New-old head coach Slaven Bilić could finally solve the Croatian national team's long-standing issue at the defensive midfield position, with Dinamo captain Josip Mišić and the reborn Darko Nejašmić from Dutch side NEC in contention.
The Croatian national football team has been facing the challenge of finding the ideal solution for the defensive midfield position for quite some time, ever since Marcelo Brozović retired from international duty. However, new-old head coach Slaven Bilić now has a pleasant headache as two unexpected but highly talented candidates have emerged.
For the first time since 2017 and the friendly tournament in China, where he earned two caps, Josip Mišić is seriously knocking on the national team's door. The Dinamo captain has been an indispensable part of the Zagreb club's play for five years now, and his influence was best described by former Vatreni striker Robert Špehar.
"It's a joy to watch Josip Mišić lead Dinamo's play. Josip Mišić is the central figure at Dinamo. I'm glad that Zvonimir Boban, the president of Dinamo, recognized that and kept him as the main man. I just hope Josip Mišić continues like this. Everything revolves around him. There are those who say Josip Mišić is no longer the same, that he's old, this and that... What old, that's just nonsense. Josip Mišić is like fine wine, he only gets better with age," Špehar said for Net.hr.
His consistency in a Dinamo shirt, where alternatives are constantly sought but none can be found, speaks volumes about his importance and readiness for the highest level.
On the other hand, Darko Nejašmić is experiencing a true career renaissance. Many thought the 27-year-old from Split had said goodbye to serious football when he moved to the United Arab Emirates, but after just one year, he returned to Europe and signed for Dutch side NEC. There, he became a key figure in the club's historic season, which finished second in the league and reached the cup final.
He has continued his stellar performances this season as well. In the third qualifying round of the Champions League against Olympiacos, where he played all 120 minutes, he put up impressive numbers: he won three of four aerial duels and five of ten ground duels, along with five clearances and two interceptions. Additionally, he won possession 12 times, ranking him among the best players on the pitch.
Whether Bilić will opt for one or both of them will become clear when he announces his first squad list. Their first chance to see if they'll get a call-up will be on September 26, 2026, when Croatia, under the new-old head coach, plays its first match against the Czech Republic in Prague.
