Croatia Coach Says World Cup Opener Against England Is Pivotal
Croatia's head coach stated that the June 17 match against England will shape the team's tournament prospects. The squad enters the game with several players returning from injury and limited recent match time.
The GuardianCroatia's head coach described the team's World Cup opener against England on 17 June as the most important game of the group stage. The coach noted that a loss could end the team's hopes early, citing Croatia's 3-0 defeat to Spain at Euro 2024 as an example of a poor start from which the side did not recover.
The coach said the team would have preferred a different first opponent but accepted the schedule as fixed. Croatia defeated Slovenia 2-1 in its final pre-tournament friendly before traveling to the United States.
Three key players are returning from injury or extended absences. Mateo Kovacic and Josip Gvardiol, both from Manchester City, are recovering from injuries, while Luka Modric has been wearing a protective mask after fracturing his cheekbone. The coach stated that Kovacic, Gvardiol and Modric lack optimal match sharpness. Kovacic in particular has played limited minutes this season.
The coach praised England's preparation and style of play.
England arrived in Miami a week ago for training ahead of the Dallas match. The coach noted that England defeated Croatia in their two most recent meetings and described the English side as strong, fast and offensive.
