The Croatian national football team completed the last training session during the preparations in Rijeka, and before going to the World Cup, Vatren have to play a Sunday friendly match against Slovenia in Varaždin.
Selector Zlatko Dalić is satisfied with what has been done.
The last training is done, we finish the first cycle tomorrow. I am very satisfied with how we trained. Against Belgium, the result was not good and that disturbed us a bit. We wanted to give minutes to everyonewe wanted to get three players back in shape through the game, Kovacic, Modric and Guardiola. There is no drama, both France and the Netherlands lost. Everyone makes ten changes, this is the last chance to try all the players. Everything is great. We will go 4-2-3-1, we are changing the system. All in all I am satisfied, it was announced from of HNS.
About changing the system…
That was the plan. Nothing made me do that and I have no doubts. We learned lessons from Belgium and we do what we do.
About two principles: form and hierarchy…
You have known my system for nine years and we have won two medals. Hierarchy is very important to me, this is not a club, this is a national team. Form is important and that’s why we will try more players. There is no room to question my work and my logicthe results prove it. This is not a club, but a national team. I stick to my principles and what led me and Croatia to the results.
About the growth of players, Modric, Guardiola and Kovacic…
We are getting the players back into rhythm, they are working well and that is important. We want to get them back in shapebut if they are not at the peak of their capabilities, we have alternatives. Vušković is correct, he works well, he is top in training. He has a guard in him so that the pressure doesn’t eat him.
About the match with Slovenia…
A game that gives us a chance to try new things. We are looking at the games against Ghana and Panama so that we will play different systems there, and we are looking for the game against Slovenia to be a good motivation for us. The Slovenians will try to cause us problems, we will try to be real.
About the importance of building a camp…
It is a very important thing, it should have been much earlier, that Croatia has its own camp. This national team deserves the camp after everything she has done in history.
About Sucic’s position…
Sučić was in a relationship with Luka and it worked well. Against Belgium, we pushed him alongside Baturina because they are younger and more scattered. Petar is a versatile playerhe’s just growing and he’s good. Luka Sučić has a great left foot, he is technically phenomenal. He has a place in the national team, we put him on the left flank, we have to improve his defense, but he is always ready and works well.
About Tony Frock…
He was unlucky with the hand injury, he is unquestionable and will get his minutes.
On working with players who can play multiple positions…
It is a boon for the selectors. It’s more important that the player wants to accept it and wherever they are put they do it. Everyone has their favorite position, but there is no choice in the national team. All tasks are completed.
About the preparatory period compared to the previous ones…
Somehow the World Championships went better for us. Great memories, great story. Every gathering with these guys is a big event for me. Of course, sometimes there are bad situations, so you have to get out of it.
(www.jabuka.tv | Photo: Marko Lukunic/PIXSELL)
