Mandžukić hit the post early and Kalinić would score five minutes from halftime, but Croatia was the better team on the night even with a slim 1-0 victory. The Vatreni were without key starters Vedran Ćorluka, Šime Vrsaljko and Ivan Perišić but still got the job done. Iceland and Turkey both won on the day which means Croatia remains in first place in Group I, three points ahead of second place Iceland and a full five points of both Ukraine and Turkey. If Croatia can win their June 11th affair in Reykjavik, they will be in complete control of their World Cup qualifying with only four matches remaining after the summer break.
Kalinić goal in 39th minute
I have two herniated discs in my lower back and work in a physically demanding job.
Physical therapy, stretching and proper diet do the trick for me.
Never had any surgeries or injections.
Driving a comfortable car helps a great deal. Anecdotally,Volvo seems to be the best for bad backs. German cars seem good too.
Unfortunately, alcohol seems to negatively affect stiffness in my lower back.
I’d also recommend getting on a list for a nerve block procedure. If you’re in Canada it shouldn’t cost you a thing. Had to wait about 3 months I think to see a back specialist and then another maybe 4-6 months to get a date for the procedure. I had one a year during my first 2 years of the injury. It definitely helps with the pain and discomfort and flexibility. It acts as a buffer from that ooze so it doesn’t seep onto your nerve. Unfortunately it doesn’t help to speed up the regeneration of the nerve. I believe you can only have a maximum of 2 of those procedures a year because anything more can apparently cause damage to your spine.
@Anon
Yeah I didn’t do much physio. It just takes a lot of time to regenerate.
I learned a couple of stretches and they were life changers. Just Youtube sciatica stretches. This one guy swears by just one stretch but I think he demonstrates a couple of different ways to do it.
I was told that nerves, or maybe just the sciatica, grow at the same rate as your hair. So for your nerve to grow and regenerate from your lower lumbar to your feet can take a couple of years.
I know it sucks to hear but I don’t think i played for nearly 2 years and when i did I ended up bulging a disc on the other side and just having a lot of minor setbacks. My right leg is significantly thinner than my left. Even when I did get to the point where I could play pretty regularly (say at about 70% leg strength, approx. 2 years after initial injury) it’s taken about 3-4 years now to get to where I am (about 95%),
But I’ve been playing upwards of 3-4 times a week now for a few years and I’m in my late 30’s so there is a light for you. Just don’t neglect those stretches!
Like dipshit Mark Cuban says, Steroids for Pjaca’s recovery is just not only professional but commonsense.
The advent if plasma spinning & Hgh has made it such that some people come back stronger after the ACL rehab.
how did that disc herniation go for u?
i herniated a disc in my lumbar back in November and some of the jelly is oozing out as per the MRI. the back pain has slowly gotten better since then…but hit a plateau and hasnt gotten better for a month now. the sciatica is the same…pain down the leg from the glute, worse when i sit for long periods or drive.
doing physio, but i think im just wasting my money.
what did you do to make it better?
and how long did it take to be able to pretty much feel almost back to normal? (enough to actually lift a weight or play a sport?
Nothing’s worse than nerve damage. I herniated one disc in my back and had another disc that was bulging. Ive had sciatica issues ever since. Felt like my one leg was stuck in sand when I’d run. Just had no spring or jump to my step for years. Took me nearly 5 years to get where I am today which is about 90-95% and that’s with getting 2 nerve block procedures which is an injection of a steroid.
ACL only took me just under 2 years to feel really strong. With professional treatment he’ll be good as new within a year hopefully.
Hope you fellas are right! Makes me feel better for sure. Never had that injury.
@Poglavnik
Yep!
I ruptured my ACL and it wasn’t the worst injury I’ve had.
He’s nice and young too. He should be fine.
I remember when Matthew Richardson ruptured his ACL at the S.C.G in 1995 and missed the rest of that season, he came back in 1996 and kicked 96 goals, he went on to have a great carrer and his knee never troubled him again.
Hopefully Pjaca can do a Richo man.
Also Richo did his knee in ’95, and the advancements they’ve made in ACL reconstruction since then is amazing. It’s just a shame that Pjaca will miss the rest of this season, and, if in the long run Pjaca doesn’t realise his potential, it wont be because of his knee.
@lika joey … i hear you about pjaca. Also your post earlier about Truth! Funny.
Pjaca will never be the same player again…absolutely devastating for him! I feel horrible for the kid…he had a big future ahead of him.
Sad for Pjaca..
Gonna have to make those ligaments strong to get that wicked step over of his back.
Go back to being dead troll Živa. Most of us like you better that way.
Marko pee-ass-a will never be the same again
For those unable to read Croatian who’s parents have failed them (the diaspora), perisic said the field was a disaster probably contributing to the pee ass-a injury. After that, the players didn’t want to risk it anymore. Face it, Croatia has had one world class player in the past 20 years (modric), who has almost single handily kept this team afloat for the past decade. As much as the media and the diaspora love to hype these unproven kids, we were once again shown they are unlikely to ever fill the void
The top teams in the world play against other top teams even in friendlies.
Pjaca will never be the same. Reminds me of that sick feeling i got in 2008 when Eduardo got his leg smashed by that asshole Martin Taylor in the epl. Da Silva was never the same. Shame on the hns for yesterdays game. 3rd world pitch. Juve is fuming! Don’t blame em!
@Rafael
“Pjaca’s injury is devastating. Massive career setback on the eve of Real-Juve. Beyond brutal scenario for Pjaca. Ruptured ACL is a huge injury”
Yep.
oops barca juve! not real.
Pjaca’s injury is devastating. Massive career setback on the eve of Real-Juve. Beyond brutal scenario for Pjaca. Ruptured ACL is a huge injury.
It makes me sick the HNS will pimp out certain players for a meaningless game.Either bring a complete A Team or complete B team to Estonia.
Mixing in some A team players with a B squad was a moronic idea. No other team in our echelon would do that.
What was the HNS hoping for? This game would build confidence? Even if we smashed Estonia it was a mean nothing game and it tacked on horrendous travel miles on players who probably need a little rest during their long club seasons.
SHAME on the HNS for not looking out for their top players.
The friendly match looked to me like a tryout. Leskovic, Bradaric, Cop, Coric, and Pivaric all proved that they do not belong on the national team. Vida made a significant case for his availability to play left back. Perisic showed that he is invaluable as a left winger, and Kramaric made a demonstrable case for playing in place of Rakitic once again. Pjaca (bless him), Rog, and Kovacic were unconvincing in their tryout for a starting position in the side.
This was a diagnostic test for some players, and let’s hope the weak ones get replaced by Pasalic, Lovren, Santini, Leovac, Caleta-Car, Radosevic, and Simunovic.
Perisic after the match:
“Ovom prilikom poručio bih gospodinu Šukeru da bira bolje protivnika”
Asking Suker to pick stronger opponents. However, the HNS website failed to include this part of the interview on their website.
Time for the players to speak up. Enough is enough.
Im not too disappointed
we just had a very important win vs Ukraine and we know we arent playing another meaningful game for 3 months. Can’t blame the guys if they totally didnt gave a toss/celebrated a bit too much and had too much of a let down
put it this way, if we were gonna win one and lose one of the ukraine/estonia games, we did it right ! 😀
Oh lazio i agree with formation amd stuff. But the China tournament was on winter break for a few of our dudes. I.e. vida, corluka etc
@Zee
There was no international break when the tournament in China took place, but we did take the field in our usual 4-2-3-1 formation in both games.
This game against Estonia was no time to fiddle around with formation. The line-up I put up above was the way to go!
I agree to bring more player and give credit for the good one so that means we have selection. Cacic seems like to combine formation instead of to do selection. there are some players worth to be noticed. like how to compare rog coric brdaric, pjaca halilovic pasalic, cop santini kramaric, leov strinic pivaric
Allen we played Italy at home in an empty stadium…that it self changes the mind frame and entire dynamic of the game. The pitch in estonia is 3rd world…regardless we should of won today.
