The style of the World Cup always carries a touch of individualism, especially since star power also has a certain influence.
Tactics are certainly a key part of football's development, but the performance of a key star can also dictate the course of a match.
Croatia's overall strength is high, with every position performing steadily, and compared to other teams, Croatia also has Suker, a stable explosive point, which is their advantage.
The two goals in the first half; Suker delivered a stunning performance in his very first World Cup match.
Just like his form in the previous season, Suker greeted his most crucial World Cup with his hottest form.
"There's not much time left in the first half!" Klausović said this with a smile on his face.
With a two-goal lead, his heart gradually settled.
He wouldn't dare speak too boldly, but the match was already halfway to victory.
Moreover, the flow of this match was beyond his expectations.
Compared to before, Croatia's suppression of England in this match was better executed. In many past encounters, they traded blows and wouldn't see such a one-sided situation.
But based on pre-match preparation, player form, and other factors, Croatia actually played a one-sided match.
Now, not only were they leading by two goals, but the situation was also under their control.
One could say they were playing while dictating the rhythm and flow of the game. Under such circumstances, it would be extremely difficult for England to stage a comeback.
Every time the camera switched to an English player, one could easily see the fatigue and disappointment on their faces.
Although reluctant to admit it, having their first match go like this was truly frustrating for them.
Croatia is strong!
They acknowledged that, but they didn't expect the match to turn out like this.
For over 40 minutes, their offensive efficiency was pitifully low, and their shooting statistics were dismal, with only three shots on target so far.
In contrast, Croatia bombarded their goal relentlessly.
The midfield, which should have been the engine, was also ineffective, completely unsure how to dictate the game's development. With the midfield in disarray, the forward line and defense were also fumbling in the dark; everything became so chaotic.
The pre-match hype about the so-called 'Lampard-Gerrard reconciliation' failed to produce any effect. It seemed their compatibility issue wasn't subjective, but rather an objective conflict of some sort.
As the 45-minute mark arrived, the referee blew the whistle for halftime.
Players from both teams immediately headed for the tunnel.
The expressions on the two sides were completely different.
As the leading side, Croatia wore smiles, communication was active, and the overall atmosphere was good.
Looking at England, it was all bitterness and resentment, faces full of gloom.
"Lads, we need to lift our spirits. Your current form isn't fully adjusted yet. Focus on handling each ball properly first!" England manager Roy Hodgson began pouring out encouragement.
In response, Gerrard's face clearly showed displeasure.
"Sir, no offense, but what we need now isn't this. We need a clear tactic, telling us what to do."
This sentence directly made Hodgson awkward.
As an experienced manager, he was considered well-versed.
But the more experienced he was, the more he understood Croatia's strength and their tactically formidable, almost unsolvable, nature.
To be honest, using the current England squad against Croatia was clearly like an egg striking a rock.
He even felt that conceding two goals meant the opponent had slowed the pace; otherwise, they would have conceded more.
He also wanted to come up with an effective tactic, but the problem was, something so many managers couldn't figure out, he couldn't either.
Croatia's strength isn't just reflected in their squad, but also in their tactical execution ability. On this foundation, they could also integrate their own characteristics.
There's a gap between national teams and clubs.
But if any national team comes closest to a club, it's Croatia.
These guys have been teammates since they were kids.
Croatia has minimal personnel changes, a stable core, and very stable form.
Under such circumstances, their strong performance isn't surprising at all.
Hodgson's silence made the England dressing room even more oppressive.
In fact, Hodgson was also frustrated inside; he also wanted to curse and shout.
But he knew these emotions wouldn't solve the problem, otherwise he would have started yelling long ago.
He could only patiently calm the players, hoping they could produce a better performance in the second half.
Simultaneously, he was also motivating Sterling.
He believed the variable in this match would come from Sterling. His dribbling was still very effective, as long as he played a bit more selflessly.
On the other side, the atmosphere in the Croatian dressing room was very harmonious.
"That long shot in the first half was just a bit off!" Rakitić beat his chest in frustration.
In the first half, he had a long-range shot that almost became a goal but didn't go in, feeling extremely frustrated.
"Was way off!" Self-proclaimed 'long-shot expert' Dujmović wagged his finger,saying, "No power, no speed, only the angle was somewhat decent. Any keeper could save that!"
Rakitić glanced sideways at Dujmović, not planning to engage with this substitute.
Dujmovici also paused for a second, then shouted and charged over.
"I know you were cursing me with your eyes!"
The two scuffled, while the others watched amusedly.
At that moment, Besić entered the dressing room, and the room immediately quieted down.
"Maintain the same approach for the first ten minutes of the second half. Substitution at the 55th minute. Tactically, we'll shift from attack to stable possession and defense!"
