Last night made it ever clearer that Euro 2020 being in 2021 is of severe detriment to Croatia (thread)

For one, there’s the Modric question. Luka isn’t going to be around in 2022 and him having a decent summer 2020 and retiring would havgiven a nice cut off point for the squad. Croatia last night needed a Modric as they played with him in mind but not in person.

Fine to not have Modric about but you can’t play like you have him when you don’t. Neither Pasalic or Kovacic have an equal skill set. So, that’s the midfield screwed, especially when you don’t play Brozovic.

Up front, Petkovic isn’t the best striker Croatia have, but he’s the best fit they have. This isn’t club football where you can take time and train a square peg into a round hole, it’s one where you get limited time and you use the tools that fit best

(Yes, I know Petkovic hasn’t been fully fit, but he was fit enough to start vs Osijek so surely he was to do so vs Portugal)

(And anyway, AMC might be a better fit than Kramaric at this time)

It poses a pretty big question about what Croatia do now. The U21s play slightly differently and brutalised Greece. The guys who will play on the run up to 2022 might not fit Dalic’s template and the likes of Modric and Rakitic might not be in contention in two years.

So, vs France, Dalic needs to be brave and pick a side for 2022, not one for 2019. If that means moving shape, so be it. If that means ending an international career, so be it. Because you can’t go into Euro 2020 with one midfield then expect to qualify for Qatar with another.