What an interesting turn of events in only a few years. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, we considered the left back spot to be our weakest link with Ivan Strinić and Josip Pivarić being our best options. I am not saying those two were bad players. They have both played for some decent teams in their careers and I am sure we all appreciate their efforts playing for the national team. They both played their hearts out in Russia and had some of their better games in the ‘checkers’, but now we have some serious talents at left back. However, maybe we have TOO MUCH talent. Having more depth than you need is always a good problem to have, but it also creates a debate as to who is the best option. So, let’s take a look at the options that we have at left back as there is no debate when it comes to Croatia’s world class midfield that facilitates a capable strike force.
Borna Barišić: Barišić looks to be Zlatko Dalić’s first choice left back for the time being. Barišić has been in great form this season, recently helping Rangers to a historic Scottish Premiership title and scoring a couple of penalties in their Europa League victory against Royal Antwerp. Barišić seemed to take the reins at the left back spot following the World Cup when Strinić and Pivarić fell out of contention due to injuries and poor form. He has had some great performances for the national team as well as others that have not stepped up. What he provides is a great cross, decent defending, and some very nice set pieces.
Borna Sosa: Sosa has been in the form of his life this season. He has provided eight assists in the Bundesliga while playing primarily as a left wing-back for a surprisingly decent Stuttgart side. He has been a large part of their success and continues to improve with each game. Not only has he been a staple for Stuttgart, but also for the U-21 national team, starting nearly every U-21 Euro qualifier for Croatia. After not being called up by the senior side for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, it is expected – despite his red card suspension – that Sosa will be with the U-21s for the Euro group stage which is also this month. What he provides is attacking creativity (he can play a good cross in from just about anywhere) and solid aerial defending.
Domagoj Bradarić: Bradarić is an interesting one. He seems to have lost his starting place for Ligue 1 leaders, Lille. His manager tends to rotate his squad frequently but Reinildo Mandava looks to be getting a lot more starts than Bradarić in recent times. There are claims that he lacks focus and is not that strong defensively. However, he is the youngest out of the three players I have mentioned so far and, in my opinion, has the greatest potential. After performing well for the Croatia senior side during the last international break, Dalić has dropped Bradarić back down to the U-21s to cover for Sosa while he serves a suspension for the first game or two of the U-21 Euro group stage. He also has something you can’t teach: speed. Not only that, he is also very good with the ball at his feet and can beat a man with his quick dribbling. He too has a decent cross, but I would say not as good as the others: Sosa or Barišić.
Dario Melnjak: Can you imagine the outrage on this site if Melnjak is the starting left back for the Euros this summer? He has been okay when he has played for us, he plays in a decent league, and from my understanding, does alright there. In my opinion, he is a decent player, but the other players I have mentioned are simply better than him. I will not be that surprised if he makes the Euro squad, but I will be quite shocked if he is the starter.
Joško Gvardiol: Gvardiol is really coming into his own this season playing at left back for Dinamo Zagreb. He just looks like there is no way he will not be a top player and I have been hyping him up in the comments ever since I first heard about him from playing Football Manager 2017 years ago. Gvardiol will be on the senior team very, very soon. However, it is still to be determined if his best position is center back or left back. He is naturally a center back, but has been playing as a left back all season since Dinamo have more quality depth in the center back position. We will find out once he gets to RB Leipzig next season. I think he will most likely get his first call up AFTER the Euros this summer.
With all this being said, who will be the starter and who will be the back-up this summer? I think the most likely duo will be Barišić as the starter and one of Sosa or Bradarić as the deputy depending on who finishes the season better. It also could depend on how well the U-21s do this month. If they make it to the knockout stage, we may just have to wait until after the Euros for the true left back competition to begin. Who do you think our starting left back will be this summer and who will make the squad as the back up?
Starting for Leipzig under any circumstance (as a 19 year old) is incredible.
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They are a top team in Europe, and made the Champions League semis. That team would contend for the Euros if they were a National Team.
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Vida could never start on that team (and I like Vida).
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Gvardiol should have definitely been a callup by now. But I’ll stop crying about it now that it’s done and over with. I don’t expect Dalić to move forward with a Gvardiol callup until later this year (assuming he’s still with us).
@ Becar
Exactly. If a 19 year old kid is a phenom, he’s starting for Leipzig now. Again, I’m high on the kid. He’s aggressive and strong on the ball. I really hope he plays CB for us as that our area of need. LB looks solid with our depth.