After saying that, Besić turned his head. "Kovačić, go warm up!"
The young Kovačić shot up like a rocket and dashed out of the dressing room.
This was his first World Cup appearance, so of course he was very excited.
Brozović watched with full of envy.
Srna saw this and patted Brozović's shoulder soothingly. "There will be chances for everyone. The World Cup has just started!"
Hearing this, Brozović nodded, indicating he understood.
Phew~~~~
In the commentary box, Klausović couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
That first half had been a joy to watch.
Suker's two goals excited him, but what excited him even more was Croatia's overall form.
The World Cup period is short, adjustment time is limited, not like the long adjustment period in league play.
Therefore, the initial form is very important!
And the form Croatia displayed in this match excited him. Next, they just needed to follow the plan, win the group stage matches one by one, and advance to the knockout stages smoothly.
After all, for Croatia, the real challenge starts from the knockout stage.
The second half began quickly.
Players from both teams returned to the pitch; neither side made any changes.
England still stubbornly set up in an attacking formation, wanting to pull the score back.
Hodgson knew clearly that even if they switched to defense now to concede fewer goals, the fans wouldn't accept it. Might as well go all the way down this path; what if they could fight back for a goal or two?
But his thinking was still too naive.
After the second half started, the situation returned to the pattern of the first half.
Croatia didn't give their midfield any breathing room.
To put it bluntly, the 'Lampard-Gerrard' duo was simply too deficient in organization.
Suker also slowed his pace slightly, not attacking as fiercely.
His own body could take it, but he also had to consider his teammates' feelings.
Every time Suker made a run, he needed his teammates' support. It wasn't just Suker running; others had to follow up too.
He could certainly handle this kind of continuous onslaught, but others might not.
The World Cup period is short, the schedule is tight, requiring more physical distribution.
Therefore, even though Suker was only a few goals away from breaking the record, he maintained a relatively calm mindset.
Suker didn't press high but actively dropped closer to the midfield.
The task of threatening the defense was left to Mandžukić and Perišić, while he integrated into the midfield.
Suker's withdrawal saw Croatia's formation shift to a 4-4-2, better suited to maintaining the current stable situation.
In the first ten minutes of the second half, Croatia also produced a few threatening attacks, but compared to the first half, they weren't as intense.
"Modrić!" The English commentator felt a headache coming on.
If Suker was the most headache-inducing player for them in the attacking phase of the first half,
Then in the calmer phase of the second half, Modrić became their number one enemy.
Modrić calmly handled every ball, neither holding onto it too long nor dribbling much, but he could change the rhythm through his passing.
Looking down from above, the English players were like headless flies; where the ball went, they charged there.
One couldn't see any trace of organization or purpose; they were playing too blindly.
Meanwhile, Croatia passed the ball continuously, both wasting time and stabilizing their own situation.
Watching Modrić's midfield control and then looking at England's gradually fading and chaotic state,
Suker felt this fully illustrated one point.
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
Around the 60th minute, both teams made substitutions.
England substituted off Lampard and Welbeck.
Bringing on Wilshere and Henderson.
Henderson, playing for Liverpool in the Premier League, was now a key midfielder for the Reds, and even compared to Gerrard, he was more skilled in organizational work.
Also, Arsenal's 'crown prince' Jack Wilshere, one of the few technical English players, could link up the team's attack.
These changes could create attacking opportunities for England.
In fact, based on configuration, this setup seemed more reasonable than the 'Lampard-Gerrard' pairing.
However, just like many fans wanted to see the 'Lampard-Gerrard' pairing, English fans also had this obsession.
Practically every manager appointed for England would have this topic hyped up.
Croatia also made substitutions.
Similarly, like-for-like changes.
Rakitić and Srna came off.
Kovačić and Corluka came on as substitutes.
Before leaving the field, Srna actively ran to Suker and personally placed the captain's armband on Suker's arm, then patted it firmly a couple of times.
"I leave the rest to you!"
Suker nodded. "Don't worry! Victory is guaranteed!"
Hearing this, Srna smiled.
He loved Suker's confident demeanor; it also brought a great sense of security to their team.
With Srna off the field, the newly appointed Captain Suker was now in charge.
"Everyone, perk up! No mistakes or conceded goals from now on. I'm not as nice as Srna. Don't get caught out!" Suker's hawk-like eyes scanned the team, and the players immediately felt the pressure.
Suker's temper was well-known.
He and Srna were completely different types of captains.
Srna was patien, knew how to cheer up teammates.
Suker was the embodiment of harsh; he was strict not only with his own performance but also held his teammates to the same standards.
