Croatia’s Euro 2024 journey has been fraught with emotion, and for many fans, the overriding question is stark: Is Croatia Eliminated From Euros? Tears welled in the eyes of manager Zlatko Dalic as he faced the media, a day after a crucial match that left their tournament hopes hanging by a thread. Even before Slovenia’s draw against England officially sealed their fate and confirmed Croatia could not qualify as one of the best third-placed teams, Dalic seemed to sense the impending conclusion. This wasn’t just about exiting Euro 2024; it felt like the potential end of an era for a celebrated generation of Croatian football legends, and perhaps even his own tenure at the helm.
Croatia’s passionate fanbase has been a standout feature of Euro 2024 in Germany. They arrived in droves, tens of thousands strong, painting Berlin, Hamburg, and Leipzig in a sea of red and white. Their support was boisterous, vibrant, and overwhelmingly loud, a typical sight at major tournaments, but amplified to an unprecedented degree. Remarkably, they even outnumbered Italian supporters by a factor of four to one in key matches.
“This signifies that the national team has transcended mere sport; it has become a movement,” an emotionally charged Dalic declared on Tuesday. “It’s a cult, a symbol of our nation. I implore them to stand united and continue supporting this national team, to cherish it in moments of defeat as much as in victory.”
Croatia’s ascent to footballing prominence in recent years has been nothing short of extraordinary. Their consecutive World Cup heroics, reaching the final in Russia 2018 and securing a semi-final spot in Qatar 2022, coupled with a Nations League final appearance where they narrowly lost to Spain on penalties last year, have exponentially expanded their global fanbase and national pride.
However, the backbone of this remarkable team is undeniably aging. Luka Modric, the midfield maestro, is 38. His esteemed midfield partners, Marcelo Brozovic (31) and Mateo Kovacic (30), are also on the wrong side of 30. Collectively, this midfield trio boasts an astounding 381 caps for their nation. Adding to the veteran core, Ivan Perisic is 35, Andrej Kramaric is 33, and Ante Budimir is 32. Dalic himself has been in charge for seven years, a significant tenure in the often-volatile world of football management.
Following a painful group stage exit, intensified by Italy’s agonizingly late equalizer on Monday which relegated them to third place in their group, the critical question arises: is this the definitive end of an era for one of European football’s most consistently competitive teams of the past decade?
Similar to the pressures faced by Gareth Southgate with England, Croatia’s remarkable achievements since 2018 haven’t shielded their manager from intense criticism back home. Disappointing performances at this Euros have ignited debates about the team’s direction and leadership.
To brand their Euro 2024 campaign as an outright disaster might be an overstatement. Fine margins separated triumph and tribulation. Had their matches against Albania and Italy concluded just minutes earlier – in the 94th and 97th minute, respectively – Croatia would have secured six points instead of a mere two, likely guaranteeing qualification from what was widely considered the “group of death.”
Alt text: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic shows disappointment, reflecting on the potential Euro 2024 elimination.
However, juxtaposed against the euphoric highs of the last two World Cups, the prevailing sentiment is one of profound disappointment, tinged with anger and widespread finger-pointing to identify where the campaign faltered. This Euro 2024 showing represents Croatia’s poorest performance at a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup, where a 3-1 defeat to Mexico resulted in a group stage exit.
“I accept full responsibility for this failure,” Dalic stated somberly, while carefully avoiding any direct comments about his future as Croatia’s manager.
Alt text: Zlatko Dalic, appointed as Croatia national team manager in 2017, during a Euro 2024 match.
While Dalic is powerless to reverse the natural aging process affecting Modric and his contemporaries, a compelling argument can be made that he has not adequately developed a succession plan for the core of his team. The transition from a golden generation requires foresight and strategic player development, aspects that are now under scrutiny.
A 2-1 victory away against Portugal in a pre-tournament friendly offered a fleeting moment of optimism. However, this result did little to truly convince Dalic, or the skeptical fans and media back home, that the Croatian team was undergoing the necessary rejuvenation. In fact, the win arguably inflated expectations, reinforcing a “glass-half-full” mentality and the belief that the golden generation was capable of delivering one last hurrah.
Dalic opted for an unchanged starting XI for the opening group game against Spain, seemingly buoyed by the Portugal result. However, a critical oversight was the fact that Portugal were missing several pivotal players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, Joao Cancelo, and Rafael Leao. Moreover, the context of a pre-tournament friendly inherently differs from the intensity of a major tournament group stage. “After a strong showing against Portugal, a truly great performance, it seemed illogical to make changes,” Dalic reasoned, defending his selection choices.
