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 form. Josip Šutalo is regaining form for Ajax and Ante Budimir is back to his scoring ways in La Liga. Youngsters like Bruno Durdov and Luka Vušković are a threat to become stars of the Croatian national side much sooner than later with their most recent performances.
Dalić will look to match the style with which he approached the Portugal and Poland games last month; promising starts to a new formation. With the attack still struggling and Matanović knocking on the door multiple occasions, expect Budimir to slot in for this one despite the Frankfurt striker’s promising first appearances last month. The midfield will most likely welcome Luka Sučić, who is in splendid form following his ‘Player of the Month’ campaign for Real Sociedad and “wunderstrike” against Atletico Madrid. Coming off a recent knock, I doubt Perišić gets the start, so expect Sosa and Jakić at the wingback position. Modrić and Kova will rule the middle of the pitch in what will be without a doubt, a possession-heavy game for Croatia. The back three will certainly headline Joško Gvardiol, who is already amongst the very best defenders in the world, with Josip Šutalo who is emerging as one of Ajax’s most important players this season. Duje Ćaleta-Car has proven comfortable in the middle role, as he plays there for Lyon. With more familiarity to the three-back formation, the defence will surely look better and better as the games progress. Below is how Dalić should line up for a result against Scotland:
Should the Scots prove difficult to breakdown, Dalić has many options on the bench. Matanović will create service for himself even with limited gametime. Marco Pašalić and Mislav Oršić provide speed and direct play if a moment of magic is needed, and Mario Pašalić has proven reliable as a super sub. Martin Baturina and Petar Sučić are in great form following their amazing Champions League performance against Monaco, and will definitely see the pitch sometime this international break.
How do you see Croatia line up? Is six points the expectation this international break or will four points be sufficient?
Update: Kovačić is OUT against Scotland (and most likely Poland) due to the birth of his child. Petar Sučić to slot in at the midfield role for him.
Orsic & Petko always had great chemistry. Hopefully they get some minutes together.
NO MORE SHORT CORNERS DALIČ
Watched our U21 beat Andorra 2 – 0 with goals from Beljo and Hodza in the second half. Poor first half where we had 79% possession, yet we created only one chance that fell to Beljo in the 20th minute, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
Deciding match v Greece on Tuesday for the runners up spot. Draw is enough for us to come second and a spot in the play offs, however if we could win there is a good chance that we could get direct qualification to the EURO as one of the three best runners up.
I never cheer against our team, but I feel indifferent about our U21 situation.
If we beat Greece and qualify, then good…but if we lose, and Olic gets fired, then this is good as well.
Much like Igor Biscan, I think the HNS is trying to groom Olic to be a future coach…but Olic has a pretty poor track record so far as a coach.
I had more respect for Biscan, who at least gained a little bit of experience via club football first. Olic lasted about 10 games as one of the worst ever coaches for CSKA, and we never saw him coach a club again.
I don’t like these zero-experience, former players who try to weasel their way into our senior National Team coaching position (like Bilic, Kovac, Stimac) by using their name and relationships within the HNS to move up.
Agree with you Olic is worse than Biscan and has no coaching experience and I cannot see him getting the top job even if he is friendly with the HNS hierarchy.
Natural progression.
U21 coaches usually get consideration for the senior team whenever there’s a vacancy.
They have an advantage if the senior coach is fired during a qualification cycle, and options are limited. They also have an advantage when money comes into play (as they are the cheapest option).
Dalić had some coaching experience when he was hired, but they were pretty weak credentials.
He only really got the gig due to the fact that nobody wanted to touch the job. Lots of guys (including Matjaž Kek) turned it down.
Dalić luckily turned out to be pretty decent, but it was a huge risk.
Olić is a risk I’m not willing to take.
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing Bilić or Kovač back in charge of the team. Both of those guys understood football in a big-picture way and probably understand it even better now a decade later. Both of them were working in tough circumstances with Zdravko Mamić running the show at HNS. I think both of those guys would have gotten better results if they had been allowed to manage the team properly without needing to promote certain players’ careers. Now that Kovač’s former teammates have (almost) all retired, I think he could be more effective than before, when he was managing a mix of his friends and a bunch of promising kids plus a random Brazilian guy. Kovač also got screwed by a few key injuries right before WC 2014, before Croatia had a constant pipeline of talent at every position.
People here seem to have “Mamić Derangement Syndrome”.
Zdravko Mamić is the only reason they ever got a shot at coaching in the first place.
Whether he is part of the HNS or not, you’re not going to see any improved results from Bilic or Kovac.
Bilic is similar to Dalic in terms of trying to be diplomatic and focus on relationship management. He would be (give or take) similar to what we have right now in Dalic.
Kovac is a bit of a Gattuso wannabe. He’s made quite a few selection gaffes with us. He coached our silver generation while in their prime, and couldn’t get out of the first round at WC2014. Maybe he improved over the years, but there are far, far better options than him.
We can’t beat Scotland 3-0 , we should have Dalic coaching U5 in Croatian recess league. Run the sheep guts out of those Scot tissues. Should be an easy , easy game unless Dalic starts thinking too much
I would be happy with 1 – 0.
The score doesn’t matter. It matters how we play.
The win against Poland was only 1-0, but we dominated them.
