The new era of Croatian football under manager Slaven Bilić begins Saturday, September 26th, in the Nations League opener against Czechia. It’s an exciting time with many changes: our beautiful new Adidas kits, a revamped coaching staff (with a set-piece coach!), and a blank slate ready for a fresh footballing identity under Bilić. It’s no secret that a real challenge lies ahead for Bilić. After the Czechia match, he faces World Cup champions Spain twice, with bronze medallists England sandwiched in between. This means six points are crucial against Czechia. That being said, how should our new gaffer line up on Saturday?
Defence
Media outlets have already leaked Bilić rumoured backline to consist of Ivan Perišić, Joško Gvardiol, Luka Vušković and Josip Stanišić. With no quality left-back, slotting in reliable Perišić is no issue for me. Gvardiol and Vušković are enjoying monster starts to their Premier League seasons, already looking both like top 5 center-backs in the best league in the world. Josip Stanišić is on the outside looking in at Bayern, but we know the quality and reliability he gives us in defence.
Hopefully, bringing in a set-piece expert will help both on the defensive end, as well as on corners and attacking free kicks with a mobile Gvardiol and Vušković’s towering presence. The Czechs will be a great test on this front, as they heavily rely on set-piece play.
Midfield
Mateo Kovačić is struggling for playtime at Manchester City, with new signings Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandes leapfrogging him in the pecking order. However, we saw the quality he brings us against Portugal, and a pivot with Modrić for the first 60 minutes should be fine against the Czechs. It is absolutely baffling that Petar Sučić is currently a rotation piece at Inter. Coach Christian Chivu seems to prefer Curtis Jones for now, despite Sučić providing much more dynamic and quality performances in far fewer minutes. Hopefully he sees his role increase as the season progresses. Regardless, for Croatia, the kid is an absolute stud and should be playing 90 minutes.
Attack
Martin Baturina is slowly becoming a world star. That left-wing spot is his, no debate. On the right, let’s play the hot hand. Marco Pašalić has been riding the pine a bit too much in the MLS, and Luka Sučić looks to be confident and in good form. Look for maybe Vlašić or Marco P to slot in here as well.
As for the striker position, I could genuinely see any of the five in-form options starting. Igor Matanović has been the most impressive thus far with 6 goals and 3 assists in 7 matches, so I’d go with him. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to see what Beljo, Musa, Ivanović and Budimir can do as well.
How do you think Slaven Bilić will line up for his first match back as the Croatian National Team Head Coach?
Crnkovic
Did you check out Yalcouye yet per Anonymous eye test ?
First cap today for Ivory Coast and scores a BANGER
Anonymous eye tests never never fail – best the World has ever seen!!!!
https://x.com/donsummerone/status/2103210447025692899?s=20
Yeah I been keeping an eye on him 👍🏽
Niko turning 16 in a month
Sounds like he’ll debut vs HSV Nov 1st
Pletisoka – u got this bro?
The Plan with Ilicevic:
• Niko #Ilicevic stands out in training with the @Eintracht pros
• Jürgen Klopp has already taken notice
• The @FCBayern wanted to sign him
• FC Barcelona was also in the mix
• Ilicevic signed his development contract in July
• A pro contract starting from his 18th birthday has already been negotiated (duration unknown)
• Thus clear: The player is tied to the club for now
• Family and circle are considered low-key, he himself is very down-to-earth
• Mario Götze is a big help for him as a kind of mentor
• Markus Krösche opted against signing Ben Farhat because of Ilicevic
• The 15-year-old is set to become the direct successor to Can Uzun
• With Uzun, everyone expects a departure in 2027
🗞️ BILD
#SGE 🦅
Give Plete a break.
The guy is probably at Luca Vozar’s house right now, presenting his National Team callup path.
He’ll probably take the next EasyJet flight to Hamburg for a meeting with the Iličevići.
Pletikosa has been putting in work.
Give the man some of that Adidas šverc money.
Stojko
This could have been you.
All you had to do is listen and follow Anonymous’ World Class instructions
🤷♂️
🎙️ Lovro Majer on Slaven Bilić’s famous phone call:
“The conversation went really well. I just said that I was happy, that I had changed clubs, and of course, one of the most important things in my career personally is, and this is not a cliché, playing for the national team.”
Guys –
Anyone actually following what’s happening with Czechia ?
