Croatia's Pašalić and Pongračić Preview England World Cup Clash

Croatia's national football team is in the final stages of preparation for their World Cup debut against England on June 17. Players Marco Pašalić and Marin Pongračić addressed the media, discussing the team's current form and outlook for the crucial match.

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Harry Kane is the best striker in the world. Not only does he finish actions, but he also drops deep for the ball and participates in the game. He is a phenomenal player.

Pašalić, who plays for Orlando City, expressed his comfort with the tournament conditions in Alexandria, stating he feels at home and has adapted to the fields and time difference. He highlighted his strong desire to represent Croatia, which has fueled his adjustment.

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The question is how we will defend him, but I think the most important thing is that we do it collectively. It's not just him; England has many good and dangerous players. We will have to stand well on the field, be aggressive, and concentrated. We will analyze England in detail.

Pongračić focused on the challenge posed by England's star striker, Harry Kane. He described Kane as the world's best forward, noting his ability to not only score but also participate in build-up play. Pongračić stressed that defending Kane will require a collective effort from the Croatian team, acknowledging that England possesses many other dangerous players. He emphasized the need for strong on-field positioning, aggression, and concentration, with a detailed analysis of the opponent planned.

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I feel at home here. I've gotten used to everything – the fields, the time difference... It all came easily to me last year when I came here, perhaps because I wanted to return to the Croatian national team. This is my home now.

Reflecting on past successes, Pongračić cautioned against dwelling on previous achievements, such as Croatia's strong performances in past major tournaments. He stressed the importance of humility and a focus on the present challenges, starting with England, followed by Panama and Ghana. The team aims to replicate past success but remains grounded, concentrating on the immediate task ahead without feeling undue pressure from history.

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Croatia has experienced how to achieve success in previous major tournaments. Of course, we want that now too, but we must be humble and concentrate on what is ahead of us. First England, then Panama and Ghana.