Ex-player: Croatia's first match is most important, we must not lose to England!

Jurica Vranješ, a former Croatian international, believes the national football team is poised for success in the upcoming major competition. He notes a perceived increase in aggression and speed compared to previous tournaments, attributing this to a blend of experienced "senators" and dynamic younger players.

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We don't have a number nine, a striker who can go one-on-one or cause chaos from the center.

Vranješ anticipates the team will convincingly advance from their group, acknowledging England as a primary rival but emphasizing that Croatia's performance on the day will be crucial. He suggests that securing a top-two finish in the group will allow the team to build momentum.

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We are faster and more aggressive than we were at the last major tournament.

The coach's tactical approach, favoring a three-man defense with players like Šutalo, Vušković, and Gvardiol, is seen as a logical adaptation to modern football trends, especially given the team's lack of a prolific, individualistic striker. Vranješ explains that this defensive setup aims to accelerate play from the back, enabling midfielders like Kovačić and Modrić to find attacking solutions more easily.

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With the team we have, we rightly expect to get out of the group, and convincingly.

Concerns about the competitive match fitness of key players like Gvardiol and Kovačić are downplayed by Vranješ. He asserts that their exceptional quality will compensate for any lack of recent game time, citing their history of performing well for the national team. He also points out that other teams face similar challenges, and their star players rarely falter when representing their country.

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We don't have a better solution for those positions [defense], all three are defenders with the technical characteristics of midfielders.