Croatia's head coach, Zlatko Dalic, has explained why Dinamo Zagreb captain Josip Misic (31) was not included in the World Cup squad for the USA, Canada, and Mexico (June 11 - July 19). Many believed Misic deserved a spot on the national team, but Dalic clarified his reasoning.

"The captain of Dinamo, the recipient and the best player. Boban left him as the central figure when he was the coach. I know he plays very well, but we have the youngest solutions in our team. I didn’t call him before, and now it’s too late. Back then, the competition was strong, like Kovacic, Brozovic, and Rakitic. Now, we have younger players," Dalic explained.

Misic's Role in Dinamo and National Team

This season, Misic's story has largely mirrored Dinamo's. When Misic performed poorly or was out of form, Dinamo suffered. While Marko Soldo and Ismael Bennacer joined the club, they did not replace Misic in the midfield. Every attack from Dinamo still originates from Misic. His positioning relative to the rest of the team allows the team to breathe in the first phase of the attack and bring the ball up to the forwards or the wings. His control of the game's rhythm and constant involvement make him one of the league's best players.

Misic's role in defense is equally important, providing the necessary balance in Dinamo's game. This season, he has played 44 matches for Dinamo in their pursuit of a double crown and European success. He has scored two goals and assisted in three others.