National Teams > Men > A

Croatia at Portugal

Dalić and Vrsaljko
agree: "Tough match,
a quality test"

06.09.2018.
Dalić and Vrsaljko agree: "Tough match, a quality test"
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić and international right-back Šime Vrsaljko spoke to the press on the eve of the Portugal friendly in Faro.

Zlatko Dalić

"I look forward to a new challenge, even though we're missing seven players in total. Portugal and Spain encounters are important matches for Croatia, and we are always aiming to win. Despite lack of form, the match against Portugal will be a good test, especially for the new players in our team. We'll use all six substitutions, with L. Kalinić, Vrsaljko, Vida, Mitrović, Barišić, Badelj, Kovačić, Modrić, Perišić, Pjaca and Livaja in the starting lineup. In the end, the European qualifiers and EURO 2020 remain are main objective. It would be an even better match if Ronaldo should play, and I am sorry that there were wrongly presented comments - he is one of the best players in the world, one of the best of all time, and I have nothing against him"

Šime Vrsaljko

 

"The key is to be a real team on the field of play, regardless of the lack of form. Of course, it will be a tough match at Portugal, but I believe we can look good after quality preparations. It's always nice to meet Croatia teammates, especially now when we have beautiful recent memories from Russia. This has to be extra motivation"

 

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