BY Issah Olegor
Croatia national football team head coach Zlatko Dalić has unveiled a strong 26-man squad for this month’s high-profile “Road to 26” international friendly series scheduled to take place in Orlando, Florida, as preparations intensify ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Croatian side, popularly known as the Vatreni, will face two South American heavyweights in a pair of high-profile friendly matches against Colombia national football team on March 26 and Brazil national football team on March 31 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, United States.
The matches form part of Croatia’s final competitive build-up as teams begin fine-tuning their squads and tactical systems ahead of the expanded global tournament.
For football observers in Accra and across Ghana, the squad announcement carries particular significance because Croatia has been drawn in the same group as the Ghana national football team, the Black Stars.
The two sides will meet in Group L of the World Cup, making Croatia’s preparations a subject of keen interest for the technical bench led by head coach Otto Addo.
The friendly series is expected to serve as a crucial tactical rehearsal for Croatia, offering the coaching staff an opportunity to assess squad depth, team chemistry, and match readiness against high-calibre opposition.
The matches will also provide valuable scouting material for Ghana’s technical team, who are expected to closely monitor Croatia’s playing style, formations, and player combinations.
Leading the Croatian squad is veteran midfield maestro Luka Modrić, whose experience and leadership remain central to the team’s structure despite nearing the twilight of his international career.
The squad also features other experienced campaigners including winger Ivan Perišić and forward Andrej Kramarić, both of whom have played key roles in Croatia’s recent success on the international stage.
However, the team will be without two important players due to injury. Defensive star Joško Gvardiol and influential midfielder Mateo Kovačić are currently sidelined, depriving Dalić of two key components of his defensive stability and midfield control.
