Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic issues England verdict after 'disastrous' World Cup defeat | OneFootball

Croatia boss has analysed his side’s defeat to England in World Cup opener

Zlatko Dalic has suggested England are the strongest team from set-pieces at this summer’s World Cup following their 4-2 win over Croatia.

An entertaining opening game in Group L went the way of the Three Lions thanks to second half goals from Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford, following an inspiring Thomas Tuchel team talk.

Despite ending the first half on top, Croatia had no answer to a much improved England display straight from the restart and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic pulled off a number of fine save to keep the score down.

Dominik Livakovic and Croatia were constantly put under pressure by England from set-pieces

Ultimately though, Dalic felt his side paid the price for conceding two set-piece goals as Harry Kane scored from a retaken penalty before adding his second by heading home a Declan Rice corner.

“Allow me first to congratulate England on the win,” the Croatia boss said. “It was quite a strange game, quite a difficult game, as we expected it to be.

“Until now we were quite good in the set-pieces, We did not concede goals that easily and we practised for this opponent.

“We knew England’s way of play, we knew that they’re making a block and we failed to do what we practised.

Unfortunately we knew that the set-pieces were the greatest danger, and we conceded two goals after a corner

Zlatko Dalic

“After the first corner, we concede a goal. After the second set-piece, a player just jumps in and scores again, so it was disastrous for us, specifically when it comes to a team such as England.

“They are strongest when it comes to goals from set-pieces. About 40 per cent of their goals are from set-pieces. We analysed that game, we knew that.

“We must be much, much better than we were today in our performance.”