Croatian national team head coach Zlatko Dalic has revealed that the reason for Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic being taken off early in the second half of yesterday’s World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina was some tightness in his muscles.
Speaking to Croatian broadcaster HRT, via FCInterNews, the coach explained that the 30-year-old was taken off as a precaution, and in view of the fact that he could still have a role to play in the third place playoff.
Brozovic started for Croatia yesterday as he had done in all of the team’s matches so far at the tournament.
Unlike in matches against Japan and Brazil where he went the distance for all of normal time and much of extra time, however, the Nerazzurri midfielder lasted little more than the first half.
Given the strange timing of the substitution, Inter fans will have had some reason to worry that Brozovic had been affected by an injury.
According to Croatia coach Dalic, the 30-year-old did indeed feel something, although it was not a serious injury.
“Marcelo came off because he felt something in his muscle, and we didn’t want to take any risks, especially considering we’ll still have another match to play at the tournament,” he said.
