Croatia head Coach, Zlatko Dalic has passionately came out to defend his team from claim that they are “dark horses” in the Euro 2024.
Croatia manager, Zlatko Dalic questioned the claim that his nation is never considered favorite at any international tournament but The Three Lions Of England who has not shown strong performance in most international tournament in recent years is always considered favorite.
Dalic Croatia side famously know as the (Chequered Ones) in their home country, started the 2024 Euro on a worst possible start suffering a 3-0 defeat against Spain on Saturday in their Group B opening match. All three of La Roja’s goals against Croatia came in the first half of the game as Croatia were made to suffer for their lacklustre ways and lack of clinical finishing in front of goalpost. Croatia now sits buttom of Group B and will face Albania today in a must win game .
Speaking ahead of the match against Albania on Wednesday,June 19, the Croatia gaffer totally disagree with the opinions that his side goes into major tournament as underdogs.
“It wasn’t a pretty sight, it wasn’t great to watch, we didn’t get a great feeling,” the 57-year-old said, per The Mirror.
“But we are always the dark horse, we are always not among the favourites, nobody believes in us but in the past six years we have won three medals. After France, our national team is the first team to have done this so I always keep saying that Croatia deserves greater respect from everyone else for what we have managed to do” he said
The coach further use England’s shortcomings at major international tournaments to further his point, adding:
“We have won three medals, England won one [more than] 50 years ago but they are a great team, we are not, we are always the dark horse. We are little but we are brave, we will fight and we have the evidence of thousands of Croats in Berlin.
Croatia’s recent success
Ranked 10th in FIFA’s latest rankings, Croatia have been a force to reckon with in recent years.
At the 2018 World Cup, they made it to the final, losing 4-2 to France. That great feat enabled one of their own – Modric – to win a maiden Ballon d’Or award in 2018
Their Euro 2020 campaign was disappointing, as they only reached the last 16 of the competition, where they got knocked out by Spain.
Significant changes were made in Qatar at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as Croatia finished in third place, behind France and eventual winners Argentina.
Another great stat the Vatreni brag with is they have qualified for every major tournament since 1994, except the Euro 2000 and 2010 World Cup.
