May 22, 2023 - Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić announced the players he is counting on for the UEFA Nations League finals which will be held from June 14 to 18 in the Netherlands.

By winning first place in the group with France, Denmark and Austria, Croatia won the Nations League final tournament for the first time in its history, together with Holland, Italy and Spain. Croatia will face the Netherlands in the semi-final on June 14 in Rotterdam, while the second semi-final between Italy and Spain will be played on June 15 in Enschede. The final is scheduled for June 18 in Rotterdam (8:45 pm), and the third-place match is on the same day at 3:00 pm in Enschede.

Coach Dalić invited 24 players with seven potential call-ups, and the final list of 23 players will be sent to UEFA by June 5 at 11:59 pm. Marcelo Brozović will play the Champions League final with Inter on June 10, so he will join the national team after that. The national team gathers on June 5 and will prepare in Rijeka. Then, on June 12, they will travel to Rotterdam.

"The list shows that we trust the proven staff - with minor corrections, it is a list of players who won the bronze medal at the World Cup, and they deserve our trust now. We are aware that at the end of the season, there is noticeable physical and mental fatigue, but ahead of us is a historic opportunity to win the first trophy in the history of our national team, and through this week of preparation, we will try to refresh and prepare the team as much as possible to play the final tournament at the highest possible level," coach Dalić stressed.

"We greatly respect all three national teams that advanced to the final tournament, but we believe in our quality and togetherness. As the host, the Netherlands will be very motivated, but we will also have great support from the stands, which will give us additional strength. We know that a tough job awaits, but we do not hide that when we have already managed to reach this stage of the competition, we want to take those two final steps and thus write history once again," said Dalić.

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Nediljko Labrović

Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Borna Barišić, Josip Juranović, Joško Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanišić, Josip Šutalo, Martin Erlić

Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanušec

Attackers: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Bruno Petković, Marko Livaja, Petar Musa, Dion Drena Beljo

Call-ups: Josip Brekalo, Mislav Oršić, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Filip Uremović, Ivo Grbić, Nikola Moro, Matija Frigan

Source:  HNS

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

March 24, 2023 - Croatia and Wales open the EURO 2024 qualifiers at Poljud Stadium on Saturday at 20:45. Coach Zlatko Dalić and captain Luka Modrić addressed the press ahead of the important match. 

Croatia and Wales meet on Saturday at Poljud to open the EURO 2024 qualifiers. Poljud has long been sold out for Croatia's first match after winning the bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup. Dalić and Modrić addressed the press on Friday to announce the game and what we can expect. 

Luka answered questions first. He learned he is the oldest Croatia player to appear in a qualification cycle. 

"Our focus is 100% on Wales. It is important to open the qualifications with a good result. We are opening at home in front of a full stadium, and we want a win," said Modrić to begin. "I don't know if it's good or bad that I'm the oldest player to appear for Croatia in a qualifying cycle, haha. I am happy to break this record, and I am happy to play with Croatia. I need to keep going this way," he added. 

How is the team looking at this first game together since the World Cup?

"We always want to qualify as early as possible but always encounter problems during the qualifiers. The group is small, with only five teams. Therefore, we need to be maximally concentrated and focused on tomorrow. Wales and Turkey are our biggest competitors in this group. First, we need to focus on this game, and then we will think about the match against Turkey. I don't want to talk about points right now. We are the favorites in this group, and we want 6 points in these two games, but football is unpredictable.

We won two medals at the World Cup in the last five years. We also played a good EURO in 2021. Everyone is playing against us with respect and proving themselves against us. Because of that, we need to be even better." 

Luka said he wouldn't be able to achieve the success he has without everyone around him.

"Without my teammates and coach, I wouldn't be who I am. I thank all players from the beginning of my professional career, as all of these results were achieved by the team." 

How will Croatia look tomorrow, and is this Luka's last game at Poljud?

"All we can say about tomorrow is that we will give 100%. We all know about the atmosphere in Split. I said I am with Croatia until Nations League, and we will see from there."

Dalić answered the press next. 

"We are starting a new cycle. We have done incredible things in the last five years but want to achieve more. We want to start the qualifications with a win. Apart from the fact that Petković is injured and Lovren retired, we mostly have the same team we had in Qatar and will play how we did in the last World Cup game against Morocco."