When Suker captained the team, one phrase summed it up: 'Run until you drop!'
"Youngster Mateo Kovačić, currently playing for Juventus in Serie A. The 20-year-old Kovačić, this is his first World Cup. Let's see how he performs!"
He didn't expect stellar performances from them, as the path had already been paved by Suker and others; steady play was enough.
However, Kovačić clearly didn't think so.
He thought he would be very nervous after coming on, but in fact, he was more excited.
He was in an agitated state.
But he needed to calm himself down. His time in Serie A taught him how to better adjust his form.
In the initial stage, Kovačić played very conservatively, one-touch passes, just to get a feel for the game.
He couldn't start attempting fancy moves before finding his rhythm. If he made a mistake, getting yelled at by Suker was minor; conceding a goal was the bigger problem.
Furthermore, he was replacing Rakitić's position, a like-for-like substitution, where comparisons were inevitable.
Therefore, Kovačić played very seriously and carefully.
Modrić also fully trusted Kovačić, passing many balls to him to let him adapt to the World Cup rhythm.
After several consecutive passes, Kovačić's movements began to show signs of readiness.
His time on the ball increased, he no longer just played one-touch passes, but dribbled for a while before looking for a passing opportunity.
Kovačić wasn't afraid!
He was surrounded by top players; he just needed to do his job, and these stars would create opportunities themselves.
However, sometimes surprises come abruptly.
When the ball reached Kovačić's feet again, England instantly formed a three-man closing-down network.
"Oh no!" Modrić was also startled.
He hadn't anticipated this; England was targeting the youngster, planning to use him as a breakthrough point.
Suker also quickly moved closer.
"Pass it here!"
Kovačić heard Suker's voice, but at that moment, he simply didn't have time to look for Suker's position; the opponents were already closing in.
Kovačić performed consecutive step-overs and pull-backs, trying to create some space.
But England's pressing was intense, not giving him any room to create distance.
Just as two players were about to close him down, Wilshere rashly charged in first.
He thought Kovačić was already panicked, a perfect chance to press.
So he didn't wait for his teammates to close in together.
But it was this very opportunity that Kovačić seized.
He first feinted with his left foot, leaning his body to the left, tricking Wilshere into stretching his leg. Then, suddenly using a quick shift, he executed an amazing La Croqueta.
His right foot swiftly poked the ball, pushing it through the crowd. The next moment, relying on his explosive power, he charged forward.
In an instant, Kovačić, who should have been in a trapped position, actually completed the escape.
This move once again drew gasps from the crowd, especially the Brazilian fans who went wild.
Kovačić charged forward with large strides.
Suker was also surprised for a moment, then turned and quickly followed up.
Suker had pulled away to a certain distance. From his position, it wasn't ideal for a shooting chance, and it might also slow the attack, so he wanted to actively create space.
Unexpectedly, the next second, the ball was passed right to him, perfectly.
Suker was directly stunned!
Not only Suker, but Mandžukić, who was in a better position ahead, was also stunned.
Mandžukić cursed inwardly!
Are you bullying me?
Just because you're Suker's fan, you'd rather pass to Suker than to me in a better position?
The ball had already been passed, and Suker didn't have time to think too much.
He received the ball and diagonally charged towards the penalty area.
But perhaps disrupted by Kovačić's earlier escape, no English player closed down Suker.
Seeing Suker approaching the edge of the box, goalkeeper Joe Hart finally shouted, "Someone close him down, don't keep retreating!"
The English players realized belatedly, but by the time they intended to close Suker down, it was too late.
Suker had already swung his left leg, setting up for a shot.
He was still outside the penalty area, about four or five meters out, but from this position, he still chose to shoot.
If it goes in, great!
If not, it's still an attempt!
Suker's mindset was very simple!
Precisely because of this mindset, he was arching his leg, his foot striking the ball accurately.
The ball shot towards the goal like a cannonball. With no spin, the ball's trajectory appeared fickle, causing English keeper Joe Hart's eyelids to twitch.
Just as he took some steps to his left near the post, the ball suddenly dipped, hit the ground, and bounced.
This bounce caught him completely off guard; the ball went through between his thigh and arm.
Swish!!
75 minutes, Croatia scored again!
Suker netted his third goal of this World Cup.
"Hat-trick!!"
"Suker! In his first World Cup 2014 match, he completed a hat-trick! A spectacular world-class strike. Facing this long-range shot, Joe Hart had no answer; he could only watch the ball enter the net. England is about to suffer a heavy defeat in their World Cup opener!"
"Of course, we cannot ignore Kovačić's performance!"
Speaking of this, Klausović couldn't help but praise: "That escape was brilliant!"