Euro 2024 is just a month away now folks, and Germany is preparing for the arrival of hoards of fans and a vast collection of media set-ups as millions across the globe will see the action when Europe’s finest do battle.
2022 World Cup finalists France will be the team to beat and England, Italy, and Spain will all fancy their chances, not to mention hosts Germany. And there are a handful of other nations with a genuine chance of lifting the trophy, with Croatia among them.
The 2018 World Cup runners-up are currently ranked 16th in the world by FIFA and the 11th ranked European side, but the pre-tournament Euro 2024 betting odds reckon Croatia could be quarter finalists or better. They have a proven and talented manager and some world-class players in their ranks, including the evergreen Luka Modric, so why not?
Well, first they have to navigate a brute of a group which contains reigning champions Italy, Spain, and Albania. If they can successfully qualify from the group stage, then Croatia can go deep.
Dalic and Modric have the X-factor
One thing Croatia have in abundance is leadership quality both off and on the pitch.
Head coach Zlatko Dalic took over in 2017, and now he is widely regarded as the best manager in the history of Croatian football.
He has led his nation to a runners-up medal and a third place at World Cup finals, and Dalic engenders a sprit of trust and transparency with his players, saying: “If I can respect my players they will follow suit. Our relationship is frank and sincere. There are no secrets, there are no dilemnas.”
The simplicity of Dalic’s man-management technique has worked wonders for a nation which has consistently punched above its weight. Dalic came from relative obscurity when he became head coach back in 2017, but within a year, the Croats were World finalists, and he was one of the most talked about managers in world football.
But then he did have Luka Modric.
And the Real Madrid star, now 38 years of age, is still going strong. A creative midfielder with brilliant ball control and a wonderful passing range, Modric is a regular goal scorer too, pitching in with 24 goals, most of them spectacular strikes, in his 174 appearances for Croatia.
He is in his 12th season with Los Blancos, picking up four La Liga titles and five Champions League winners medals, and Modric is widely considered to be one of the finest midfielders of the 21st century.
He won the Ballon D’Or in 2018 to break the Messi/Ronaldo duopoly and, 18 years after he made his international debut, Modric will captain Croatia into the Euros.
His tactical awareness and superb ball skills make him the perfect central midfielder, though he is equally able to play in a deeper lying role from where he dictates the pace of play.
Wherever he sits, Modric is a joy to watch.
Strong at the back, light up front
With Modric pulling the strings in midfield he can take pressure off his defence, but when the back four is called into action, it invariably delivers. The Croatia rearguard has two young stars who can genuinely be regarded as world class.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol at 22 is one of the best centre-backs in world football. He starred at Qatar 2022 with his all action displays, and that persuaded the Sky Blues to pay out a cool £77 million.
Gvardiol made his international debut in 2021 and already has 29 caps, weighing in with two goals, and he was one of the big reasons Croatia made the semi-finals in Qatar.
He is a left-footed centre-back with a ferocious tackle and, as a modern centre-back, he can progress attacks with strong running or by moving the ball quickly from back to front. There are very few nations who wouldn’t jump at the chance to have Gvardiol in their team.
And the same can be said for Bayer Leverkusen’s 24-year-old righ- back Josip Stanisic, as he is another player sure to feature heavily in the Euro 2024 highlights reels after starring in Die Werkself’s first ever Bundesliga title.
He is predominantly a full-back but can play anywhere across the backline, and Stanisic also has an eye for goal, scoring three times in Bayer’s record breaking campaign.
In midfield alongside Modric, we’ll see Gvardiol’s teammate Mateo Kovacic, who has come on in leaps and bounds under Pep Guardiola since his switch from Chelsea.
Manchester City look set to win a fourth Premier League title on Sunday and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be following all the twists and turns on what will either be a historic day or a hugely dramatic one. But Kovacic is sure to play some part and his box-to-box running will be a feature of Croatia’s play too.
Up front, Croatia are a little light, and they will rely on support from their midfield four, particularly Atalanta’s advanced midfielder Mario Pasalic and experienced winger Ivan Perisic, who still has a match-winning play in him.
Hoffenheim’s 32-year-old striker Andrej Kramaric is sure to add to his 91 international appearances too, and he is an accomplished finisher, scoring 29 goals for Croatia.
A youthful defence and well-travelled front six might just work again for Dalic.
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