What can we expect from Croatia? 

"We had a great week of training. This is a dangerous game where we have a lot to lose. The first game together after the World Cup is crucial, so this game will be very tough. We can't allow ourselves to lose points at home. We have the quality, we need to be patient, and I expect us to win. But it will be a tough game."

What does Dalić expect from Wales?

"It's a different team than during the World Cup, and there is no Gareth Bale. However, they still have good players with quality and can be dangerous in the center attack. We are in for a tough game," Dalić concluded.

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

March 20, 2023 - The Croatia national team gathers today in Split. Coach Zlatko Dalić announced the start of the EURO 2024 qualifiers.

Croatia opens the qualifiers on March 25 at home against Wales in Split, and three days later, they visit Bursa near Turkey.

"It's nice to get together after three months and wait for the new national team games. We have achieved magnificent results in the five and a half years of my mandate. It is much more than the set goals, and we are unaware of what we have done. In addition to what we have done, I have the energy, strength, and motivation to continue with the national team, together with the players, staff, and fans. Our goal, every goal, must be to qualify for a major competition that is realistic, and everything else is a success. New competitions are ahead of us; I have a motive. In addition to the results we must achieve, we need to change generations. We have potential and quality. I am aware that we have raised the bar, and the expectations are high, but we have to reduce it to reality, be calm and go game by game. Expectations need to be justified, and we have the quality to do so," said Zlatko Dalić to open the press conference. 

He referred to the upcoming European Championship in 2024, which will be played in Germany, so many Croatia fans can be expected.

"A big competition awaits us, but we must qualify for the European Championship first. We have quality, but we must be careful and concentrate on avoiding making mistakes. It would be a big competition for us because it is in Germany, and there would be many of our fans, so it would be a big challenge. I was in Germany in 2006, in Berlin. There have never been more Croatia fans at one game," Dalić said.

Croatia is in Group D with Wales, Armenia, Turkey, and Latvia, and the two best teams will secure direct placement in the final tournament, which will be held in the summer of 2024 in Germany.

The coach claimed Croatia has never been stronger and more complete than it was in Russia.

"And now we have quality; we must put together the best possible team. We have better results at the World Cup than the Euros. We have quality, youth, and players coming up, but they can't do anything without the more experienced players. This is creating a new generation, and we must prepare for the future," said Dalić.

He commented on the current form of the players.

"We had many problems after the World Cup, but now the players are slowly returning. Brozović and Kovačić did not play for a long time, and neither did Kramarić. Now we will have five days together to try to do the best we can. The situation with the players may not be the best, but it can change, as we already know how to do," Dalić said.

Dalić once again repeated that expectations were raised very high, but one should be realistic. Finally, he commented on the condition of the players, including Bruno Petković, who was injured yesterday.

"Today, we will know the whole situation. Everyone should come. We have problems with the arrival of players, and some will not arrive due to force majeure. Petković had an MRI. He has an injury but will come, so we'll see. Ivušić is ill; he will not make it to training. Today we will have a lot of worries and discussions, but tomorrow we will be able to say more specifically," Dalić said.

He said that Luka Modrić's performance at the European Championship depends only on him and that he did not expect that he would be the coach for so long.

He also commented on the return of Torcida to the stadium for the Croatia matches.

"I constantly point out that the Croatia national team is a place of gathering and togetherness, which is what we strive for and work on. I'm glad to hear about the return of Torcida. We want the Boys, Kohorta, and Armada to come too. This is Croatia. This is our country, and we must support it. Everyone is welcome. It will be a great support for us. While I'm here, we will gather all Croats and fans," Dalić said.

After the Nations League in June, Croatia will continue their qualificationss with double programs in September (Latvia, Armenia), October (Turkey, Wales), and November (Latvia, Armenia).

"We are the favorites, but we must qualify for the European Championship and be serious. It can be tricky; initially, we have two of our competitors. Turkey is coming back, playing in their stadium, and has a motive. Croatia is a motivation for everyone because we are third in the world. If we are not serious, we will have problems," Dalić said.

He asserted that the tactics would not change much, and against Wales, we should beware of counters and semi-counters. He said it was important not to lose in Turkey and to win against Wales.

