Croatia and Slovenia met tonight in Varaždin for the Vatreni’s final warm-up before heading to the World Cup. Croatia won 2-1 thanks to goals by Luka Modrić and Mario Pašalić.
As previously announced, coach Zlatko Dalić switched to a 4-2-3-1 system for the final warm-up ahead of the World Cup, a deliberate change from the three-back setup used against Belgium.
Speaking the day before the match, Dalić set the tone: “I’m satisfied with how we worked and trained, although the result against Belgium unsettled us a little, but that was a friendly that served its purpose. Everything was great except the result. Against Slovenia we’ll change the system and play 4-2-3-1. After that it’s off to America and seven days of focus on England.”
Lineups
Croatia: Livaković – Gvardiol, Pongračić, Erlić, Stanisić – Kovacić, Modrić – Perišić, Kramarić, Marco Pasalić – Budimir
Slovenia: Oblak – Janža, Drkušić, Bijol, Ratnik – Lovrić, Čerin, Karničnik, Begić – Šturm, Vipotnik
Match report
Hungarian referee Bence Csonka got the game underway in Varaždin, and Croatia were immediately on the front foot. Budimir headed just over the bar in the 2nd minute, and Croatia continued to create. Perišić tried a scissors kick in the 20th minute that Oblak gathered comfortably, Budimir forced a good save from the Atletico Madrid keeper in the 26th minute, and Perišić threatened again from the left edge of the box in the 34th minute.
Slovenia had their moments too. A shot from inside the box drifted narrowly wide in the 11th minute, and Kovačić gave everyone a scare in the 38th minute when he gave the ball away under pressure to a Slovenian attacker, but Livaković was alert. Four minutes of stoppage time were played before the referee brought the first half to a close at 0-0.
Slovenia made three changes at the break — Bijol, Vipotnik and Begić were replaced by Matko, Brekalo and Šporar — while Croatia also reshuffled, with Budimir, Kramarić and Kovačić making way for Baturina, Petar Sučić and Matanović.
The second half burst into life immediately. Slovenia had a huge chance in the 47th minute, but Livaković was there again. Croatia responded two minutes later as Baturina laid the ball off for Perišić, whose shot was saved by Oblak.
Then came the moment of the match. In the 51st minute, Modrić stepped up from the edge of the box and fired home to give Croatia the lead with a trademark finish from the captain.
Modrić was withdrawn in the 57th minute for Mario Pašalić, and Croatia made further changes in the 64th minute with Perišić and Marco Pašalić replaced by Vlašić and Luka Sučić. Slovenia continued to press and Livaković was called into action again with a save in the 61st minute. Vlašić then tested Oblak with an effort into the near post from the edge of the box in the 73rd minute, and Baturina came close with a free-kick in the 77th minute that grazed the outside of the post.
In the 83rd minute, a costly error from Baturina gifted Slovenia the equalizer, with Šporar punishing the mistake to make it 1-1. Šutalo replaced Erlić as Dalić looked to shore things up.
But it wasn’t over yet. In the third minute of stoppage time, Mario Pašalić produced a stunning late winner to send Croatia off to the World Cup on a high. A perfect send-off after all, with a 2-1 win for Croatia.
Following the match, Croatia will have a rest day on Monday before flying to Washington on Tuesday. The Vatreni open their World Cup campaign on June 17th against England in Dallas, followed by Panama on June 23rd in Toronto, and Ghana on June 27th in Philadelphia to conclude Group L.
