Italy has to get revenge on Croatia in order to maintain their competitiveness in Group B after being humiliated by Spain. They need to find their offensive spark again since they looked far too lethargic and outdated against the Balkans.
After Sucic’s hard shot is stopped by Donnarumma, Italy gains a corner thanks to strong defense by Gvardiol and Pongracic. The highlights of Croatia National Football Team vs Italy National Football Team Lineups will be covered in this article.
XI for Croatia: Livakovic
Since leaving Yugoslavia, Croatia has become one of the top football teams because of their formidable front line and flexibility when facing more formidable opponents. As evidence, consider their quarterfinal matchup with Brazil, when Zlatko Dalic had to modify his strategy to contain the Selecao defense.
Subasic was a member of Croatia’s team that competed in the 2018 World Cup final. One of the many reasons he is so well-liked as a Fenerbahce goalkeeper is his ability to stop shots.
Another anchor is Modric, who can control the pace with his dribbling and passing abilities. Throughout his career, he has received several trophies for his goal-scoring ability. His defensive abilities will also come in handy while playing Spain or Italy.
Stanisic
One of the team’s main players, Luka Modric, may participate in his final big competition with them this World Cup in Group B against Italy and Spain. With an astounding 303 caps for his country, Real Madrid star Luka Modric will surely be crucial to their victory against these opponents.
Another seasoned player, Ivan Perisic, of RB Leipzig, is a defensive midfielder who can also swap positions and score goals. He may be expecting to win his first big tournament with Croatia.
One of the important players to keep an eye on for Germany in this World Cup is Josko Gvardiol. This center defender, like Benjamin Pavard, can generate offensive opportunities from his defensive stance. He played a key role in helping Germany take second in the 2018 tournament runners-up. Being a regular starter for RB Leipzig and a competitive player in the World Cup, his presence will be a major challenge for opposing defenses in whatever competition he takes part in.
Sutalo
Croatia needed to beat Italy to secure second place and advance to the round of sixteen after losing to Spain. Although Mattia Zaccagni’s stoppage-time equalizer between Albania and Spain has left Croatia in an unwinnable struggle for two slots in the last 16, a loss may send them home completely, Luka Modric’s goal in the second half significantly helped them.
In order to counter opponent assaults, Zlatko Dalic made adjustments to his starting lineup for this game. He started Mario Pasalic and Sucic in place of Lovro Majer, although he kept veteran fullbacks Darijo Srna and Danijel Pranjic as cornerbacks.
Additionally, Matteo Darmian and Giacomo Raspadori have replaced Davide Frattesi and Lorenzo Pellegrini in Luciano Spalletti’s lineup for Italy. Matteo Darmian will play alongside Raspadori, while Federico Chiesa and Mateo Retegui will both be available as attacking options in this formation.
Kramaric
Due to a thigh injury, Antonio Conti, a key player for Kramaric Hoffenheim, was unable to go with the Italian club to Leipzig, which significantly hindered their ability to breach Croatian defense and score goals.
Along with Modric and Rakitic, Alessandro Bastoni finds straight contact with Livakovic, but the Croatian goalkeeper blocks his attempt.
As of right now, neither team seems to be putting much emphasis on scoring goals in the first half. Without a doubt, Zlatko Dalic would want his team to get to know their opponents while also learning how to play well against them and avoiding defensive blunders.
In Leipzig, both teams are anticipating the start of the second half. Croatia may be eliminated in a draw, but Italy would guarantee second place and a trip home with a win. Nicolo Barella is trying to add speed down their right, but the Azzurri strikers, who have been sprinkling crosses into Croatia’s box but have not been able to break through, may adopt a more direct approach in the second half.
Pasalic
Even though Croatia has one of the richest rosters in recent memory, several players still haven’t made an impact on the first team. One such player is Mario Pasalic of Atalanta; despite his lack of fan appeal, Pasalic has contributed significantly this season and has the potential to establish himself abroad.
His incredible output is mostly due to Croatia’s lack of depth in offensive midfield. Ivan Perisic is capable of playing as a left winger or a center striker, although he prefers to cut inside and shoot. Although they are naturally inclined to play center forward, Nikola Kalinic and Marko Pjaca are not adept at crossing into the box.
Alongside Vlasic of Torino and Luka Ivanusec of Sassuolo, Pasalic has had to fill in as needed when starting lineup spaces were unoccupied. Frequently, this has required them to play positions they don’t feel comfortable in, which has caused bottlenecks in the final third and may have weakened national team performances. Pasalic’s spatial awareness may come in handy.
Sucic
One of Croatia’s emerging midfielders, Luka Sucic, might be crucial to the country’s success in the Euro 2024 competition. Sucic, a player for Salzburg, frequently plays the 8 or 10 position for his team and finds space for himself by making deft off-ball maneuvers.
Sucic goes fast to locate free spaces between lines or in half gaps to receive the ball with less pressure when he spots an opponent guarding his lateral passing option.
Every game that Salzburg and Croatia play is a testament to Sucic’s ability to understand the game and provide his squad choices.
Croatia’s midfield is quite creative, but it lacks muscle in the middle. Josip Pivaric can play this position in a 4-2-3-1 system, but long-term fixes—like bringing Milan Badelj from Fiorentina—would greatly help the club since it would allow for speedier movement into the final third.
Budimir
At Euro 2012, Croatia and Italy drew 2-2 before going on to advance as group B champions, marking their seventh meeting at a major tournament. This important match between two motivated teams might be pivotal in either’s quest for greatness, since the outcome of this game will determine who advances.
Croatia’s midfield trio will be crucial to their success. Despite being 38 years old and getting close to retirement, Modric is still an important part of Dalic’s team’s strategy.
Despite sustaining a fractured nose during Osasuna’s 2-0 victory against Cadiz on Saturday, Budimir is ready to participate in this encounter since he was selected for their starting lineup and might be crucial for Croatia.
After their dreadful performance against Spain, Spalletti will be hoping his team can find their form again. Italy’s success this campaign still rests on their ineffectual offense, despite the fact that his modifications were welcome additions. A win would guarantee them a berth in the last 16, while a loss would eliminate them.
Majer
This year’s European tournament talk has been focused on France, Germany, and England, whereas Croatia has received little attention prior to this competition. However, this year could finally be its big break!
Majer has the skill to pull it off; he was a mascot for Modric at a Dinamo Zagreb game ten years ago and was his childhood idol. Not only can he play a variety of positions well, but more significantly, he gets along well with teammates.
In a recent match against Holstein Kiel, he scored for Wolfsburg and set up six chances and six crosses for his teammates. This young midfielder is a tremendous asset to the national team group since he also has a potent shot.
Due to the clear absence of a natural holding midfielder in Croatia’s current lineup, center backs are forced to shift wide when fullbacks attack, creating gaps that need to be filled and making Ivan Perisic and Marko Pjaca vulnerable to counterattacks.
