Unlocking Croatia’s midfield: Egypt tournament victory provides some insights

by croatiaweek
March 27, 2024
in Sport

Column by A. Vulić

While the competition might not have been at the level of Spain and Italy, whom Croatia will face at Euro 2024 this summer, the recent friendly ACUD Cup in Egypt has provided some good insights for coach Zlatko Dalić.

The biggest profiteer in Egypt was 26-year-old Lovro Majer.

Majer has been excellent for his country over the past few years, mainly coming on as a substitute and injecting creativity as games open up.

But his commanding performance in the 4-2 thumping of Egypt in the final last night, where he both scored and assisted, confirms it is time for the Wolfsburg midfield to be a regular starter.

Croatia has always been spoilt for choice in midfield. Dalić has been loyal, with reason, to the trio of Luka Modrić, Marcelo Brozović, and Mateo Kovačić in the middle of the park, and they have repaid him with some great results in recent times.

But time does not stay still and things change. Brozović, who moved to the Saudi Arabian league back in the summer of 2023, is no longer playing at the same level he was in Europe and it is showing.

His role, playing in behind the midfield and coming deep to start the play, is one which Kovačić plays with aplomb at the best club in the world, Manchester City.

Kovačić has the acceleration, is better at keeping the ball, especially in tight spaces, has a better pass accuracy and can get past a man better than Brozović. Kovačić is training and playing with the best and should play the role he plays for Pep Guardiola for Croatia.

Modrić can still play his role of conductor in midfield, whilst Majer should slot into the ‘no.10’ role, which he played last night.

First appearance in the new first kit ✅
Quality performance ✅
Comeback victory ✅
Winning the trophy ✅

An excellent evening in Cairo. 👍#EGYCRO #Family #Vatreni❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/G54BCjsRdL
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) March 27, 2024

Another bonus for Dalić in Egypt was the return of Marko Pjaca, who had not played for Croatia since November of 2018.

The Rijeka winger, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament back, showed last night why he was touted as the next big thing when he burst on the scene at Euro 2016. He played all 90 minutes last night and was one of the standout players on the pitch, making a number of powerful runs down the left.

With Ivan Perišić in a race against time to be fit for Euro 2024, the form of Pjaca is a massive plus for Dalić on the left side.

Joško Gvardiol confirmed in the last two games how dominant of a defender he is and it is obvious that his time at Manchester City has improved all aspects of his play. His power and composure on the ball gives Croatia security at the back.

Croatia’s main problem for a long time has been the no. 9 role. Finding a true goalscorer in the class of Davor Šuker has not been easy.

Dalić has tried an array of strikers during his tenure and it looks as if Ante Budimir, who has been scoring plenty of goals for Osasuna in Spain’s La Liga, will be given the nod up front.

Budimir was missing from the tournament in Egypt, and Dalić started Andrej Kramarić against Tunisia and Bruno Petković against Egypt in that role.

With Euro 2024 starting in a little over two months, a new wonder striker is not going to emerge out of the woodwork, so it will be those three players who will be tasked with the role.

While it means little, winning the tournament in Egypt will do great for the atmosphere, confidence, and spirit in the team, which according to Dalić was fantastic over the 10 days.