@ Maminjo
The only reason Leipzig was going to take him early on loan was because of an injury. He looks great so far and I feel like he will be a key part of our D for years to come but time will tell.
I just like to see defenders gain some experience as it’s a position that requires it more than playing a forward position for example.
Maminjo, I’m also a pretty big supporter of Gvardiol. I’m not as excited about all our younger players. I’ve seen some good performances recently from Majer…I have never seen Barisic make me look twice nor have I felt that way about Uremovic, Juremovic and many others you’ve listed. In fact, many of those guys made a mess of their opportunities if you ask me.
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I’m still cautious before I set the parade route. It takes several decent performances to get my support. Even Vlasic hasn’t really made me super excited about his future…he’s been a real hit and miss for our National team…often times disappearing for long periods…not really imposing himself into the game….but he scores timely goals…which is the only reason I am still someone optimistic about him.
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Lots of people expect we have a phenomenal player at each position, I don’t. I actually liked guys like Strinic, Badelj, Vida, Olic…and Soo many others that do a fantastic job and aren’t particularly incredible players. I mentioned Pivaric the other day. He was surprisingly energetic and high tempo, I know he wasn’t amazing but I felt he punched above his weight.
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I’m hoping Gvardiol leads our defense. Hopefully he has a strong mentality and good leadership qualities because he’s an absolute beast!
So much doooom!
Actually, let’s all hope that Vida doesn’t play at all anymore. That would be a nice change! I definitely think that forward-thinking coaches are better, but Dalić surely watches more footage than any of us does. Maybe he sees something really great in Uremović. Pograncic already seemed to be in line to be replacing Lover, but then he got sick and lost form. It’s a shame, because we probably had the CB pairing of the next two tournaments there with him and DCC. Still, he can get his health back, so we won’t be stuck with Lovren forever.
@Maminjo
I completely agree with you… I hope he gets the call after the Euros and starts cementing himself as a starter alongside Caleta-Car
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@BECAR
No, he could easily be the starting CB for Dinamo. What I was saying is that Dinamo lacks quality at LB so they’re putting Gvardiol there since they have some good CB’s who can play instead of putting Gvardiol there and leaving an exposed left side with aging Leovac.
Can you guys tell that I’m a Gvardiol fan?
Look, at the end of the day, Gvardiol is a 20 million Euro player (offer made by Leeds).
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That is a fact.
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You can be a forward thinking coach (like Deschamps) and call up your talented (yet unproven) players to test and fill in your areas of need.
Deschamps did this with Pavard, and it won him a World Cup.
Sure, he could have waiting for Pavard to get older or not play in the second division Bundesliga anymore… But he recognized talent and the need that the French NT had heading into an important tournament.
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We need talented CBs. This is unquestionably true. We have some very questionable weak links there, and no depth right now.
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Waiting for your second highest valued CB to simply get older (and be more proven before even being called up) is very slow and reactive.
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After such a terrible, terrible display by Lovren and Vida during the UNL, Dalić is actually taking a big risk sticking it out.
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If Lovren and Vida continue their woes… Where does this leave us?
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Loss of points during the World Cup qualifiers, and a scary unknown situation heading into the Euros (where you have no more time to test other CBs, with the hope that maybe maybe Škorić and Uremović can deliver at the last minute).
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For our tournament’s sake, hopefully Vida and Lovren can play a lot better than they did at UNL last year.
You’re not listening to what Markus is saying.
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Gvardiol is capable of playing anywhere along the back line, so it makes sense to slot him where they need quality the most.
If Dinamo’s CB depth is so fantastic that Gvardiol can’t crack it, how did anyone hope that he’d crack the NT roster?
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P. S. Until he’s starting regularly at CB either with Dinamo or Leipzig, we’ll have to just be patient.
@BECAR
It’s not that he’s “barely a first choice CB for Dinamo” it’s that they have fantastic CB depth and horrible LB depth. Now they’ve signed a few good LB’s but prior to this transfer window, who’d they have? Leovac? Why bench Lauritsen, Dilaver, Peric so that Gvardiol can play CB with KTC and Leovac starts when you can put Gvardiol in a position he is just as competent in and start one of those 3 CB’s who have the quality to do so for Dinamo. I know Dilaver is gone but this was just an example for the beginning of the season haha. If Dinamo had a strong LB, Gvardiol would no doubt have been the starting LCB.
