Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić has called for an immediate response from his side ahead of their Group L clash with Panama at Toronto Stadium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a 4–2 defeat to England in their opening match, www.aclsports.com reports.
Dalić said Croatia must tighten up defensively and show greater concentration if they are to get their campaign back on track when they face Panama at Toronto Stadium.
“We have to be better than we were in the last match and fix what was not good, primarily in a defensive sense,” he said. “We need more responsibility, more concentration, and better control of key moments.”
He admitted Croatia were punished for lapses at crucial stages against England, despite their attacking efforts.
“We gave too much away to the opponent. We spent a lot of energy to score goals, but we very easily ended up in a deficit. That is what we need to fix.”
Looking ahead to Panama, Dalić warned against underestimating a side he described as organised and dangerous on the counterattack.
“They are a good team that plays in a compact defensive shape, a 5-4-1 behind the ball, very disciplined and mobile,” he said. “When they win the ball, they go into quick counterattacks and have fast players up front. We must be brave and decisive. We are the favourites, and we need to show that on the pitch.”
Midfielder Mateo Kovačić echoed the urgency within the squad, insisting the focus is on correcting mistakes from their opening defeat.
“It will be a difficult match, a strong opponent. No game at this level is easy,” Kovačić said. “They build from the back and are very dangerous on the counterattack.”
He added that Croatia have used the time since the defeat to recover and reset mentally.
“When you lose, you want the next match to come quickly to put things right. We rested, recovered, and prepared well, and now we are ready.”
Kovačić also reflected on Croatia’s experience on the global stage but stressed that past achievements will mean little in the current tournament.
“We’ve achieved great results in the past and earned respect through our work. But this is a new competition. You don’t live on past glory.”
He concluded by pointing to Croatia’s resilience as a key strength heading into the clash.
“When it’s toughest, we often respond best. That’s our character and togetherness. We have another opportunity to show that.”
Croatia head into Tuesday’s clash with Panama knowing a positive response is required to revive their World Cup campaign.
