Heat Rising in Rijeka

The sun beats down on Rijeka, temperatures hitting 30 degrees Celsius, but the Croatian national team isn’t slowing down. Under the watchful eye of Zlatko Dalić, the ‘Vatreni’ completed their second preparation session with fire in their veins. The squad has grown, welcoming Joško Gvardiol’s teammates Josip Šutalo and Marco Pašalić to the fold, bringing the active roster to 11 warriors ready for battle.

Kramarić at Full Throttle

Forget the doubts. Andrej Kramarić is running at full capacity. The 34-year-old striker, a true icon of Hoffenheim, laughed off health concerns during the press conference. He skipped no drills, smiled through the sweat, and proved he’s ready to unleash devastation on the World Cup stage. Meanwhile, Ivan Perišić is moving like a rocket, his energy infectious as he dominates the midfield drills.

The 'Ševa' Showdown

But not everyone had an easy day. In the traditional 'ševa' game, a brutal test of endurance and skill, Marin Fruk and Marco Pašalić found themselves trapped. The ball circled them relentlessly. Luka Modrić’s peers, including Šutalo, Erlić, and Matanović, dominated the aerial duels, heading the ball with precision. “It’s easy to keep us in when we can’t head it!” Pašalić joked, breathless but good-natured. With Perišić and Vušković leading the tackles, the intensity was palpable. The Croatian machine is humming, and tomorrow, more stars may join the fray.