HAMBURG: Croatia are looking to restore their European Championship chances after a sobering defeat in their opening game but coach Zlatko Dalic believes they will need a patient approach to beat Albania today.
Croatia, who finished third at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, were handed a 3-0 hiding by Spain in their Group B opener on Saturday and know anything but a victory will severely dent their hopes of a place in the last 16.
With holders Italy also in their group, Dalic said Croatia were targeting the Albania clash for much needed points.
"We knew this game would be very important even before the beginning of the tournament," he told a press conference on the eve of the clash at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion.
"The players are well aware of the situation we are in, we have to be better tomorrow (today) than we were in the first game," he said of Saturday's loss in Berlin, where Spain were three goals up by halftime in a display of crisp finishing.
"We are not discouraged by that defeat, the atmosphere in the squad is positive and I am happy we have prepared well for tomorrow's game."
But for Croatia to beat Albania, who narrowly lost 2-1 to Italy in their opener at the tournament in Germany, Dalic stressed the need for patience and cool heads.
"We will be looking to be more offensive and go on attack from the first very first minute. Albania is not an opponent with the same quality as Spain.
"But we also have to show them respect and we're expecting very difficult opponents who are well organised and we have to be very patient and very careful in this match.
"The statistics against Spain showed that we had more chances and greater possession than them. But we have to be more efficient, and more aggressive."
To that end, Dalic will be making changes to the lineup but gave no further details.
"Those that will start tomorrow are ready, they know what our goal or what our aim is and what we're up against," he added.
Tenth-placed Croatia are 56 spots above Albania in the Fifa rankings. - REUTERS