so 0 chance he joins Croatia
Pep is also a fanatical advocate of “tiki taka” or “positional play” as its now called, which involves high speed movement of the ball with very little running on the ball by players. This is the opposite of Croatian football which relies on players moving with ball at their feet across the pitch.
Every Croatian wants to be a midfield playmaker and have the ball at their feet. Pep’s football is all about quick passing and off the ball positioning
Ancelotti is the only foreigner I can think of that would suit our squad and football culture. But he also wouldn’t take the job I’m sure.
How about terzic and others? I feel like there are a few good Croatian coaches now
Ivan Jurić is a free agent in July.
I think he has done really well at Torino, although I haven’t watched them and I don’t know what type of manager he is. You’ve got to be a serious professional to do well in Serie A and be consistent. i’d pick him ahead of corluka or zuti!!! What about that little guy who manages rudes?? He is different
He did well considering the crap players they have.
He’s known for being a tactician. Italian pundits really respect him. He should probably be the frontrunner for us if Dalic were to leave after the Euros.
We had Vladimir Petkovic and Igor Tudor as well, but both of them accepted jobs at Algeria and Lazio respectively. So, they will likely be with those teams for at least another couple of years.
Terzic and Bjelica are doing well in Bundesliga. I don’t expect them to leave Borussia or Union Berlin anytime soon.
We really should focus on this pool of coaches, and not the former star player thing that a lot of teams do.
I would hate it if we suddenly decide to give Modric, Corluka or Olic the team. Disaster move.
100% agree, and thanks for the info, although I was thinking about the success we’ve had under Dalic (3 medals) and thinking how important it is. Something that doesn’t really get talked about in the media, which is obsessed with transfer fees and shiny tactical new toys, and when we all pick our best lineups. The whole Obitelj thing. At the end of the day footballers are people, not sets of attributes and we all know how we perform in life when we are happy and relaxed vs stressed out. So while it’s great to have a master tactician it’s even more important to keep the heart and soul special. I really hope that continues whenever Dalic steps down.
There’s a good chance we hire a coach many of would never expect… juric almost seems too accomplished.
When was the last time Croatia hired a coach that had a real track record?
Ante Cacic. Best TV repairman in ZG. Svasta.
????
Supposed to be laughing emoji
For the majority of our history, the HNS treated our coaching position as a volunteer gig.
So, the reason why we hired rookie coaches was because the salary was virtually non-existent.
I recall Slaven Bilic’s salary being something like $65,000 per year when he first started.
This is comically low…but the HNS saw it moreso as an opportunity for him to become a coach. Like they were doing him a favor.
Once Stimac took over, he pushed for a higher salary and (I believe) it was around 250,000 Euro per year.
I think Kovac was paid something similar, and I recall him being placed in the bottom-3 paid coached at the WC2014 (there was an article circulating about it).
Cacic ended up getting it up to 500,000 and I think his extension after Euro2016 put it closer to 750,000.
It was only after Dalic made it to the WC2018 Finals, did the salary extension clear 1 million Euro.
Dalic’s current salary is 1.6 million Euro per year.
So, little by little, the coaching role salary started to climb and I think these past 6 years (with two WC medals and a Nations League medal) is showing the HNS that the coaching position should be taken more seriously.
If we throw out a 1.5 or 2 million Euro salary out there, then you would definitely have some decent coaches lining up for that job.
In my opinion , has to be
Stanisic-Sutalo-Erlic-Gvardiol
No question about it. An amazing back line.
Dalic won’t start any player that is not playing regularly for their club team. Sosa was not even on the bench for the last few games for Ajax. No way he will start him. He also does not trust Sutalo who had a so-so year at Ajax and gave excuses because he missed mommy back in Zagreb. He’s not a fan of Erlic because Erlic is….nothing special. By default Vida will be one of the starting CB’s most likely paired with Josko. Stanisic is a lock at right back. Juranovic can fill in at LB. Don’t know much about Pongracic other then hilarious way the English commentators pronounce his name.
You’re spot on about the CB’s. And Vida starting for us at CB at this stage in his career is very concerning.
Have we forgotten the 2022 World Cup already? Gvardiol has to play at CB! Sosa is serviceable, just needs reps during the pre-Euro friendlies.