We need to do the same to Scotland.
He shouldn’t overthink this. We need to attack via the flank, and the only way Dalic can screw this up is by playing one of Mario Pasalic, Vlasic, Krama on the wing.
I’m a Krama fan, but I prefer him more in the middle as a false 9 or midfielder.
I would play Petković as the secondary striker in this match, with Budimir as the main striker. Scotland is going to play rough, and Petković and Budimir both excel against rough opponents (as does Mario Pašalić). Petković played a great match against Poland and could end up being a key player at that secondary striker position in 2026. I would like to see Croatia dominate possession and score an early goal or two with superior technical skill and then bring in some of the less physically imposing players off the bench once the game is already under some degree of control.
i would also like to see budimir and petko together uptop, but i think dalic will put krama and budimir together.
I agree.
Krama is skilled, and I love the guy…but the Scots will just body him and knock him off the ball.
Petkovic will use his size to win the ball in the air, and then nutmeg these Scots the moment he brings the ball down to his feet.
Today i learned England isn’t even in the A groups anymore lol.. anyway wd to Greece on beating them, England might not ever get promoted to A league again 😀
England can lose ALL of their B Group Nations League games
Get RELEGATED to C Group
And 99.9% still be Pot 1 for WC 2026 qualifying
They changed the WC 2026 pot rules just in time for their beloved England
x.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1831314213542965576
I doubt that Kovacic will play, so I would bring in Petar Sucic as his replacement.
Scotland is physically a strong side; therefore, upfront I would play with Budimir and Matanovic both physically strong and good in the air. Kramaric was sick recently and may not be fully match fit and if needed, I would bring him on in the second half.
Pjaca or Marco Pasalic might be a better option then Jakic. Pjaca for Dinamo plays on the RW. We just need to get in some quality crosses into the box from the flanks and I’m confident that we’ll score.
Defensively it should be Gvardiol, DCC and Sutalo with Erlic on standby if Sutalo not fit? It will be hard getting six points with so many players missing so I would be happy if we can get 4 points.
Agree with your take except I think Pjaca is better on the left side as he was against Egypt. I hope Orsic gets significant minutes.
Has Pjaca not been injured recently?
I’d start Marco Pašalić on that right side.
Jakić isn’t a winger. He wasn’t terrible but he didn’t do anything in the time he was given in the previous round.
I’d keep a close eye on Sosa too. If Sosa isn’t able to send in crosses, then there’s no point in playing him as he gives you nothing else. If Oršić is back to full form, he should play.
Agree w Marco Pasalic (crazy if he doesn’t play) – he is also v responsible defensively
Marko Pjaca starts on left (w orsic as sub – don’t think he’s had ton of min at club yet)
Don’t know where that leaves Sosa in a 3-5-2 (and don’t know where that leaves Marco once stanisic and JJ return)
Igor striker (he plays w two wingers as false 9 / 9 hybrid a la harry kane)
Think we need Petar sucic on the field (to compensate for Marco x2 on the field)
Someone has to sit – maybe kova if modric starts (he needs some load management given minutes at man c w kdb and Rodri injuries)
England vs Greece
Here are player ratings – combine poor tactics (Carsley didn’t learn from Dalic the perils of not playing a #9 – he still thinks he’s managing U21s) + lacklustre performance by most players = Greece deserved win
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/31006547/england-player-ratings-bellingham-goal-pickford-nightmare/amp/
Greece scored in 94′ min
2-1 Greece
Well deserved win by Greece
Hopefully Dalic / nose-pickers have watched this game – as what Greece did to England – is what Scotland will try to do to us – and plan his line-up / tactics accordingly
Hardly, Portugal should have won that by miles and was very unlucky that they did not. Not sure what game you were watching nose picker! Lol.
The Euro that Portugal won vs France I would say France should have won. But these games happen.
Can people stop posting “We should beat Scotland !”
What does this even mean ?
England “should” beat Greece – but they are losing 1-0 at Wembley (it should be 2-0 but 2nd goal ruled “off-side” but unless Anonymous is blind the England defender put the ball in his own net i.e. the Greece player never even touched it)
Every game is tough – Scotland will be no different
Actually its 1-1 now (Jude just scored)
Noone is writing Scotland off as a team. But if you look at current success we should be winning that game if not then there are bigger problems than we suspected.
Why exactly is Mario Pasalic a super sub?
Is it has haircut or smiling face because he is not doing much in the HNL .
This from a Rijeka fan who was born there.
You’re talking about Marco. Mario Pašalić from Atalanta has proven himself a super sub time and time again for Croatia.
Putting us back in the game against Spain years back. Being a goal scoring threat and creating opportunities. Putting in meaningful minutes as a substitute. Not sure what else you would like of Pasalic?? 20 goals, he isn’t a striker…
What do you want of him as a player? Is the question you need to ask yourself, I think, and the one I would ask you.
Based on his position and contribution I think Ante makes a valid point in keeping him.
Moreso to the point, who would you put in his place? Question number two. Some of these young players do not have the experience, and Pasalic is still young enough of a player for Dalic not to drop him, he isn’t old. So I don’t know what/who your alternative would be.
I think he was referring to Marco, not Mario. He misunderstood me saying that “Mario is a super sub” by thinking it was Marco.