Slaven Bilic Criticizes Croatia’s Lack of Fight After Spain Defeat
Slaven Bilic expressed his frustration with Croatia’s performance following a harsh defeat by Spain in Seville, calling out the team for lacking aggression. The coach questioned the mentality of his evolving squad after they were overwhelmed by the reigning world champions.
Bilic Frustrated by Team's Lack of Intensity
After the match, Bilic openly condemned the team’s approach, saying they appeared intimidated by the occasion and the quality of their opponents. Despite undergoing a rebuilding phase, he insisted the absence of fighting spirit was unacceptable for a country with Croatia’s football legacy.
“It was a tough night for us. We performed poorly in every aspect and are disappointed. You might excuse it by saying it’s Spain, the world champion, and that our squad is new, but playing without aggression as if we’re here just to celebrate their World Cup win isn’t us,” Bilic said.
Defensive Issues and Moments of Individual Quality
The game started badly for Croatia, conceding early to Spain. Though they managed to equalize briefly, defensive errors ultimately cost them. Bilic pointed out the team’s lack of discipline during crucial moments, especially on set-pieces and under Spain’s relentless pressure. The Croatian defense struggled to cope with Spain’s fluid attacking play throughout the match.
“Conceding in the first minute against the world champions means you need time to recover. We did equalize, but when we needed calmness and strength, we gave away another goal from a set piece. Maybe it should have been reversed,” Bilic noted.
He added, “Our defense was poor, but there were positives. Kovacic and Perisic helped us break Spain’s pressure at times, and Beljo played well beyond just scoring.”
A Harsh Reality Check for the Young Squad
Bilic admitted the result highlighted a big gap in quality, tactics, and intensity between Croatia and Spain. While confident in his players’ technical skills, the coach stressed that the team’s mental toughness must improve to compete at the highest level.
“We assembled this team for a reason. On paper, these players have everything, but we showed very little tonight,” Bilic remarked.
Upcoming Match Holds Key Importance
Following the defeat, Croatia’s attention turns to an important match against England on Saturday. Both teams sit on three points, trailing group leaders Spain who have six. Spain will host Czechia before facing Croatia next Tuesday, making the Croatia-England game critical for qualification hopes. A win would boost Croatia’s campaign and put them ahead of England ahead of the final group fixtures.
- UEFA Nations League A Fixtures:
- Croatia vs England: 3 Oct 2026, 19:00
- Spain vs Czechia: 3 Oct 2026, 21:45
