The emotional scene surrounding Croatia’s national team manager, Zlatko Dalic, painted a clear picture even before the final whistle blew on their Euro 2024 journey. A day after a heartbreaking draw against Italy, Dalic’s tearful demeanor in front of the media hinted at the looming reality: Croatia’s tournament hopes were hanging by a thread, and potentially signaling the end of an era for this celebrated generation. While mathematical possibilities still flickered, the subsequent draw between Slovenia and England confirmed the inevitable – Croatia would not advance as one of the best third-placed teams. The question “Is Croatia Out Of Euro 2024?” was no longer hypothetical; it was a stark truth. This wasn’t just about exiting this tournament; it felt like a turning point, perhaps the conclusion for a cycle defined by iconic players and remarkable achievements under Dalic’s leadership.
Croatia’s passionate fanbase had been a standout feature of Euro 2024 in Germany. Traveling in droves to Berlin, Hamburg, and Leipzig, their supporters created a vibrant and deafening atmosphere at every match. Their unwavering support, often outnumbering opposing fans, particularly the Italians, underscored the deep connection between the national team and its people. As Dalic emotionally articulated on Tuesday, “This means the national team has become a movement. It is a cult, a symbol of the nation. I ask them to stay together and to follow this national team, to love it both when it loses and when it wins.” This fervent support is a testament to Croatia’s extraordinary performances on the world stage in recent years.
Zlatko Dalic, Croatia boss in 2017, looking thoughtful on the sidelines
The foundation of this “cult” was built upon Croatia’s sensational runs in the last two World Cups. Reaching the final in Russia 2018 and securing a semi-final spot in Qatar 2022, coupled with a Nations League final appearance in 2023, dramatically amplified the team’s global fanbase and national pride. However, the core players who orchestrated these triumphs are now facing the inevitable challenge of time. Luka Modric, the midfield maestro, is 38. His long-time midfield partners, Marcelo Brozovic (31) and Mateo Kovacic (30), are also on the wrong side of 30. This experienced trio boasts an astonishing 381 international caps combined, a testament to their enduring quality and service. Key figures like Ivan Perisic (35), Andrej Kramaric (33), and Ante Budimir (32) further highlight the aging profile of this golden generation. After seven years at the helm, Dalic now faces critical questions about the future direction of the team.
The painful group stage exit at Euro 2024 has intensified scrutiny and sparked debate. Italy’s dramatic late equalizer relegated Croatia to third place in Group B, raising the critical question: is this the end of an era for a team that has consistently punched above its weight in European football for the past decade? Similar to the pressures faced by Gareth Southgate with England, Dalic, despite his unprecedented success since 2018, has faced sharp criticism at home following underwhelming performances at this tournament. While labeling their Euro 2024 campaign a complete disaster might be excessive – narrow margins in games against Albania and Italy could have easily swung their fate – the stark reality is that Croatia underperformed against expectations set by their recent major tournament pedigree.
The disappointment is palpable, fueled by memories of past glories and a sense that this tournament represented a missed opportunity. This Euro 2024 showing marks Croatia’s poorest major tournament performance since the 2014 World Cup, where a group stage exit also raised questions about the team’s direction. Taking responsibility, Dalic stated, “I take full responsibility for this failure,” while remaining ambiguous about his future with the national team.
While the aging of key players like Modric is an unavoidable factor, a significant point of contention is the perceived lack of a clear succession plan for the team’s core. A pre-tournament victory against Portugal, while seemingly positive, may have inadvertently masked underlying issues and fostered a sense of complacency. Dalic’s decision to field an unchanged starting XI against Spain in their opening Euro 2024 match overlooked the context of that Portugal game – Portugal were notably missing several key players. This victory arguably reinforced a belief that the old guard could deliver one last hurrah, delaying necessary squad evolution. “After a good game against Portugal, a great performance, it was stupid to change anything,” Dalic reasoned, highlighting his faith in the established core.
However, loyalty to veteran players, while understandable given their past contributions, has come under scrutiny. Brozovic, in particular, has faced criticism, with suggestions that his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr might have diminished his intensity in defensive midfield. Despite Dalic’s unwavering gratitude towards these players (“As long as I live, I will be grateful to them”), questions linger about whether maintaining the status quo hindered the team’s dynamism and adaptability at Euro 2024.
