Slaven Bilic Criticizes Croatia's Lack of Fight After Heavy Spain Defeat

Slaven Bilic did not hold back following Croatia’s crushing defeat to Spain in Seville, sharply criticizing his team for showing little aggression. The Croatian national coach questioned the mindset of his squad during a tough rebuilding phase, suggesting they lacked the hunger required to challenge the reigning world champions.

Frustration Over Missing Intensity

Bilic’s frustration was clear after the match as he described Croatia’s performance as poor on every level. He acknowledged that facing Spain, the current world champion, was a daunting task and that the team is still transitioning. Still, he insisted there was no excuse for the team's passive approach, comparing it to simply joining the celebrations of Spain’s World Cup success rather than competing fiercely.

"A difficult night for us. We were bad in every way, we are disappointed. We can find some excuse in the fact that it is Spain, the world champion, and that our team is new, but we cannot play with such a lack of aggression, as if we were here just to celebrate their winning of the World Cup. We can't come here just to be part of the celebration. That’s not us," Bilic stated.

Defensive Struggles and Individual Efforts

The game started disastrously for Croatia, conceding an early goal almost immediately. Although they managed to equalize briefly, defensive mistakes continued to plague them, especially in set-piece situations. Bilic pointed to the inability to stay disciplined and handle Spain’s constant pressure led by Luis de la Fuente’s side. Despite these issues, Bilic found some positives in individual performances, highlighting efforts from players like Kovacic, Perisic, and Beljo.

"When you concede a goal in the first minute against the world champions, you need a few minutes to recover. We equalized, and when we needed strength, calmness, and intelligence to disrupt them, we conceded another goal from a set piece, and maybe it should have been the other way around," Bilic explained.

"It shows that we played badly, especially in defense. Our defense did not work. But there is always something positive. Sometimes we managed to overcome their pressure with Kovacic and Perisic, and individually we can find some good things. Beljo played well, not only because of the goal."

A Harsh Lesson for the New Croatian Squad

Bilic admitted the defeat was a reality check for his team, which he is trying to rebuild. He expressed confidence in the technical skills of the players but noted their performance lacked the necessary execution, tactical discipline, and physical toughness to compete at this level. He stressed that potential alone won’t suffice without a stronger mentality on the pitch.

"We put this team together for a reason. On paper, the guys who played tonight have everything, but we showed very little," Bilic said.

Upcoming Key Match Against England

After the loss to Spain, Croatia now turns attention to a critical match against England on Saturday. Both teams sit level on three points, chasing the group-leading Spain who has six points. With Spain set to face Czechia before visiting Croatia next week, this clash with England carries major importance. A win would revive Croatia’s chances in the UEFA Nations League and give them the edge over England in the standings heading into the final matches.

UEFA Nations League A Fixtures:

• Croatia (CRO) vs England (ENG): 3 Oct 2026, 19:00
• Spain (ESP) vs Czechia (CZE): 3 Oct 2026, 21:45