The boys are almost back in action! Manager Zlatko Dalić has officially released his 29-man roster for the Vatreni’s upcoming Nations League matches in June. Croatia will begin their UNL campaign against Austria on June 3rd.
As expected, the roster contains some fresh, young faces. Petar Musa, Martin Erlić, Josip Šutalo, and Nediljko Labrović have all been presented an opportunity to make their international debuts with the Vatreni next month. Don’t be surprised to see Musa get some very valuable minutes with the team, due to his magnificent run of form in the Portuguese first tier. Although they have already debuted, other youngsters such as Luka Sučić, Lovro Majer, and Josip Stanišić will most likely see the pitch as well.
With the 2022 World Cup less than a year away, this tournament will be very telling as to who will make Dalić’s 23-man roster come November.
Most of these guys are called up A) to honor the fact that they had good seasons; B) to get as many potential WC players as possible to train with the team in the Nations League so that we go to Qatar with the depth needed to contend with England, France, Belgium, etc. no matter who gets injured before the tournament; C) use a lot of substitutions in the Nations League so that we put this depth to good use. The reality is that this is a very strong squad. Even some of the bench players are elite. The less elite players on the bench still have serious skills to contribute: Livaja with the time-wasting and PK taking skills, Orsić with the speed and long range shots, Erlić is a solid defender, etc.
It seems that Brekalo has informed Torino that he’s not returning. He will go back to Wolfsburg in search of a better loan to a Champions League team. AC Milan are apparently sniffing around. I hope he choses wisely and doesn’t end up on the bench of a really good team.
Some EPL teams are sniffing around…but Brekalo wants to go to La Liga.
He doesn’t want to go back to Wolfsburg either…but he has only one season left on his deal, so he can be had for pretty cheap now.
He’s a €20 million player that can be had for €10 million.
Hopefully he goes to La Liga. It’s probably the best league for him, but we’ll have to wait and see.
EPL teams will give him a bigger salary, and will have no problem paying Wolfsburg’s requested amount.
Lovren has been injured since before the March friendlies. That’s the only reason he’s been dropped. He’s honestly probably still the starter next to Gvardiol in Dalic’s eyes. Someone will have to impress before the World Cup to change that.
Excited to see the new guys in there. Musa needs a fair shot for sure. Josip Sutalo, in my eyes, will be competing with Vuskovic for our long term 2nd CB. Either of them could honestly find their way into the rotation if they do really well in the next 5 months. Sucic needs real minutes. Maybe we’ll get to see if Erlic is better than Skoric. If so, he could be a solid option when necessary.
Goalkeepers…this is something we all know we REALLY need to figure out. I remember Labrovic started the year off very strong for Rijeka and then got hurt. He was decent when he came back, but Rijeka’s defense got a lot worse. Hopefully Dalic at least tries him out for a match. Can’t really hurt. I suspect all 3 will get at least 1 match.
All I ask is that Dalic tests real scenarios out. We don’t need to try something random that we’ll never use again.
I didn’t realize sutalo was that ready even maybe for Qatar
That’s exciting
Great to see a lot of potential cb to go with gvardiol
It’s been so long since we have had this many solid prospects for defence
The wings are taken care of nicely with sosa/barisic. Vrsaljko/juranovic
Above average talent and depth
Stanišić to be the guy who can fill all across the line if needed
I hope he gets to start more next season
Still very impressive that Bayern that Bayern are keeping him in the mix it seems
Sucic=our ace teenager. I always wonder why we can create a super kid and now we have a couple with sucic and barely older gvardiol
I agree I think, sutalo, vuskovic and Stanisic are the three CB that will compete to pair with Gvardiol, in the future. I don’t think Caleta-car is that good and pongracic seems like a wild case. Stanisic is a CB that just needs playing time In his proper position.
Ante Rebić needs a look.
You are telling me he can’t add his dynamic power to proceedings?
If this dude comes out blazing this August for his club then I want to see him get a shot again.
No one brings what he brings.
Dude he hasn’t scored a goal all season, and has been injured. With what happened on the Euro there is no way he should be picked. What does Rebic bring really?? When the team struggles to bring the ball forward he stays in the other half not contributing. This happened on all three matches of of the Euro, I was curious while watching him, he cannot be found anywhere helping on the defensive. Mandzukic always came back to help, Kramaric also a hard work rate. For me to consider Rebic as an option he needs to show this in his game first along with some better ball control skills, his footwork is terrible.
I agree, never has a player got so much love and got such a long leash from a coach for scoring one goal.
Rebic goal against Argentina gave him way to much security in Dalic
Starting lineup. His performance in euro 2020 was abysmal and then his disrespect I wouldn’t call him unless he publicly apologized
And then only maybe.
