Croatia v Tunisia: Dalić to reward squad in Varaždin on Tuesday

by croatiaweek
June 10, 2019
in Sport

Zlatko Dalić spoke to the press on Monday ahead of tomorrow’s match (Photo: HNS)

VARAŽDIN, 10 June 2019 – Croatia will face Tunisia in an international friendly on Tuesday night in Varaždin.

Coach Zlatko Dalić held a press conference today ahead of tomorrow’s match which will kick off at 8:45 pm.

Tunisia after Wales

“I hope it is a good game, a spectacle and a win. The mood is very good, we are all happy and I’m particularly pleased. I was not interested in beauty or the way we won against Wales, only the three points. I was a bit worried about the last 15 minutes after we conceded the goal because we started to get nervous and panic, which we need to avoid.

We needed to score to make it 3: 0 and finish the match off, but we did control the match despite thinking it was all over a bit too soon. There is room for criticism, it was not ideal, but now it is not time for it.”

(Photo: HNS)

Everyone will get a chance

“Before Wales we felt pressure, it was difficult, but we did a good job and now we have to rest for September and the continuation of qualifying. We focused only on Wales, and tomorrow we will be playing against Tunisia. Everyone will get a chance, they deserve it. They all worked well for ten days, they were focused and professional so will be good they end this cycle with some minutes for the national team.”

Alternatives

“It makes me happy that we have players who can be alternatives to players who are not there. Livaković has shown quality and saved us in several situations, Brekalo has the potential on the left and right side, he is a player of the future, and Benković certainly can be an alternative for Vida and Lovren.

Pašalić was also good at training, though he did not go well in the match. I’m sorry that Vlašić was missing, we missed his energy. We do not want to depend on one or two players and I hope that the U21 team at the European Championship will show that we have more good individuals.”

Domagoj Livaković (Photo: HNS)

Support across Croatia

“I would like the next home qualifier game to be played in Split, which I have repeated a hundred times. We are a Croatian national team – not just for Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka or any other city – but I do not decide. Split is my wish and wish of the players. Support in Osijek was phenomenal and I was happy kids gathered at our hotel over the two days, not in Messi or Ronaldo shirts, but Modrić, Rakitić and Perišić shirts.”