The former Inter midfielder in the sights of criticism: he could be the player to be sacrificed to draw Croatia differently as they face Italy in the last match of the European Championship group.
Marcelo Brozovic (left) sacrificed by the coach, Dalic, against Italy.
Zlatko Dalić is at a crossroads, he must find an immediate solution so that on Monday 24 June the Croatia beat theItaly so as not to be left out Europeans. He can allow himself to think without making too many calculations or fearing ‘biscuits’ (a bugaboo that often hovers over the Azzurri) but he knows that he no longer has time to let himself be overcome by gratitude. The third match of Group B is in or out.
He cannot make revolutions despite his latest outings (defeat with the Spain and suffered equally with theAlbania) suggest it, however, he is equally aware that any radical change can only be postponed until after the trophy in Germany. Now we need to move forward, in one way or another, even at the cost of an illustrious sacrifice.
Who? Not Modricaround whom the national team was built and now must be put in the best conditions to still be effective, nor Kovacic, which should represent a pillar of the future that can be glimpsed on the horizon. He is the former Inter player Brozovic the candidate for ‘cuts’ for reasons of state: the classic ‘adjustment’ in extremis to find the balance in the awareness that the path to follow is another.
Italy-Croatia, Spalletti’s probable lineup: two new features for the decisive match
The decline of the latter was already visible in the last two seasons atInter and it became all the more evident after moving to Saudi Arabia. ‘Brozo’ no longer turns or runs or cleans up the game like he used to, is the issue highlighted several times by the Croatian media. His tactical discipline and ability to be a key cog in the midfield have faded along with his physical condition. He can no longer allow Modric to give his best, especially when he faces more toned and younger opponents.
Modric himself, annoyed in recent days by questions about his age and the opportunity to have alternatives in midfield that ensure a change of pace, is in a declining phase. His moves in neutralizing the pressing and completely reversing the pace of the match were peculiar but without the support of one of his “lieutenants” he is no longer able to do it.
Who will replace Brozovic? In all likelihood the coach will line up the national team with the 4-2-3-1, leaving Kovacic next to Modric and changing something in defense by leaving Pongracic on the bench for the benefit of a line based on Šutalo, Gvardiol centrally, Stanisic and Sosa on the wingers. While Majer, Mario Pašalić, Kramarić will act behind Budimir.
An alternative is to replace the former Inter player with Luka Sučić, a player who is building his career with a more direct approach, completely different to the one Croatia has had so far. If up until now he has built on his results by playing at a more reasonable pace and aiming for the sudden turnaround, now there are no players or reasons to do so. It’s time for a change, something will happen with Italy but for now Brozovic will pay. Nor will we see Perisic immediately, who doesn’t seem to have enough fitness to be among the starters.
