By Adeboye Amosu:
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic says he already has in mind the starting 11 for his side’s 2018 FIFA World Cup opening Group D clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
The Croats who have lost their last four opening fixtures at the World Cup will face the three-time African champions on June 16 at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
They will look to put an end to the poor run when they come up against Gernot Rohr, and Dalic admitted he already has the men who will do the job.
“I have the first eleven that will face Nigeria in Kaliningrad but of course I will not disclose it to the media because the whole structure still depends on form and injury,” Dalic told Croatia online news outlet Sportske jutarnji.hr.
“It is better to know three months before the start of the World Cup and not close to the game.”
Nigeria as well as Iceland and two-time world champions Argentina, who are the two other teams in the group, will be involved in friendlies in the upcoming international window.
Dalic confirmed he will send scouts to watch Nigeria in their friendly games against Poland and Serbia this Friday and next week Tuesday.
“Ivica Olic will be in the United States of America to monitor Iceland who plays Peru and Mexico. Nikola Jerkan will follow Argentina in the games against Italy and Spain, while Ognjen Vukojevic will watch Nigeria against Poland and Serbia.”
COMMENTS
they lost their last 3 and not 4 opening fixtures, they defeated Jamaica in their first game in 1998 and lost their opening games in 2002,2006 and 2014
Hope Gohr is monitoring them too.
Guys, this Croatia coach is just playing mind games with all this talk on scouting and having his first eleven already. Empty barrel makes the most sound. Eagles will prey on them come June 16. Rohn and other coaches of the other teams are not stupid not to be monitoring him too.
This is mind game to cause fear. Let us prepare the best we can and we will be a force to reckon with
guys be careful o. its not always true that empty barrel makes the most noise, there are many reasons for making noise in football. just take things seriously o to avoid elimination from group stage
Sadly I can see it happening…..then everyone will start abusing rohr….Nigerians sha