In the space between the Spanish coast and the Croatian calendar, Slaven Bilic found little comfort in his side’s latest international outing. Croatia fell behind almost immediately against Spain, and their coach left frustrated not only by the result but by the manner in which his players defended against a team he regards as the finest in the world.
“It was a poor result and a poor performance,” Bilic said after a difficult night for the Vatreni. “I am disappointed. It is easy to look for explanations when you concede in the opening minute, because confidence can drain from the legs, but I did not like the way we defended.”
Spain’s quality, he felt, made every Croatian lapse more costly. Bilic said the European side had set the standard for several years rather than merely enjoying a brief spell at the summit. Give Spain room, he warned, and they will make opponents pay.
Rijeka and England now take priority
The next stop for Croatia is Rijeka, where England will arrive next Saturday for the match Bilic has identified as the defining assignment of this international window. Croatia had wanted a positive outcome against Spain as well, but the coach acknowledged the difficulty of asking the same group to negotiate four matches in succession.
England had been in his thoughts while preparing for Spain, and Bilic made clear that a markedly better display will be required on home soil. Croatia’s response in Rijeka, rather than the disappointment of the Spanish evening, will now shape the mood around the national team.
