Ivan Zezelj’s Croatia v Scotland preview: under fire Dalic needs to make changes
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Our Matchday Squad journalist will be covering Croatia throughout Euro 2020
Croatian head coach Zlatko Dalic has used up all of his alibis now. Croatia looked terrible in the first half of their 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. It was not even a resemblance of the team that finished second in Russia.
There are now more possibilities for Croatia to advance to the knockout stage, either from second or third place, but this is less important. We should consider Croatia’s last game against Scotland, in which there is no room for error, as well as Dalic’s inexplicable experiments and other things, the key one. Victory is urgently required.
The team breathed new life when Dalic introduced Petkovic and Vlasic in the second half against the Czech Republic. The best example came in the 71st minute, when Modric found Petkovic on the left side, who set up Gvardiol for a cross, and then received that cross to drop the ball with a header to Vlasic’s feet, who then had the best Croatian chance to make it 2-1.
Although Perisic’s moment of pure inspiration made the goal worth a draw, Dalic simply needs to return to the 4-2-3-1 system in the final group game and attack the Scots with Vlasic and Petkovic.
After all, such a line-up will allow Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and others to show their true potential and ability, which has yet to be seen in the tournament.
