EURO 2021 analysis: Croatia can shine, even though the golden generation is past its prime

Croatia will not be one of the main favourites to win the European Championship this year, but it should not be underestimated. Coach Zlatko Dalić has put together a very interesting squad once again, even though the golden generation has its best years behind it.

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Lovre Kalinic (Hajduk Split), Simon Sluga (Luton)

The number one between the three sticks is more or less clear. Dominik Livakovic has been catching almost all the games and unless something unexpected happens, it will be no different at the Euro. Lovre Kalinic and Simon Sluga will have his back.

Defenders: Šime Vrsaljko (Atlético Madrid), Borna Barišić (Rangers), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Marseille), Dejan Lovren (Zenit), Josip Juranović (Legia Warsaw), Domagoj Vida (Beşiktaş), Joško Gvardiol (Leipzig), Domagoj Bradarić (Lille), Mile Škorić (Osijek)

Coach Dalic doesn’t experiment with the defence. It’s always a four-man lineup, and is there anyone jumping in at a position where they don’t belong? There is no danger. Probably the main four will consist of Vrsaljko, Vida, Ćaleta-Car and Barišić from the right.

But alternatives in the form of Lovren or the very talented Bradaric and Guardiola will definitely find their use as well.

Midfielders: Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Genoa), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moscow), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Ivan Perišić (Inter Milan), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb), Luka Ivanušec (Dinamo Zagreb)

The midfield continues to be probably the strongest side of the Croats. The great quality offers Dalic many options to assemble the midfield line, so there are various options in play.

Kovačić and Brozović can play central midfielders with Modrić in front of them, while in the case of a more offensive line-up Brozović can run the defence and Modrić and Vlasic can operate in front of him. Badelj, Pašalić and Perišić also have huge qualities, Brekalo and Oršić on the wings can also make a big impact.

Croatia can put together a midfield virtually any way they want and it won’t be a weak lineup by any means.

Strikers: Ante Rebić (AC Milan), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim)

The composition of the attack will also be a mystery. Prior to the tournament, Perisic was on the spearhead, Kramaric at other times, and occasionally Pašalić and Rebić as an added bonus. If it was written about the defence that the players play in their positions, the midfield and attack are completely opposite and Dalić can rotate players in the offensive positions at will.

Croatia’s opponents will therefore have to deal with the fact that Croatia’s game, apart from being offensive, will not be very legible.

Luka Modric’s form and coach Dalić’s lucky hand

Luka Modric is a fantastic player and there is no doubt that Croatia’s success or failure at this championship will rest on his shoulders. Although he won’t have the same team around him as he did at the last World Cup, he still has quality teammates.

But at that moment, the responsibility shifts to coach Zlatko Dalic, who has many options to put the line-up together. However, with a certain amount of exaggeration it can be said that Croatia is a tournament team, so unstable results and poor form before the Euros cannot be taken as a telling factor.

The Croatians are capable of beating even the best teams, and they are equally capable of squeezing their equal opponents. We certainly can’t expect Dalic’s charges to play anything other than attacking, quite the opposite. Offense is the main weapon of this team and on paper the team is well put together.

England, Czech Republic and Scotland must certainly not write off the Croatians prematurely. On the contrary, they will have to be on their guard. Croatia could be the dark horse of the tournament once again.

Semi-finals

Sources: Transfermarkt, Livesport, HNS