Serbian media urge national team to learn from Croatia's veteran strategy after World Cup loss

Serbian media outlets have been dissecting Croatia's football strategy following their World Cup defeat, with a consensus emerging that experienced players should continue to represent the national team as long as they remain the best available.

“

Serbs, watch and learn over the neighbor's fence: Modrić and Perišić have given us a task for all time.

Publications such as Blic highlighted the contrast between Serbia's approach of prematurely retiring players in their early 30s and Croatia's continued reliance on veterans like Luka Modrić, aged 40, and Ivan Perišić, 37. The article pointed to Serbian players like Nemanja Vidić and Nemanja Matić as examples of those prematurely written off, and questioned the national team's decisions regarding Dušan Tadić and Sergej Milinković-Savić.

While Blic suggested Serbia should learn from its neighbor's approach, other outlets like Kurir focused on the dramatic nature of Croatia's World Cup exit. Kurir described the loss to Portugal as an "epic drama" and a "horror scenario." Nova S reported that Luka Modrić asserted Croatia was wronged by VAR, suggesting the outcome would have been different if the roles were reversed.

“

EPIC DRAMA THAT WILL ENTER HISTORY AND A HORROR SCENARIO THAT DESTROYED THE CROATS! Watch the footage that will make the 'Vatrene' dream in their DARKEST NIGHTMARE!

The Croatian team suffered a 1-2 defeat against Portugal in a match where three goals were disallowed, a result that has sparked considerable discussion in regional media.

“

Modrić thundered, claiming Croatia was wronged: 'If the roles were reversed, VAR would never have intervened.'