After their decisive 2-0 victory in Split Thursday evening, Croatia tackles the return match against France with a definite advantage, but also a pressure that intensifies. By winning on their field, the Croats have taken a good option for the qualification in the semi-finals of the League of Nations. The goals of Ante Budimir and Ivan Perišić allowed the selection of Zlatko Dalić to make a giant step towards the lens, but the challenge remains size. The Stade de France, and especially the expected reaction of the French, promise a hostile environment where the slightest error could compromise this advantage acquired at home. Croatia knows that to validate this advance, it will have to show solidity and rigor in the face of a French team which has no choice but to give everything to overthrow the situation.
Thus, the Vatreni prepare for a delicate match, where the management of the score will be crucial. The Croatian collective, led by experienced players like Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić, will have to be ruthless while remaining concentrated in front of an opponent who, in front of his audience, will seek to dominate to return to the race. The return match at the Stade de France will be a maturity test for Croatia, which will have to resist the assaults of the Blues and exploit the least opportunities for counterattack. The qualification for the semi-finals of the League of Nations is at stake, and Croatia knows that every detail will count in this tactical battle.
The Croats will not refuse to play!
Before the return match at the Stade de France, Zlatko Dalić wanted to reassure his players and recall the importance of keeping his feet on the ground despite the advantage acquired in Split, stressing that Croatia would approach this duel with the same determination and without resting on his favorable score. On the contrary, the idea will not be to play the defense: “We have no problem before the return match, all players are healthy. Of course, they are tired, a short time ago between the two games, but both for us and for the French. It will be 90 minutes very difficult, and who knows, maybe the return match will last longer. We play against one of the best national teams in the world, but we will arrive in Paris with two goals in advance. However, we will not be on the ground as if we were 2-0, but as if it was 0-0. We do not want to defend, and we must not behave like this“Said the Croatian coach at a press conference.
In the perspective of the return match at the Stade de France, Zlatko Dalić underlined the respect he has to France, while warning that Croatia, strong of its advantage, constitutes a formidable threat to the Blues, despite their favorite status and their impressive recent history: “No one likes to lose and I do not agree that this quarter -final is not important for the French. They were world champions, they finished second in the last World Cup, they are used to winning. I expect a fierce France who wants to take revenge on us after the defeat of Split. No one is favorite against them, they have incredibly precious players, but we represent a very dangerous threat to such a team». On the eve of the return match, Zlatko Dalić perfectly anticipated the intentions of France, which, according to him, will be very aggressive from the start.
Aware of the challenges to come, he insists on the need to improve certain aspects of the game, including the possession of a ball, to hope to obtain a good result in the face of a determined French team: “It is clear to us that France will be very aggressive from the start. We know they will try to mark as quickly as possible, but we are ready for that and for everything else. We will fight to get the right result. We have to make a better match than Split. Above all, we have to open up more and have more ball possession. During the first match, we made small mistakes, and there again, we will have to be very careful not to lose the ball too easily. We must improve our possession. I will try to refresh the team, but we will see how “analyzed Dalić. While the qualification for the semi-finals of the League of Nations is at stake, this return match promises to be a real test for the Croatian selection, which will have to combine experience and composure to get its ticket.