Just been reading some stuff about Pep Guardiola leaving ManCity after next year. Looks like he wants the experience of coaching a national team in a major tournament. I don’t know anything about the differences in coaching a team in a major league vs a national team, but just thought I’d throw out this question: How do you feel about Guardiola coaching Croatia once Dalic leaves?
I know there’s a slim chance of it ever happening since it seems the powers at HNS want to keep all the power local with our own coaches, but would it be a bad or good thing for us? A fresh set of eyes? Foreign from our own. Would he have problems relating to our mentality? Maybe he takes us to the promise land of actually winning one of these tournaments. What do you guys think? Anybody got the $15 million per year required to hire him?
If Croatia makes yet another deep run and Modric decides to stay on for the World Cup…a lot of coaches would love to get that shot of taking us to another World Cup Finals.
Problem is, Dalic is going to stay for as long as Modric stays. So, we’ll never actually see Modric with a different coach.
Brazil will continue its revolving door of coaches, and likely have an opening for Pep. They were dying to get Ancelotti (it would have been their 1st non-Brazilian coach ever), but he turned them down.
Although I love our team, we still fail to get the same name recognition quite at the level of other successful nations. If he were to go international, I imagine Pep would prob go to where the combination of talent along with the prestige factor is highest. I would say Brazil, or maybe Spain.
Any coach that isn’t a hrvati would be srmota. Croatia should be Croatians.
Little misdirection/ head fake by Dalic ?
As much as I’d want a Gvardiol Sutalo Erlic Stanisic back line …
I think Gvardiol will end up at CB
He’s fooling Spain ????????
Little misdirection/ head fake by Dalic ?
As much as I’d want a Gvardiol Sutalo Erlic Stanisic back line …
I think Gvardiol will end up at CB
He’s fooling Spain ????????
Let’s assume it’s Stanisic-Pongracic-Gvardiol-LB
Who out of Erlic, Sutalo, Vida, JJ, Sosa would be best to slot into “LB” ?
Ignore the fact that Sosa is the only actually left-footed option
A decent CB should be able slot in easily into “LB” (less risky position (i.e. CB / #6 “behind” them), easier decision making (if under pressure – kick ball out of play or down flank), etc)
That’s the q
Dalic should have probably just called up the best-available (who plays LB in the U21s ?) left-footed LB available in the HNL – if he doesn’t have confidence in Sosa
If Sosa is not good enough (see his minutes at his club have been sporadic in 2024) than who is the next best option to play there
Also – btw – Stanisic is playing more in a “midfield role” at Leverkeusen (with another RB playing behind him in a back-3) so doesn’t have the defensive responsibility at club level that we need in a “RB”
Will be interesting to see what is tried in the friendlies
This must be Dalic playing mind games with Spain, right ?
Spain biggest question (v-a-v personnel & tactics) is where Gvardiol will play (they know 99% who will be in midfield and 95% who will be front three)
And now – 2.5 weeks ahead of the match – he is giving them the answer ?
So now Spain has all the time in the world to come up w the game & personnel plan to over-load our RHS (like RM did in 2nd half of 1st game vs. Man City)
Come on
More likely, Dalic wants Spain to do exactly that (while he picks his formation & line-up knowing Spain will now line-up around Gvardiol “being at LB”)
Also, did Dalic “forget” when Pep said in November (Stones injured) that he wants Gvardiol to eventually play the John Stones role (as a “#6” double-pivot with Rodri) but wasn’t ready yet ?
***.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pep-guardiola-explains-josko-gvardiol-28083423
And we saw that in for first time in 2nd half vs. West Ham (last PL game)
Gvardiol at LB has been an “apprentice” role in his first season (in less risky positions, easier decision making, etc vs. being in middle of park (where u also need to have ability with both feet – which Gvardiol now does have)
OMG, Croatian military 101- never show your enemies anything about your plans. Is Dalic for real ? Maybe it’s a diversion but if he wanted to get Gvardi in a different role wouldn’t he keep that till the game ? Somebody get Belichick on line 1and coach this guy on coaching.
Good points!
Not a lot of proofreading happening at CSR nowadays, eh?
