England Haven't Won Anything in 60 Years, We Have Three Medals

"England haven't won anything in 60 years, we have three medals," Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said ahead of the opening match: "They say we're finished, but we're here".

Sport 5 Published: 10.06.26, 20:43 (GETTY) | Photo: Sport 5

Croatia has only 3.8 million residents, yet the national team from Eastern Europe is one of the best teams in the world. On Wednesday, the Vatreni will begin their seventh World Cup when they meet England. Zlatko Dalic, who led Luka Modric and his teammates to historic achievements, including reaching the 2018 World Cup final and finishing third at the 2022 World Cup, spoke ahead of the tournament and offered several interesting quotes: "Since 2018 they have been saying we're old, and still, together with France and Germany, we have won the most medals in the 21st century. England haven't won anything in 60 years, we have three medals. They always underestimate us and say we're done, but we're still here, thanks to our discipline and hard work. It is much harder to stay at the top than to get there."

The coach continued: "This is a knockout tournament, there is no room for beauty or enjoyment, we will present pragmatic football and focus on results. Everything starts with defense, I would rather win 1-0 than 4-3. There are players with us since 2018, even though 8 years have passed they still have an important role. I am aware that we will need to push young players."

"England is going to be our toughest challenge, but we have scouted and we know everything we need to know. I already know the lineup, these games give us answers."

While all eyes are on Luka Modric and the veteran core, one of the most intriguing stories comes from the back line. Luka Vuskovic, the 19-year-old center back, is considered one of Croatian football's biggest prospects and one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe. After an excellent season in the Bundesliga and his first involvement with the national team, he arrives at the major tournament as the team's next big thing.

Modric, who will lead the team even at age 40, arrives after a difficult season at Milan. The midfielder recovered from a cheekbone fracture and even came on wearing a protective mask, and he scored in the final warm-up match against Slovenia. The captain will appear in his fifth World Cup and will try to add another chapter to his remarkable career.

World Cup 2026

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