Has Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić made up his mind or is he playing psychological warfare?
Sportske Novosti is reporting the above starting lineup for Croatia on Saturday as they face Nigeria in their World Cup opener (3PM ET).
Based on the two latest friendlies against Brazil and Senegal, it appeared Dalić would deploy Badelj and Rakitić in the CDM roles with Modrić able to roam further up the field and be a larger part of the offense. If this formation holds true, Badelj would ride the bench as Rakitić and Modrić would play further back which enables Kramarić to play behind Mandžukić as the second striker. As expected, Rebić and Perišić will play on the wings.
On the defensive side of things, Ćorluka would sit with Lovren and Vida anchoring the back with Vrsaljko and Strinić on the sides. Croatia’s left back situation is what has been worrisome but will Strinić be able to get the job done if this lineup holds true?
We will find out Saturday if this is Croatia’s true starting lineup or if Dalić is trying to “dummy” the Nigerians.
BZ what are you watching?? Mandzukic like a wrestler out there, the only dirty player we have. He starts 80 percent of that bullshit. Spends more time flailing his arms and laying on the ground than playing
^ ^
I’m sure Mandza never partakes in those dark arts. 😉
If Mandzukic starts, hopefully refs use VAR to exhibit how often people jump into him, foul him, elbow him, and hold him as he goes for headers.
He should just take his pants off rafael
@anonymous
Ronaldo pulled his shorts up and then scored a free kick. If that works then Perisic should do it too.
SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
RONALDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
@ Lika Joey
Funny .. call me the homer of all homer’s … but I have never seen Mandzukic miss those type of opportunities in front of goal?
Dude is a WORLD-CLASS finisher.
He contorts his body in any way possible to put that ball over the goal line.
Now … he does need a bit of service and that is what seems to be the Dalic strategy for Nigeria.
I am feeling some big time performances from Perisic and Mandzukic. They seem the type of dudes that embrace this type of physical challenge that Nigeria will present us.
T – 24 hours !!
U boj ..
I’m worried about Perisic, being a primadonna, ever since he painted the flag in his hair. When you see clips of us practicing, he always has his shorts pulled up to make it look like he’s wearing a fucki
ng bikini, what’s the point.?? To show off his legs to his teammates??? Gimme a damn break, get your head out of your ass and stop with the bullshit.
@ Ante K
That’s a whole lotta Firepower up front. I think Dalic is going with an offensive line up vs Nigeria to score a buncha goals. Because ultimately the winner of the group might come down to goal differential.
Look to see Badelj back in the line up for the Argentina match to add some steel to defense.
Nice to Mandzukic back in the line up vs Nigeria (although I think he’ll be dropped in favor of Badelj vs Argentina). He’s the perfect “Battering Ram” to lead this type of assault.
One thing that’s kinda cool about Mandzo is that he’s cultivated a heel-like persona off the pitch (as well as on), he goes by the name “Mr. No-Good.” Would be kinda interesting if football borrowed more things from professional wrestling, adding personas and storylines to the mix–just add some more Hype and Excitement to the matches.
I like the whole Griezmann decision gimmick, adds more Hype!
Totally possible the team asked Griezmann to do it that way to build some hype, good PR that he’s staying etc.
@tgad
Scoring six goals?!. Ha!. Croatia couldn’t do that tomorrow if they were playing Malta
I have my concerns about being over run in the midfield by only playoff two midfielders
You take the strongest aspect of your team and concede it to the other team
But you know what, I’m actually content he’s going to try this high pressing attack style
Croatia can’t score goals. Despite supposedly having one of the best midfields in the world, they attack down the wing and via crosses more than any team in the world cup (which is not an effective way to score by the way)
No surprise they can go 400 minutes without scoring a goal and being one of the worst goal scoring teams to ever qualify
So maybe this high press will make the game a little messiwr and give Croatia more chances
@lika Joey. Oh they bitch in Uruguay just as much as hrv.
Suarez, with ugly misses today! If that was Mandzukic for us we would bitch for 10 years.
@ Svima
Big time insights by the recent posts.
Dalić sees the game as a quality manager that has been involved in important matches.
Modrić – Lovren – Perišić (or Rebić) will hold down Strinic (who only needs to perform to his ability).
Then as stated Nigeria will have to deal with 45 minutes of our own attacking pressure.
Second half we bring in 3 quality subs who inject even more footballing presence.
The key is in the first 45 mins when Croatia welcome Nigeria to the World Cup Vatreni style.
