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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - As the Croatian national football team entered its final days based in Alexandria, head coach Zlatko Dalić had nothing but praise for the city that has hosted his squad for the better part of a month.
Asked by the Brief what he would take away from the stay, Dalić — speaking in Croatian through the team's interpreter — said the team is genuinely happy in Alexandria, describing excellent conditions "in every way" and calling the city beautiful and peaceful. He had, he said, no objections whatsoever to the team's time there — a warm assessment from a coach whose squad's future in the city, like its World Cup, now hinges on Saturday's result.
That stay is not quite over. Croatia closes the group stage against Ghana at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and is set to return to Alexandria that night. Beyond that, the team's plans are not yet known: should Croatia advance to the Round of 32, it would relocate to the city of its next match, while elimination would bring its stay — and its tournament — to an end.
A shorter runway
Speaking a day after Croatia's 1-0 win over Panama revived its tournament, Dalić also answered a second question from the Brief — about how the sudden change of pace affects the team. Croatia had seven days to prepare after its opening loss to England, he noted; now it has just four before Ghana. It is different, the coach said — but sometimes a quicker turnaround is useful, allowing a team to correct mistakes sooner. He cautioned that the compressed schedule and match conditions can also take a physical toll on players.
Dalić was candid that the Panama win, while welcome, was not Croatia's best. The team got the three points it needed but did not perform to its own standard, he said, and the focus now shifts fully to Ghana. He praised the significance of the victory coming on Luka Modrić's 200th appearance for the national team.
Gvardiol "a miracle" to be here
The coach also offered striking context on defender Joško Gvardiol, whose form has drawn scrutiny. Gvardiol broke his leg six months ago, Dalić said, calling it a miracle he made it back for the World Cup at all. It is only natural, the coach added, that the defender is not yet at the level fans are used to seeing — and he should not be criticized for it. Dalić said he had no doubt Gvardiol would return to his best, but that the team needs to be patient with him.
Turning to Ghana
Looking ahead, Dalić signaled changes are coming. He said he would alter both personnel and approach against Ghana, though he declined to give specifics. The Black Stars, already through to the knockout round, will likely sit deep and look to counterattack — a style similar to Panama's, the coach said — meaning Croatia must defend transitions better than it has and improve its play in possession.
Dalić did not shy from the pressure. Croatia wrote history with a runner-up finish in 2018 and a third-place result in 2022, he said, and that legacy brings expectation the team feels — but this is a new tournament, and the goal now is simply to keep advancing, step by step.
Croatia needs at least a draw against Ghana to have a strong chance of reaching the Round of 32, with a win likely securing second place in Group L.
Ryan Belmore
