Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić says his team’s friendly against Senegal has provided them with the needed test ahead of their 2018 World Cup opener against Nigeria on June 16.
Dalic’s Croatian side came from 1-0 down to beat World Cup-bound Senegal 2-1 in their final warmup game on Friday.
Ismaila Sarr opened scoring for Senegal on 48 minutes before goals from Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric in the 63rd and 78th minutes, completed the comeback win.
Reacting to the win, Dalic says his team overcame Senegal who in his view are the best team in Africa.
“Congratulations to Senegal for a good performance, they are the best African team, with pacey players, quick transition, and quality defence,” Dalic told Croatia Football Federation.
“That was just the test we needed before the Nigeria encounter at the World Cup.
“In the first half, we distributed the ball too slowly, leaving us with no solutions. Later on, we corrected some things and performed better searching for an equalizer and the winner.”
He expressed delight that they will be heading to Russia on a winning note in their final warmup game but admitted they still need to improve in some aspect of their game.
He added:”Croatia has to be happy to be leaving for Russia with a win, even though we need to improve even further, in order to open the FIFA World Cup with a positive result.
“I remain optimistic, while Croatia needs to learn a lesson, play faster and present more quality. In seven days, we have to be at our maximum level.”
COMMENTS
coach. don’t deceive yourself, you only played a friendly with Senegal. Nigeria isn’t Senegal … okay.
Oso you believe nigeria can beat croatia,anyways fingers crossed anything can happen at any given time.
You have to play Nigeria before you will qualify the best team in Africa
I think this was what GR is about. Super eagle of Nigeria have played a mind game through out the friendly games. This will make if difficult for super opponents in Group D to comprehend his take and give for World fight. Indeed super’s eagle fans should come to this understanding and lets give our able team a positive support. Can you imagine, Croatia Coach Dalic’s assessment of super eagle style and strength in Senegalese, yes we both hailed from Africa and share some similar traits but Dalic should find out super eagle is a complete different one when come to football. I predict a shaku-Euro style this coming Saturday for Croatia.
You must be kidding. Croatia will destroy the Eagles next saturday by 3-1.
Am happy d way SE performed during friendlies..it gives room for other team to underate us..and Gernot Rohr is playing a beautiful mind game,giving our opponent no clue abt us..Coach Dalic,wait until Saturday n see if truly u av defeated “African best”..I so much believe dat d SE will shock d world at mundial..(eye wey dem take dey chop eba,different frm d one wey dem take dey share meat oo) Be warned ! #up eagles
This is calls for celebration lol. Keep under rating us no problem coach, the time Will tell.
I watched the highlight of the match on YouTube yesterday and I believed Croatia is not super at all.
This Croatia team will find it so difficult to cope with the Super Eagles next Saturday but my main fear is that Eagles always fears the big names and big teams but big names doesn’t play football. Therefore, Super Eagles have a lot of work to do about set piece.
They must be organized in the back. They must attack together and defend together. By doing so, problem solved. Eagles did that against Poland and the Polish team found it very difficult to played their game. I am not seeing that spirit in Eagles anymore. What happened? I don’t know.
However, this coach would be shocked at the end of the match by God’s grace. This is what coach Rohr was trying to do and he has attained his goal.
He did that before we started our world cup qualifiers and he says, he wanted Cameroon to be the next Africa Champions and Nigerians did not understand him and they kicked against that. However, we never knew that if Cameroon be coming Africa Champions, there would be pressure on them. Which was eventually happened.
So, my fellow Nigerians, we have nothing to be worried about. Simy and Enacho would be our main strikers in Russia. One touch one goal, that is what its needed in the Super Eagles team. We have a coach who knows what is at stake.
Happy weekend my people. God bless us all. God bless Nigeria!!!
I Pity Dalic,underating Super Eagle Is A Big Mistakes To Him,he Shal C