Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic unveiled the list of players who will represent this small country at the 2022 World Cup on Wednesday, with the hope that the team led by veteran Luka Modric can go far in Qatar.
"
We are optimistic not without reason but we also have to be realistic
," Dalic told reporters as he presented the list of 26 selected players.
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In 2018, Dalic had led Croatia to the World Cup final, lost against France, a historic success for this nation of 3.9 million inhabitants.
"
We will take things one after the other, we have confidence especially after the matches in the League of Nations
," said the coach, 56 years old.
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In September, Croatia qualified as one of the top four teams in the Nations League.
“
There is no pressure, no euphoria.
The first match will be the most important (…) we are thinking about how to finish first in the group
,” Dalic said.
Croatia, which is part of group F, opens its World Cup on November 23 against Morocco, before facing Canada and Belgium.
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Luka Modric, still in good shape despite his 37 years, recently announced that he would end his international career after the tournament in Qatar.
The Real Madrid superstar will be supported by other veterans, including defenders Domagoj Vida and Dejan Lovren who Zlatko Dalic says are in good shape.
Comparing this team to the one that became vice-world champions four years ago, Dalic said that this generation had played ten years together before being rewarded in Russia.
"
Young players need time to mature, they are lucky to be surrounded by veterans like Modric, (Mateo) Kovacic, (Marcelo) Brozovic, (Ivan) Perisic, Lovren
," he said. .
"
We have confidence in their qualities and perhaps they will be a better team
" than expected, concluded the coach.
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The list of 26 Croatian players selected for the World Cup in Qatar:
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid/ESP)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens/GRE), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg/RUS), Borna Barisic (Glasgow Rangers/SCO), Josip Juranovic (Celtic Glasgow/SCO), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig/GER), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart/GER), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich/GER), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo/ITA), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid/ESP), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea/ENG), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan/ITA), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta/ITA), Nikola Vlasic (Torino/ITA), Lovro Majer (Rennes /FRA), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt / GER), Luka Sucic (RB Salzburg / AUT)
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (Tottenham/ENG), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim/GER), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna/ESP), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split)
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