Allen i agree. Risking injury and stuff. Meaningless. Remember who we brought to China? I don’t without looking. Maybe mitrovic. Now pjaca hurt. Last thing we friggin needed. Lazio if it was always important to win why didn’t we bring our b team to China? It was c and d teams.
If Cacic the idiot played 4-2-3-1 formation, then he would’ve had a striker on the bench, you start Kramaric and put Cop in later, simple.
In my opinion every game is meaningful, “Always important to win!”
@Denis
Couldn’t agree more. I don’t get why HNS/Cacic don’t bring more players with them. Look at what happens when a player like Pjaca gets injured. They could use other options, as those younger players could gain more experience.
Croatia completely outplayed Italy, when Modric got hurt in the first half. That game was in Italy. They didn’t play nearly as well at home, but could have easily beat them. Olic (good times) wasted multiple good chances. I don’t have any other examples besides those Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Croatia should have won today. Not the end of the world. Just kinda disappointing. Watching highlights now. Lots of wasted chances. Who lost the ball on first goal? Was that Bradaric? Pretty awful mistake. Hated seeing Rog at right wing back. What a waste of time for him.
Need more meaningful friendlies.
Right Denis
Its a meaningless friendly. Maybe not for the 4900 Estonians in the crowd. Hope they enjoyed themselves. I hope fifa rankings aren’t on the mind of some. That matters just as much as todays game. Maybe fifa rankers will put us around 50th.
Estonia had 12 players on the bench. We had 5 players without a single striker.
Maybe that is the first problem: scheduling meaningless friendlies. Russia, Belguim, Italy, Spain, France all played meaningful friendlies.
It’s a meaningless game, yet it could be meaningful for some of the young players who were getting an opportunity. Sure, it would have been better to win 3-0 and for some of the non-regulars to show flashes of brilliance… instead we probably just learned who we can’t count on at this time.
I remember the friendly against Argentina a couple years ago where Kovacic, Jedvaj and Halilovic impressed. None are top of the rotation players, so don’t take too much from this.
@Allen,
At the end of the day, that roster should have enough to beat a mediocre Estonia side. Also, a friendly against Estonia doesn’t concern me. The players took a day off.
@Allen,
Wow, I wasn’t aware that Cacic only had 5 subs to chose from. If the HNS and/or Cacic put any weight on this friendly they would have called up more players.
Anyways, I’m not a huge critic of Cacic as others have done worse.
Refresh my memory, what other games has Croatia done well without Modric?
I agree with peter north. This game means nothing. You can’t take them seriously . 3 nil 10 nil who cares.we gonna be fine when it matters in june and beyond. Spring training in baseball what they remind me of.
Denis
How are you going to blame Cacic for those substitutions? He only had five players available, due to Manzo, Kalinic, Modric, Brozovic and Rakitic not making the trip. To take a shot at him for that is foolish. You are just looking for reasons to knock him at this point. He probably wanted every player to get a chance to play.
Cacic doesn’t have answers without Modric? Croatia beat Spain nine months ago without him. That is another ridiculous statement.
Its a disappointing result. No excuses for a team with so many promising players to lose like that. Hopefully, Cacic never tries to play a back three ever again. Croatia doesn’t have the personnel to succeed with that formation.
We beat Spain without Modric! I thought we lacked creativity against Portugal.
@Peter North,
I agree with you that Modric shouldn’t have played today. My point is that without Modric, the team lacks creativity in the midfield. At the same time, Cacic doesn’t have answers without Modric.
@ Denis, really no need for Modric to be playing in a friendly against Estonia. It’s like using LeBron or Steph Curry in a pre season game versus the Knicks.
To be honest, I didn’t pay attention to today’s game and like most other friendlies, they cannot be taken seriously.
TRUTH??? I thought Ziva died?… fucking goof..
Poor game today. Not much creativity going forward. Definitely lacked leadership quality
@Peter/Maminjo,
Small footballing countries like Iceland/Ukraine/Turkey/Wales don’t have a winning culture and/or winning talent year after year. They might make quarters at euros and 2 years later miss out on the world cup.
Im not saying that the above teams are equivalent to Kosovo, I’m just saying that they are not France,Germany, Spain, England…. teams that make tournaments with ease year after year after year.
I’m sure the Serbs and Irish thought they just beat the 3rd best team in the world to reach Euro 2000. That Croatia team was 1/2 as good as the WC 98 team.
Croatia will always be Croatia. One day we beat Germany in wc 98 quarters, in euro 2008… and the next day we lose to equador in the world cup.. and 3-0 to estonia…
I didn’t watch todays game but the lineups tell me a lot. No Modric is almost like taking away lebron james from the Cavs. No Kalinic and who will score for croatia?
As far as Cacic, Croatia was down a goal and he brings in Badelj, Pivaric, Coric and Jedvaj… World class coaching there. I’m surprised that he didn’t wait until the 85th minute to make his first sub.
I don’t want to sound super negative all the time. Croatia has done wonders in the sports world for a country of 4 million people. Sadly, I see another golden footballing generation underachieving due to a lack of coaching and knuckleheads in the savez.
Modric is half Serb also, that’s probably the reason he doesn’t share Ronaldo’s passion for his NT.
Antonio Milic can play LB, but I don’t think Cacic even knows who he is!
Anyway I don’t think that Cacic sees LB as a problem area like most of you guys do.
Pivaric or Strinic at LB, get used to it.
The Truth,
Wishful thinking buddy!
Remember, players like Rakitic, Perisic, Mandzukic, Kalinic etc.. were all considered major busts at one point in their careers.
Pjaca, Rog, Kovacic, Halilovic (who has been playing well in Las Palmas), Brekalo, etc.. all have world class potential. Unlike the endless list of Serb teenagers who amount to nothing.
I didn’t watch this match, but I had a good laugh when I checked the line-up and score!
Why didn’t Cacic play the normal 4-2-3-1 formation? Is Cacic a meathead? Why did he allow all those players to go back to their clubs? France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Russia and Belgium all had their top players playing. Ronaldo played against Sweden, Iniesta played against France and Eder played against Spain.
Of the players available he should’ve played,
Kalinic
Jedvaj Mitrovic Leskovic Pivaric
Kovacic Badelj
Pjaca Coric Perisic
Kramaric
At least give the team a chance to win, after all Cacic did say “it’s always important to win.” Did Cacic give us the best chance of winning this game?
Remember we did beat Spain without Mandzukic, Modric, Vida and Brozovic. If Rakitic and Kalinic had of stayed and played this game we would’ve beat Estonia.
@Peter
How do you determine whether a group is mediocre or not?
Could it be that it’s a good group, and we’re just that that much better than the rest?
It’s all relative.
in a game like this, I’d expect someone to make things happen…we didn’t score a goal!
I thought Kovacic played well today.
BZ…I agree that Kovacic is incredibly skilled/talented, but we need players that command the game and its usually players in his position that do it…he doesn’t very often.
Agreed we have played well thus far inqualifying but since when are Finland and Kosovo “solid” opponents?
I have to agree with what Denis noted earlier, this group looked tough on paper but halfway through this qualifying phase, it is fairly average with our guys being the class of the group thus far.
Immature players shit the bed this game. Disgusting first half play and atrocious defending in the second half. For all the people who were putting Kovacic, Rog, Pjaca in their starting lineups before the Ukraine game, just please do everyone a favor and stfu for now on. Amazing decision from Cacic to not play these toddlers. You all don’t see what goes on during training and most of you don’t even watch the league games. And all the “put Vida left back” theorists, sorry but its not working out. I understand they were playing 3 in the back today against Estonia but Vida on the either side is totally ineffective. Out of the 90+ games Vida played for Dynamo Kyiv he probably played 3-5 games at left back and that was because the other left backs were out with no replacements. Can Vida play left back better than other center backs? Maybe, but at the end of the day Vida is a center back and not a player that plays on the side. This entire match was utterly pitiful from start to finish from attacking to defending.
