The Croatia national football team begins their qualifications for Euro 2020 on Thursday. Zlatko Dalić gathered the team on Monday and spoke to the media about the changes he’ll have to make in the starting lineup, reports Gol.hr on March 18, 2019.
The Croatia national team awaits their first qualifiers for Euro 2020 on Thursday and Sunday. Croatia's opening match against Azerbaijan is at Maksimir, while the following qualifier is in Budapest against Hungary.
Coach Zlatko Dalić has already had to make some changes to his initial list. Due to the injuries of Marko Pjaca and Tin Jedvaj, Dalić has activated backup players Bruno Petković from Dinamo and Karlo Bartolec of Danish club Nordsjaelland.
"There are a couple of things you already know: we have activated backup players Petković and Bartolec. Pjaca had an operation, and I wish him luck to return to the national team. Bartolec has been called up because we have a problem with Jedvaj, we'll see how it is today, but he probably will not be ready. Today there will be regenerative training because the guys played over the weekend, and two days of preparation for Azerbaijan. I again invite fans to support us, ahead of us are two tough games,” the coach said at the beginning of the press conference.
The biggest concern for Dalić is the defense, which is quite weakened compared to the World Cup.
"I'm constantly saying that I will not talk about the problems or look at the negatives, if we talk about who we are missing, we'll go in the wrong direction and look for an alibi. We don’t have it. I accept that we do not have it. Only Vida is available from the World Cup in the defence. Rebić was injured, Brozović has problems, but I believe I have the alternatives, and I think we can agree on a good team. The biggest problem is the defense; they have not played together long."
There is also a problem with Croatia's first goalkeeper, as Lovre Kalinić has not defended Aston Villa's goal for some time.
"I said I do not like to change much, especially the goalkeepers, but in the last five games Kalinić did not defend, he had an injury, and Livaković has been constant and defended well in Europe.”
What about Jedvaj’s injury and Kramarić’s form?
‘’Jedvaj was injured last week from the snow-covered terrain, the club thought that he would be okay, but over the weekend he felt pain again. If it is a problem and a risk, we will not force it. And Krama is regularly scoring, is maybe in the best form of all the players who play forward. It makes me happy, and it will be good for us.”
How will Dalić play Croatia in these qualifications?
"We definitely have to change the style of the game since the World Cup. We are no longer in a position against Argentina, England, or France, to wait for the situation and need counter-attacks and semi-counter attacks, which we have perfected to the maximum. Now we are the favorite and we have to possess the ball. In that possession, we have to be serious and secure. The most dangerous situation will be when we lose the ball, then it is imperative that we quickly get the ball back. I've been thinking a lot about it. We have to be very patient when we are in possession. I said tiki-taka is out of fashion, but we're going to be forced to do it, keep the ball and possess it, but look for more vertical passes.”
Azerbaijan will probably come out with a dense block. Is Bartolec an option or will it be an experiment like Rog against Spain (right back)?
"We will try this option, and we have to find solutions. They have two fast players up top and the Brazilian Almeida who is good at finishing. But there are solutions; I have an idea and a vision, Bartolec is one of those ideas."
Does Dalicć see Bruno Petković in his plans?
"Petković is a type of player we do not currently have; he is good at the 16, he has a good jump and knows how to keep the ball. This type of player may be needed against such teams."
And thoughts on Azerbaijan?
"Nikola Jurčević has invited several new players, five of them are playing outside of Azerbaijan, and the others are from two or three clubs from their domestic league. They know each other and have a constant. The Brazilian Almeida is a creative midfielder, a lot of things go from him, and they have two quick players up top. Their striker who plays in Russia has scored three goals in the last three matches; it's not a team to underestimate. I expect a full Maksimir. After the World Cup fans could enjoy Dinamo's autumn, and I hope that this synergy will continue. We need to go through these qualifications elegantly, but if we do not get serious, we will have problems,” Dalić concluded.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
March 18, 2019 - The 25th round of the Croatian First League was held from March 15 to 17, 2019, and saw Hajduk inch even closer to the top three, Rijeka topple Osijek, and Dinamo claim another win.
Senegalese footballer Cherif Ndiaye started his career in Senegal, namely at club Grand Yoff which plays in the third league. He left Senegal to chase his football dream in Europe to play one game for Belgian club Waasland-Beveren. After a short break, he made his way to Croatia, to first-league club HNK Gorica, reports Večernji List on March 13, 2019.
“In Belgium it was difficult, and in my first season there were three strikers - I was the fourth. I played in the second team, the first one was hard to break into. It was the last day of the transfer period I was nowhere. I went to Paris with my mom. We slept in the same room, in the same bed. It was a tough time. When you live this way, you have to be pretty strong in your head. Now, when I'm playing, my mother is in my head,” says Cherif before recalling his football beginnings.
“I started playing in Senegal at Grand Yoff in the third league. I played there for several months and then came to Europe.”
Although he has been in Europe for many years, home is still home. Ndiaye has three brothers and a sister, and his wife is in Senegal. They have been married for three months.
“Whenever I have vacations, holidays, I go to Senegal. I get together with my family and friends. They all come over and stay until late in the night. After the match against Dinamo I am going to Paris, my wife will meet me there and we will return together. Here, when I'm free, I do not watch TV, I do nothing but talk to my wife,” he added.
