Croatia coach Dalić warns no margin for error after England defeat

Croatia’s head coach Zlatko Dalić said his side cannot afford any more mistakes after a 2‑4 loss to England in the World Cup. He described the defeat as “catastrophic”, noting errors on set‑pieces and a lack of concentration that cost the team. Dalić stressed the need to regroup quickly for the upcoming group games against Panama and Ghana, emphasizing that confidence must be restored and defensive lapses corrected.

He hinted at tactical adjustments, including a possible change in the striking lineup with Ante Budimir starting instead of Petar Musa, and highlighted Luka Modrić’s 200th cap. The midfield pairing remains under review, with a choice between keeping the current setup or pairing Modrić with Mateo Kovačić. Dalić added that Croatia must play with responsibility and courage to improve on the opening match.