Croatia are set to play friendlies vs. Brazil and Colombia in the United States during the March 2026 FIFA window. Exact days are not yet known.
New York vs. Colombia
Dalić: “The plan is to play Brazil and Colombia, likely in Orlando and New York. If we draw Brazil in the group stage, we’ll change that. We don’t want easy matches that give us a false sense of security, these games will show us where we stand before the World Cup.”
The only way this does not happen is if Croatia are grouped with either Brazil or Colombia during the World Cup draw on December 5th. However, for the time being, our beloved Vatreni are coming stateside three months before the World Cup kicks off against stiff South American competition.
I would like to see the following lineup against Faroe Islands:
Goalkeeper of choice; Stanišić, Gvardiol, Vušković, Jakić; Modrić, Petar Sučić, Kramarić; Ivanović, Matanović, Marco Pašalić.
I say we stick with Livakovic. Awesome potential backfield, let’s test it. Danas, ne Sutra. Spreman ili ne.
That’s the backline I hope we go with at the World Cup.
Šutalo had a bad Euro2024, and hasn’t had a great season. He’s a talented player, but he doesn’t provide anything that Gvardiol already provides.
Vušković has unreal aerial dominance, and is lethal on deadball plays offensively.
He is less mobile than Šutalo, but this is why we need to play Gvardiol as the CB to cover for those shortcomings.
Valinčić at RB is something I wanted to try, but his injury probably takes him out of World Cup consideration. Maybe he gets a callup for March, and could become a backup…but he’d have to work himself back into full form again.
Modrić, Petar Sučić, and Kramarić should be automatic for the midfield trio. They’re all in great form. Kovačić coming back worries me. Dalić is too loyal and would likely start an out-of-form Kova in the midfield, pushing Krama to the wing.
The real challenge will be what combination of Perišić, Ivanović, Budimir, or Marco Pašalić will get minutes in our forward trio…and whether or not Dalić has the balls to move away from playing an out-of-position yet familiar face (like Mario Pašalić, Majer or Krama) up there instead.
Majer’s poor season and Perišić’s goal drought may be blessings in disguise for Croatia. With how good Ivanović looked attacking down the left wing, I would want him in the starting lineup. Perišić and Oršić could be game-changing players off the bench against tired defenses. It shouldn’t be about who’s good or not. It should be about what will finally win Croatia a world cup. We have the players for it, but they have to be deployed in a way that makes the absolute most of every contribution. I would trust the veterans more in the do-or-die type situation, but the young players have more of the physical form to win the match early and not look back. Also, these younger players are all really good technically and clever. It shouldn’t be a problem to try the lineup I suggest in any low- to mid-level match and expect a win.
Probably three friendlies with no fear of result would be ideal:
(4) halves to test experimental options with high level opponents, and (2) halves to confirm and test out the final decision.
You should be able to have unlimited substitutions in these friendlies. They are solely for learning about your team.
What’s gonna be the best way to get tickets? Are they going to be sold via respective MLS club ticket portal?
With as fast as Modric is ascending , and Kovacic is descending of recent, maybe both of them may retire in 2030, 44 and 34 respectively.
Kova will probably be done as a starter by Euro2028.
He will be 34 by then and I don’t think he’s built like Modric to go into his late-30s, and still be a starting caliber player.
He’ll probably be like Rakitic. A good player at club level until the age of 36…but not someone we should rely on as a starter for our NT anymore.
So much for him taking over leadership, the energizer Zajc Modric just keeps ticking.
Kova is pretty beta.
He was never going to be the leader of this team.
Petar Sučić has the right mentality for it though.
it seems they’ll play vuskovic in a 3 man stopper formation. Brilliant to test this guy out by having him play in some formation we’ll never use and likely without other starters
FT U19, Croatia 2 v Georgia 0
Next match on Saturday 15th v Gibraltar.
Last match is against Serbia on the 18th (day that Vukovar fell) and will be played in Zagreb with no fans.
Watching on Maxsport 1, U19 Euro qualifier Croatia v Georgia in Karlovac.
We are leading 1 – 0 at HT. Other teams in the group include Serbia and Gibraltar.
If we can win this? and a win against Gibraltar will guarantee us a top two finish in the group and a spot in the next round of qualifiers in March next year.
Bruno Durdov and Noa Mikic are in the starting 11. Durdov is not playing well, and I think the kid has gone backwards. He does not play a lot for Hajduk and when he does come on, he does very little.
Mikic playing at RB has had a couple of good raids on the right flank and is looking good offensively, however he once lost possession on the halfway which almost cost us a goal.
Croatia is the New Jersey Devils of the 1990s. We try and shut them down with possession and only open up if we are trailing
Ben Sesko Man United just sustained a knee injury, the extent not determined yet. Sesko out of games this weekend for sure. Slovenia needed wins against Sweden and Kosovo to move forward to the world cup, they are now virtually in the Cellar. Future seems even less promising, that it did yesterday morning, if that is possible.
Blame Micky VDV’s speed and tackle which knocked Sesko out of the game
I don’t think we can beat Colombia in the World Cup match. I don’t even think we could take them in a friendly.. the Brazilian team we faced in Qatar is not the same and I don’t believe that this current roster is ready , don’t know how much a friendly will show ,
I’m glad we’re playing two good teams who will likely try for the win.
If we get crushed both games, then it will show Dalic (and the rest of us) that this qualifying cycle was not some great achievement and it will force Dalic to start actually prepping for the World Cup.
If we destroy both teams, then it means that there is little quality between Brazil, Colombia, Czech and the Faroe Islands…and we are in great shape for the World Cup.
Thank you ,Ante. It’s getting real and wish our boys the best in North America. I hope for Canada but wherever they are, the support will be fantastic as it always is. Samo nasi!!! Neko drugo.