The Stage is Set in Varaždin

The 'Vatreni' are back in the ring, and the crowd in Varaždin is ready for a show. After taking a heavy hit in Rijeka—where Belgium scored twice through Tielemans and Lukaku to steal a 2-0 victory—Croatia faces Slovenia in a crucial second warm-up before the World Cup. This isn't just another friendly; it's a statement game. Head coach Zlatko Dalić isn't dwelling on the past. He’s looking forward, tweaking the lineup, and preparing for the ultimate tournament.

Dalić’s Tactical Shift

Forget the back-three experiment that didn’t quite land in Rijeka. Dalić is flipping the script. He’s returning to the tried-and-true 4-2-3-1 formation, the system that has defined Croatia’s identity for years. "No drama," Dalić said, pointing out that giants like France and the Netherlands also dropped friendly matches. "Everyone is making 10 substitutions. This is our last chance to test every player. We took lessons from Belgium, and we’re switching systems. I’m satisfied."

Form and Future

Croatia’s recent form is a mixed bag: three wins against the Faroe Islands (3-1), Montenegro (3-2), and Colombia (2-1), but losses to Brazil (1-3) and Belgium (0-2). Slovenia, meanwhile, missed the World Cup cutoff. Their last five games show just one win (against Montenegro, 3-2), two draws (Sweden, Cyprus), and losses to Hungary and Kosovo. In the World Cup, Croatia lands in Group L with England, Ghana, and Panama. Their opener against England is on June 17 at 22:00. Can they find their fire in Varaždin?