Marcelo Brozovic in action for Croatia, facing pressure from an opponent
Younger, potentially impactful players remained on the fringes. Borna Sosa, a talented left-back from Ajax, saw limited game time, while Perisic, despite his commendable recovery from a serious injury, started in that position but at times appeared to struggle with the physical demands. Mario Pasalic of Atalanta, another player capable of injecting energy and creativity, was also underutilized. The minimal involvement of highly-rated young talents like Dinamo Zagreb’s Martin Baturina, touted as the “next Modric,” who played only five minutes, and Luka Sucic, who belatedly started against Italy and impressed, raises further questions about the balance between experience and youth in Dalic’s squad selection. While promising youngsters like Lovro Zvonarek at Bayern Munich are emerging, their integration into the national team setup appears to be a gradual process.
Chart showing Croatia squad age profile for Euro 2024, highlighting the age distribution of players
Dalic’s tactical approach and team selections throughout Euro 2024 also lacked clarity. He rotated outfield positions extensively, changing right-backs, left-backs, center-backs, and experimenting with Josko Gvardiol in different roles. The forward line also saw multiple changes in personnel across the three group games. Notably, the central midfield trio of Modric, Kovacic, and Brozovic, once hailed by Dalic as the “world’s best midfield,” remained constant. While this trio’s quality is undeniable, a perceived lack of energy and creativity, both within and around them, became evident. Modric, despite moments of brilliance, including a goal against Italy, lacked his usual rhythm, potentially due to limited game time at Real Madrid last season. Kovacic and Brozovic’s club situations also varied, raising questions about overall match sharpness and collective cohesion.
Scorer. Leader. Record-breaker.
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić 👏@Vivo_GLOBAL | #EUROPOTM pic.twitter.com/W5cID41gTq
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 24, 2024
A critical vulnerability exposed during Euro 2024 was Croatia’s defensive fragility. Despite a solid qualifying campaign where they conceded few goals, they conceded six in just three group stage matches. A recurring weakness was defending crosses, particularly in-swinging deliveries. Analysis of goals conceded against Spain, Wales (in qualifying), and Albania reveals a pattern of defensive lapses when dealing with crosses into the box. Gaps between center-backs, often exacerbated by the positioning of the ball-dominant midfield trio during build-up play, were repeatedly exploited by opponents. Tactical adjustments to address this defensive issue appeared insufficient throughout the tournament.
GIF sequence showing Spain's goal against Croatia, highlighting defensive positioning and vulnerability to crosses
GIF sequence showing Wales' goal against Croatia in Euro 2024 qualifying, illustrating similar defensive issues with crosses
GIF sequence showing Albania's goal against Croatia, again pointing to defensive weaknesses against in-swinging crosses
GIF sequence illustrating Croatia conceding the first goal against Spain, emphasizing the gap between center-backs in transition
Still image showing a defensive vulnerability for Croatia against Spain, highlighting space in central defense
Following the defeat to Spain and a lackluster first-half performance against Albania, Dalic’s initial defiance seemed to give way to a more sober assessment of the situation. “We couldn’t do anything right,” he admitted after the Albania game. “We were very slow, we have never lost so many easy balls in midfield.” He also noted a lack of aggression and highlighted Perisic’s age as contributing factors. In an attempt to regain control, Dalic opted for a more conservative 4-6-0 formation against Italy, overloading the midfield.
Network graph showing player positions and connections for Croatia against Italy, illustrating the 4-6-0 formation
While this tactical shift provided more midfield control, it sacrificed attacking impetus. Croatia lacked pace and cutting edge upfront, failing to capitalize on their lead. Ultimately, desperate late defending led to Italy’s dramatic equalizer in the 98th minute, sealing 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 lasting image of Croatia’s Euro 2024 will likely be of a dejected Luka Modric, clutching his man-of-the-match award after the Italy game. A bittersweet memento, symbolizing individual brilliance amidst collective disappointment.
Luka Modric looking dejected while holding his man-of-the-match award after the Italy match
A generation that emerged around 2008 and reached its zenith between 2016 and 2023 appears to be reaching its conclusion. History offers a parallel: Croatia’s disappointing 2002 World Cup marked the end of a previous golden era. Just as Davor Suker and Robert Prosinecki departed then, Modric and Perisic, now legends in Croatian football, are likely entering their final chapter on the international stage. Croatia’s Euro 2024 journey, initially envisioned as another glorious chapter, concluded as a poignant, perhaps final, lap of honor for a remarkable generation. The question of “is Croatia out of Euro 2024” is definitively answered, but the broader question of what comes next for Croatian football remains open.
