Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir-Four players in Croatia’s victory formation in the National League quarter-finals against France were older than 33 years. However, all four are still very much in demand for their clubs.
Almost every district league kicker knows this: the opponent puts a very, very experienced team on and while you warm up motivated, on the other hand it is rather chattered or a cigarette is smoked again and stretched a bit. Given your own athletic skills, one is convinced that this will be a successful Sunday today.
But then the game starts and you have to be happy if you are allowed to go to the ball at all, because the opponents “have played all” and are extremely ripped off. The French national team could have felt a very little bit on Thursday evening – apart from the “higher” and the cigarettes (probably).
Croatia’s veteran and meet
Because opponents Croatia had offered four players in the starting eleven with Ivan Perisic (36), Luka Modric (39), Andrej Kramaric (33) and Ante Budimir (33), all of whom would be entitled to play for Ü32 teams. Sometimes for a long time. In this quarter-final first leg of the Nations League, the level of the veterans is still sufficient for the French selection peppered with world stars. For example in the 26th minute.
Perisic was not properly attacked on the left wing of Joules Koundé, but only delivered, was therefore able to flank relatively easily and, which was persecuted in the middle, only half -heartedly the incoming Ante Budimir, who put the perfect cross with his head to 1-0. But that’s not all: Shortly before the half -time whistle, a deflected ball crashed into the right edge of the penalty area, where Perisic had enough time to take exactly and to swear the ball in the bottom left wonderfully volley – 2: 0. The team in the person of Kramaric even missed a penalty.
Many players already in the final in 2018
After this 0-2 first leg defeat before the second leg on Sunday evening, France threatens the surprising out and the Croatian team might secure the last hurray of the old generation with what has been claimed for several years. At the 2018 World Cup, one was about to do the French under the still current coach Zlatko Dalic in the final, even then under coach Didier Deschamps, with 2: 4 (1: 2).
Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic with his player Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic
On Thursday, only Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé contents the world champion squad on the French. At the Croats, goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, defender Duje Caleta-Car, Mateo Kovavic, Modric and Kramaric were still there and were all in the starting eleven on Thursday. In addition, there was a goal scorer and late starter Budimir (2014/15 in 19 second division games for St. Pauli without a hit), who at 33, who was probably in La Liga, was probably the best season and has already scored 18 goals for Osasuna in 31 competitive games.
Back youth – front experience
The average age of the Croatian starting line-up on Thursday was 29.3 years and was primarily depressed by the defensive, because the upheaval has already taken place there: Lyons Duleta-Car was the oldest player in the chain of four at the age of 28, and Bavaria’s Josip Stanisic (24), Manchester Citys Josko Gvardiol (23) and Josip Sutalo (25) from Ajax Amsterdam. They all play at ambitious clubs and have already gained international experience. Only further at the front, Dalic is apparently lacking alternatives: In midfield and storm, only zagrebs was top talent Martin Baturina (22) under 30 years old.
But one could also argue: the performance principle applies to Dalic. Modric has already completed 44 missions for Real Madrid this season, at least 20 of them in the starting XI. Perisic has 18 goal involvement in 28 missions for Champions League round of 16, Budimir is only behind Robert Lewandowski and Mbappé and Kramaric in the scorer list of La Liga with 14 goal involvement near Hoffenheim.
Baturina, Sucic, Ivanovic – Talents with a slowly growing role
In fact, this is also waiting in addition to Baturina, which BVB and Real-Madrid rumors were already rushing in winter, one or the other promising talent: striker Franjo Ivanovic (21) plays a strong season for Saint-Gilloise in Belgium and Petar Sucic (21) will switch from Zagreb to Inter Milan for around 14 million euros in summer. Both were at least substituted against France, for Budimir and Kramaric. In the second leg, too, they will probably have to watch the old hands.