Former Al Ain manager Zlatko Dalic has been appointed to take charge of the Croatia national team with their World Cup qualifying hopes hang by a thread. The Croatian replaces Ante Cacic who was sacked following the team's 1-1 draw with Finland in a World Cup qualifier. Friday's draw left Croatia second in Group I of European qualifying for next year's World Cup in Russia, on 17 points alongside Ukraine, with Iceland in pole on 19. <strong>___________________________________________________</strong> <strong>___________________________________________________</strong> Dalic, 50, enjoyed a successful spell in charge at Al Ain between 2014-17, securing the Arabian Gulf League title in 2015 and taking the Garden City club to the final of the 2016 Asian Champions League where they were beaten by Japan's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2 over two legs. He also won the 2014 President's Cup and the AGL Super Cup in 2015. Dalic has been out of work since <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/zlatko-dalic-to-depart-al-ain-after-al-jazira-defeat-thanks-for-three-great-years-1.611002">leaving Al Ain in January</a> following a league defeat to Al Jazira. He faces a baptism of fire with Croatia in a crucial game away to Ukraine on Monday with a place in the qualification play-offs still a possibility.
