Dalic tries to put a positive spin on 6-0 thrashing to hands of Spain

The Croatian national team defied the footballing world this summer as they reached their first ever World Cup final, with the likes of Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic being hailed as the country's golden generation.

After the excitement of their summer exploits, the team came crashing back down to earth as they were given a 6-0 hiding by a rampant Spain side that failed to impress in Russia.

Despite the disappointment of falling to the country's heaviest defeat ever, their coach Zlatko Dalic thinks that they can use the result as a springboard for improved performances in the matches to come.

"We have to come back from this. We haven't forgotten how to play football but 6-0 is a big scoreline. It was very bad for us but we have to pick ourselves up." the coach said to the 'Daily Mail'.

"We had a fantastic World Cup but now it's a new season and we are empty. It's a new beginning in a new competition. After the World Cup we fell down, we were physically drained. Our players missed pre-season."

Croatia next face England in the Nations League in October.