Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic spoke about the need to ‘fight’ against Italy in their must-win EURO 2024 match. Croatia sit in fourth place with just one point after two matches, and speaking ahead of the match with the Azzurri, Dalic explained what his side needs to do to secure victory:
Dalic emphasized the high stakes of the match, stating, “We know that tomorrow’s game is do-or-die. We need all three points to advance, and we don’t want to go home. So far, we haven’t achieved the results we hoped for, and now we must react. It will be a historic game, we understand our situation, and we’re ready to fight” .
The Croatian coach praised his Italian counterpart, Luciano Spalletti, for his achievements, particularly winning the Scudetto with Napoli. However, Dalic expects a tactical battle, noting, “We know Italian teams are tactical, and we’ll certainly see that tomorrow. They only need one point, and we’ll try to prevent that, stay calm, not get nervous, and not succumb to the other team’s game” .
Reflecting on Croatia’s performance compared to their 2022 World Cup campaign, Dalic pointed out defensive concerns: “We didn’t start on the right foot, and we’re conceding too many goals here. In the group stage then, we only conceded one goal; this time, we’re already at five” .
Dalic acknowledged the pressure on his team but expressed confidence in their readiness. He emphasized the importance of character and the need to resolve the situation from the start, aiming to advance to the next round.
Regarding Italy’s recent performance against Spain, Dalic commented, “In my opinion, we didn’t see the real Italy in that match. I don’t expect that, and neither do they. That’s certainly not the real Italy” .
When asked about potential changes in Italy’s lineup, Dalic said, “I don’t think he’ll change much in terms of tactics. I know his playing method a bit from Napoli. He’ll decide, but that doesn’t concern me; I need to focus on making Croatia better” . He expects a similar formation from Italy with perhaps one or two changes in personnel.
Dalic concluded by expressing confidence in his team’s ability to play their game against Italy, despite the Azzurri needing only a draw to advance. “We expect an aggressive Italy, but I believe in my players and our ability to play our game even against Italy” .