Rest In Peperoni Leskovic, you’re never getting a call up ever again to the repka. Leskovic who is 25 years old and still plays in the HNL is called up ahead of Simunovic who is 22 years old and plays for Celtic. How is that logical? Mamic needing to sell Leskovic is the only explanation.
@Slavonac- I know it wasn’t directed at me, but I can tell you what Kovacic is amazing at:
1) he has the quality to get past the 1 on 1. This, imo, is the most important quality in a MF. It breaks down the defense unlike anything else in soccer, and it isn’t common.
2) well weighted diagonal passes into space
He is average, at best, defensively. He also seems to get list in the game from time to time.
some very poor mistakes today. lack of concentration, very little imagination and creativity going forward, on their heels….
when you lack leadership, you lose a lot. in the game last Friday (from the little I saw) I felt Modric was extremely lively and was constantly looking for options…he was fighting for every inch he could get…these are the types of things we as fans don’t notice but they exist…they also raise the level and tempo of the game.
nobody was in charge today…like flies swarming around with no purpose. this is where the difference is…in the overall professionalism of each individual players. today, guys like Pjaca, Rog, Leskovic, Bradaric and a few others had their chance to shine and demonstrate their overall professionalism but when we put too many of these guys on the field, without leadership, at this level…this can happen!
I’m not disappointed. I knew this was a possibility cause I know what difference certain players mean to their team.
Kovacic??? please tell me how he’s amazing? he’s amazing when he plays with the best but don’t count on him to lead a team looking around for someone to take the reins.
whatever…shitty game, but it will hopefully pass and we carry on with our form prior to this game.
Pjaca injury not looking good
ah sarcasm, the lowest form of wit, I accept that you concede
LOL @ the truth
Jumping all over this to make a feeble attempt at slamming this team’s B squad.
Just ignore the fact that we played five near perfect games against solid opponents in our qualifying group so far despite injuries to key players, lol.
Very surprising loss. Didn’t watch the game, but noticed that it was one extremely early goal and two late goals.
Not prepped to play in a friendly?
I always wonder why we bother with these pointless friendlies against teams who won’t prep us for the types of teams we have in our qualifying group.
We ended up travelling with only half the team, to play a squad that won’t help us prep for Iceland, all the way in Tallin.
We need to play really good teams (or at least teams with a similar style to our opponents). If you can’t schedule that, then play a team that doesn’t force you to travel so much, so that you can at least do it with your full squad.
Why not play Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, or Italy?
This loss may end up being a blessing. Wake some of these guys up.
I’ll go with what Horvat’s saying.
That’s the only silver lining I see.
Sorry, Iceland
This is a good result today.
Our boys have been playing very good EVERY GAME for a long time now. Today’s result will hopefully humble us bit. Losing 3-0 today is better than 1-0. In any sport, even the greatest teams have bad games.
I’m expecting a bad game against Mexico in May due to the time change. Hopefully our boys take Island seriously come June.
I watched it. The following are true:
1) the team missed Mandzukic’s great defensive pressure
2) no Rakitic, no game winning assist
3) World class Vrsaljko was missed
4) Badelj came on, and we let in two more goals- so much for his great Defensive MF
5) Overrated, bust, non World class Modric was missed, I’ll be damned.
6) Rog sucked
Embarrassing!
Should never happen to a team with “world class” talent. Half that team should be suspended from stepping on the field for us. If Vrsaljko played we would have dominated them!
i didnt bother watching the estonia game cos it didnt count and who cares to get up at 2 am but what happened? 3-0??
So this is the bright future the homers believe in?! Ha. I tried to warn you guys about how the media has overhyped the acquisition of these unproven kids being fooled that they are good while not realizing its just a product of how the transfer market works. Let’s recap
Alen halilo-shit: future saviour hasnt been heard from in a year
Marcelo bozo -vic.: Can’t even play on inter. Don’t be fooled by the Chelsea rumours
Marko pee-ass-a.: Yet again, does nothing. Future cr3 my pee-ass-a
Mateo crotch-does-itch:. Proved once again he can’t lead a midfield
Tin jedva igra:. Comes in… Estonia instantly scores two goals…. No wonder he jedva igras at bayerm
Josip bustalo: banished to some outpost of Germany
D-oh-my-god can you believe he’s playing vida: Ukrainian based finish imposter, leads a defense that gives up three goals to Estonia
Marko rog:. Sucks. Enough said
I think Halilovic will make it different
we don’t see anything from kovacic coric rog pjaca
they don’t look shape and their technique blunt.
Good result today.
Our boys have been playing very well every game for a long time now.
This will humble us a bit. Wel’ll only come out stronger.
3-0 embarrassing
Leskovic is legit worst defender i have ever seen my god … his inability to move/ accelerate + track/mark is horrific to say least.
This is a good result today.
Our boys have been playing well every gone for a while now. This will humble us a bit. We’ll only come out stronger.
Dont watch Est V Cro its sad
Pjaca went down without challenge had to be carried off. Looks like Knee
http://realstreamunited.tv/soccer/estonia-vs-croatia-rsu349h96?l=1417184304
lmao if it wasnt for the god Kalinic we would have been down another goal
link with no commentary:
http://myp1p.eu/soccer/chp1074072-estonia-vs-croatia
On pace for 90-0 … Excluding stoppage time?
We are down 1 after 1 minite in Estonia.
Wer down 1; vida pushing up well
Vida Charlie (any one of the young guys or Lovren) Vrsaljko
LMFAO Estonia scores within the first minute!!!! LOL
I think if we were to have kalinic and Mario on same time at start of Portugal game they prob would have broken through Portugal at the very least their relentless pressure and having to mark two strong guys in the box….you never know
Agreed we need mandzukic in the game I guarantee not many in the world like to go up against him
He is someone u hate to play against but should love to have on your team his work rate more then makes up for any lack of talent and i love how both him and kalinic are up causing ton of pressure and both have a knack of finding back of net
While he ain’t “world class” that blast from him last game certainly was
Anyone have a streaming link for today’s game?
Thanks
Look guys we have a bunch of above average tools to work with
Obviously this is different cause we are just dealing with overall tournament play and luck plays a part
But we are probably slightly above average in every position except lb right now. Besides the 98 era. Tell me a time we were this in depth. U remember just a couple years back before perisic really emerged we basically had no wing options. We were hoping that ilicevic would be healthy. We were talking bout the French guy Sertic playing for us
We have come a huge way in last couple years. We all know we had a serious chance to go all way in Euro sadly it didn’t happen but looks like we have a very good chance to make Russia. Our coach While not without faults is getting some solid play from our guys and at least we are getting some continuity without swapping coaches
In the past an injury could murder us… look after losing Eduardo I’m sure our goal rate lessened. Look at all our attacking options now. Key word is options
I guarantee a lot of national teams would love to be in our position never mind the quality for our population
Are we perfect? Heck no but we are stronger then we have been for a long time and I think we still haven’t completely peaked
Let’s enjoy the ride. And let’s thank the stars above we don’t have Samir on the squad. Keep that in your head rest of day. We can bench a kovacic and rakitic while not that long ago Samir and Stanjic were starting for us
This has been a reality check not some homer comment
Start Mario where? Should not be starting over Kalinic and Perisic is left side….unless you move him right side which would be interesting?
Man who cares what he bleeds and how great he is no one is questioning that.
Anyone know how many changes for the game agaist Estonia?
@ Faux Cro
Great WC breakdown and thanks for the shout out.
You are all those things PLUS you know hell of lot more about soccer.
@ Idemo
I am making the point that some folks go the opposite way and are harder on Hrvati.
We watch and follow Hrvati more because we are Croatian.
Vrsaljko earned the starting RB spot AM under Simeone.
His development was stalled for the Repka by Srna and limited coaching vision.
Played LB v Mexico, was subbed off and then they ran riot on us.
Dalmacija has a world class coast, yes ?
Last 20 years more and more people are recognizing it.
Did it become better ? Or has it always been world class and the world is catching up?
Faux Cro has broken it down quite well.
It is a moot point right know as Vrsaljko has to heal up and get back on the pitch to show is WC quality
To be clear there is WC and then there are SUPER stars.