Big mistake opting for this
Josko was the top Left Back in the Premier League in 2024
https://www.squawka.com/en/best-premier-league-left-backs-now-2024/
Honestly can’t figure out why Marin Pongracic isn’t the assumed Cb starter. He started 95% of games for a pretty decent team in serie A. Even DCC got lots of starting time for Lyon. Really imo the guys who got the regular playing time for their clubs should be considered first
I forget about Pongracic if he’s a mobile defender or not, is he?
I still wouldn’t trust Dalic to make a normal pair and will just throw in Vida for the vibes.
Dalic will play this lineup I think. I think it’s the right call as well:
Livakovic;
Stanisic, sutalo, erlic, Gvardiol;
Modric, brozovic, kovacic;
Kramaric, ivanusec;
Budimir.
It’s not really 433, it’s like 4321. Because both ivanusec and kramaric will move inside all the time. This suits budimir more petkovic because budimir likes to move into the channels, he runs.
If we are chasing the game we have sosa and juranovic who can attack and cross, petkovic who can create in tight spaces and Ofcourse perisic. Also majer as a 10
If we are defending a lead, we will see Vida making a back 5 and also majer coming into midfield for 541 formation.
Mario pasalic is good in both situations because he works hard and can nick a goal
Then we have pjaca, marko P, baturina and sucic. I don’t know when we see them but who knows maybe one of them does something special.
That’s my prediction.
We beat France in Paris in the nations league. Stanisic, erlic, sutalo, juranovic. 1-0. Against Mbappe, Benzema and nkunku. Stanisic had mbappe in his pocket. Erlic and sutalo complimented each other perfectly. Swap out juranovic (who actually had his best game for us at LB!) for Gvardiol and we are good to go. Simple. That’s the best back four in the tournament.
Best midfield too. We only need Dalic to make the right call with the attack, and for the boys to be focused and confident and it should be good.
Whatever formation gets more of our best players on the field, the better. Right now we have more depth at CB, so it makes sense.
Šime Vrsaljko was a right back. Ivan Strinić played LB.
I understand why Dalic wants to play Gvardiol at LB.
Our LB position was bad at the last World Cup. Both Sosa and Barisic were our worst players in the tournament.
Juranovic isn’t much better defensively on that right side either, and we are currently facing off in a group where the competition has some pretty good depth on that right side.
Albania has a couple of good RB players in Elseid Hysaj and Ivan Balliu who both start on good teams in Serie A and La Liga. Italy’s Di Lorenzo and Darmian are doing well too and will probably be too much for Sosa to handle. I assume Carvajal starts for Spain there.
All three of these teams won’t dominate possession against us (I think we outpossess Spain), and will struggle to score coming down the middle. They’re probably all best suited attacking us via the flanks.
So with Stanisic and Gvardiol having monster seasons at RB and LB, it makes sense to play them there. The only positive I see with either one of Sosa or Juranovic starting, is that they would feed Budimir the ball well (but we can always bring them in off the bench if we need the width and service).
It just sucks because Gvardiol was an absolute BEAST for us at CB at the 2022 World Cup, and we won’t be able to match that performance with any of our other CBs, so we have to hope we can at least find a decent pairing. The backline is going to be tricky call.
Erlic is decent but can be a bit slow, Sutalo is fast and skilled…but also a bit too risky with his tackles in the box (and didn’t have the best season at Ajax). Pongracic is intriguing as he had a good year and seems to have the positives of both Sutalo and Erlic…but he hasn’t had enough recent caps with our team to see if he is the right choice. I personally would take the chance and play him, but I’m not sure that Dalic will. Dalic usually needs a lot of runway before trusting someone new. Then there’s also Vida and Duje (neither of whom should ever start).
Picking any one Sutalo/Erlic/Pongracic to pair with Gvardiol is a safe bet for an excellent CB pairing. If Gvardiol can cover for Dejan Lovren’s stupid mistakes at the last World Cup, then any of these guys would be a clear upgrade.
However…playing Gvardiol at LB weakens our CB pairing and forces us to take a chance on a duo that may not be the right combo.
I am not so sure about this move. Gvardiol provides stability for the team as CB. However, at LB, he doesn’t have as many options or the same attacking power as MCFC
Bang on