Dalić spoke about the selection of attackers and offensive players he has available, and first of all, about Marko Livaja, who will play at "his" Poljud.

"Marko Livaja is playing well, scored 17 goals, and is the top scorer in the league. Poljud is his, and he is at home. He feels very good there. He gave a lot to the national team, he scored a goal in Qatar, and I expect a lot from him," said Dalić and added:

"The position of striker and the right wing was withdrawn in Qatar. When I spoke about having strikers from HNL, you criticized me as if I did not appreciate and respect them. No, I appreciate and respect them. I meant to say they don't play at a certain level every weekend. A striker from Morocco or Davies from Canada plays against strong opponents weekly, but the same cannot be said for our strikers. They need more stimulation. We have quality. We mixed players in rush hour and on the right wing. We played Kramarić, Petković, Livaja... Pašalić or Vlašić on the wing. I'm not inclined to do that, but I don't have a permanent solution. I thought Brekalo would play in Fiorentina, but it didn't happen. We need a speedster. Everyone would play on the left with us, and we didn't have a strong one on the right, so we called Špikić, and he is our potential in the future. We called Musa, so now there's Beljo, then Ljubičić, then Šimić. We have to find another striker before the Euros. I did not write off Budimir because he is not good, but I want to see some other players. I invited Beljo and Musa to see them. We have solutions for the right wing," Dalić said.

Mislav Oršić is not playing for Southampton...

"I feel sorry for Orša, he is not part of the club, but I don't want to lose him. I said that about Vlašić before. He is not fit now, but I want to give him a chance to try to come back. If he doesn't constantly play in his club, he won't be able to play for the national team either," Dalić said.

Finally, he praised Josip Stanišić for his performances with Bayern and the national team.

Source: HRT

March 18, 2023 - The Croatian Football Federation and national team coach Zlatko Dalić have agreed to extend their cooperation until 2026.   

The Croatian Football Federation President Marijan Kustić and Croatia's most successful coach Zlatko Dalić agreed on all the details to continue the extremely successful cooperation. They signed a contract at the headquarters of the Croatian Football Federation, according to which Dalić will remain coach until the end of the cycle that includes the FIFA World Cup in 2026, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

"Zlatko Dalić fulfilled absolutely all the goals that were set before him in these five and a half years, and at the same time, he had two magnificent achievements at the World Cups in Russia and Qatar and led Croatia to silver and bronze medals, thus becoming our most successful coach in history. Therefore, I am extremely pleased that we have agreed to continue our cooperation which has been brilliant so far. Zlatko not only achieved outstanding results but also created a fantastic atmosphere of togetherness within and around the team, and he also showed that he knows how to refresh the team and, at the same time, maintain the continuity of results. As before, Zlatko and the national team will have maximum support from the Federation in their work, and I deeply believe that with him at the helm, we will continue to make Croatia fans worldwide happy," said HNS president Marijan Kustić.

Dalić took over the Vatreni at a difficult time in October 2017. Since then, he has achieved impressive results. The second and third places at the World Cups in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 stand out, but Dalić also advanced to the Nations League final tournament, which will be held in the Netherlands this year, and the round of 16 of Euro 2020. Three times he qualified for the final tournaments, and in two complete qualifying cycles under his leadership, Croatia advanced as the first-placed team in the group.

"I thank President Kustić and the entire HNS for the great trust and the support I have in my work with the national team. I have often pointed out that this job is the greatest honor and pleasure I can have as a coach, and I am truly looking forward to the future with the Croatia national team. Regardless of the wonderful successes we have already achieved, I have great passion and ambition to continue working with Croatia, and I believe that there are still many great challenges ahead. In June, we will try to win the Nations League, and next summer, we want to be part of the spectacular Euro in Germany - the fulfillment of a dream to play in a big competition in front of tens of thousands of our fans. I enjoy working with our players and my great staff, and I can't imagine a more beautiful and honorable job than leading the Croatia national team," coach Zlatko Dalić said.

Source: HNS

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

March 6, 2023 - The EURO 2024 qualifiers begin for Croatia on March 25 against Wales at Poljud in Split.

Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić has chosen 25 players for the EURO 2024 European qualifiers, where Croatia hopes to play in their seventh European championship.

