On June 19, after their 0-3 defeat to Spain in the opening group match, Croatia will face Albania at 9 pm tonight. Ahead of the game, Croatia’s head coach Dalić addressed the media, emphasizing the need for improvement.
The Importance of This Match
“Even before the match started, we knew how crucial this game is for our qualification from the group stage. I’m glad we remained positive after the loss to Spain, and the atmosphere is good. The players are aware of the situation, and we must perform better than in the first game. We’re ready, and it’s unfortunate that Vlašić had to withdraw due to injury; I’m sorry he couldn’t stay with us. Thankfully, the rest of the team is fit, and we can’t wait to have them on the pitch.”
Addressing External Criticism
“Certainly, losing to Spain was disappointing for our fans, but the media hasn’t covered us in the best light. We haven’t received the support we deserve; nobody believes in us, yet our team has won three medals in six years, just like France. The Croatian national team deserves more respect than others. There’s a lot of pessimism now, but we’ll strive to be right again, and we’re not worried. Croatia has more value than people give us credit for.”