The Belgium Setback: A Test, Not a Tragedy

The whistle blew in Zagreb, and the scoreboard told a harsh story: 0-2. Belgium national football team struck twice, with Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku silencing Rujevica. But before the panic sets in, former Vukovar coach Tomislav Stipic is hitting the brakes. Is this the end of the line for Croatia? Hardly. Stipic sees this not as a collapse, but as a controlled experiment gone slightly sideways. The real show begins now.

Four Legends, One Line, Zero Doubt

Stipic’s diagnosis is sharp: the 3-4-2-1 experiment lacked balance. The solution? Return to the DNA that built a decade of success. Imagine the backline. Joško Gvardiol anchoring the left. Josip Šutalo or Lovro Majer in the center. Josip Stanisić locking down the right. Stipic calls it the best four-man defense in the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. No comfort zone? There is no room for it. Just pure, automated defensive dominance.

The Midfield Maestros and The Striker’s Spark

Critics are targeting Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić? Unfounded noise. The midfield pair remains the engine. Up top, Ante Budimir hit the woodwork and flashed danger. Feed him crosses, play him with wingers, and he becomes lethal. Stipic insists the squad depth is perfect. Kristijan Jakic can cover right-back. Marin Baturina handles the left wing. Zlatko Dalic knows the script. The final curtain call against Slovenia in Varaždin will reveal the true form. The machine is ready.