After many months of club football, the Vatreni are back in action on Saturday, March 26th as they take on Slovenia in Qatar to prepare for the 2022 World Cup. Croatia hosted Slovenia at Stadion Poljud the last time these two sides met, where they demolished them by a score of 3-0. The stadium was absolutely electric as all three goalscorers – Marko Livaja, Mario Pašalić, and Nikola Vlašić – were current or former members of Hajduk Split.
With the 2022 World Cup right around the corner, should Zlatko Dalić field Croatia’s expected lineup for the tournament? The answer is YES. Not only does it give the players an opportunity to develop chemistry, but a victory would also maintain Croatia’s place in Pot 2 of the World Cup. Entering the draw as a second-pot nation could make November’s group stage a whole lot easier for the Vatreni.
Recently, Dalić confirmed that he would test a lienup with three central defenders, pushing the two wingbacks further up the pitch – the perfect tactic for Croatia’s current squad. Expect to see a back line of Borna Sosa and Josip Juranović as the left and right wingbacks, right in front of Joško Gvardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, and most likely Dejan Lovren as the three center-backs. The lineup allows Sosa and Juranović to become wing-midfielders in the attack, granting them the opportunity to make overlapping runs and whip in crisp crosses. Gvardiol will also be free to advance the ball, one of his greatest and most unique traits, trusting that Lovren and Ćaleta-Car will cover for him in the back. Ivo Grbić will most likely start between the sticks on Saturday, despite his rough patch of performances for Lille. Dinamo Zagreb’s Dominik Livaković simply isn’t good enough to start for Croatia anymore.
The midfield should be a no-brainer for Dalić. Due to the absence of Marcelo Brozović, and the addition of a five-man backline, the Vatreni only need to field two midfielders. Captain Luka Modrić and rising superstar Mateo Kovačić will most likely be the only midfielders to receive a starting call on Saturday.
Now, the attack is where it gets a bit tricky. Ivan Perišić and Lovro Majer will most likely start on the wings, but who will be Croatia’s striker? I am a fan of testing Mario Pašalić at the position due to his strong performances for Atalanta as a striker in recent weeks. However, I believe that Dalić will hand the starting position to Andrej Kramarić once again, upsetting the entire Croatian football community and relying on a miraculous, star-studded performance from the most average striker in world football. I cannot understand how Antonio Mirko Čolak and Mile Škorić were called up over Petar Musa, Croatia’s most in-form striker. How much is Kramarić paying Dalić to give him more chances up top? 😉
Dalić, not every team is Malta my friend.
As for substitutes, let’s hope that Dalić does not go overboard with them, especially if we have less than a two-goal lead. The Vatreni must remain focused and realistic during these friendlies since the World Cup is only months away. During Euro 2020, Croatia learned the hard way that testing new formations and tactics in the middle of a major tournament is absolutely NOT the way to go. If Croatia enters the World Cup more prepared than last summer, it will show in the results.
Wow.
Are we really going to see a Gvardiol/Duje/Pongračić trio in the back?
Can’t wait to see it.
However, it’s a shame we’re benching Sosa at LWB in favor of Perišić.
Both have to start.
I know the 532 formation has been the popular choice on here for a while. I could be wrong but I think we are a year or two away from it. We don’t have striker depth, and as you mention, Sosa needs to start. How do you work out our midfield depth in this formation? Put majer or orsic as a second striker? Ehh idk about that
Close guess but pretty spot on..
Will start Kramaric and budimir together.. im ok with that. Just think a pairing with one quicker striker would complement the other… personally I would love to see Perisic and Budimir but I understand there is not another attacking options on the left thus Sosa in this case is Perisic only true sub.. but Orsic and Budimir would be interesting…Pasalic is great all around but I believe his strongest asset is playing in 3 attack formation being the central figure..he lacks the pace…
3-5-2
——–KRAMARIC—-BUDIMIR———-
———–(ORSIC)——————————-
PERISIC-MODRIC–KOV.—JURANO.
———————-JAKIC———————–
-POGRANCIC–DCC—GVARDIOL—-
———–IVUSIC/LIVAKOVIC————-
———————LIVAJA———————-
——————–(ORSIC)———————-
————PASALIC–MAJER————–
–SOSA———-MORO———-VLASIC-
——————————————————-
BARISIC-SKORIC–LOVREN–VIDA–
———————GRBIC———————–
HNS just had a press conference and Dalic announced the lineup:
Budimir Kramaric
Jakic Modrić Kovacic
Perisic Juranovic
Gvardiol Caleta-Car Pongračić
Livakovic
I font like perisic as lwb i know he plays that at inter but we finally found an explosive lb who plays wb for club and loses his spot. Id rather put perisic as a ss than lwb.