Maybe we need to define that.
Croatia need to produce a SUPER star.
Maybe Kovaoc can become a SUPER star? Or Pjaca.
Or maybe Perišić with a big move this summer ?
Dare to dream.
@BZ
Croatia tend to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, which is the way they lined up against Ukraine at home, when Perisic comes back against Iceland you reckon Cacic will change the formation and play two up front, if he doesn’t, and I don’t think he will away at Iceland, then were does Mandzukic fit into the 4-2-3-1 formation?
@Lazio- I actually don’t think Mandzukic is unbenchable. But I do believe he should start. Even the most casual Bayern/ Juventus fan knows, you don’t measure Mandzo’s worth by his goal total. He wins the ball in so many different ways:
1) great target in air
2) steals balls 1 on 1 more than any other Forward I know
3) his relentless pressure forces most defensive players to send a 50/50 ball into the midfield, as opposed to retaining possession.
Lets have another example about how ppl would response
Barcelona vs espanyol .. Barcelona will ease to win because they have neymar suarez messi inside their team
Madrid could win over valencia because they have ronaldo modric bale ramos
Bayern really big club with players like lewandoski lahm muller neuer
Manchester, hmm it’s a former club for backham cantona right? I hear zlatan ibrahimovic is there.
Juventus, yeah Del Piero but Zidane Thuram David really something, oh Buffon he is good and well known as a GK
Milan .. Kaka for the last name i have heard before they totally slump. They are really big with trio holland beforehand.
Atletico Madrid couldn’t tell you
Arsenal they had Henrry and Berkamp before. Ozil?! yeah i know that name but i don’t think he is good.
Idemo becomes my disciple alongside poglavnik and dannyj for rasional ppl here!/
messi neymar ronaldo when they play for their national team, how do THE PPL OF THE WORLD respond their name and their country.
Messi vs Chile, Neymar vs Peru, Ronaldo vs Bulgaria.
They are on demand to perform well and gotta PUBLIC WORLD attention. When their team was defeated, PPL OF WORLD would think what they were doing! ok got it …
ppl of world -> not ppl of their country
@Lika Joey
“Lazio, are you fucking on drugs dude??? A Sanchez isn’t half the player Modric is….Modric is 100% world class in his position. Higuain??”
So Sanchez isn’t world class in his postion, and neither is Higuain, and you’re asking me if I’m on drugs? Modric is a good player, he’s a good passer, but we all know that he doesn’t score many goals (I think he has one this season), and he doesn’t provide many assists, if he did those things I’d call him world class. That’s just my opinion though, you don’t have to agree with me you monkey.
I remember Zidane asked Modric to attack more and to take more shots once, has he been doing that, is he capable of doing that, because that’s what I’d like to see from him?
@Everyone:
I have met Soul Champ in person a couple of times and he is a top shelf individual who bleeds red and white.
Current World Class Croatian Players: Rakitic, Modric
Washed Up World Class Croatian Players: Srna
Players on the cusp:Vrsaljko
Players with potential: Kovacic
Anyone else planning on going to Iceland?
Ukraine, Iceland and Turkey are decent teams (they were all at the Euros).
We’re just that much better.
Look at how consistently well we’ve played in these five games, even without key players. Every game, we outchanced the opponent and dominated possession.
Almost every other group has been a gong show of results and close calls, with the exception of Germany, England, France and a couple others.
We gave up one goal this campaign, and it was a fluke Perišić own goal, lol.
@Soul champ
No ones disrespecting your Croatian heritage, that’s pure comedy, you just seem to think someone is world class because they are Croatian, which is the worst and most unobjective way to look at something, and when you are challenged on your point you start spouting something along the lines of your father this and that, who asked you about that? We’re talking Vrsaljko nothing else you your ownly justification oh he’s Croatian, you brought it into discussion.
@JM,
I watched Croatia-Ukraine with a buddy of mine that I haven’t seen in a long time. I still catch champions league highlights once a month or so. However, NBA takes up most of my sports life right now.
Croatia played well, controlled the match from start to finish. I expected more from Ukraine, but at the same time, they don’t have much quality. Most of their players play in the mediocre Ukrainian league.
In the end, a group that I was scared about after the draw proves to be one of the weakest. We should be favored even in Reykjavik.
@ Idemo
Why are you posting on a Croatian Sports website ?
“Uniting Croatian Fans Around the World.”
Full space to debate and disagree about soccer.
But disrespecting my Croatian Heritage ?
That’s almost as worse as your soccer critique!
Sve Najbolje … LOL.
@Soul Champ
I don’t watch Real Madrid a lot, probably have only watched them twice this season, my thoughts on Modric come mostly from watching him play for Croatia. I’m sure we all remember his performace against Portugal.
I mostly watch Serie A and the Bundesliga!
So how many world class players would you guys say Portugal has? Stef T.O believes that we have at least 4.
I would say Portugal has one, Cristiano Ronaldo. Nani had a great tournament to though, but still, I wouldn’t call him a world class player. Renato Sanches will become world class.
if you read a story of captain tsubasa, you will know why the main character and the other player named Wakabayashi in japan national team called a world class players. Because without those two, Japan won’t become bigger as a team. They give contributions more than the others, become more reliable and the teams both national and club depend on him!
yeah there are also strong players inside another teams. they prove themself as a hero of the team and beat one another, then the winner be considered as a flashy player (soon as their contribution enough to rise their club into something they will be noticed as a world class). Let just say if you have a team with some decent player inside and can be enough for 3rd or 4th place in world cup or champions league, then a world class player will guarantee you to go beyond like knock out phase even further like semifinal!
Why not give the coach some LOVE-Cacic has done an amazing job. He’s built a young squad that plays attractive attacking soccer and has just one loss on his resume.
G W T L W/P
Ante Čačić 2015– 19 13 5 1 68.4%
Currently he has the best winning percentage of any Croatian head coach in history.
Lazio, are you fucking on drugs dude??? A Sanchez isn’t half the player Modric is….Modric is 100% world class in his position. Higuain??
@BZ
Mandzukic scored one goal in the last qualifying campaign and none at the Euros and you believe that he’s unbenchable, why is that, why does Mandzukic have to be in the team?
@BZ
is unbenchable and irreplaceable, since he has been brought back the NT has been completely different, unbenchable and irreplaceable in the regards that there is no other defensive minded holding mid on the team, go ahead call Radosevic up, Luka? No why waste him there, name a replacement please
(Please spare me the names without 10 starts this year please please please)
i can understand that you don’t understand why N’Golo Kante should be and should have been Player of the Year in BPL
Many things worse than thinking Badlej can’t be benched and one of them is thinking Sime Vrsaljko is world class.
@ denis
You watching soccer again yet?! You’re missing some good stuff…. You really going to miss Croatia win the world cup cause of bitterness toward suker!?. Remember, spite is when one drinks the poison and expects the other guy to get sick
We are getting lots of spam comments right now. Please post your comments once and we will approve them as soon as we can get to them.
thanks
@SoulChamp- The guys criticizing you are the ones who believe Badelj is unbenchable. Let that sink in.
@Maminjo- fun lineup. I truly believe our best lineup contains those 4 guys up top. I wouldn’t start Lovren, and think not having an overlapping LB is a waste of Croatian ball control skills. But I would love Cacic to experiment even more to find our 6-0 team ala the Arena/Pulisic era that is beginning.
I’m excited to watch the line up in the next game…. Although not sure where to watch it
. Kramaric
Pjaca kovacic perisic
. Badelj. Rog
Pivaric vida mitrovic jedvaj
. Gk
Got some speed out there
Agreed. It’s all semantics. At the end of the day I’d say 90 percent or more of teams both club and national would be chomping at the bit for vrsaljko to join them
Totally agreed we need to try vida at lb. maybe it happens against Estonia? Or are we just too thin at cb right now to let that happen
not even gonna argue that shit anymore it’s so stupid and naive
When you think Vrsaljko and Lahm and Alves and Cafu are on the same page you’ve lost it and are blinded by something
stop trying to reaffirm your Croatian heritage on every post this has nothing to do with that….pudala….nogometašu…..lol
Why aren’t comments going through right away?
