Croatia needs experience to beat Nigeria–Dalic

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has insisted that he would field only experienced players for his team’s matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia that begins with a June 16 clash against Nigeria at Kaliningrad.

The coach, who was speaking to FIFA.com, said there was no way Croatia can defeat its opponents without experience, which is why he prefers established players instead of the younger generation in achieving his aim.

“We have great players and a great generation, and we have to believe in this generation at the World Cup. They got us there and we should give them a chance,” Dalic said.

He has however promised to introduce the youngsters for the UEFA Nations League in the autumn to enable them show their quality.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a group of youngsters who are the future of Croatian football. But we will introduce them in the [UEFA] Nations League in the autumn to give them the chance to show their quality. It will be best for [Borno] Sosa, [Filip] Benkovic, [Duje] Caleta-Car, [Nikola] Vlasic, [Ante] Rebic to enter a new cycle for the EURO 2020 qualifiers and the Nations League.

Speaking also on the choice of opponents, Dalic said it would help the team learn from its mistakes

“I’ve always said I wanted tough matches and tough opponents, and we can only progress as a team by playing against top sides and [learning from] our mistakes,” said Dalic. “We don’t need weaker opponents. Perhaps it’s risky of me to feel this way, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he told FIFA.com

Croatia whose best outing was at the 1998 edition where it reached the quarter final, will also face Argentina and Iceland in the group stage.