Dalic is repeating history with Vlasic, guy scored a couple goals 3 years ago and now he could do no wrong, we are a top nation in soccer Dalic needs to start acting like it, unless you’re one of the core guys of your not producing and playing at club no invite. We have 30 good players to call
I think the vets will want to play a bunch of mins still
There is nothing all summer for them
They can rest up
I agree with a core group
Use gvardiol and then whoever next to him most of the game
Luka and broz half game with sucic or majer for example
Then swap out forwards as necessary
But keep some of what we will see at Qatar at most times
Dalic is like no I will just throw everyone out there and see what sticks
Majer and budimir for me will be the most not so currently impactful repka guys that become impactful for Qatar
Sucic also may have something to say with another half year of development
totally agree- i think Sucic will surprise and may even see the field in Qatar and more than we think
I know vlasic is not in form and had a terrible season but he is a good player i agree with dalic if he goes out on loan and preforms he will come in good way for us at wc.
This list is good but one thing i dont want dalic to do is play a team that never played together and expect a result example you cant put this team imo Labrovic Stanisic Erlic Pongracic Barisic jakic majer pasalic brekalo musa orsic and expect a result they never played together instead why not mix young and old examples put livi/ivusic Vrsaljko Gvardiol Pongracic Barisic Modric Jakic Majer Brekalo Budimir Orsic
You know he’s going to do exactly that lol
How can you evaluate a new callup (like Musa) if you don’t play him with a proper #10 or a decent winger?
He should always start a “core” of players that are guaranteed to start at the World Cup (like Modrić and Brozović)…then add in a couple of intriguing players who look like they could break into the first team (like Majer, Musa or Sučić).
I think the russians kidnapped Lovren 😉
Where is lovren and jedvaj? Moro is here. Uremovic?
let’s have 23 players fix o_o) d
o] Goal Keeper
– Bosnian Goalkeeper
– Ivucic
– Labrovic
o] Defenders
– Stanisic
– Gvardiol
– J Sutalo
– Erlic
– Sosa
– Barisic
– Vrsaljko
– Juranovic
o] Midfielders
– Modric
– Rakitic
– Kovacic
– Brozovic
– Majer
– Sucic
o] Forwards
– Kramaric
– Pasalic
– Budimir
– Perisic
– Orsic
– Musa
i say one kid will surprise and rise up and challenge that is really not on the radar for Qatar right now- we have a history of one bloomer just at the time of the world cup- it’s a great luxury to have- maybe Sucic
I understand why many of you want to “rest” our veterans for nations league, and put our youngsters on display. However, I think we should field our strongest team, and then strategically introduce our young guns through substitution. I want our core starters to get used to playing together, and use this as a warm-up for Qatar.
The “rest” thing is dumb.
These guys play 50+ games per year for their clubs, but then we have to rest them for the handful of important prep games (which could decide our World Cup fate)?
We need to know how well players like Sučić or Majer can do, when playing with Modrić and Broz…and NOT Kristijan Jakić lol
How refreshing not to see lovren on this list but for the life of me I don’t understand his allegiance to Dominic leave it in the back of the net?
I really like seeing new players who can upgrade our offensive abilities!!!! I can’t believe Rebic was once considered a force then was a super bust at the euro and then completely disappointed and disappeared off the team after the tournament???? What the heck happened?? What a disaster!!!!!!
Good thing is now new talent has risen up and it will be exciting to see how they do at this tournament!! Good luck!!!!
I dunno. I think Rebic was overrated to start with if you watch his seasons at Serie A all the goals needed a perfectly placed ball for him to get it in. With the players that he had on AC Milan this was possible, but his ball control was absolutely atrocious! Now I’m not suggesting the players we have are any less better than that of AC Milan, but in the international tournaments it requires much more from players which I just don’t think that Rebic, Lovren, and to be quite frank, that even Vida have from what I have seen.
Now I am not hugely fond of Brekalo from what I saw in the game against Spain in the Euro tournament but with how everyone has been talking about his form this year I think everyone deserves a second shot or chance. However, with regards to the other 3 players mentioned they have had plenty of opportunities and to be honest are not showing good form this season so I don’t think they are deserving.
I am not sure if Livakovic can turn it around and find his confidence again, and to be honest Vrsaljko is also a liability if he is injury prone. An unfair suggestion I am aware, but you need fit players in order to stay competitive with top-level teams. Just the way it is.
…………………………….Musa…………………………………
Perisic………………….Majer………………………Brekalo
…………………Brozo…………….Modric……………………
Sosa…………….Sutalo………Erlic……………Juranovic
…………………………….Ivusic…………………………………
No Gvardiol? Interesting.
This is cigans suggestion for the June matches. Not world cup
yeah Musa will bless us
|{we can cross the sea}|
Why you say “us,” real mujo/balija support for morrocco not Hrvatska. You must be komunist pas.