Why is Kramarić still on the national team?
Unbelievable, Italy miss two WC in a row. I was switching the TV between the four matches but watched most of the second half and Italy despite their possession and pressure did not create one clear cut chance. Italy had a lot of shots on goal and 16 corners but Macedonia defended superbly and scored with a great shot in the 91 minute to stun Italy.
All you need is a couple of Dinamo players and you can beat anyone;)
Congrats to Macedonia the power if hnl ahhaha
omg @ italy hahahahah
Well, Aus is in deep shit now in terms of qualifying lel. Glad we can watch these euro qualies with our feet up as Ante said. Maybe Portugal Turkey is the game to watch, wouldnt mind Crynaldo missing out
I’m glad we are trying the 3-5-2…but Caleta-Car and Lovren on that right side is a bit too slow for me, and Caleta-Car doesn’t have enough to cover for Lovren’s kiks factor.
Not sure how they will do together, especially since Juranovic will largely be further up the pitch getting involved in the offense a lot.
I can see the two of them miscommunicating a lot and getting upset with each other.
Wingbacks are pretty set with Sosa and Juranovic.
We are very deep with midfield and forwards. It will be tough to figure out who should start.
Modric, Brozovic and Perisic are a lock. You would assume Kovacic is too, and probably Krama…then maybe Majer and Pasalic …but it gets kinda tricky after those first three, as you don’t want to “force” someone into the starting eleven and have them play out of position.
Goalkeeping is a mess, and I would have just started Ivusic that first game to see how he performs with our stronger lineup. Liva and now Grbic look like risky picks…and I’m worried that Livakovic will look good, because he will have very little to do against Slovenia.
Here’s hoping for a Livakovic gaffe on Saturday to give Ivusic the edge. 🙂
If we get a hot striker and decent keeping we are World Cup champs
Then If putin blows us all up screw it I’ll die happy
It’s crazy how much overall offence we have
I’m not saying brekalo and orsic are some world beaters but having This Kind of fire on the bench is pretty damn deep
We are playing England and all the sudden we sub in an orsic…. It gets in their mind
Anyone have any info on what the jerseys gonna look like?
No idea.
But it looks like the two colors for the away kits will be RED and BLACKENED BLUE.
https://www.footyheadlines.com/2021/12/croatia-2022-world-cup-away-kit-info.html
I didn’t like the grey and black Euro2020 away kits. The checkers were too small, in a weird pattern, and you couldn’t tell it was a checkered kit on the field.
I’m hoping that this “blackened blue” color means that we will be wearing something similar to what we wore for our away kits at World Cup 2018.
So long as our away kits have large enough and visible checkers, I’m for it.
This article makes some rather good points IMO
https://telesport.telegram.hr/analize/majerovo-proljece/
Good article majer is gonna be center piece for next generation imo. I am always fascinated how we produce talent just need a goal getter we will be more competitive
Grbic wont play livakovic and ivusic will be one game a piece.
3 5 2 is the formation from what Dalic wants to try so most likely v slovenia
Livakovic Gvardiol CC Lovren Modric Kovacic Majer Juranovic Perisic Kramaric Livaja.
Second game v bulgaria Ivusic Pongracic Skoric Vida Juranovic Jakic Moro Pasalic Sosa Budimir Vlasic. Thats what i think
this appears more accurate based on what Dalić has said in the lead up to these friendlies
I don’t think that Grbic will get to play at all. Dalic has indicated that Livakovic will play against Slovenia in the first match and Ivusic against Bulgaria.
So if broz wasn’t injured he would have kova’s spot?
I like this
Would like to see ivusic in goal and I agree roll pasalic out there
Krama hasn’t been overly effective for us when he was lighting up bundesliga. Common sense tells me unlikely will he light it up when having a so so season
Pašalić is scoring, Musa is scoring, and I think even budimir is starting to find some rhythm?
Another question, when are new kits coming out for World Cup?
Seems like we really didn’t get to see much of this current one
For the person on other thread asking for streams
He’s goal is usually good for me
Nice to watch some not so stressful repka games this week
It’s exciting trying this new formation
And I’m really looking forward to seeing what majer can do