Kovacic and Gvardiol are reportedly returning from injury, while Modric is building rhythm after a fractured cheekbone. The report says Modric wore a protective mask and scored in Croatia’s 2-1 friendly win over Slovenia, but Dalic still views the trio as short of the level required.
That matters because Croatia’s squad is not considered deep enough to absorb several key players operating below their best. Kovacic’s role in midfield, Gvardiol’s recovery pace and Modric’s control remain central to how Croatia manage difficult spells.
Croatia have reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in 2022, proving their ability to navigate major tournaments. Their earlier World Cup starts were also positive: victory over Nigeria in 2018 and a draw with Morocco in 2022.
The contrast is Euro 2024, when a 3-0 defeat by Spain left Croatia with too much ground to recover. Dalic reportedly sees the England fixture as similarly decisive, especially with the squad’s current fitness concerns.
Croatia’s 2018 semi-final victory over England remains part of the rivalry, but it cannot settle the present contest. England have reportedly beaten Croatia twice since then, while Thomas Tuchel’s team arrive with pace and attacking threat across the pitch.
The immediate storyline is whether Modric, Kovacic and Gvardiol can reach competitive sharpness in time. Croatia’s first team may need to carry the burden from the opening whistle, with their tournament prospects potentially shaped before the squad has time to recover.