Absence of priceless Perisic hurts Croatia's chances of beating Spain

 

It was a sublime Luka Modric strike that swung Croatia's meeting with Scotland back in their favour. With a half hour to go at Hampden, Modric found the top corner with the outside of his boot to put Croatia back ahead before Ivan Persisic added their third to secure a spot in the last-16 and dump Scotland out of Euro 2020. 

 

The 3-1 victory on Tuesday saw Croatia leapfrog Czech Republic into second in Group D and set up a last-16 meeting with Spain on Monday evening. It's one of the key clashes at this stage of Euro 2020. Both sides started slowly, but ended their respective group stage campaign on a high and will be confident of booking a quarter-final spot when the face off. 

 

However, Persisic will now miss the meeting with Spain, which is a huge blow for Croatia. The Inter man has tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend in what is a major dent to their attacking plans against La Roja. The 32-year-old is Croatia's best rated player at Euro 2020 having yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.44 from their three appearances so far. Of the four goals Croatia have scored this summer, Perisic has had a direct hand in three, netting twice, and, at the time of writing, is one of just four players to have won multiple WhoScored man of the match awards at Euro 2020. 

 

Not only that, but Perisic seems to come alive in major tournament football for his nation. Since the 2014 World Cup, Perisic has scored nine goals in 14 outings, one of which was against Spain back in the group stages of Euro 2016, and his previous against Luis Enrique's side means he would have been an effective weapon to call upon this week. 

 

 

The issue for Zlatko Dalic now is how to replace Perisic on the left flank. Josip Brekalo started the 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic from the left, but lasted just 45 minutes before his withdrawal. Ante Rebic is another option for Dalic, yet the AC Milan man has disappointed for his country this summer. A WhoScored rating of 5.96 is the lowest of all Croatia players and among the 10 worst of the 281 players to feature in three or more games at Euro 2020. 

 

Yet while Rebic has struggled this summer, Dalic is likely to plump for the 27-year-old's experience over Brekalo, which is no bad thing provided the former can find his feet, starting with Monday's meeting with Spain. In 13 league starts from the left last season, Rebic found the back of the net seven times and laid on an additional two assists. Having struck from the left in wins over Roma and Lazio, two of Serie A more recognised sides, the AC Milan star is clearly capable of providing the necessary goal threat against the better sides he faces. 

 

That being said, neither Brekalo nor Rebic offer that quality from the left in the same manner as Perisic, who while his club form has been iffy, he performs consistently for his country. Without his experience to really attack the Spain right-back - likely to be the experienced Cesar Azpilicueta - Croatia's chances of progression to the next stage of Euro 2020 drops significantly.

Absence of priceless Perisic hurts Croatia's chances of beating Spain