Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has announced his 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. So, HITC Football has looked at Vatreni’s best viable XI with Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric.
Dalic led Croatia all the way to the World Cup final four years ago in Russia. He took charge of the Vatreni squad in October 2017 and enjoyed a stunning summer in 2018. But France brought the dream to a disappointing end in Moscow as Kylian Mbappe inspired a 4-2 win.
Russia 2018 marked the first time that Croatia – as an independent nation or as Yugoslavia – reached a World Cup final. Vatreni recorded their previous best result at the quadrennial FIFA event at France 1998 after finishing third. Yugoslavia’s best result was fourth in 1962.
Dalic announces Croatia’s 26-man Qatar World Cup squad with Perisic and Modric
France 1998 was also Croatia’s debut on the World Cup stage. Vatreni have since qualified for six of a possible seven editions – including Qatar 2022. The Balkan nation only failed to reach South Africa 2010 in-between group stage exits in the 2002, 2006 and 2014 editions.
Dalic has now announced on Wednesday the 26-man squad he hopes will fashion another successful World Cup campaign for Croatia. Vatreni will compete in Group F and will take on Morocco, Canada and Belgium with games on November 23, the 26th and December 1.
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (NK Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: Dejan Lovren (Zenit St Petersburg), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino – on loan from West Ham United), Lovro Majer (Stade Rennais), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg)
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Mislav Orsic, Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split)
So, with Dalic announcing Croatia’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, HITC Football has taken a look at what Vatreni’s best possible XI including Perisic and Modric is.
Dominik Livakovic (GK): Dinamo Zagreb’s stopper will want to be Croatia’s No.1
Livakovic will hope to establish himself as Croatia’s No.1 between the posts early on when the World Cup starts. The Dinamo Zagreb stopper became Vatreni’s first choice following Russia 2018. But Dalic has rotated his selections in recent camps from the 33-cap ‘keeper.
Josip Juranovic (RB): Celtic will have a World Cup star in the Croatia full-back
Celtic will have a World Cup star in Juranovic with the 21-cap full-back a mainstay of Dalic’s Croatia plans. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the first Vatreni names on the teamsheet. Dalic has also not listed their 2018 hero Sime Vrsaljko in his side for Qatar.
Dejan Lovren (CB): The Zenit captain is off to his third World Cup with Qatar 2022
Lovren is off to his third World Cup with the Zenit captain featuring in each of Croatia’s ties at Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. He also played every minute in nine of his 10 appearances across the two editions. The 71-cap enforcer has also helped to register three clean sheets.
Josko Gvardiol (CB): Chelsea were ready to pay RB Leipzig big sums for the Croatian
Chelsea were ready to pay RB Leipzig a big sum for the Croatian this year. The Sun claimed the Blues made an £80m bid but his Bundesliga outfit told Stamford Bridge chiefs to wait a year. He then got a new contract, which The Telegraph notes has a £43.5m release clause.
Borna Sosa (LB): Croatia have one of the Bundesliga’s best crossers in their squad
Dalic has announced one of the Bundesliga’s best crossers will head to the World Cup with Croatia in Sosa. The left-back delivered the fourth-most crosses from open play last season with 107. He also led the German top-flight over 14 games with 51 in 12 outings this term.
Marcelo Brozovic (CDM): A third World Cup awaits the Inter Milan star
A third World Cup awaits Brozovic after the Inter Milan midfielder played once at Brazil 2014 and six games at Russia 2018. He also laid on one of the 29-year-old’s eight assists in 76 caps to inspire a 3-0 win over Argentina at Russia 2018. Brozovic has struck seven goals.
Mateo Kovacic (CM): The Chelsea star will hold a greater role than at Russia 2018
Kovacic will hold a greater role in Dalic’s plans at Qatar 2022 than the Croatia boss offered the Chelsea star in 2018. The 83-cap midfielder featured in five matches in Russia but only started two. He also did not play in the semi-final against England or the final with France.
Luka Modric (CM): The Real Madrid and Croatia star is off to his last World Cup
Croatia captain Modric has already told Fifa+ that Qatar 2022 is the Real Madrid star’s last World Cup. The 154-cap legend turned 37 in September and has been a part of the Vatreni team since 2006. He also went to Germany 2006, Brazil 2014 and skippered at Russia 2018.
Mario Pasalic (RW): Dalic will hope the Atalanta star improves his creativity
Dalic will hope Atalanta star Pasalic can improve his creativity after producing infrequently for Croatia over his 42 caps. The 27-year-old has offered his national team seven goals and just two assists so far. He has also only influenced one goal over his last nine appearances.
Andrej Kramaric (ST): Qatar 2022 is the Hoffenheim forward’s chance to shine
Qatar 2022 represents Kramaric’s chance to shine on the World Cup stage after a bit-part role at Russia 2018. The Hoffenheim forward started three of his seven appearances four years ago. But he only struck one of the 73-cap star’s 19 goals and none of his nine assists.
Ivan Perisic (LW): Dalic knows he can rely on the Tottenham forward in Qatar
Dalic will know he can rely on Perisic to deliver for Croatia on the World Cup stage at Qatar 2022. The Tottenham forward scored twice and assisted a goal on his finals debut at Brazil 2014. He also scored in the semi-final and final for three goals and an assist at Russia 2018.
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