Dalić: This is the list I stand behind, the national team is not a moment

“I chose the best, we followed the players, filmed. The national team is not a moment, it's not two rounds, it's a two-year cycle,” said the Croatian national football team coach Zlatko Dalić after announcing the list of travelers to the World Cup at a press conference.

“We will start preparations on May 25 with the players whose championship ended this weekend, while the others will join on May 29, and the final list will be on June 1. We have to give the players a rest. I hope everyone will be healthy and ready. This is the list I stand behind. We had a great campaign in March, I had no reason to change it much, I stuck to my idea that has guided me all these years,” said the coach.

He revealed what his biggest dilemmas were.

“My biggest dilemmas were around the strikers, around Stojković, Smolčić and Majer. It's not easy to make decisions. However, I stand behind this choice a million percent. I maintain continuity, unity and atmosphere. In March I said that this is it if someone doesn't spoil their form, then everyone got even better,” said Zlatko Dalić.

He also revealed why the top scorer in the HNL and Dinamo, Dion Drena Beljo, who received a pre-call-up, is not on the list.

“I congratulate Dinamo and Beljo on the double crown. He is there, very close, but the problem is strong competition. We have Kramarić, Budimir, who are unquestionable. Musa is playing very well in MLS, he was great in March, Matanović is the club's top scorer, he is playing in the Europa League final. They have only strengthened their status in the last three months. These two have the advantage at the moment.

He also commented on Joško Gvardiol's health.

“We hope that he will be 100 percent ready, especially because of the position he plays in, left back and center back. He hasn't been out for six months, but knowing him, we know that he will be good. We need him, we need him, he is very important for us,” said Dalić.

Bronze medalist from Qatar Lovro Majer has dropped from the list, his name is on the preliminary call-up.

“We haven't talked yet, he was injured for a long time. He had problems at his club. He hasn't started a single game since the USA. Someone had to drop out. I believe he will return to the national team, but I can't invite 50 players. There are a lot of players who will be sorry,” he noted.

The first goal is to get through the group

Dalić pointed out that the list is not too different from the last editions.

“I chose the best, we followed the players, filmed. The national team is not a moment, it's not two rounds, it's a two-year cycle. I stick to that, there are other opinions, but I stick to that. That kind of thinking led me to two medals,” he said.

Dalić pointed out that the main goal at the World Cup will be to get through the group.

“The first and main goal is to get through the group. We have a good national team. We have quality, youth and experience. The group is tough, England want to be champions, Panama and Ghana will be no less challenging. The main goal is to get through the group, and after that we go step by step,” he added.

How is Luka Modrić?

He also commented on Luka Modrić's health situation.

“He returned to training, he is doing well, he is using a mask. Maybe this break has come in handy for him. I don't doubt him,” said coach Dalić.

Two years ago, Perišić was in a race against time due to an injury, now Modrić, Gvardiol and Kovačić are in a similar situation.

“We have them, and we don't have them. Now there are three players in such a situation. Luka is fresh, but Kovačić hasn't played for a long time, as has Gvardiol. I have to be careful with them. We will see what condition they are in. I am a little afraid of that,” he added.

Dalić stressed that the team will use a system with three players in the back row in some situations.

“We have great defenders; we will try against stronger teams like England, with three players in the back row. As we used to have a great midfield, now we have top defenders. This is a tournament where we need to be good in the defensive phase. We will try against Belgium,” he revealed.

Bruno Petković is also missing.

“He had recovered, now he is injured again. He could not get into a form that would be competitive with these players, that is why he was not invited.

He also commented on the choice of goalkeeper.

“This staff has four of the best goalkeepers in Croatian history. We talked, we commented. There were not many dilemmas, but we talked a lot. Silić is a goalkeeper who is coming, he is the future,” concluded Dalić.

Source: HRT