Mandzukic = world class.. Modric = world class.. Srna = world class.. Rakitic = on current form, on the bubble
World class for me is a player that can break into the starting 11 of ANY national side and perform at club level for ANY club. That’s world class.
Vrsaljko is NOT world class, but he could eventually end up being a great player. I think the guy has the physical aspects of what a great player needs, now I think his decision making and effectiveness on a regular basis must be improved. he’s had some great games this year, but he’s also had a couple of stinkers.
In my opinion, Perisic is great (this coming from me, I used to hate him back in 2012). Perisic has a ton of upside…he’s very fast, skilled, strong, has a good shot and cross, he’s not afraid to attack the goal, he draws a lot of attention to himself and is usually on the winning side of competing. Perisic plays with confidence and welcomes one on ones against his opponents…the guy has stamina, he’s always a threat and I hardly see any defenders get the better of him!
Poglavnik, That is because Perisic is a croatian player… and we don’t get the recognition other players get…Belgium and there team are glorified and over rated…
Lazio you’re out to lunch!
“I gotta say I don’t believe that Croatia has any world class players” ?? What are you smoking?
Perisic, Rakitic, Modric and Kovacic that’s 4.
And yes anyone that plays for Barca and Real are considered World Class even the subs.
@SoulChamp- like you said, let’s hops Sime can come back with his biggest asset…world class RB speed!
@Maminjo-I think our best team includes those four guys starting up top. I need to see Rog play more before I can start him over Kovacic or Rakitic.
We have a lineup that will start putting in the goals required to win in a big tournament. Let’s hope we gind it b4 Russia 2018.
This debate goes deeper than you think.
There are low self esteem Hrvati who do not believe that we have a right to be world class.
Then you wonder why the referee swallows the whistle against Brazil and Portugal?
The stems from losing the King archetypal form in our collective psyche.
Our footballers are our modern day Knights and they are some of the best in the world.
Everyone knows Luka Modric is the best center Mid-fielder in the world. If he were German or Italian or Brazilian or from Argentina then we wouldn’t even debate this.
SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
We need to RISE as a people and drop this second class citizen complex.
We are WORLD CLASS.
U Boj …
@ Lazio
Actually …
http://www.croatiaweek.com/luka-modric-named-in-fifa-world-xi/
When i was a child, i just hearing at glance some playeer’s name by looking tv magazine noticing their names and seems i had strugled to remember the names. But then few names was mentioned and repeted again&again thus i become aware with that names. Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten was the name i have never forget. Maradona is the biggest one!
when it comes to this day everyone knows
their names. ask 100 people who aren’t into soccer and 100 ppl will know who maradona is and even for his former club Napoli. Gullit and Basten with Milan as well. Rijkaard maybe only get 20%. Still our generation know that names. Suker Boban Boksic? some of people know that name when we ask them for croatian national football nowdays. Therefore we consider it as a world class football player because their name still exist even they have retired!
Great result for us considering all the missing players
We have a decent chance at the world Cup if our players stay fit
Too much arguing over who is and who isn’t world class. In the end we have many great players with lots of potential. Disappointing to see so much hate directed towards team.
Blackburn rovers suck
I play soccer with 3 different teams and I’d be surprised if any of my teammates could tell me who Sime Vrsaljko is.
He’s been at a big club now for one year and he’s already 25. If he was truly world class the giants of football would have been chasing him for years.
Id be seriously surprised if Vrsaljko could even emmulate Dario Srna’s career nevermind “world class.”
@Idemo
What if someone called Vrsaljko a world class RB, would you have a problem with that? How many RB’s would you say are better than Vrsaljko, and what are some of the things you think he doesn’t do well?
Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neymar, Lewandowski, Ramos, Bale, Higuain, A. Sanchez and Vidal are world class players, I don’t think anyone is saying that Vrsaljko belongs in that conversation, I’d be surprised if anyone thought that Modric does?
I gotta say I don’t believe that Croatia has any world class players, what we do have is a lot of good players that a good team can be fashioned out of.
@Idemo
What if someone called Vrsaljko a world class RB, would you have a problem with that? How many RB’s would you say are better than Vrsaljko, and what are some of the things you think he doesn’t do well?
Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neymar, Lewandowski, Ramos, Bale, Higuain, A. Sanchez and Vidal are world class players, surely no one believes that Modric is in that conversation?
I gotta say I don’t believe that Croatia has any world class players, what we do have is a lot of good players that a good team can be fashioned out of.
@ Lika Joey
Hvala Brate.
@ Faux Cro
Thanks for breaking down where Vrsaljko stands in the RB pecking order.
@ SHH
Was Luka Modric world-class at Tottenham Hotspur? When he was leading them to a top four finish in the EPL? Single handledly going against the Spanish midfield in 2012.
Or when he David Levy held him out to dry in a last minute transfer to Real Madrid where the locker room was lost and he started slow in La Liga?
The answer IS he wasn’t a “bust.” In fact he was WORLD-CLASS in London.
Now two CL titles later and the most important piece in the RM midfield, everyone is on the Modric train.
Why as Hrvati can we not say someone is world class when we see them perform on that level ?
That “late market” mind thinking is exactly what holds us back in Croatia.
Fact:
Croatia is the most educated/poorest nation in Europe.
Sve znaju …
Pudala
And I am the idiot ?
Enjoy the Estonia beat down and the CL run of our WORLD-CLASS ballers.
And then we go to Iceland for the most meaningful game of the qualifying campaign.
U boj …
@Idemo
What if someone called Vrsaljko a world class RB, would you have a problem with that? How many RB’s would you say are better than Vrsaljko, and what are some of the things you think he doesn’t do well?
Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neymar, Lewandowski, Ramos, Bale, Higuain, A. Sanchez and Vidal are world class players, I don’t think anyone is suggesting that Vrsaljko belongs in that conversation, I’d be surprised if anyone thinks Modric does?
I gotta say I don’t believe that Croatia has any world class players, what we do have is a lot of good players that a good team can be fashioned out of.
@ Idemo
Messi is one of the BEST EVER !
So yes he IS a soccer god.
When Perisic goes to Man U and puts on that #7 and wins trophies.
Then everyone and there mother will know who he is.
So as a Hrvat I have to wait for the rest of the world to recognize Croatian greatness ?
I call it like I see it.
Inter has been a shit show with stability, coaching, etc .. while Perisic was there.
My father loves ALL things Croatian and he has blessed me with our Croatian family name, land and identity.
ZDS = Homer
Tooooooooooooooooooooooooiooi
Soul champ just to reiterate what some brothers say. Well said!
I’m gonna join in on the Starting Eleven fun:
———————-Kalinic———————-
—-Mandzukic—-Kramaric—-Perisic—-
—————–Rog———Modric————
Vida——Lovren—–Corluka——-Vrsaljko
———————Subasic——————-
Rationale:
– Kramaric is hotter than Rakitic, so I start him.
– Mandzo is killing it at Juve at the wing position, and Kalinic is our hottest striker right now. Good things happen when both start. This is a no brainer.
– Rog seems to work/run harder than Badelj, but he would be the under close surveillance as the first sub if he doesn’t impress.
– Vida over Pivaric would turn our weakest defending area into our strongest. No offensive runs are needed from him.
– If Lovren wants to make runs forward (as he likes to) then Vida can cover for him in the back.
First subs off the bench in no particular order…
Pjaca, Kovacic, Rakitic, Brozovic, and Mitrovic (if Lovren has a Lovren moment)
And a proper homer.
As he should be, Juanfran is 32 on his way out, do you watch much atleti? They actually both play at the same time Juanfran infront of Sime as Juan is losing legs to go up and down;
I think some of you are losing the script; by us saying he’s not world class does not mean he is not great. World class is reserved for the aliens. The Messi Ronaldo type players
Not everything is an attack on ur 3rd generation Croatian bruised ego
@Poglavnik
I looked at the link you sent.