Croatia is placed in group D with Wales, Armenia, Turkey, and Latvia, and the two best teams will directly qualify for the final tournament, which will be held in Germany in 2024.

The Vatreni open the qualifiers on March 25 at home against Wales in Split, and three days later they visit Bursa to face Turkey. After the Nations League final tournament in June, Croatia will continue qualifications with double programs in September (Latvia, Armenia), October (Turkey, Wales), and November (Latvia, Armenia).

Dalić invited 25 players and added four reserves (Grbić, Jakić, Beljo, Špikić).

"We have no reason to change much from the team that won the bronze medal at the World Cup a few months ago, so there are 22 players from Qatar on the list. We called up Luka Ivanušec, who is playing in very good shape with Dinamo, and we have been wanting to see Petar Musa in the national team environment," said coach Dalić.

"Throughout January, it was evident that physically and mentally the World Cup left its mark on the national team members, but I am happy that most of them are getting in shape and I believe that everyone will be in good shape by the time of the gathering. It is extremely important for us to start well in the qualifications, especially because we start against probably the biggest rivals and we can immediately take important steps towards Germany. In this respect, it is good that we are playing the first game at home and I believe that Poljud will be filled to the last place to greet the bronze medalists," Dalić points out.

"We accept the role of favorites in this group - we have the most powerful team and a huge desire to play the Euros in Germany because we know what kind of support we would have from our fans there, that championship is a dream for all of us. However, we have enough experience to know how the qualifications can be and that full concentration and maximum approach is needed in every game, and that's how we will prepare the team, with respect for every opponent," concludes the coach.

Croatia will gather on March 20 in Split, where they will stay until March 27, when they will travel to Bursa.

List of invited players for the matches against Wales and Turkey:

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Nediljko Labrović

Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Borna Barišić, Josip Juranović, Joško Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanišić, Martin Erlić, Josip Šutalo

Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanušec, Luka Sučić

Attackers: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Bruno Petković, Mislav Oršić, Marko Livaja, Petar Musa

Reserves: Ivo Grbić, Kristijan Jakić, Dion Drena Beljo, Dario Špikić

Source: HNS

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

December 16, 2022 - Zlatko Dalić and Mateo Kovačić held Croatia's final pre-match day press conference at the Main Media Center in Qatar on Friday. Croatia and Morocco will fight for the World Cup bronze medal on Saturday at 6 pm local time. 

After Croatia lost to Argentina on Tuesday and Morocco lost to France on Wednesday, the two teams dropped out of the fight for the 2022 World Cup title. They will play the 3rd place play-off on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium. 

Zlatko Dalić and Mateo Kovačić addressed the press at the Main Media Center for the last time. 

Will Modrić play in Euro 2024?

"I hope that he will. How he lives for football and how he feels at 37, I think he will play for Croatia then, too," said Dalić. 

About the World Cup bronze medal match against Morocco 

"This is a big final for us. The fight for the medal. We have the most respect for Morocco, who had an incredible World Cup. I think they think the same as us and will play with the best they have like us. This is the game for third place in the world. This is a big final for two small nations," Dalić. 

"Of course, we were sad after the semi-final. We wanted to be in the final, but it didn't work out that way. But our focus is on the game tomorrow. It's a big game, and we want to bring home the bronze medal," said Kovačić.

How does this compare to the 'Bronze Generation' in 1998?

"1998 was the first medal for our country from our football team. This was the beginning of our success. This is slightly different as we have now won the silver medal, but we want to be 3rd after being 2nd in the world. Every medal for us is a big thing. We are a small country," said Dalić. 

"We all remember 1998. We all hoped that one day we would achieve the same thing. To have a chance to win a medal for the second time in 4 years is a huge thing. We will give everything we can to achieve that," said Kovačić. 

Are all players ready?

"This is our 7th game in a month; we played extra time twice. We have some injuries - Juranović, Brozović, and Gvardiol. We will see how the rest of the day goes. We only want to play the players that are 100% ready. We don't want to play players that have problems. It will be challenging for the players who can't play, but we need to do what is best for the team," said Dalić. 

"We want to return home with the bronze medal. We have a big welcome reception waiting for us. We can't wait to come home," said Kovačić. 

"Morocco reminds me of us four years ago. Tomorrow will be much tougher than the first game. We have so much respect for them and are blown away by what they have achieved here," said Dalić. "When you look at the teams they have eliminated and beaten, it is amazing."