Of the veteran players to whom Dalic has remained fiercely loyal – a loyalty understandable given their unprecedented contributions to Croatian football – Marcelo Brozovic has faced the most intense criticism. There’s a growing perception that his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, last summer has diminished his trademark intensity in defensive midfield. The demanding nature of European top-flight football versus the less rigorous Saudi Pro League is cited as a potential factor.
Alt text: Marcelo Brozovic in action for Croatia, facing criticism after moving to Saudi Arabia.
Fringe players, who might have injected fresh energy and dynamism, were largely overlooked. Ajax left-back Borna Sosa, for instance, remained on the periphery. Ivan Perisic, despite his legendary status, was deployed at left-back against Albania, appearing every inch a 35-year-old veteran recovering from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained last season. While his recovery to participate in Germany is commendable, his physical limitations were evident. Similarly, Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic was underutilized, failing to provide a spark in midfield.
Younger talents, heralded as the future of Croatian football, received scant opportunities. Dinamo Zagreb’s 21-year-old Martin Baturina, often touted as the “next Modric,” played a mere five minutes throughout the entire tournament. Luka Sucic, a vibrant and energetic 21-year-old midfielder from Red Bull Salzburg, belatedly started against Italy and emerged as one of Croatia’s more impactful players in that crucial match.
Other promising youngsters are emerging, such as Bayern Munich’s highly-rated 19-year-old attacking midfielder Lovro Zvonarek. However, he is yet to receive a senior national team call-up and had limited Bundesliga appearances last season, indicating a lack of readiness at the highest level.
Alt text: Age profile graphic of the Croatia Euro 2024 squad, highlighting the veteran core of the team.
Dalic’s tactical approach throughout Euro 2024 appeared indecisive, lacking a clear vision of his best starting XI. Among his outfield players, he rotated extensively at right-back, left-back, and centre-back. Josko Gvardiol, a highly versatile defender, was shifted across different positions. Furthermore, Dalic experimented with six different players in the three forward positions, indicating a search for attacking solutions that never fully materialized.
The only constant remained the tried and trusted central midfield trio of Modric, Kovacic, and Brozovic – a unit Dalic himself lauded as the “world’s best midfield” in 2022.
While this midfield trio wasn’t necessarily the primary problem, a discernible lack of energy and creative spark permeated their play at times, and certainly in the areas around them. Modric, despite his talismanic presence and crucial goal against Italy, couldn’t complete two of the three group games and lacked his usual rhythm, having started only 18 league games for Real Madrid last season. Kovacic started 16 for Manchester City, and Brozovic was adapting to the less demanding pace of Saudi Arabian football.
Scorer. Leader. Record-breaker.
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić 👏@Vivo_GLOBAL | #EUROPOTM pic.twitter.com/W5cID41gTq
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 24, 2024
A significant vulnerability exposed during Euro 2024 was Croatia’s leaky defense. Having conceded a mere four goals in qualifying, they alarmingly let in six goals in just three group stage matches.
A glaring weakness was their inability to effectively defend crosses, particularly in-swinging deliveries into the penalty area.
The following images from their opening game against Spain illustrate this defensive frailty. Despite a packed penalty area with eight Croatian players positioned defensively as Lamine Yamal prepares to cross, Dani Carvajal (one of the smallest players on the pitch) is left completely unmarked as he ghosts into the box. At the moment of contact, four Croatian players are in close proximity but fail to challenge for the ball.
Alt text: Animated GIF showing Spain’s Dani Carvajal scoring against Croatia from an in-swinging cross, highlighting Croatia’s defensive vulnerability.
This vulnerability to in-swinging crosses was not a new revelation. Croatia conceded a remarkably similar goal during Euro 2024 qualifying in a 2-1 defeat to Wales in October 2023.
This time, the cross originated from the opposite flank, but as Dan James shapes to deliver the ball, Croatia again outnumbered their opponents with defenders in the box. Yet, another in-swinging cross from a wide area found Harry Wilson, who made first contact to glance a header into the corner of the net.
Alt text: Animated GIF showing Wales scoring against Croatia from an in-swinging cross during Euro 2024 qualifying, similar defensive errors.
Astonishingly, this defensive lesson remained unlearned by the second group game against Albania. The pattern repeated itself, this time from the right flank. As the ball reaches Jasir Asani on the touchline, a gaping void is evident between centre-backs Josip Sutalo and Josko Gvardiol. Gvardiol is drawn wide, following his marker, exacerbating the gap.
Marcelo Brozovic attempts to fill the defensive void, but it’s too late. Qazim Laci makes a decisive run through the heart of the Croatian defense and heads another in-swinging corner past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Albania’s subsequent equalizer in the final seconds of the match stemmed from yet another cross that Croatia failed to adequately defend.
Alt text: Animated GIF showing Albania scoring against Croatia from an in-swinging cross, exposing persistent defensive gaps.