The 'new Atiemwen' has scored four goals in Gorica’s last two games - though he’s impressed ever since he joined the club's first-team squad in January this year.
“The first time my agent told me I was going to Gorica I said, "Gorica, why Gorica? But, if there is nothing better, I'm going." When I came and saw the country, the city, I realized it was beautiful. And the league is pretty strong,” says Ndiaye.
“It was difficult, but I came to the first training session and immediately saw that I have a chance. I can prove myself here. I do not need to go out, I just need my apartment and my wife, and I'm all here,” says the 23-year-old.
Though he’s still adapting to the language and Croatian cuisine...
“The language is very difficult. Every time I listen to people speak, it sounds difficult. But I know a little. The people are so great. When I train, sometimes my neighbors call me or come to my apartment to bring pancakes, drinks... Sometimes I go with my teammates to Zagreb for the weekend,” adds Ndiaye, who still can’t quite get into Croatian food.
“I don’t like it, I love African food.”
Although he may not like Croatian food, he does like Croatian footballers. His favorite is Mario Mandžukić.
“He's a good player, strong. If you go at him as a defender, he wants to kill you. It's great. When I was younger, my favorite was Benzema. I play like him. Every time he gets the ball, he shows skill and enjoys it. And there is, of course, Drogba. He is my favorite African player.”
Just like his favorite attackers, Ndiaye is also known for his unique choreography when celebrating a goal.
“My name is Cherif (like ‘sheriff’). I saw movies with sheriffs, how they handled guns and thought I could do it too. Everyone likes it,” says the attacker, who enjoys the club, his teammates, and the league.
“I did not know much about Croatian football when I came here. Wherever you go it is different. The league here is quite strong. You run a lot, defend a lot, attack a lot. It's not easy. I know that I can achieve a lot of goals if I have confidence. I have a team behind me, if I can assist, I will assist, and if I can score, I will score. That's my philosophy.”
The next game for Gorica is against Dinamo on Sunday at 3 pm.
“To me it doesn’t matter who we play, Dinamo or Rudeš. I have no pressure. I watched them play. They are good and I respect them. Olmo is great; their attack is super. Petković, he is strong.”
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
In just nine days, the Croatia national football team will play their first Euro 2020 qualifier in Zagreb. Coach Zlatko Dalić, however, is faced with no easy task - this 2018 World Cup finalist team is plagued with injuries.
March 11, 2019 - The 24th round of the Croatian First League was held from March 8 to 10, 2019. The weekend saw Rudeš win their first game this season, the highly anticipated derby between Dinamo and Rijeka, and Hajduk inch closer to the top 4.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić has published a list of players for the upcoming games against Azerbaijan and Hungary.
March 4, 2019 - The Croatian First League’s 23rd round saw Hajduk, Rijeka and Gorica win, while Dinamo and Osijek pulled draws over the weekend.
ZAGREB, March 1, 2019 - The head of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary group, Branko Bačić, on Friday commented on the statement by Ivan Vrdoljak, leader of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), a junior partner in the HDZ-led government, that he would support a possible presidential candidacy of former Social Democrat prime minister Zoran Milanović, saying that "during talks between the HDZ and the HNS on the formation of the parliamentary majority there was no talk of a joint candidate for presidential elections."
"The HNS is therefore free to decide on its own who it will support. But if history is life's teacher, and it should be, for all of us, let me remind you that their joint participation in the last parliamentary election resulted in Zoran Milanović leaving politics. I believe they will both give it some thought before announcing a candidacy," said Bacic.
He added that the HNS could decide on its own who to nominate and "since Deputy PM (and HNS member) Predrag Štromar has said that they are not satisfied with the president's work, that's what the HNS's position is."
Asked if the HDZ would talk to other coalition partners to possibly secure their support for its presidential candidate, Bačić said that one should wait for the HDZ to state its position on the matter first.
He repeated that the HDZ would support incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović if she decided to run for a second term in office, recalling that she had said that she would announce her possible candidacy after elections for the European Parliament, set for May.
Asked about the political responsibility of Social Policy Minister Nada Murganić for a tragedy that happened on Thursday on Pag island, where a man threw his four underage children off the first-storey balcony of the house they live in, Bačić said that "the Prime Minister has stated his position on the matter" and that "there is no political responsibility on Minister Murganić's part."
"She promptly travelled to Zadar to investigate the circumstances of the case. I support her work, her ministry does an excellent job and she enjoys our full support," said Bačić.
PM Andrej Plenković said on Thursday that there was no political responsibility on Murganić's part and that all should fight against phenomena such as domestic violence, violence against women and peer violence. The best way to do it is through a strong family, good parenting and education, he said.
Asked if the functioning of the social care system should be checked given the frequency of cases of violence lately, Plenković answered in the affirmative, noting that the system should be continually improved.
More news on the upcoming elections can be found in the Politics section.
According to Croatian media reports, Luka Modrić has invited Darijo Srna back to the national team.
President of the Croatian Football Federation Davor Šuker has announced a public invitation to all potential partners in state and local government to support to the Croatia national team in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Hungary, which will be played on March 24 at the Groupama Arena in Budapest.