Big changes are expected from Dalić Monday night in Zagreb, as Croatia close out the first half of their World Cup qualifying campaign against Montenegro at 2:45 pm (ET) kickoff.
Here’s how we want to see Zlatko Dalić line up the starting XI following a scary performance against the Faroe Islands on Friday.
- Defence NEEDS to be more stable than against the Faroe Islands. Stanišić and Šutalo bring more stability and much-needed speed than Pongračić and Sosa did.
- Look for Petar Sučić to improve on his performance, since he’ll have Modrić’s presence to rely on. He was very good last game, but had one too many misplaced passes/turnovers that he needs to stray away from.
- Marco Pašalić has to start! It is ridiculous to have three slow attackers out there in Kramarić, Budimir and Mario Pašalić. The former two have been great as of late, and Perišić is the key driving force in attack. Add Marco to the mix, and you get a dangerous/versatile attack.
A rested Modrić + Perišić will be a huge lift for the Vatreni as well in a match where Croatia will take complete control of the group AND FIFA rankings with all three points.
What are your predictions for this highly anticipated match against our coastal rivals? What tweaks would you make from the eleven that started in Torshavn?
I don’t think that Dalic will start with Marco Pasalic on the RW ? most likely it will be Lovro Majer ?
I would like DCC to be rested and give Erlic a chance to partner Sutalo in the middle of the defence. Two of them a few years back in the NL kept clean sheets against France in Paris and Denmark in Copenhagen.
2-0 Croatia.
Marco should be starting, but he also desperately needs a move away from the MLS next transfer window. Another run in the Bundesliga would be perfect for him, but I don’t really think the demand for him is at that level yet.
Some of the regulars here hated the Lovren/Vida tandem, with stupid jokes and baselessly blaming them for certain goals, even though they were our best since Bilić/Stimac.
What a drop-off to Čaleta Čar/Erlic.
Yikes!!!
I predict Mario Pašalić to start at RW instead of Marco.
Or Lovro Majer @ RW if he has recovered from his tummy ache ?
Hopefully he didn’t eat the same thing the Serbia basketball team ate that they used as excuse for crashing out vs. Finland in R16 lol