England vs Croatia Match Preview: Tuchel’s Test Begins | OneFootball

The two group L favorites meet in a widely anticipated clash with both knowing the winners, with Panama and Ghana to come, will most likely take top spot in the group.

Croatia have been a thorn in England’s side down the years, mostly down to the mercurial Luka Modrić. The Croats knocked England out of qualifying for the 2008 European Championships and a decade later knocked out England in the World Cup semi-finals at Russia 2018.

England finally beat them in the 2021 Euros, but there’s a sense Croatia are a bit of a bogey side. Whether it’s a blessing or a cruse to face them so early at a World Cup remains to be seen.

England

The England PR machine has been in full swing ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia – and it seems Thomas Tuchel isn’t done with his box of surprises.

Already raising eyebrows with who he left at home, the suggestion doing the media rounds is that he will go with John Stones at centre half ahead of team mate Marc Guéhi. Guéhi is (or was perhaps) one of the few players presumed to be nailed on to start as he’s widely considered to be the best England centre half out there.

But the rumors are that Tuchel is concerned about Guéhi’s lack of height and physicality in what is expected to be England’s toughest group game opponents, plus he favors Stones’ ball-playing skills.

Major shock

It would still be a major shock if Stones starts ahead Guéhi – he has only made 18 appearances across the entire season, half of which came in non-Premier League games, to Guéhi’s 46. He, alongside presumed partner Ezri Konsa, is right footed, so England would lose the left-right balance.

Elsewhere the talk is all about Jude Bellingham. Having kissed and made up with head coach Thomas Tuchel – who let’s not forget had to apologise after calling the player’s attitude “repulsive” early in his tenure – nearly everyone in the England camp has gone out of their way to tell us how loved the Real Madrid star is.

Bellingham’s reintroduction into the England setup after being left out of some of Tuchel’s early friendlies has been noted by his high-profile stature around the camp. The reality is that he’s a world-class player and England will need him if they are to lift the trophy for the second time, the first being 1966.

His own man

The vibe around Tuchel is that he doesn’t care about reputations, the media or the outside world; he’s very much his own man. Unlike his predecessor Gareth Southgate, he has picked his squad players for very specific game-based reasons while also giving him flexibility as many of them can play in multiple positions.

Gone is Southgate’s long-term “project” of repurposing the whole culture of England football – from the players to the supporters – in favour of win at any measure. Southgate was a great success in getting England regularly deep into competitions.

Two successive European Championship finals and a semi and quarter in the World Cup. But he couldn’t take that final, all important step and win something. Tuchel has been brought in for that, and that alone.

Predicted line up:

As well as the centre halves, the key spaces were up top with Anthony Gordon expected to get the nod over Marcus Rashford on the left, and with injury concerns over Bakayo Saka, Noni Madueke to step in on the right. Bellingham is expected to beat Morgan Rogers to the number 10 slot, while as always England will rely on the goals of Harry Kane.

Possible: PickfordO’Reilly, Stone, Konza, JamesRice, AndersonGordon, Bellingham, MaduekeKane

Croatia

Ranked 11th in the world, Croatia are a World Cup finals side, always doing better than perhaps they should. They got to the final in 2018 and the semi-finals in Qatar 2022. They also reached the semi finals in France ’98.

Head coach Zlatko Dalic knows this is the last tournament for 40-year-old Modric and a few of the others who have starred in recent competitions, including Ivan Perišić, 37, and Andrej Kramaric, who turns 35 on Friday.

There is some youth in there, most notable 19-year-old centre half Luka Vuskovic, but half of their key players are in their 30s and while that brings experience, it also brings questions of legs in the scorching heat.

A generational talent

Modrić has been playing international football for 20 years and, turning 41 this September, has just rolled out 32 starts and 2 sub appearances for AC Milan this season. He’s on 198 caps and an injury-free group stage will certainly see him hit 200.

Six times Champions League winner. Ballon D’Or winner. Croatian footballer of the year 14 times. His list of personal and team achievements is staggering and while age is catching up with his legs, his footballing brain is still fit and firing. He has the capability to make a difference to Croatia in the way, perhaps, Cristiano Ronaldo can no longer do for Portugal.

Everyone talks about this being Messi and Ronaldo’s final World Cup, while Modrić flies under the radar. He might not be in their stratosphere, but his impact on the world stage for two decades has been something to truly celebrate. Little wonder that a former coach described him as a “great champion”.

A decade in the job

Head coach Dalic is as important to Croatia’s chances as any of their players. Having been in post for nearly 10 years, he has taken his team to the final and semi final in the last two World Cups.

He has a harder hand to play with this time and has expressed an element of concern. He called the game against England the strongest match of the entire first group games, and is worried that a vacuum will be created as the older golden generation step aside.

And it’s been a consistent them. In December he said the younger players were not “imposing themselves” and don’t deserve a place in the team. Just recently he said the “first game can destroy everything”.

“We can’t choose anything else now. The first game is the most important game. Against England we’ll fight, try to do our best and try to win.”

Predicted line-up

Dalic has been meddling with formations in recent times but with trusted pairing Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic fit again, he is likely to start with a back four, though concerns persist about Kovacic’s form. He only played nine games for Manchester City this season in a season wrecked by injury. Gvardiol could move to left back with Vuskovic coming into the middle.

Modrić has been wearing a protective mask as he recovers from a fractured cheekbone, while Gvardiol has only played 28 games this season, 18 in the Premier League.

These are key players going into the World Cup with concerns hanging over them.

Possible: LivakovicGvardiol, Vuskovic, Sutalo, JosipModrić, KovacicSučić, Pašalić, Perišić, Kramaric.