Croatia managed to qualify for the Euro, after a second place in Group H, behind only Italy, even with having seen UEFA penalize them with the loss of one point due to racist behaviour in the game against Italy, at Stadion Poljud in Split.
Despite being in France, there are many questions hanging around new coach Ante Čačić. Since taking office, his inexperience and inability to settle on a tactical formation are constant subject for debate, reaching new heights during one of the last friendlies, switching through four formations during the same same match.
On the defensive side of the ball, two heavy losses on the Croatian side. Dejan Lovren is not a part of Cacic plans after last March when the Liverpool center-back allegedly refused to warm-up in a friendly against Hungary, and Josip Privaric who also misses the trip to France due to injury. Srna and Corluka should have their place guaranteed and Vida plays in the middle or on the left side. In the first scenario Vrsaljko should be the substitute of Privaric, otherwise Schildenfeld will be pairing Corluka in the middle.
Whatever defense enters the pitch, the foundation for Croatia’s success is the quality of its midfield. Marko Pjaca aside, from Dinamo Zagreb, it takes a simple look at the clubs of his sector partners to realize how strong the Croatians are here. Brozovic and Perisic from Inter Milan, Real Madrid’s Modric and Rakitic from Barça. Also suited for Pjaca’s position is Kovacic, the former Inter and current Real Madrid’s rising prospect
Every combination of these players results in a line with a highly evolved technique and a working capacity well above average, ensuring that the front line is correctly served.
Asking questions in attack is Mandzukic, with his “rather break than bend” style, after a regular season for Juventus (27J 10G), despite the qualifiers where he contributed with only 1 of the 20 goals that put Croatia in France.
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