Rumour mill
Could Niko kovac be Germany’s next head coach
Wouldn’t that be fantastic
It seems that Gvardiol is injured and will not play against Tottenham or join the U21’s either.
The question posed by vukmanovic is a good headache to have
Remember before strinic and after jarni we didn’t have a recognised left back at all
We had to use Pranjic or vida or Corluka and even Vrsaljko as stop gap measure
We are in a great place now
Like Ante said, Gvardiol is barely a first choice CB for Dinamo. There was no way that he’d get called up to the NT in that position. He’s also not a top 3 choice at LB. He belongs with the U21’s for at least until after the Euros.
In my view the only questionable selection is juranovic and Melnjak and possibly Uremovic
Other than that you have to trust Dalic at this stage
I don’t dislike Melnjak, but I just don’t like him. Like I said, he’s been okay. I just think everyone else is better than him. Don’t mind using him when we HAVE to though. He’s decent enough to cover when these guys can’t play. Same thing with Uremovic and Juranovic at RB. I don’t think they are great, but they are decent enough to cover when Vrsaljko is out. Gvardiol does look great at LB and could genuinely be our LB should the other CBs develop. Really just depends what position he makes his own.
^thats my opinion on the depth chart for LB
For what I think dalic will do:
1. Barisic
2. Melnjak
3. Sosa
4. Bradaric
5. Gvardiol
1. Sosa
2. Bradaric
3. Barisic
4. Gvardiol
5. Melnjak
Gvardiol can play LB and can do well (just like Vrsaljko did for the NT for a year or two there in the 2010’s) but he seems to spend the majority of his club time at CB and CB will be a position of need for us, post Euro when potentially both Lovren and Vida might call it quits on international duty and from there, we have to see who our new CB pairing is moving forward.
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That said (and if one or both of Lovren and Vida retire) I’d LOVE to see a CB pairing of DCC and Gvardiol post Euro. You’d have an ‘experienced’ and a ‘younger’ CB, but both are multi-dimensional and are approaching their primes.
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That along with LB either manned by Sosa or Bradaric and RB manned by either Vrsaljko or potentially Sutalo makes me psyched about the future. Playing our usual 4ATB, we could potentially have all our starters close to if not right at world class level.
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A few years back, our backline was typically looked at as our weakest link, but it could potentially be the strongest link here in a year or two.
I remember the same comments about Pivaric. I expected to see a pilon and then I saw this very energetic and eager guy. was he wordl class…hell no, but he was better than we gave him credit for.
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on another note, I love Vrsaljko but he hasn’t always been steady. hell, he used to look incredibly fragile at times…like a complete beginner and scared. sometimes it takes time for these guys to gain confidence
in my opinion, Gvardiol is worlds away better than anyone I’ve seen playing left back for the past several years…although I can’t remember seeing him play left back with our National Team.
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He’s always looking to push forward, he’s very strong, he has a nice left foot, he can dribble and I think he’s not easy to cover if you’re the opponent.
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I have yet to see Bradaric or anyone else demonstrate they belong or own that position…thats why I don’t care when I see Melnjak playing….he’s not nearly as bad as he’s described on here. I usually wait to see a gaffe filled display and am then surprised because he is relatively steady
As good as Melnjak can be, he’s still our fifth LB.
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Bradaric, Sosa, and Barisic are unquestionably better than him. Also, I would play Gvardiol ahead of him at LB too.
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Melnjak should be fifth in the rotation at LB, and no team would bring that many LBs to a tournament.
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Dalic will because they are likely family friends from Varazdin, but in reality, just based off resume alone, Melnjak is just an injury fill-in.
Melnjak is not our first or second choice…but he’s nowhere near as bad as Maminjo makes him out to be. in fact, Mel has done relatively well considering I expected a really shitty player based on what I read about him here.
Given the call-ups for these 3 games, I’d be shocked if Barišić was not starting for us at Wembley. Not saying he’s the most talented or the most deserved, but based on what Dalic called up, you can see the direction he’s going in for LB this summer.
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Sosa and Brady are no brainers.
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Barry is a good depth piece, but not a full time starter.
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Gvardy should be groomed for a CB role with us.
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Melly is borderline callup worthy.
Remember the days of pranjic
We are truly blessed now
It’d definitely be interesting to see any of these guys play