Analyst: 'It would be ridiculous if after all this, someone said - Dalić is enough. As far as I know, he has 4-5 offers'

Football analyst Branko Ivanković expressed a highly positive impression of the Croatian national team's performance at the recent World Cup, emphasizing their potential and competitive spirit, especially after their match against Portugal. He lauded coach Zlatko Dalić for managing a smooth generational shift within the team without compromising results, drawing a comparison to the less successful changes in 2002.

"My impression is extremely positive. This match with Portugal showed all our potential, giving us many elements for optimism that we will retain a team that will be competitive with everyone," Ivanković stated. He noted the team's focus on advancing through the group stage and their strong showing in the knockout phase against a favored opponent. Ivanković specifically praised the second-half performance against Portugal as one of the team's best since 1998, a remarkable feat given Portugal's strength.

Addressing controversial refereeing decisions, Ivanković suggested that VAR cannot always assess the intensity of contact, leaving such judgments to the on-field referee. He argued that certain calls, like potential penalties based on minimal contact, could lead to an excessive number of free kicks awarded in every match. He also touched upon the team's future, mentioning the ongoing selection process and the emergence of new talents like Beljo, alongside established players like Gvardiol, who is recovering from injury. Ivanković expressed optimism about the defense and midfield, anticipating continued development from players like Matanović and Musa, and the potential for young players to secure their places in the squad.

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VAR ne može procijeniti intenzitet nekog kontakta, to može samo sudac na terenu. Ako i samo takneš suparničkog igrača VAR zabilježi taj kontakt. Možda je Vlašićeva reakcija bila pomalo nespretna, ali kad bi se to sudilo onda bismo na svakoj utakmici imali po četiri, pet jedanaesterca, takvih minimalnih kontakata ima kod svakog ubačaja.