Dalić: "There are things we need to improve, now the real challenge begins"

Victory Despite Mistakes

"It was a difficult match. The opponent created too many chances against us. We won, we controlled possession, but I'm concerned about the number of technical mistakes we made. Slovenia's transitions were dangerous because our positioning wasn't good enough. Still, overall it was a positive performance. We saw what we wanted to see, and now we move on to preparing for England."

Croatia's Preparation Period

"The training sessions and atmosphere were excellent, but the matches were not what I expected—they weren't our best performances. However, everyone struggles in preparation matches. We've seen what we need to work on and how we should prepare for England. There are things we must improve, and now the real challenge begins. Opponents punish mistakes, and it's up to us to correct them. One of our goals was also to help players like Kovačić, Gvardiol, and Modrić regain match fitness."

Later Departure for the United States

"We'll have enough time—eight days—to adapt, and it seems that everyone who went to the United States earlier is unhappy with the experience. Why would we create problems for ourselves by spending 15 days there waiting for our first match, especially if it's so hot and the pitches aren't ideal? That's how we assessed the situation, and I hope we've made the right decision."

Vision and Philosophy

"I'm not giving up on my football philosophy. The approach that brought Croatia three medals is not something I'm going to abandon. I'm not the type of person who bows his head and simply listens. At the World Cup, we'll get what we deserve, and I believe in this national team and in my work—our results back that up. We have a clear vision and idea. We don't have many doubts, and it's clear to me that we need to be faster and more energetic. I also understand that I can't rely only on the veterans, and we'll put together what is best for the team. We need every player."

Fruk, Livaković, and Kramarić

"The match developed in such a way that, after making our substitutions, we also had injury concerns among our centre-backs, so we had to wait and see how the situation unfolded. I'm sorry that Fruk didn't get the opportunity to play. Livaković always gives us a lot—he's a key player and did a fantastic job. The only thing that worries me is that he had so much work to do. Kramarić gives everything in every training session. He always goes all out and wants to play every game. He never complains, works hard, never misses training, and never asks for special treatment."

Slovenia's Quality

"Slovenia surprised me. Coach Cesar is on the right track. They build up play very well and know exactly what they're doing. They're very dangerous, have excellent tactical patterns, and transition quickly. If they managed to create three or four clear-cut chances against us, it shows they have real quality."

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