Luka Vuskovic: what can Tottenham fans expect from the Croatian defender?

Luka Vuskovic was one of the names being watched during the 2026 World Cup opener between England and Croatia. The young 19-year-old central defender, under contract with Tottenham Hotspur but loaned last season to Hamburg, offered a contrasting performance which questions as much as it excites.

Very visible in recent months thanks to his goal compilations in the Bundesliga, Vuskovic remains above all a defender: he was established at the center of a three-way defense, between Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) and Josip Sutalo (Ajax). Replaced in the 66th minute while Croatia was trailing 3-2, he experienced ups and downs (five clearances, more than any other player on the pitch) and downs, particularly on some of his defensive retreats.

Romeo Jozak, former technical director of the Croatian Federation, is full of praise: “If he stays healthy, he will undoubtedly be one of the great superstars of the future. » Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian coach, also had high hopes by presenting him as “one of the pillars of our selection for the next ten years”. His career in Hamburg – where he was shortlisted for the title of player of the season in the Bundesliga and rookie of the season, while scoring six goals – largely contributed to this aura.

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But the match against England reminded us of certain limits: Harry Kane took advantage of a corner to take the upper hand and score with a header, and Jude Bellingham exploited a space to score the third English goal, showing doubts about the speed of recovery and the mobility of the Croatian. These reservations were also underlined by voices of supporters and media: Bardi, from the podcast The Extra Inch, believes that the legend around Vuskovic has taken a hit and recalls that, despite an impressive physique, the player still lacks speed and agility.

On the club level, the situation complicates his immediate integration into Tottenham. Vuskovic has not yet played an official minute for Spurs after his recruitment in 2023 and his effective arrival last summer. The London club has strengthened its central axis: the arrival of Marcos Senesi free from Bournemouth is announced, Jan Paul van Hecke should arrive from Brighton for around £52m, while Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin have been mentioned in departure rumors. Tottenham also retains Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies (who extended), and Kata Takai, loaned last season to Borussia Mönchengladbach, has not yet played in his new colors.

Consequence: to transform potential into reality, Vuskovic needs regular playing time. Several observers believe that a loan to a Premier League club similar to Tottenham's style would be the most sensible solution so that he gets the necessary minutes and refines his weak points.

In summary, Luka Vuskovic remains a nugget with great potential – imposing physique, aerial presence and unusual sense of goal for a defender – but his performance against England showed that he still needs to improve on reaction speed and mobility. The coming summer promises to be decisive: integration into a competitive workforce at Tottenham or a new loan to accelerate its rise to power.