Croatia Reportedly Eyeing Surprise Striker for World Cup 2026 England Clash

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 draws closer, with the tournament set to be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, teams are finalizing their preparations. For Croatia, their highly anticipated Group L opener against England on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, could see a surprising tactical decision from head coach Zlatko Dalic, according to recent reports. The focus of this potential change lies upfront, with speculation mounting over the starting striker role.

While Andrej Kramaric, a seasoned international with an impressive scoring record for both club and country, has often spearheaded the Croatian attack, local reports suggest that FC Dallas forward Petar Musa might be given the nod instead. Kramaric, who was instrumental in Hoffenheim's Europa League qualification last season with 23 goal involvements, is a prominent figure in Croatia's all-time scoring charts. However, Musa arrives at the World Cup in scintillating form, having netted 12 goals in just 13 MLS matches this 2026 season. His familiarity with the local conditions, playing just 39 miles from the AT&T Stadium venue, could be a factor in Dalic's decision.

Should Musa lead the line, he would likely be supported by a creative midfield, including Como's Martin Baturina and the legendary Luka Modric, who remains a guaranteed starter even in his 40s. Experience will also come from Mateo Kovacic and PSV Eindhoven's Ivan Perisic, a player renowned for his unique achievement of scoring and assisting in the last three World Cups, a feat shared only with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Defensively, a youthful core featuring Luka Vuskovic, Josip Sutalo, and Joško Gvardiol, all born in the 2000s, is expected to protect the goal, with Dominik Livakovic firmly established as the number one goalkeeper.