These recurring gaps between Croatia’s centre-backs became a defining theme of their tournament, a structural issue often exacerbated by their ball-dominant midfield trio.
In the sequence leading to Spain’s first goal, Kovacic and Brozovic drop deep between the two centre-backs to initiate build-up play from the back. As the play progresses, left centre-back Marin Pongracic plays a pass down the flank, and Kovacic becomes the deepest Croatian player on the pitch, with the full-backs positioned very high upfield.
When Spain regain possession, the gap between the centre-backs proves too wide, and there is insufficient pressure on the ball. All three Croatian midfielders are clustered in the central circle, leaving space exposed. A simple pass dissecting the centre-backs allows Alvaro Morata a straightforward run through the middle to score in a one-on-one situation.
Alt text: Animated GIF illustrating Spain’s first goal against Croatia, highlighting the defensive structure breakdown and midfield positioning.
This defensive vulnerability wasn’t an isolated incident. Ten minutes prior, a similar warning sign emerged when Croatia lost possession in midfield. As illustrated below, they were overly expansive and susceptible in transitional moments, allowing Spain to exploit through-balls directly through the heart of their defense.
Alt text: Still image showing a near-goal opportunity for Spain against Croatia, revealing defensive gaps and vulnerability in transition.
If Dalic initially displayed defiance after the Spain defeat, expressing frustration that Croatia, despite winning three medals in six years, were still considered perennial dark horses while England, with one World Cup victory over 50 years ago, were labeled a “great team,” the reality of the Albania draw seemed to have delivered a sobering blow.
“We couldn’t execute anything correctly” he admitted regarding their first-half performance against Albania. “We were excessively slow, and we surrendered possession far too easily in midfield.”
Notably, Croatia had not received a single yellow card in their first two matches, a statistic that troubled Dalic. “This indicates a lack of sufficient aggression,” he observed. “We’re not committed enough in challenges, we maintain excessive distance, we lack intensity.” He also pointedly remarked that Ivan Perisic appeared older compared to his performances in Qatar, a frank assessment of a key veteran player.
Dalic granted the players a day off after the Albania match, presumably for introspection and to galvanize a more aggressive approach. This shift in mentality evidently worked, as Croatia accumulated six yellow cards against Italy, indicating a newfound intensity. He then focused on strategizing the starting XI for the crucial final group match. His solution to midfield turnovers was to deploy even more midfielders.
The formation against Italy resembled a 4-6-0, with attacking midfielder Kramaric operating as the central striker in a fluid attacking setup.
Alt text: Player network graphic from Croatia vs Italy Euro 2024 match, illustrating Croatia’s midfield-heavy 4-6-0 formation.
To a degree, this tactical adjustment proved effective. Croatia exerted more control than in their previous two matches. However, this cautious approach also proved to be a safe, perhaps overly defensive, option. Lacking genuine pace upfront, their attack was blunted, failing to capitalize on their lead. Ultimately, desperate late defending in the 98th minute cost them dearly. Four Croatian players were drawn towards a surging Riccardo Calafiori, leaving Mattia Zaccagni unmarked to score the heartbreaking equalizer that likely sealed Croatia’s fate.
Zaccagni’s composure and finish in the final minute… 🥶#EUROGOTT | @AlipayPlus pic.twitter.com/pHyMHLzfot
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 24, 2024
The enduring image of Croatia’s Euro 2024 tournament will likely be a distraught Luka Modric posing for photographs with his man-of-the-match award after the Italy game. Another individual accolade for Croatia’s most decorated player, but this particular trophy felt like a painful reminder of what could have been.
Alt text: Luka Modric looking dejected while holding his man-of-the-match award after the Italy match, symbolizing Croatia’s Euro 2024 disappointment.
Monday’s match against Italy marked Modric’s 178th appearance for Croatia, an extraordinary testament to his longevity and dedication. However, it may also represent a poignant farewell on the major international stage.
A generation of Croatian footballers that began to emerge around 2008, and truly flourished from 2016 to 2023, appears to be reaching its conclusion. The question is Croatia eliminated from Euros is now definitively answered with a yes.
Croatia has experienced such transitions before. The woeful group stage exit at the 2002 World Cup signaled the end of a previous golden generation that had propelled them to the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and a Euro 96 quarter-final. Davor Suker and Robert Prosinecki were among the iconic figures who departed the stage then. Now, Modric and Perisic, two legendary stalwarts whose status as Croatian footballing greats is unequivocally secure, will likely follow suit.
Croatia’s last dance at Euro 2024 has concluded, transforming into a somber lap of honor for a generation of players who have indelibly etched their names into football history.
(Top photo: Maja Hitij – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