Our U21 team should be able to beat them
To recap:
RETIRED POST WC: Patrik Schick, Tomáš Holeš , Vladimír Darida and Petr Ševčík
Since Czechia 🇨🇿 squad for Nations League announced – there have been SEVEN PLAYERS SO FAR that have withdrawn lol
Out: Matěj Ryneš, David Jurásek, Tomáš Vlček, David Zima, Lukáš Provod, Denis Višinský, Tomáš Chorý
🆕 Jiří Sláma (Jablonec 🇨🇿)
🆕 Lukáš Ambros (Anderlecht 🇧🇪)
🆕 Roman Macek (Sparta Prague 🇨🇿)
🆕 Matěj Radosta (FK Teplice 🇨🇿)
🆕 Ondřej Kričfaluši (Union SG 🇧🇪)
🆕 Martin Šubert (Mlada Boleslav 🇨🇿)
🆕 Daniel Vašulín (Zbrojovka Brno 🇨🇿)
🔙 Antonín Kinský (Tottenham 🏴, last: Nov 2024), Michal Sáček (Górnik Zabrze 🇵🇱, last: Sep 2021), Ondřej Zmrzlý (Górnik Zabrze 🇵🇱, last: Oct 2024), Martin Vitík (Bologna 🇮🇹, last: March), Pavel Bucha (FC Cincinnati 🇺🇸, last: WC 2026 pre), Adam Karabec (Sparta Prague 🇨🇿, last: March), Alex Král (FC Copenhagen 🇩🇰, last: Oct 2025), Ondřej Lingr (Korona Kielce 🇵🇱, last: Oct 2025), Václav Sejk (Sigma Olomouc 🇨🇿)
First squad under new head coach Santi Denia off to a bit of a rough start…
https://x.com/windowintlpod/status/2102900650010919142
If our set pieces improve by like even 20 percent, that’s a real threat we haven’t had for a while
Heck if only the defending improves ….
You don’t take Pong/Duje over Gvardiol/Vušković?!?
Good looking lineup although I’d probably slot Modric higher up and bring P Sucic back.
I like Matanovic and I hope he begins to solidify his starting role by scoring some goals.
I think Vlasic is struggling this season. Last week I saw an article that stated he hasn’t been the same guy from last season and I think I saw them mentioning he hasn’t been involved in a goal yet this season.
Is Luka Sucic suitable for the right attacking side? I admit I rarely watch him so I don’t really know his value.
Luka Sucic on the right isn’t really a great option, but I guess we don’t have many good options on the right. Luka Sucic primary position is the #10 behind striker. He’s played that 90% of time this season.
I’d like to see Modric retire P sucic where modric plays and Luka S behind Matanović. On the right we need to start looking for a player, vlasic pasalic aren’t great options either will see what happens but this his where Bilić needs to be more aggressive.
I agree with your sentiment, but Petar Sučić does (technically) start on that right side for Sociedad.
But, yes, he does gravitate centrally.
Not Petar. I meant to say Luka Sučić.
I’ve watched almost every Real game and he never plays on the right.
Only time sucic is on the right is if oyarzbal and oskarsson are on the field at the same time with sucic. Typically sucic supports in the ten role one of the two above. If all three are in the field then oyarzbal plays behind oskarsson and sucic plays in the right. But truly I think this has only happened once.
Sucic plays the #10 and sometimes late in game depending on situation he’s played on right and also played in the # 8 if there chasing a goal they move sucic as other players come on if down a goal.
I’ve watched L sucic more than any other player this season and I’m am truly impressed with his overall play. The guy is a special player, he had one pass on the run the other day that was class, his work rate is high and track backs very well.
He’s not as tricky in tight spaces like Baturina which is why I don’t like him on wing and he’s not as good defensively as P sucic but he is def at the moment a starter to me in the #10.
Like I said to Kova, P. Sucic in the pivot, Baturina on left in his como position L sucic In the #10 position.
That leaves the right and this is where Bilić need to find someone to compliment the other players. This player doesn’t need to be an all start but just cant be the same as the other players needs to be a more traditional winger.
That line up if it’s hot can win euro
Over and under on Luka staying for it
The irony if he leaves and we did it the next tourney
Oh the humanity
That’s what happened to Darijo Srna in 2016 🙁
Darijo Srna was a massive defensive liability in his latter years for us, and he stopped scoring goals (and couldn’t put in a cross for us) after 2010.
He had a strong showing in his final appearances in 2016, but Vrsaljko was the much better defensive player in 2018.
Win the euro?
We have a 42 y/o exchanging pleasantries with our opponents captain.
We were 23rd and 26th in the last 2 tourneys.
Worst to first scenario is possible I suppose but highly unlikely