Zlatko Dalić Tells VL Ahead of World Cup: 'I Thought Coaching the National Team Wasn't for Me, the Whole Story is Unusual'

Zlatko Dalić, the highly successful coach of the Croatian national football team, has shared his reflections on his career, including a specific regret concerning a goalkeeping decision during the 2018 World Cup final against France. Dalić pondered whether substituting an injured Danijel Subašić with a fully fit Lovre Kalinić might have altered the match's outcome.

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Maybe, maybe... It occurs to me, our final in Moscow, when we decided that Subašić would play against France even though he was injured. Who knows, maybe things would have turned out differently if I had talked to him and explained that, given his condition, he wasn't fit enough to play.

However, Dalić ultimately stands by his decisions, emphasizing that Subašić's contribution throughout the tournament made the choice to let him play understandable from a human perspective. He asserted that, looking back over eight and a half years, all decisions made by his staff have been validated by the team's results, leaving him with no personal regrets.

Dalić also discussed the intense demands of club coaching compared to managing a national team. He recalled feeling close to burnout in 2016, explaining that the daily stress and emotional toll of club matches were significantly draining. He felt that the national team, with its periods of rest and recovery, has actually extended his coaching career.

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I hope that by then I would have managed to earn something so I could afford a break from coaching. Perhaps some colleagues don't experience matches and training the same way I do; I am maximally 'in it,' maximally dedicated and tense, and that inevitably wears a person down.

Despite the demanding nature of international management, Dalić confirmed that coaching the national team still consumes him intensely, perhaps even more so than club coaching. He described the unique emotions involved and the persistent drive for victory that he believes is essential for any coach. This deep-seated passion and dedication, he stated, are what keep him fully engaged and motivated.

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Since I took over the national team, there is time for rest, recovery from stress, personal regeneration. Therefore, I can say that the national team has extended my career.