Croatia needed a play-off to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018. But there they dismantled Greece 4-1 on aggregate. Heading into Russia 2018, Croatia will be one of the teams to watch. Partly because of their fantastic midfield. But perhaps most for their entertaining football under Zlatko Dalic. Russia 2018 might go on to be classic in Croatian folklore.
Croatias squad
Coach Zlatko Dalic
Dalic was brought into the role after Croatia didnt secure an automatic qualification spot and took control of the two play-off ties. The task was to beat Greece and lead Croatia to Russia 2018. Croatia won 4-1 at home and drew 0-0 away. Job done for Dalic. Going into the summer it remains to be seen how he sets the team up. Going by his first few games its going to be a 4-2-3-1 in attack and 4-4-1-1 in defence.
Goalkeepers
Danijel Subasic, Lovre Kalinic, Dominik Livakovic
Defenders
Vedran Corluka, Ivan Strinic, Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko, Josip Pivaric, Tin Jedvaj, Matej Mitrovic, Duje Caleta-Car
Midfielders
Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic, Milan Badelj, Marcelo Brozovic, Filip Bradaric
Forwards
Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Nikola Kalinic, Marko Pjaca, Ante Rebic
Dalic tactics
Defensively, Dalic sets Croatia up in a 4-4-1-1. Dalic wants Croatia to press high and theyll do the same in Russia. They use a very man-orientated press as you can see below. Each player pushes up against an opponent on the ball-near side to remove the option to go short. The exception is Ivan Rakitic (white circle) in the middle who covers the pressing action of Brozovic. At the same time though, if the ball is switched, Rakitic is ready to mark the opponent to his right.
Below is another example of how their press works and how Rakitic as the ball-far central midfielder once again covers his midfield teammate. Croatia normally steer the opponent to Croatias left where they then look to press aggressively.
And below is a third example with Raki
