Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic has announced his departure from the national team following their elimination from the World Cup in the round-of-32 stage.
Croatia’s 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Thursday, decided by a late stoppage-time goal, marked the end of their tournament campaign and Dalic’s final match after nearly nine years in charge of the team.
The defeat came in controversial fashion. Josko Gvardiol appeared to have scored a late equaliser, but the goal was ruled out for offside after ball-tracking technology determined that Igor Matanovic had made contact with the ball during the build-up. Instead, Goncalo Ramos — who had come on as a substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo — scored the decisive goal in stoppage time.
The Croatian Football Federation confirmed Dalic’s departure on Wednesday, describing his tenure as a remarkable chapter in the country’s football history.
“An unforgettable journey, a proud farewell,” the federation said in a statement.
“After almost nine years, head coach Zlatko Dalic has decided to bring his incredibly successful era with Croatia to an end.
“Thank you for everything — the victories, the achievements, the qualifications, the medals, the unity, the respect, and your constant dedication to representing Croatia both on and off the pitch.
“Your results reflect your coaching ability, while the respect you have earned from players, staff, and opponents highlights the character of the person you are.”
During Dalic’s tenure, Croatia became one of international football’s most consistent teams. After being appointed in October 2017, he guided the nation to their first-ever World Cup final at the 2018 tournament in Russia, where they lost 4-2 to France after second-half goals from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe.
The achievement represented a major improvement from the 2014 World Cup, when Croatia failed to progress beyond the group stage.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Dalic led Croatia to another impressive campaign, securing a third-place finish after defeating Brazil in the quarter-finals before losing 3-0 to eventual champions France in the semi-finals.
Before taking charge of Croatia, Dalic managed clubs including Al Hilal and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, building a reputation that eventually led him to the national team role.