Then the German coach is the halftime trying to catch up and the Nigerian team lose faith and attempt to do it solo and THEN it is GAME ON!
That is a lineup designed to determine the match in the first half and keep the ball in Nigeria’s defensive third. Strinic and Vrsaljko won’t even need to play defense if the strikers and wingers apply enough pressure. That lineup is basically a 2-4-4, which is how we play when things are going well anyway.
What we know, in any case, is that Dalic is a proper manager. He is either continuing his psychological games with the opposition or putting out a tactical lineup where offense is the priority. Maybe we give up a goal or two down the left flank, but that won’t matter if we score 6, which we have done before when Mandzukic and Kramaric played together.
but look at russia yesterday. see? you can have all the reservations about any team but you never know until the day, the guy came of the bench to score 2 (2!!!!) world class wonder goals. if cheryshev can do it then so can any one else. pjaca, rebic, kramaric, perisic, mandzukic, rakitic, modric, kovacic, brozovic…please guys forget your clubs, drink from the cup of world cup magic. Eid mubarak. U Boj!!!
nigeria are good in midfield, not as good as us though. weak at the back. dangerous in attack
moses vs strinic is a no contest i’m afraid. but football is a team game, if we control possession effectively moses will be starved of the ball in dandegrous positions, hopefully he’ll spend most of the match helping his fullback deal with perisic. nigeria are very weak at fullback. both their left and right backs are worse than strinic….
Izbaci Mandzukica iz prve postave i sretan sam. Nek Kramaric igra na vrhu napada. Ak bude mandzo igrao, pun kurac zicera bude se fulo.
In Ivan(def not strinic) Perišić we trust!
You put Modrić back there on the left and Strinic gets 10x better instantly.
Modrić has that effect where ever he is deployed.
I liked him forward, but with this line up against Nigeria, we need his stabilizing presence to transform a weak area for us.
Once again Modrić is providing REAL leadership.
T – 36 hrs
I feel like whoever wins our left side battle will win the game; Strinic vs Moses. I got faith in Strinic.
Yeah I got you.
But he just seems like the type that likes attention.
From his hairdos and dance moves and now this.
Whatevs, to each his own.
This is a first in football that I’m aware of though.
Anywho, how about this one more time!
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DucG1msQaldE&ved=0ahUKEwj3wcid8dPbAhUBM30KHRgSDZkQyCkIJzAA&usg=AOvVaw3_9UfC2LEJ41IMhJQyzEF4
https://youtu.be/MzH3LFGHL-k
Great documentary ^^^
@ Poglavnik – agreed but why dramatize and create this hype? I still think it’s immature and disrespectful to take your fans for a ride like that. Griezmann is not Lebron. Ronaldo wouldn’t even do that.
Whatever who cares, just my 2 cents. He could very well just be trolling Barca and or nerds like myself who end posting about it. That sneaky little bastard.
It figures Griezmann and Pogba get along so well..
At least it was a video to say he’s staying.
Shouldn’t upset any particular fan base with that.
lol
Anyone see or hear about Griezmann’s decision video? What’s with these players these days.
I get that soem guys just don’t mesh well for a thousand different reasons
But how can modric and rakitic two top class pros who understand the game greatly just can’t make it work
Badelj Brozo kovacic on bench
So much depth
But for the love of Croatia someone teach their son LB position!!
i’d love to see that line up. biggest worry for me would be rakitic modric partnership in midfield. apart from that i hope dalic goes with this…we need a positive start. we can do it
Rebić is going to bum rush Nigeria and if gets a yellow, bring on Pjaca.
He has grown under Kovač.
Speed on the wings!!!
That’s a pretty beast line up.
1 worry aside from Strinic and Lovren is Rebic. He gets a lot of cards. Just saying.
I like it. Very explosive.
@ Ante
Dalić plus one for actually evaluating the two games and then going with the crew he feels can produce the win.
He makes the early second half subs and we will reallly be in busy.
T – 42 hours.
Uvijek vjerni
I think he figures he doesnt need Badelj vs Nigeria, he will play vs Argentina tho
WE’RE GONNA DO IT BOYS!!!
I’m fine with this as well. Lots of firepower all around.
I’m just surprised that Badelj is out after starting him the past 2 games.
Lineup looks good enough to me.
I don’t t mind revealing this.
It’s a confident move. Let them worry about us!
No big surprises to anyone that follows this team.
We tinkered with Modric higher up but this is his natural position.