Remove the two English RBs because they are over priced as the EPL pays too much for English players.
Sergio Roberto is struggling at RB for Barcelona.
Vrsaljko plays over Juan Fran a lot for AM.
The case can be made that he is better than a lot of the others on the list .
Either way to be considered that high in the ranking of professional right backs is quite an accomplishment.
You can say what you want about him, but the kid is class.
Soul champ, at the end of the day….your a good man…and a pravi Hrvat!
You honestly have no idea what world class means or is and I highly doubt you understand play at a high/or technical level due to this. Your comments are very “homer-ish” and your sucking people off because they are Croatian; furthermore you try to validate you idiotic statements by trying to say anyone that says anything opposite of u is a self hating Croatian, quite on the contrary only thing worse than a self hating one is a self sucking one.
Vrsaljko is world class? Then Messi is Jesus and Ronaldo is Zeus
perisic isn’t world class today or at 25
Mou scouts 9 year olds are they world class
You honestly have no idea what world class is/means
Furthermore I doubt you understand play at a high and technical level …..a lot of your statements are extremely “homer-ish” and your practically sucking people off because they’re Croatian then you call anyone self hating when tell you the truth
If Vrsaljko is world clas messi is Jesus and Ronaldo is Apollo
Right on Soul Champ!!! SHH… SMH
I have correction to make I said mandzukic on the left
I brain farted and had him opposite of perisic. I love mandzukic but hard to take kalinic off right now. His goal rate for us has to be pretty darn good right now
Guys why does everyone have to be world class. We just have to be strong in unison we have enough quality to make noise and then some if we play together You can pick apart most players but honestly how many other nt right now have the amount of steady quality coming up
When u got a guy like kovacic warming the bench you sitting ok. I like mitrovic. Strong looking kid. Vida plays hard becoming a leader with his play imo
@Poglavnik:
I don’t care what your list says.
Kyle Walker, and Cline are not as good as Vrsaljko.
Vrsaljko already plays over Juan Fran.
Sergio Roberto is struggling at Barca.
I can go on about more RBs on your list, but you get the point.
You know your team is good when there is an angry debate about whether or not a player is world class or just simply awesome
the other stupid thing being up here is
doing late subs considers as a part of strategy..
that is morroooon .. Cacic Totally Jerk ..
you just restrained potential player to embark a glory!
you totally fool.
ask non-football fans like my mother.
does she know Perisic?
she knows suarez neymar messi. even modric
that’s so called world class. everyone knows that name.
@ Faix Cro
Exactly !
@ “Real” people
Was Perišić WC at 25?
Now Jose Mourinho is at Maximir when you are not even playing to sign you ?
That is World Class!
Kovačić playing in front of James and Isco during the season is World Class.
Pjaca has WC potential.
Subasic may lack some mobility but he is holding down Monaco into CL quarters.
Rog is a beast.
If Čačić could of have a bit of VISION he plays some of the young studs ealry and we BEAT Portugal in regulation and maybe WE lift the Euro Cup.
I am SKEPTICAL of some of thiese evaluations by Hrvati of our Nogometašu.
Yes I tend to be Optimistic but grounded in direct observation of the FACTS.
Facts:
-we lost to Portugal in 117′ and they went on to win it.
-Vrsaljko, Kovačić, Rog benched after they BEAT Spain 2-1.
-subs at 88′, 110′ and 120′.
We PLAY all the horses in the courses and we can win the World Cup.
And then all Self Hating Hrvati (SHH) can SHHHHHHHHH!
Uvijek Vjerni
PS – Maksimir sounded great Friday.
U boj …
@ soul champ
I’m not cynical nor am I blind
Love my team but I have to be real with my self
@ lika Joey
I could hit the lottery tomorrow to I could be world class
And who’s to say he could step in tomorrow and play for Barca or Bayern, you? He’s knocking on the door but it’s a bit early. Aaaand he’s 25 and coming off of sprained knee ligaments.
I wish him the best.
http://www.transfermarkt.com/spieler-statistik/wertvollstespieler/marktwertetop/plus/0/galerie/0?ausrichtung=Abwehr&spielerposition_id=5&altersklasse=alle&land_id=0&yt0=Show
He’s tied with 3 others as the14th most valuable right sided fullback on this site.
A lot of criticism of rakitic… And i agree sometimes he I’d lacking especially in the pace department… But let’s not forget he assisted kalinic and he serially associated kalinic a second time if kalinic diff not try a cute chip. Rakitic is still good for the decisive splitting pass
Lots of quality Right Backs including Dario Srna, Dani Alves, Abate, Ivanovic, Juan Fran and Phillip Lahm are coming to the end of their careers.
Vrsaljko will wind up being bought by a larger club. He could step in and play RB for Bayern or Barca tomorrow.
For me, that is the definition of “world class”
I think Vrsaljko has a long ways to go to even match Dario Srna’s career never mind “world class.”
And he’s already 25 so I really don’t see that happening.
Better chance of Kovacic or Halilovic becoming world class.
Vrlsajko and Kovacic could one day become world class players.
Vrsaljko is going to be world class.
He is the RB that Barcelona or Bayern should have signed.
He is the real deal.
It is quite obvious that Rakitič does not have the legs anymore. He is a good bench option.
@ Slavonac/Idemo
Idemo was making the valid point that Modric should be freed up from defensive duties.
Rakitic played the deep lying midfielder for Sevilla and thrived. He is strong, tough and tackles well.
I know Rakitic and Gattuso are different players BUT in our team Rakitic can be deployed in the same area of the pitch.
Rakitic has range in his passing and can activate even more attacking movements for our world class players.
@ Idemo
I have dealt with many Cynical Hrvati over the years. All good, nothing personal.
I say Vrsaljko IS world class by earning the RB spot at AM under World Class manager Simeone. I pray he heals up and comes back stronger.
Sounds like you were down with Modric being a bust at RM, 200 games and 2 CL titles later his game keeps on improving.
Hvaljen Isus
So nice we have opinions and mild arguments about lineups huh? What would we do if we were shit. Haha. Other nations big or small wish they had our problems . Got a friend from Uruguay who are real good. But they know their lineup. Not to deep. We have opinions and options.
http://www.espnfc.us/manchester-united/story/3089417/mourinho-denies-reports-of-scouting-trip-to-croatia-i-have-no-hidden-cause
I call bullshit!
When in Hrvatska you don’t go to Zagreb to enjoy the nice weather.
Rog’s only 21 whereas Badelj and Brozovic are in their primes. With the young line-up we had out there I’m glad we didn’t start Rog as well. Kid was awesome against Spain though.
Perisic is class!
Maybe not quite world class but on his day he’s a match winner.
Boy people are really on the Rog bandwagon. I don’t mind him but I’d say Brozovic and Badelj are ahead of him.
@Horvat
“I don’t know how good Rog’s defending is”
Watch our game with Spain from Euro 2016 as Rog completely shuts down Iniesta.
Idemo,
I understand Badelj is our only true DM, however I don’t see him doing any special defending. He’s certainly no Niko Kovac.
I don’t see why Modric can’t do just as good of a job. Rakitic has done well in that position before as well.
I don’t know how good Rog’s defending is, however, the kid is a tank. A true warrior. Let’s hope he can develope in that position.
Zds … Totally agree!
fuck off you guys named some players here and put it into so-called world class. You guys don’t know what world classs means!
You moroon .. here i named our world class player and can be compare to Messi, Neymar, Suarez, Ronaldo and Bale.
We only have Modric! … All world class players only in Barcelona and Madrid. Some other guys can be onsidered as world class player like lahm lewadoski ibrahimovic neuer buffon! even i dont want to mention Pogba griezmann here.. Ronney just a joke even he has a record.
I find Rakitic and Brozovic to be very, very, similar players.
I find the main difference is that Rakitic is better at set pieces while Brozovic runs more.
I demo,
What I meant was that if Brozovic can take is game to the next level in the near future, which I don’t see why he can’t, he could potentially replace Rakitic only as a central midfielder. I find him ineffective on the wings.
