Where Does Super-Sub Mario Pašalić Fit In At Euro 2024?

With Croatia coming into Euro 2024 with arguably their deepest roster in recent years, there will be plenty of competition to earn minutes off the bench for multiple positions across the board. One of those guy’s is Atalanta’s Mario Pašalić. Not a fan favorite by any means, but Pašalić is regularly left out of the conversation by many Vatreni supporters around the globe. However, Pašalić is a talented player, and under the right circumstances, can be a far more useful option than most realize. He is coming off an ‘eight goal/seven assist’ season in all competitions; and won a Europa League title with Atalanta by handing Leverkusen their only loss of the year.

The biggest strength for Mario Pašalić coming into the Euro squad is his versatility. Pašalić is capable of playing proficiently as the the #10 or #8 in the midfield as he has been positioned there for Atalanta many times. He can also sit back deeper and play behind other midfielders such as Lookman. Pašalić has the ability to play RW, a position he mostly plays for the National Team, although not his most ideal spot on the pitch. With so many moving pieces for the Vatreni in 2024, these are the two options I see Pašalić coming off the bench and being used in large in the game.

If Pašalić receives the nod to play in the midfield trio of Croatia, the most likely option would be for him to come on as a sub to provide more attacking support as a #10. We have predominantly seen this from him in Serie A and Europa League where Pašalić plays the #10; where he is most comfortable on and off the ball. However, he has been used as a #8 when Atalanta opt to play Lookman in front of him. Pašalić’s main two strengths when playing the #10 role are pressing and positioning, two characteristics that have allowed him to find the back of the net and fit into the midfield system that Atalanta have been successful in.

Pressing: When Dalić plays strikers such as Budimir or Petković, their lack of speed becomes a problem when he decides to deploy an aggressive high press. Bringing on a player like Pašalić for support in an attacking role would be useful for pressing. He is comfortable playing higher up and getting involved in the press, but could still allow Croatia to play with a positional striker such as Petković or Budimir.

Positioning: Another crucial aspect in any midfielder is their ability to position themselves properly on and off the ball. While Pašalić may not be the best player going 1v1 with an opponent, he does have the vision and spatial awareness that makes him excellent with ‘off the ball’ movement. This ability often finds him in the right space in the box (think Ivica Olić) to put home a tap-in or mid-range finish. A majority of Pašalić’s goals this season have come off this movement and would be perfect for the style of play Croatia has been utilizing lately. If Dalić decides to continue his trend of pushing more players forward into the attack, Pašalić’s spacial awareness would make him a serious threat for the Vatreni.

Another option for Dalić to use Pašalić would be in the #8 role; known as the box-to-box midfielder. In games where Dalić is attempting to slow down the speed of play and hold possession, Pašalić has the edge over a CAM like Majer to also be able to slide into this tactical style and play the role Modrić and Kovačić. Another advantage of playing a midfield trio with two #8’s is that one will be offensive- minded while the other more defensive. One complaint of the MBK trident is that when Modrić and Kovačić play together, they tend to both sit back deeper. By doing so they sometimes end up congesting the midfield too much and clog up our chances to transition offensively. By subbing in Pašalić, he can serve as an offensive minded box-to-box midfielder, and remove the congestion that occurs when both of Croatia’s #8’s get sucked in too deep.

If Mario Pašalić can be used properly, I argue that he should be given more minutes in his natural positions within the midfield and not at RW, where he is less comfortable. I think Pašalić fits best coming on in his natural position as a #10 midfielder and subbing in for Kovačić. If Pašalić can clock minutes this Euro tournament in his natural position, not only will we see a better Pašalić than in tournaments before, but also see the Vatreni get one more piece in an offensively dynamic team that Dalić has been building. If Dalić gives Pašalić a chance as a sub in the midfield trio, he is the most versatile midfielder and the easiest to mold into whatever type of game you need to throw him into. Whether it be a fast pace, attack oriented game or a match you need to keep slowed down, Pašalić can handle the situation in a way he is more familiar and prepared for than any other midfield sub on this roster. When Dalić needs his man to step up and slide someone into the midfield trio, Mario Pašalić is our most potent option available off the bench; whether Croatia is leading or losing the game.