"We have no idea what our team will be or do in four years. So we are only focusing on that bronze medal tomorrow," said Kovačić.  

And Croatia's future?

"Croatia has a very bright future. We needed some players from this current generation to stay with us to help the younger players transition into the national team," said Dalić. 

"The older players have shown just how much Croatia means to us and how much longer we want to keep playing for Croatia," said Kovačić. 

December 8, 2022 - Croatia and Brazil will meet in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final on Friday at Education City Stadium. Kick-off is at 6 pm local tie or 4 pm Croatia time.

The Croatia national football team will face the biggest test at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Friday - the quarter-final match against Brazil.

Brazil is the favorite to win the World Cup, which would be their sixth title in history and first in the last 20 years. They played brilliantly in their last-16 tie against South Korea, winning 4-1, while Croatia struggled against Japan, advancing only after penalties. 

At the last press conference before the match, coach Zlatko Dalić and captain Luka Modrić expressed their thoughts.

"I think we did a very big thing by reaching the quarter-final, but regardless, I want more. We know that perhaps the biggest game of the tournament awaits us against one of the biggest favorites. They are always the favorites, but at this World Cup they are rightfully so. We have to be real, give our best, and play our best game and then we have a chance. If we just settle for being there, then it will be difficult, but we believe in our strength, and that is how we will position ourselves on the pitch tomorrow," said Modrić.

Are all the players ready, and will there be any changes?

"There was not much time for preparation, and today we will train and prepare. Sosa trained, we won't make many changes. Placing among the eight with an almost new national team is a great success. But we will play fair, try to fight for something better," said Dalić.

Can Luka's knowledge of Casemiro and Vinicius help Croatia?

"Vini is a great guy, we have a great relationship, he is in incredible shape, and since he came to Real, he has improved greatly. Tomorrow we have a difficult task to stop him. I will surely help my teammates with details on how to neutralize him more easily. Everyone is fighting for himself and their country." 

Which of Croatia's past matches will the game against Brazil be most similar to?

"This will be the most demanding match for us. Maybe we would compare it to the final in Moscow against France if we were to compare. Out of 11 games at two World Cups, we did well in ten and only lost to France. Croatia is the only smaller country that, after success at one World Cup, repeated it at another, maybe the only one in history that immediately after the final made it to the top eight at the next World Cup," says Dalić.

"I agree with the coach, the final against France is similar to tomorrow's match, that's the ranking," Modrić continued.

What does Dalić think about Brazil's dancing after scoring?

"That makes them happy; they have their nature and character, and they have the right to that. It is their nation, and it looks beautiful."

Does Dalić think that this is a stronger Croatia team than from 2018?

"This is a new national team with 18 new players who did not play then, and it cannot be compared. That generation played together for ten years; those players played in the world's biggest clubs. This team is different, we need time, but they are lucky to have the remaining six from Russia with whom they can grow. These guys still have many games to prove themselves, but they have potential and quality."

What is the key to tomorrow?

"We played against Brazil several times and haven't beaten them yet, but I hope this tradition will change. Brazil has phenomenal players in all positions, so we will have to be very aggressive, run at the right level, not let them play; that will be very important," says Modrić.

Did Modrić watch Brazil's loss to Cameroon?

"I didn't have the chance to watch the match between Brazil and Cameroon, but Brazil did not play with the strongest team in that match. Of course, this is not a benchmark, but it certainly indicates that they can be defeated."

Does Croatia expect another extra time finish on Friday?

"If it comes to that, that last match with Japan gave us great confidence. Each match is for itself, we will see what will happen, but we are ready for anything."

How would Dalić compare Croatia's game against Argentina in 2018 and against Brazil tomorrow?

"Maybe they are similar games, but then we had Argentina in the group stage, and this is the knockout round. Of course, we will apply a similar recipe to narrow down the space for Neymar, but I think he has better support from his teammates than Messi did four years ago."

Do they consider Brazil a big favorite in tomorrow's game?

"They always favor big teams, but we have shown many times that the favorites don't always win. We appreciate every national team and their qualities, but we also appreciate ourselves," Modrić replied.

Did Croatia learn from Serbia's defeat to Brazil?

