Slaven Bilić faces player recommendations and appointment criticism

Following Slaven Bilić's return as the head coach of the Croatian national football team, former player Igor Štimac has recommended specific talent to bolster the squad. Štimac, drawing from his experience coaching Zrinjski, suggested that Bilić consider Zrinjski players Karlo Abramović and Antonio Ilić to address deficiencies in wing speed and energy.

Štimac highlighted that 21-year-old Antonio Ilić has already expressed his desire to play for Croatia, having previously been considered by the Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austrian youth setups.

Meanwhile, former Serbian international and analyst Rade Bogdanović has criticized the appointment of Bilić. Bogdanović argued that a national coach must be constantly immersed in football analysis rather than focusing on media activities like hosting podcasts. He noted the difficulty of succeeding Zlatko Dalić and expressed concerns regarding the tactical preparation and current squad composition of the Croatian team.