If someone thinks that this is the only way to win the world championships, they are badly mistaken. Three points with Panama should therefore be appreciated. Zlatko Dalić in Russia he won Nigeria, Argentina, Iceland and England. He also celebrated against Denmark and Russia, they were mythical and extremely emotional triumphs, but according to the statistics, they are not formally counted as matches won, but a pass after a draw. In Qatar, he won over Canada and Morocco, and eliminated Japan and Brazil with shots from the penalty spot. Panama is officially his seventh victory at the world championships and – special. If seven is a miraculous number and it was meant to be memorable, besides, it is the 200th game Luka Modrić in the national team, which could not have ended differently, as Modrić’s entire career testifies to that.
Panama is important as a trigger for self-confidence, peace and enthusiasm because during the match there was a lot of nervousness among the players, objections to each other, Modrić for example Guardiola which has not yet found a form. Dalić jumped up furiously in the first refreshment break when he read the beech to everyone, and then he stood by the line almost the entire time until the end of the half.
After two rounds, Croatia does not have a defined starting line-up. She wasn’t even in Russia and Qatar until the end, but there was doubt about one or two positions, now more is open, against Panama at a high level they were only Livakovic, Baturina and archer Budimir, and I can get a passing grade Marco Pašalić and Stanišić, while the others functioned at a height only in certain sections of the game or not so much.
Dalić chose the team in which he paired the tandem again Modrić – Kovačićand put on the attack Must. In the 4-2-3-1 system, his most concrete moves were Pongracic as a stopper and Marco Pasalic on the right wing. Croatia did not play impressively, and the question can be asked whether the team hit because they didn’t play Budimir, Petar Sučić, Kramarić… players who have a name, rating and weight, as well as why after all the poor performances of the stopper Erlić he still doesn’t get a chance. There is room to analyze the performance of each individual and each line, but the main Croatian story is the general state of the team and form, energy, compactness and the idea of the game. It has to be at a higher level in the continuation of the World Cup for a serious result.
The substitutions were logical, Guardiol seemed lost, and he himself agreed that the selector made a good move with Perisic on the back, but what next? There is no reserve left defender in the roster, is Joško able to “make it to the World Cup” or will that position become a millstone? Budimir won, the others – P. Sučić, L. Sučić, Kramarić, Mario Pašalić – played correctly, although not fantastically. So, it can be discussed whether Dalić could have arranged the starting line-up differently, but he made good moves in the match itself.
Ghana needs more power, duel play, winning set pieces, a stronger and more stable defensive presentation, and a designed offensive strategy would be worth its weight in gold. Ghana will not defend as much as they did against England, they will be more daring, although neither national team will rush because both teams are still leading.
Zlatko Dalić spent some nerves, but in the end he must be very satisfied because when a victory overcomes a critical moment, and a defeat would mean relegation after only two rounds, a good job has been done. To be great, some things will need to be corrected. In the implementation of the game, but also in the selection of players for the starting line-up. We see no reason for Petar Sučić not to play, even though he could have done better when he came in, but we know what a quality player he is, as well as an excellent runner, Budimir could become the first centre-forward and start for the first time at this World Cup from the first minute, and why wouldn’t Erlić get the opportunity?
In two rounds Dominik Livaković and Martin Baturina the first are celebrities, those who make us smile, if millions don’t pour into their addresses this summer, when will they? But that is not enough, we need more Livaković and Baturin for what we want and what we secretly or publicly hope for – a new great reach of the Vatreni. Some follow them at a certain distance, but quite a few of them are far away. A celebration against Panama, even if it was only Panama, should help raise the game and the impression. Already from the trial with Ghana on Saturday.