"We watched that match. Serbia played great for an hour, but they got nervous when some situations started. Until Brazil scored, the game was almost even. Brazil played after the goal, and Serbia could not follow that rhythm and fell. We must not do that; we must be disciplined and return to our formation. Serbia played well until they conceded a goal, said Dalić.

Will Modrić continue playing for Croatia?

"I can repeat that I don't think about the future. We'll see how long I'll be around. I am concentrating on this World Cup; there will be time to consider the future. I don't have a tactic for rejuvenation like there was for growth. If you have it, let me know," Luka jokingly replied to the journalist.

What can we expect from Croatia tomorrow?

"We play the way we play; sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not so good. But we always do our best. We will see what Croatia will be like tomorrow. We are ready, we will give our best, and I believe we can do a great thing," says Modrić.

Journalists also asked Luka to comment on the strength of Brazil and Argentina.

"These are giants of world football, two world teams with many great players. I enjoy watching them; playing against such teams is a pleasure. Playing against them is a holiday for football and something everyone wants, especially in big competitions like the World Cup."

Brazil is dangerous from all sides.

"Brazil is the best team at this World Cup, faster, more energetic, and more diverse than others, and they can come from all sides. They use all the templates; you don't know where the danger comes from. We have no chance if we give them too much space and time. We want to try to get the ball. We must position ourselves well, not fall out of the system and block, and constantly play as a team. It is important not to give them space because it is difficult when they receive the ball."

Why did Dalić replace Modrić so early in the match against Japan?

"It wasn't early; it was the 100th minute. We talked, me and Luka always agreed; I didn't decide on my own. We ran a lot, I had to refresh the team, and I had to make substitutions. We passed, and it turned out well. Luka will always play as long as he can. That's why Luka will be more rested tomorrow than if he had played 120 minutes," Dalić believes.

Tomorrow Modrić is playing against many Real Madrid teammates.

"I am looking forward to playing against former and current teammates. Of course, we will be friends before and after the game, but everyone is fighting for their country and for themselves on the field."

How will coach Dalić motivate the players?

"You don't need a bigger motive than the World Cup quarter-final against Brazil. I'm sure these guys dreamed of such matches. We don't have much to lose; we must fight back as best we can. We have already achieved great success but want more, although we would prefer to play them in the final."

Does Modrić miss Rakitić in the midfield?

"Unfortunately, Ivan is not with us, but Mateo is here, who replaced him very well. So we are good again, maybe not as in Russia, but we have an excellent team."

How is Croatia so successful in sports with less than four million inhabitants?

"Croatia is very talented; we have talents in all sports, not only in football. I don't have a particular explanation. We love sports; talents are born, and good work is done in football schools, where a lot of work is done with children. We are a talented nation; it's hard for me to say why that is," concluded captain Modrić. 

Source: HRT

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

December 2, 2022 - Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić addressed the press the morning after Croatia secured their World Cup round of 16 spot. Croatia will play Japan on Monday, and Dalić gave his first impressions. 

The Croatia national team will play in the 2022 World Cup round of 16 against Japan, the winner of Group E. Second-placed Croatia will thus face a rather unexpected opponent for a spot in the quarter-final. Coach Zlatko Dalić spoke to the press in Qatar the morning after Groups E and F were completed. 

Recall Croatia and Morocco drew 0-0 in the opening match, after which Croatia beat Canada 4-1 and finished 0-0 against Belgium, enough to win second place in Group F. Croatia thus crosses over with the winner of Group E, Japan, which lost to Costa Rica 0-1, and beat Germany and Spain 2-1.

Have you had time to analyze the match against Belgium one more time?

"I looked at it last night in peace, I got the statistics, and the impression is better than yesterday. Great match by Croatia, great 98 minutes. Control, defense, pressing - everything was at the highest level. Full control. We had two or three situations that could have been fatal, but they came from our mistakes, not Belgium's game.

The complete story was great. There were so many good things. According to statistics, we ran 122 kilometers and did not fail in that segment. Everything we did was very, very good. The impression after the recording is better than after the game."

What awaits Croatia against Japan?

