Dalić fears opening match could 'ruin everything' for Croatia at World Cup

Croatia's national football team has landed in Alexandria, Virginia, preparing for their 2026 World Cup campaign. The team's first match is scheduled for June 17 in Dallas against England, a formidable opponent.

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Maybe, because the first game can ruin everything. At Euro 2024, we lost 3-0 to Spain in the first game and fell, we couldn't get back up.

Head coach Zlatko Dalić voiced apprehension about the opening game, telling The Guardian that the first match "can ruin everything." He recalled Croatia's experience at Euro 2024, where an initial 3-0 loss to Spain led to a decline they couldn't recover from. "The first game is the most important. Against England, we will fight, try to give our best, and try to win," Dalić stated.

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The first game is the most important. Against England, we will fight, try to give our best and try to win.

Dalić also highlighted concerns regarding the fitness of key players Luka Modrić, Joško Gvardiol, and Mateo Kovačić, all of whom have faced injury issues this season. "Kovačić, Gvardiol, and Modrić haven't played much recently and are not in optimal form. Especially Kovačić, he barely played this season, and now we need him. It's not easy and we need time," he explained, noting the team's limited squad depth.

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Kovačić, Gvardiol and Modrić haven't played much recently and are not in optimal form. Especially Kovačić, he barely played this season, and now we need him. It's not easy and we need time. We don't have a wide squad, and these are some of our most important players.

Despite past successes, including a historic 2018 World Cup semi-final victory against England, Dalić acknowledged that Croatia holds no psychological advantage. England has defeated Croatia twice since that match. He described England as a "very strong team" playing "very offensively, very quickly," and acknowledged the need for Croatia to "do something more" to compete.

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A very strong team whose league is the best in the world and who plays very offensively, very quickly. We will have to do something more.