Sorry confusion.
@dannyj why do you want Mandza on the left wing? Our best player plays there? That was just a stop gap until Perisic isn’t suspended.
@Horvat do you know what you just said?
“Rakitic and Brozovic can’t start for us” next sentence “I hope Brozovic can replace rakitic”
Very paradoxical considering epic brozo already starts as we don’t have a in form right sided player (hopefully pjaca soon)
But why should Badelj not start? Do you know how vital his job is ? You could have the malt creative mid but without a Kante type they are nothing
@Soul champ
My man what in the world are you saying? Rakitic needs to be our Gattusso? Vrsaljko is world class? So then what are Lahm and Alves if he’s world class?
Barca don’t want no part of him and will get no part of him haa, but I maybe wrong.
German school of thought eh? Then by hour German school of thought Luka most be dropped, as good as he is he is no where near replicating club form at NT
I AGREE. Rog may technically be better than Badelj, Rog doesn’t have 10 starts in league play.
NT is and forever will be based off of club form. 9/10 of you don’t have club form you will not play NT and that’s how it is.
Kovacic is amazing. No sane coach can start him or pjaca or Rog right now at NT level
In my opinion, with the talent we have, Rakitic, Brozovic, Badelj and Pivaric should not be starters.
When I watch Rakitic play for us, I have no clue how he can be a starter for Barcelona. I hope he can be replaced by Kovacic, Rog, or Brozovic in the very near future.
Brozovic is not a winger. Other than his defensive contribution, Pjaca, Mandzo, and maybe even Rog or Halilovic are better options.
Badelj is a good DM, however, it’s a shame to sit players like Kovacic, or Rog over him. Maybe we should try Modric or Rog in his position and have Kovacic injected as well.
Pivaric is a Major liability. It’s worth trying Strinic, Vida or Jedvaj over him. Anybody know the status on Jeremy Toljan?
Versaljko……world class..lol
He won’t even be back in Spain next season.
This fukcn coach and his subs…..if I was a player I would refuse to go in with one min left……embarrassing!
This is an overall average team with only Modrič as the star standout….that’s it.
Rakitič has lost it……the most he should get is the last 2 min of the game.
The only world class player is Modrič……..the rest are average or below average.
anyone have a link to watch yesterdays game?
so is it safe to say striker position is kalinic’s to lose? guy is pretty well money every time he plays for us.
can mandzu start on lw for us then swap for pjaca or vice versa steadily going forward?
didn’t watch the game but sounded from what you guys said pivaric looked out of sorts.. seriously why the frick can’t we try vida there… least he actually has some experience there. we really don’t need him to do a ton offensively. if we require our lb to produce a ton of crosses while we have all this other talent in the middle and up the wing…
like you guys said its a good time to love cro nogomet…. i think we haven’t even hit our peak yet
Here’s the lineup Cacic may start on Tuesday:
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/hrvatska-nastavlja-bez-modrica-i-cetvorice-kljucnih-igraca-cacic-pozvao-antu-corica/959073.aspx
This is the greatest generation Croatia has ever produced.
The starting lineup Cacic plans to use on Tuesday is literally just as good if not better then yesterday’s lineup.
Rakitic gets to be our Gattuso?
What planet are you on? They don’t even remotely resemble each other in any way! Not in position, playing style, roles…nothing! That comparison would be better suited for Rog or even Badelj…the guy that breaks up the play and dishes it off.
Better to think again if late subs is a part of strategy, i see that merely a doubtness and nothing but coward decision to take a risk.
Think again and don’t be a foolz.
if you are good then spank that flooper ass without hesitate in early minutes of second half. He usually get his subs over 70 minutes, and the rest just dont have a clue which player should be changed. Really guys there are many evidence for him being coward/doubtfull.
@SoulChamp -as always…Solid statements.
I still can’t take Mandzo out though. Look back at every game Kalinic & Mandzukic started together under Cacic, & you will see great outcomes.
Never have I had so much trouble picking a starting 11, we have so many guys that are hard to sit!
@ Idemo
I come from the Lukas Podoslki school of thought with national team players.
National team needs to transcend club form.
I base what I see on what I see.
Podolski and Klose for that matter were struggling at Bayern. The German national team took care of them and they flourished. Germany is the gold standard of national team set ups.
Pjaca has come back even stronger from broken leg. Trust me Barca want no part of him in there two legged tie.
Gets ZERO minutes against Ukraine ?
Pa da.
Pjaca one side with Perišić on the other ?
Kovačić in the middle?
Modrić pulling the strings?
Rakitic needs to be your Gatuso.
Badelj is good but our team is becoming great. Rog is better than him right NOW.
Jedvaj was OK. But he made realize that Vrsaljko is WORLD CLASS. He established himself as the RB for AM. He would of ate Ukraine alive on the right flank.
Maybe when Jedvaj gets in shape he can play RB and let Vrsaljko become a RW. He may become our Gareth Bale?
All good things.
We are so deep that we can have all these debates.
Hvaljen Isus.
Oh no doubt not questioning that Vrsaljko is our guy at RB for sure but for me today the kid put a shift
Too early to give it to Rog, once again based off what? Albeit it is difficult to break through in Napoli and he is on the way there still does not have a body of work. Kova can take it from rakitic but I’m afraid with the recent bench warming it will be tough
Would really like Pjaca to cement RM as his, gives you ultimate combinations for middle 2, the two i think you don’t touch are Modric and Badelj……..spoiled for choice at number 10 with Kova….raki….brozo maybe……wow man if all these boys pan out we will have some good problems, imagine if Rog forces his way onto team sheeesh.
Idemo,
I’m not saying that Jedvaj is bad player but was there one moment in the game you thought like “wow, if Vrsalko is healthy again, should he be back in the team or will we stick with Jedvaj as RB?” Defensively Jedvaj played his game, offensively he loses too many balls.
Pivaric gets criticized but offensively he had some nice crosses. He was exposed once or twice but don’t forget that his opponent yesterday Yarmolenko, is probably the best Ukraine player.
One thing I learned yesterday. The game in Ukraine will be very difficult. Ukraine looked way stronger than Iceland and Turkey.
Also, Leovac is better on the left than Pivaric. Pivaric was our number 1 liability. Note that all of Ukraine’s attacks in the first half were down his side. In the second half, he mostly just hung back…
Cacic actually was smart. He killed the game with the subs. Wasting time and putting on fresh firepower (Rog and Kramaric) late in the game denied Ukraine the chance to gain momentum in their final push. The point is that we won. Unlike in past encounters, we did not concede a last-second goal. Cacic identified that as our weakness and used late substitutions to seal the close win. He spared us a repeat of the Czech Republic or Portugal match. This time, we were the scrappy winning side.
On another note, Brozovic and Rakitic are of questionable value in the starting lineup. Kramaric or Kovacic should replace Rakitic, and Rog should replace Brozovic.
we can really get some fluid performances.
the point is toward to our strategy, the players just fine.
need to consider about player perform itself.
Rakitic so many woes but yeah give him trust but not to keep him any minutes longer when he proves nothing. Modric Vrsaljko can be more consistent over 90 minutes. Pivaric is defiant need totally change to 3-4-3 formation. Mandzukic couldn’t tell you but better to have him or Kramaric on 3-4-3 formation.
…………..Kalinic……Kramaric………….
….Perisic………Rakitic……….Vrsaljko….
…………..Modric…..Kovacic…………….
……vida………Mitrovic……..Corluka……
…………………Subasic…………………
It’s good, as we’re already realizing there is a great squad forming here. But what the point is that the coach (stupid Cacic) never learn and a lot of worries upon him. fuck up that late subs within 10 minutes game. I don’t want to say anything rushed but change strategy or change the manager. That s why we could be better to overcome every match and step forward/.
Terrific result for us !
Needed that win with a few hard away games to come. Very happy. Luka impresses me so much; everytime i think he isn’t important, he plays the match of his life like this one – he was so involved in everything good we did, very impressed with him
Jedvaj does like to push forward. So does Lovren.