"Tough game for both teams. Spain took the lead and thought it was over, but Japan never wavers and never gives up. Japan deserved to win because they were compact and fast. Germany was eliminated, and Belgium and Denmark, which speaks of the quality of the other national teams. Maybe earlier, we would have chosen Japan as the best option, but they beat Germany and Spain, and Japan is anything but an easy opponent."

How is Croatia doing physically?
"We work very well all the time; training is at a high level. We didn't fail the physical fitness part, and I'm not afraid of that. We have to rest for two days and prepare for Japan, but we are full of energy and motivation. We want to avoid injury. We can't rest the whole team, but it's not necessary either."

How would you rate Japan as a team, and what will be critical for that game?
"If someone finishes first in the group ahead of Spain and Germany, they are good and quality. Japan showed that they do not give up. They came back after losing and have great quality. We must be disciplined and patient and not make mistakes at the beginning of the game. Japan punishes it with counterattacks. We have to have a good comeback."

How does it feel to be statistically one of the best coaches at the World Cup?
"I will look at it from the aspect of Croatian football and the national team. We have continuity; we are always at the top. Along with Germany and France, we are the only ones with medals in the last 20 years. We are a small country; we must be happy and proud. It's not my success, but it's the success of all of us. I hope this is not the end and that Croatia will do better and bigger things.

We have become a team that deserves the respect I'm talking about, not that we play at 1 pm as World Cup finalists. We deserved it with the results. However this ends, it is a fact."

What is the next goal?
"Appetites have not increased. We must be calm and modest and look for what is most important. It's the next game. We must not think that we have done great things. We did what we were preparing for, and we are moving on. When we were first in the group with nine points in Russia in 2018, we went to Denmark. I said then that we would have been losers if we had lost that game. No one would remember the group.

It is the same now. We will not go with big announcements. We will try to win the next game and take the next step. We must be firmly on the ground. We know that Japan has a lot of players in Europe, or eight of them in the Bundesliga. They also have players at Celtic, good players in the championship. The Japan coach knows European football. Japan will be a worthy rival to Croatia.

I'm not surprised that Japan is in the round of 16. They deserved it with their games and quality, and I congratulate them on that."

Dalić commented on the photo of Joško Gvardiol in his mother's arms.

"It warmed my heart when I saw it. That's why he's the best stopper in the world; you can't be complete if you don't have those feelings. That picture is the picture of the Croatia national team. I congratulate his mother for raising such a son."

And what about that VAR call in last night's match?
"I don't usually comment on the reffing, but I was angry. It's a centimeter; it takes away the emotion. Because of this, Croatia lost the World Cup title. It hurts. If this were the interpretation, that hand in Russia would not be a penalty."

Source: Index.hr

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November 28, 2022 - Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić addressed the press after Croatia's crucial World Cup win against Canada on Sunday night at Khalifa International Stadium. 

Zlatko Dalić opened the conference by saying he was surprised by Belgium in their first two World  Cup matches. Belgium beat Canada 1-0 and lost to Morocco 0-2. Croatia will play their last Group F match against Belgium. A draw is good enough for Croatia to advance into the last 16.

"In the first game against Canada, Belgium had a bad start, but they managed to win. Big national teams win games even when they don't play well. Against Morocco, they had several opportunities, and when they went for it all or nothing, they conceded the second goal. However, they are not happy with their performance, and I expect a much better Belgium against us," he said. 

Dalić was asked if he was under stress ahead of Canada. 

"Every game is stressful for me. It's like that; that's us. I have no problem with that. We played well against Canada, but it's a small step; if we don't confirm it with Belgium, we haven't done anything," he added. 

"We can't get carried away with the match, we had a little fun, but now the preparation for Belgium begins. We have quality, I believe we can, and we will look for it. The data that we ran 120 kilometers is great; we outran and outplayed Canada. A very good match. We haven't been this good in all segments of the game for a long time."

He also spoke about Andrej Kramarić and his position in the team.

"Media are creating that drama around him. Instead of asking about his scoring, you ask what his position is. Got some better questions? The two of us resolved everything two years ago. He will play what he is told; he understands that and made up his mind. So be silent, work, and it'll come back to him."

The midfield played together for several years, culminating in the silver medal in Russia.

