Croatia head coach Dalic aimed his remarks directly at England captain Harry Kane ahead of their crucial World Cup clash with England. According to information we have from the front lines, Dalic said outright that England have "the best striker in the world," that Kane can cause "plenty of trouble," and that Croatia must bring maximum intensity at both ends of the pitch rather than simply thinking about sitting back and defending.
Kane: The No. 1 Threat Behind Bayern's Firepower
Kane played 51 matches for Bayern Munich last season, scoring 61 goals across all competitions, and arrived at this World Cup in near-"devastating" form. For Croatia, that threat is not limited to open play—Dalic singled out set pieces as a "very tricky" area, saying the team has made targeted preparations for that phase but admitting there are still difficulties in execution.
From a data perspective, England are currently ranked fourth in the FIFA rankings with 1,825.97 points; Croatia sit 11th with 1,717.07 points. The gap in the standings does not necessarily mean a psychological edge—in the 2018 Russia World Cup semi-finals, Croatia knocked out England on their way to the final; at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Checkered Ones reached the semi-finals again, only to lose to eventual champions Argentina. Dalic called that record "history," but refused to rest on past laurels: "That is the past written in the books. This is a new match, a new World Cup."
Modric's 199th Cap: The "Right Hand" in the Dressing Room
If Kane is the spearhead of England’s attack, Croatia still have Luka Modrić pulling the strings. On Wednesday, the 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder will make his 199th appearance for the national team. In his pre-match interview, Dalić called Modrić the team’s “right hand on the pitch”—captain on the field and a leader in every sense: “He means so much to this team. We have several veterans alongside him, driving the younger players forward.”
Modrić and Dalić have become almost synonymous with Croatia’s deep runs at back-to-back World Cups. Semifinal finishes in 2018 and 2022 raised expectations for the Vatreni to new heights—Dalić also acknowledged that now “everyone expects Croatia,” a far cry from the low-key qualification paths of earlier years. The dressing-room culture is shifting: the veterans’ work rate is held up as the standard, and young players are “fortunate” to see up close how Modrić fights for the national shirt.
Dalić’s Plan: Qualification First, Attack Too
Dalić has no intention of turning this showdown into a tactical manual built around “shutting down Kane.” His message was clear: Croatia will do everything they can to limit Kane, but they will also press forward and look for goals. In his view, facing England is both a tough group test and an important “benchmark” for the two matches that follow—“I’m expecting a great game. It will be excellent preparation for our next two group fixtures.”
This World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the schedule and atmosphere that come with host-nation status are extra variables for every non-host. Croatia’s immediate priority has not changed: secure qualification from the group first. They have twice come close to the summit at recent major tournaments; this time they must prove themselves again under heightened expectations rather than retelling the stories of 2018 and 2022.
For England, Kane’s form is an open book; Croatia’s resilience is just as clearly written into their World Cup pedigree. Wednesday’s clash pits Modrić, chasing his 199-cap milestone, against Kane, looking to make his mark—Dalić has already shown half his hand before kickoff: they will attack and defend, but they will not take a world-class striker lightly.
