Zlatko Dalic News

Croatia’s road to Sunday’s World Cup final, where they will play France for a chance to lift the trophy for the first time:

Almost all the focus for Croatia ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final is on how Luka Modric can unlock France with his defence-splitting passes, but another player who saves his best for the big stage is Croatian dynamo Ante Rebic.

Zlatko Dalic’s coaching career has mirrored his team’s campaign at the World Cup - a long, hard road to recognition and respect on the back of the hard currency of results.

Croatia’s fairytale run to the World Cup final is a footballing “miracle” built on a foundation of teamwork and unity which has seen them outlast sides reliant on brilliant individual talent, coach Zlatko Dalic said on Thursday.

The fact remains, though, that on Sunday they will play the biggest match of their lives against a France side bursting with youth and vigour that has had a day more rest and played the equivalent of a match fewer over the knockout rounds.

Croatia’s strength of character will serve them well in the World Cup final against France, their coach and players said after they came from behind for the third straight knockout match to beat England on Wednesday.

Croatia ruthlessly exposed England’s limitations in the second half of the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday as Zlatko Dalic’s side fought back to secure a famous 2-1 extra-time victory.

Dalic has managed to get the best out of his players so far as they cruised through the group stage with three wins out of three games, including a win over Argentina. 

With the score at 1-1 in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Luka Modric’s penalty five minutes from the end of extra time was saved by Kasper Schmeichel. However, the captain opted to return and converted in Croatia’s 3-2 shootout win.

"I don`t think our tournament will end in the last 16 but for now we can only focus on Denmark. We can only think about what awaits us, but the most important things are still to come," says Zlatko Dalic.

Thursday`s 3-0 win in Nizhny Novgorod sent the Croatians through with a match to spare following what daily Sportske Novosti described as "a magnificent victory to be told by generations to come."

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic says "we have very good set of players who are the driving forces of big clubs and young players."

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic named today a 24-man World Cup squad, which will be eventually reduced by one player, and is led by international stars Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic.