Croatia, current runners-up with no ‘wow factor’

MADRID, 17 Nov. (PRESS EUROPE) –

The Croatian team will go to the World Cup in Qatar with the complicated mission of having to defend their status as current world vice-champion, a very high level for a team that is always competitive and slightly renewed compared to 2018.

The Croatian team starts as one of the candidate series in Group F of this World Cup to go to the round of 16, a round in which they could cross paths with the Spanish team, their executioner in 2021 in the Eurocup, always in the round of 16 frenetic and regulated with a spectacular 5-3 after extra time.

The team coached by Zlatko Dalic intends to stay at the forefront and get another good result, even if it no longer has that ‘wow factor’ it could have had so much in 1998 in France, when it surprised with the semifinals, and four years ago in Russia where no one was counting on him to reach the final, clearly lost (4-2) against France.

That of Qatar will be the sixth participation in a World Cup for a Croatia which, despite these two great results, resolved the other three appearances with disappointment by not passing the group stage, a minimum objective which must now be required in a Group F with the candidate Belgium, Morocco and Canada. Between the success of 1998 and that of 2018, in fact, he managed to win only two World Cup matches.

The current runner-up of the world had to fight a tough battle to get the direct ticket to the tournament with Russia, which they only surpassed by one point, even if they lost only one game, at home against Slovenia (1-0). , and has shown defensive strength that continues to be key with only four goals conceded.

As for 2018, coach Zlatko Dalic keeps the key players of that success in his block, led by veteran Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, who at 37 will play in his last World Cup, eager to show that he continues at a high level .

At his side are goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), defenders Domagoj Vida (AEK) and Dejan Lovren (Zenit), midfielders Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) and Marcelo Brozovic (Inter), and forwards Ivan Perisic (Tottenham); He also survives Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) in a team that has lost other figures like Ivan Rakitic or Mario Mandzukic.

LOVRO MAJER, THE HEIR? BY MODRIC

And among the new faces that Croatia has is that of one of the new talents who regularly emerge from football in the country, Lovro Majer, the 24-year-old midfielder from French Rennes who could fill the difficult role of being the heir. Luka Modric in the selection.

A lefty of great quality who has already aroused the interest of some of Europe’s ‘big boys’, Majer, a ’10’ like Zara’s and with great passing ability, hopes to shine in the showcase which is a World Cup to give the leap to a more renowned team, even if it has a lot of competition in the middle where it can contribute its freshness and youth.

DALIC, THE FIREFIGHTER ARRIVED ON TIME

The coaching position in Croatia remains in the hands of Zlatko Dalic, who remained on a bench where he arrived as an emergency replacement for the sacked Ante Cacic to qualify his national team for the World Cup in Russia and with whom he now has a contract until Euro 2024.

The former midfielder, who spent his entire career in Croatia until his retirement in 2000, found the stability he had lacked until then in the national team and his good hand continues to be felt in a team that under his guide lost only 17 of his 62 meetings.

DATA SHEET.

-World Cup participations: 6 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022).

-Best result: Runner-up (2018).

-How they qualified: First in group H of the European zone.

– First phase calendar:

23/11 11.00 Al Khor Morocco – Croatia.

27/11 17.00 Ar-Rayyan Croatia – Canada.

01/12 16.00 Ar-Rayyan Croatia – Belgium.