The CroatianSports.com Recommended Starting XI For Dalić vs. Colombia

Croatia faces Colombia in Orlando on Thursday, March 26th, in the first of two friendly matches. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, these are exactly the type of matches Croatia needs to test the water against strong competition. Zlatko Dalić has to field the closest thing he has to a World Cup starting eleven (minus Gvardiol).

Defence: Stanišić – Vušković – Šutalo – Jakić

At the back, the biggest change is obviously on the left side. With Joško Gvardiol out with injury, Josip Stanišić should slide in at left back without much debate. He has had a tremendous season for Bayern, and not just in routine league matches either. He has shown up in big Champions League moments and continues to prove that he is one of Croatia’s most reliable defenders, no matter where he plays.

That also opens the door on the right flank for Kristijan Jakić, who has earned every right to start for the Vatreni after his qualifying campaign. He is not flashy (other than the absolute banger against Montenegro), but he reads the game well and does the dirty work. If Ivan Strinić pocketed Lionel Messi in 2018, maybe Jakić can do the job for now. Ivan Smolčić also deserves time off the bench, as he’s had a very strong year with Como, one of the emerging stories in the Serie A.

At centre back, Josip Šutalo should still be trusted. Regardless of his ups and downs in terms of club form, Šutalo has always looked good in the red and white checkers, so he likely remains a starter.

Next to him, though, there should not even be a debate anymore. Luka Vušković has to play.

This is the big talking point, and rightly so. The kid is exploding this year for Hamburg, the transfer hype is getting louder by the week, and every performance seems to push the price tag higher. He now sits just 10 million euros behind Gvardiol in valuation. When you have a defender that talented, that physically dominant, that calm on the ball, and that obviously destined for the big stage, you do not keep him on the bench at the dawn of a World Cup summer. He has four games until then, and the integration must happen now. It would be an absolute waste to leave him out against Colombia or Brazil, and even more absurd if that hesitation carried into the tournament itself. We all remember what Gvardiol looked like when he truly arrived on the world stage in 2022. Vušković could repeat that dominance in 2026, and perhaps even surpass it.

Midfield: Modrić – Baturina – P. Sučić

Croatia still revolves around Luka Modrić. At this point, the man is basically refusing to age. Even at 40, he is still dictating games and dragging AC Milan back to relevance. If he is healthy, he starts. End of discussion.

With Kovačić out, Petar Sučić should get the nod alongside him. His start to life at Inter has been encouraging, and while he is not yet a locked-in star, he looks increasingly comfortable at that level. Some starts, some substitute appearances — that is exactly what you want to see from a player who might be asked to play a serious role for Croatia very soon. This feels like the right moment to keep pushing him.

And then there is Martin Baturina, who, for me, is one of the easiest selections in the entire team.

This is the perfect match to test whether his club form can finally carry over to the national team. At Como, he has been outstanding over the last few months and, frankly, has looked like the main man in a team with Nico Paz. Should it not, we have trusty Andrej Kramarić to fit the 10 role. But if Baturina can translate the Como version of himself into a Croatia shirt, then suddenly this team has a new X-factor going into the World Cup.

Attack: Perišić – Budimir – Marco P.

Up front, I would keep things relatively straightforward. Ivan Perišić starts on the left wing because there is still no one I trust more there in a big match. He remains one of the few Croatian attackers who consistently plays with conviction, and even at this stage of his career, we still go as Perišić goes.

Through the middle, Ante Budimir gets the start for me. That said, Petar Musa’s start to the MLS campaign is a very encouraging development. Lets see what he can do off the bench against Colombia.

On the right, I would absolutely go with Marco Pašalić. Every time he plays for Croatia, he brings something fresh. The tempo changes, and the attack becomes less predictable. There is more intent, more directness, and more willingness to actually take players on. Croatia has lacked pace and spontaneity in wide areas for a while now, and Pašalić helps solve that. Let’s hope Dalić relies on him going into the World Cup.

This Colombia match is an opportunity to iron out the last few questionable positions going into the World Cup. How confident do you feel going into this clash with Colombia, and next week, with Brazil? How will Croatia line up, and will Dalić trust starboy Vušković and Baturina?

Croatiansports.com prediction: 2-1 Croatia (goals from Baturina and Modrić)