I think starting these two in the back would make us even more dangerous on the deadball and attack, but definitely expose us on the counter.
We have so much midfield, wing, and striker talent now, that it almost makes sense to go with the stable and steady (albeit kinda slow) Mitrovic and Corluka in the back.
Haha anon. What is he saying?
Anyone have a LAknat to English translator?
We looks good because our oppenent’s totally crapzźz l why are you so happy about the win? We must win and win is oours or they are gonna shinning my shoes!@
And regarding Mitrovic….agreed looks like a stud in the making, nice and tall but just a bit slow maybe few extra pounds
Sorry @soul champ, you can not bench badelj and off what form does pjaca deserve a start? A couple nice cameos?
As good as a defender Modric is out of the 3 central mid players in your line up he would have to be the sitting defensive one, badelj releases Modric to create, save me the deep lying play maker Story, if you have to be the gattuso your focus is not strictly on pulling strings
@Mr Black why were you not impressed with Jedvaj?
Personally I believe Jedvaj had a match, didn’t fold under pressure, good in the tackle, shocked to see him so high up at times but he did well
If we can replace Pivarić with Vida at LB, we should do it.
Two of Ćorluka, Mitrović, Jedvaj and Lovren should make a decent CB pairing.
Lovren and Jedvaj are not as stable as Ćorluka and Mitrović, but they’re faster and more talented. We need to try all combinations with these four.
Vrsaljko is our full time RB.
Love that lineup soul champ. Did not see the game. Just now getting recaps. Pjaca brings power and pace. Needs a spot badly. Too good to sit.
^ ^
Good point about the fans.
I’ll take the three points and happy crowd but …
Does Čačić know you get to sub THREE players at any point during the match?
60′ was begging for Kovačić – Pjaca – Kramaric or Rog.
Vrsaljko was missed more than Perisic. I pray he gets back to full form by June 11th.
Modrić was lively, unlucky with that move in the box and left foot shot.
Respect to Čačić but he is driving our Ferrari like its a FIAT.
Ukraine held more possession and ran us down the flanks.
Pjaca would have made them pay on the counter.
We need ALL the thoroughbreds in rekavik.
_______________Kalinic
Perišić _________Kovačić___________Pjaca
________Modric_________Rakitic
Vida_____Mitrovic___Lovren_____Vrsaljko
_______________Subasic
Rog
Brozovic
Kramaric
U Boj
Ya for sure maminjo. Mitrovic plays in a tough league. Turkish league is physical but so is he. Big strong dude.
We gotta start following Matej Mitrović in Croatians Around Europe
It looks like we just had a nice day. A deserved win, the fans behaved well, no yellow cards, no injuries.
Brozovic was less present than last time, Mandzo and Kalinic worked fine together. Rakitic helped to make the difference. Jedvaj and Pivaric didn’t impress me, Matej Mitrovic and Vida were fantastic.
Our next two games (in Iceland and Turkey) will be decisive. If we take 4 points, things will probably work out for us.
@North agree, his play stood out to me too.
Some of you guys really make me laugh,,. Like saying it’s great not to see Srna anymore,. Lmao. Then the comment of Brozovic playing because man u is gonna but him!! Like they can’t scout him in italy, all year long????? One qualifier will do the trick… And perisic didn’t play because of yellow, but he was there for him also….
Mitrovic was strong at the back today. Really liked his game. Great to have squad depth like that.
Onto the next one. A positive result in Iceland in June and the boys will have one foot in the door to Russia 2018.
Thanks idemo!
!st place, that is what matters and good.
First half good, created chances just no finishing; second very poor happy to be up 1-0 we were lucky Ukraine was trash as well
How did we look fellas? Didn’t see any of it just periodic score updates. Did we look good? Well good enough i guess without arguably our best or to it player in perisic. Would he have made a difference?
You don’t sit badelj,
second half was poor, disgusting, what do u mean why so hard on rakitic? He was coughing up balls all night and please spare me the assist flick BS that ball was getting there with or without his touch
Solid win, looks like we’ve got a program and we’re sticking with it. Love to see the young guys contributing in a big way. Nice to see what solid keeper play looks like too. We’re deep, we run, and we’re talented.
So nice not to see Srna on the field, the games are so much more enjoyable 🙂 I think this game just convinced me to go to Iceland for the next game lol
from the little that I saw I think we did what we had to…a win is a win!
Why so hard on Rakitic? If we just start Kovacic for Badelj, we win in a romp.
@Brkic – lol He is saving them for extra time.
Idemo then we wouldn’t of had a goal! His assist was beautiful..
Forgot about that post.
I used to harp on Rakitic as much as anyone. I’ve seen him play much worse for us.
I’m still not sold on Subasic either.
If I was rakitic I would have taken myself off
lol
I see we’re saving our subs for the last 2 minutes again…
i like it when we win 😀
@anon- lol, but I seriously have been saying Perisic and Mandzukic should hold that left side, LB & LW
Rakitic has been shit constantly losing the ball getting stuck;
How not 3-0? Kalinic goal kalinic chip MandZo post; what are you watching?
I just put it on fox sports2 and our game is on there is it because Italy Albania has been stopped or has it been on whole time lol
Guys any mobile sites?
Rakitic looks fine to me. Great backheel on the goal and he’s been pressing their backs nicely.
I don’t know about 3-0.
We’re lucky not to have been down after that flub from Subasic.
Mou regards these Ukraine resemble Middlesbrough last week, so nothing special. I think Rakitic feel relief because there are many Ukraine even worse than him!
Sub in Pjaca for Mandzukic’s spot, move Mandzukic to left back, then shoot pivaric in the head
Should be up 3-0
Rakitic needs sub
otherwise we look good just not a fan of the half field crosses to other team. I want to see Kovacic in this game if hes on bench.Hopefully more goals for us in second 🙂
United manager Jose at stadium for Perisic and Brozovic – rumors have it
what a great goal all around, 3 players links like that are gold, not many teams can do that, seems this team is beginning to learn how.
Could’ve easily been been down when Subasic dropped that cross if not for Jedvaj otherwise we do look pretty comfy.
Blackburn should have kept him! lol
I was talking about our defense
so I made a comment yesterday about me now worrying so much about them and I’ve watched only parts of this game…but it seems like they are sturdy…and…Vida looks very confident…even if almost all of us really aren’t overly confident in him!!!
😉
What a finish under pressure…assist was beautiful also!
For those of us who watch fiorentina regularly, Kalinic impresses all the time.
Goalllllllll……shielded him off well
Kalinic really impressed me on that goal, thats not easy to do with a defender on your back!
KALINIIIIIIIC!!!
What a goal!
Im watching it and it looks great.
Do what T Bone said to the first link that LAKnat provided.
http://hdfree.tv/watch/25/croatia-vs-ukraine.html
here the other one within the same site but totally different
and always smoothly when watching!
I fear clicking any of those links. Knowing you guys somebody will try to Rick Roll us.
Bone what median???
Turkey beat Finland and now Italy scores on Albania. I think we can expect “Turkey” to come on here to start trolling us soon if we don’t score soon.
Thank you T Bone!
So hit ignore to the phishing warning???
wait 5 seconds and then hit the top right corner to remove the ad…this link always works
Slavonac is it the one with the “phishing” warning?
I got a good one on you tube. Just have to let the stupid video play out, but it will work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Hit ‘schedule’ and it’s on ch 10. Boners.
The reason BrozovIc is starting is because Mr man u is there watching him…they already want Perisic.
don’t say I never do anything for you guys:
http://sportska-tv.in/lag/39
Who has a free stream that actually works?
Yeah LAknat that feed is balls.
LAK nat that is a terrible feed, all these things started downloading.
I’m loving the potential of that back line.
Hopefully those kids can hold it down.
Pjaca will come in at some point . This lineup should be ok
Rob I,
Brozovic scored both goals in our last home against Iceland (2-0).
http://hdfree.tv/watch/80/croatia-vs-ukraine1.html
you can watch here guys., don’t worry about ads
and the quality also decent!~
Brozovic instaed of Pjaca is suprising