"It is difficult to replace Rakitić, but we need Kovačić as he was yesterday. With his vertical conquest of the pitch. When the team struggled yesterday, he kept the game's rhythm. In preparations, we said that the most important thing is to break through the first block; if we break through that, everything opens up. The team was fantastic, but Andrej and Mateo might have been a shade better."

The coach spoke about whether he knew the squad for Belgium.

"We will see the situation with the players today at training. I think everyone who entered justified their role. We planned to start with Marko Livaja, so later, Bruno entered the game. We were thinking about whether it would be Budimir or Petković. We ran enough, and the solution was to put a player to guard the ball. He replaced Marko, and I think that was good. I am happy we have guys on the bench who can come in and continue in the same rhythm."

A Belgian journalist asked Dalić to explain why it was difficult for Croatia to play against Belgium in the last ten years.

"For the last ten years, Belgium has been at a high level. For five years, they were first in the FIFA ranking. They played great, won bronze at the World Cup, and were always in the finals. That's why it was difficult to beat them because they are a great team."

Canadian coach John Herdman did not congratulate Zlatko Dalić after the game.

"I experienced that twice in my career. When we beat Argentina and now. I don't remember leaving the pitch in my career without congratulating whoever beat me. I think it's basic culture, but I won't get into that. As far as I have seen and filmed, the gentleman is a good coach, promising, and has ambition, but he is young and will learn the latter."

Belgium is a crucial match. The most important thing is that Croatia rests well in the next two days.

"To repeat the approach, the same desire, and energy. We still have good reserves. Ivan Perišić was very dangerous, and he set up two goals. A slightly different role than against Morocco. He played more forward, like Kramarić. It is very important against Belgium that our midfield is at a high level. It is important not to make these small mistakes because the opponent will punish them. We mustn't have black holes like in the first 10 minutes against Canada."

When asked who he would like in the round of 16, Spain, Germany, or Japan, Dalić concluded:

"Japan."

Source HRT

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November 22, 2022 -  Croatia meets Morocco in their first match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday. Coach Zlatko Dalić and captain Luka Modrić addressed the press one day before the big game. 

Croatia's first 2022 World Cup match is on Wednesday against Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium. The teams meet at 13:00 local time. 

"There is no easy opponent here. We appreciate and respect Morocco, and we expect a tough match," said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić ahead of the team's first World Cup match.

"We followed Saudi Arabia's win and Tunisia's draw. Everyone plays well, and surprises are possible. Therefore, we will enter with maximum respect," added Dalić. 

Croatia had only a week of preparations, but Dalić is satisfied with what was done.

"We used this time to get used to the conditions that awaited us. I am very satisfied. We are ready," Dalić said, revealing how he decided on the starting lineup. 

"We chose the highest quality in terms of energy and experience. We don't have any doubts anymore; the guys know the lineup. We have experience and energy, and we have a good mix. A challenging match awaits us. I believe we made the right choice," he said. "Livaja has also recovered and has no problems."

Dalić also spoke about Morocco's quality. 

"We analyzed them. They are a great team. They are well organized. They have great individuals in all positions. I don't want to comment on their decision to change the coach. Halilhodžić is an excellent coach, but that is their business."

According to the latest announcements, Morocco could play with a home atmosphere.

"I know that they will be particularly motivated and that they will have a lot of fans. We are careful and full of respect. We have to be at the maximum level."

Croatia arrived in Doha as the 2018 World Cup finalists and has a series of excellent results behind them. Dalić agreed that Croatia's rivals certainly look at them differently.

"We've had a lot of opponents, and they look at us better than before Russia. We are worthy; we are aware of it. However, we must be realistic and objective. The pressure is high, and the expectations are high. We will not fall into such a trap, and we will go one game at a time. I believe in this team."

Dalić pointed out that Croatia is one of the few in the world who has won two World Cup medals in the last 20 years.

"In the last 20 years, we have won two medals. And there should be commotion around us, but we are preparing in peace. Of course, the first game is important, a good start is important, but it is not crucial," said Dalić.

Modrić also commented on retiring from the national team.

"I haven't made a decision yet. I don't want it to be a topic at the World Cup. I'm here to enjoy and play a good tournament. We'll see how far we can go. We have faith in our abilities. If we play like before, we can do a lot. Tomorrow we have a tough match. I believe we can play well and hope for a favorable result", said Modrić.

Source: HRT and HNS

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