DistantNews
Support us
Croatia head coach resigns. "The success of our small country irritates FIFA!"
🇪🇪 Estonia /Sports

Croatia head coach resigns. "The success of our small country irritates FIFA!"

From Postimees · () Estonian

Translated from Estonian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Croatia's national football team coach, Zlatko Dalić, resigned after a loss in the World Cup qualifiers.
  • Dalić criticized the International Football Federation (FIFA) following the defeat to Portugal.
  • The coach cited the success of Croatia, a small nation, as a source of frustration for FIFA.

Zlatko Dalić, the head coach of the Croatian national football team, has stepped down from his position following a crucial World Cup qualifying match loss to Portugal. The resignation marks the end of his tenure, which saw significant achievements for Croatian football on the international stage.

In his post-match comments, Dalić expressed strong criticism directed at the International Football Federation (FIFA). He voiced frustration, suggesting that the success achieved by Croatia, a relatively small nation, has become a point of contention or annoyance for the global governing body of football.

Dalić's departure and his pointed remarks signal a potential underlying tension between national teams, particularly those achieving unexpected success, and the established structures of international football governance. The coach's statement implies a belief that FIFA may be resistant to or uncomfortable with the prominence of smaller footballing nations like Croatia.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Postimees in Estonian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.