That could have been a disaster folks! Imagine if Croatia didn’t grab all three points against Kosovo at home.
After Saturday night’s match was suspended in the 20th minute due to pouring rain and a water logged pitch at Maksimir, to everyone’s surprise waking up Sunday morning in North America, the game was back on Sunday afternoon in Zagreb; 2:30PM (local time).
This rescheduling hurt the team as they have to travel to Turkey for a match Tuesday night in an extremely important Group I matchup. Turkey lost 2-0 to Ukraine yesterday and will be hungry for points against the Vatreni at home.
Croatian fans are rooting for a Croatia win against Turkey on Tuesday and a draw between Ukraine and Iceland. If that happens, Croatia will only need a win against Finland at home in October to secure a World Cup berth, making their last game in Ukraine a mute point.
The Vatreni needed an awkward Domagoj Vida header off a Modrić free kick in the 74th minute to achieve the 1-0 win but definitely had their chances to score more in the shortened 70-minute match. Kosovo could have put one in which would have been an absolute disaster as this was a 3-point must win game for Croatia. In the end, Kosovo ended the match with zero shots on goal.
Vida goal vs. Kosovo
Even after the victory, captain Luka Modric was not happy with how the game and scheduling went saying, “Last night we got information the match will not be played. Of course, you go to bed a little later and then in the morning they woke us all up like they would in the army! Of course, we didn’t have good preparation for the match. FIFA showed they don’t care about the players, the only thing that mattered to them was the match to be played. On Saturday, it was hard to play at that pitch but no one seemed to care. If they did care, they would have postponed the Turkey – Croatia game to Wednesday,” Goal.com reported.
HNS president Davor Suker said this after the game: “We (Croatia) need a stadium. Croatian football has earned it.”
They have beautiful and modern national stadiums in Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Yet, somehow, a perennial top-20 team like Croatia, plays at Maksimir, which is an outdated high school stadium from the communist days.
It’s time for a change. Hopefully, this weekend will make things happen.
Sorry, should read did NOT like Ugljan
At, that Rakitic “hooligans” story was entirely made up. Truth is Mrs R did like the accommodations and isolation of Ugljan. 500 euro per night Falkensteiner is more her comfort level. The cafe waitress has certain “tastes”.
@Hook Shot- It is my honest opinion that Brozo has overachieved. I think he is one of those guys that has outperformed for us. That is a good thing, but might be bad in the long run if he doesn’t consistently overachieve. When Pjaca returns, not sure Brozo is anything more than a sub ONLY in games where we are down, & need an outside threat.
Brozovic needs an espresso to wake up. When he started with the repka he was a man posessed on the pitch. Now he just goes through the motions like he is texting or checking other scores.
@maminjo- if Germany plays in front of a crowd, then the HNS should sue. Legitimate case already with the fact Mexicans scream “PUTO” every free kick.
I say:Let fans chant whatever they want. Diregard, discredit, ban & expose them (if you must). Insane to punish the team.
@maminjo
88 is on a quiet big rise in Germany
Cacic is doing a fine job.
Doesn’t help Rakitic that we don’t have an extra days rest. Running in that slop yesterday must be hard on the legs. Like people have mentoned before, Cacic picks a good team, its the subbing that he struggles with.
The truth says it’s his job to challenge. You’ve been challenged and defeated in the game of life…by a real man…a Croat.
In other news, German fans actually chanted Nazi slogans during their game today.
German FA are saying that it’s not their fault and it’s these isolated fans who are doing this (who are not representative of Germany).
Let’s see how many points will be deducted from their qualifying campaign. 😉
you cant blame rakitic, when you have hooligans do shit like that to him and his family
If this was el clasico, rakitic would be fit
Rakitic out. Almost seems like Cacic gave him a discreet insult.
Cacic said Mandzukic is also injured but “knowing him” he will suck it up.
I am sure the stone throwing incident has dampered Rakitic’s motive to play.
@ Idemo
That is the question ?
I like to see Kovačić behind striker.
Modrić in the center pushing forward.
As you have been espousing having a legit CDM.
Potential pool:
Rakitic – physical strong, range passing and shot.
Badelj – Solid.
Rog – MOTOR, a bit nasty as well !!!
A bunker playing opponent calls for Rakitic.
A world power calls for Rog as he proven against Spain at Euro 2016.
Badelj is a solid back up that you will need over the course of a campaign.
Brozovic can play many spots as well in the attack as he seems to have superior attacking touch.
Pjaca needs to come back healthy and explosive.
There is definitely no lack of talent in these Croatian teams over the years. Our repka is always riddled with talent from all over Europes top clubs and leagues with these players doing well at the club level. Some say, and perhaps rightfully so, that they underperform when they get the call up 5 or 6 times a year for a few days with the national team. It makes you wonder, what if we had a stronger domestic league, better sporting infrastructure (stadiums/practice facilities), and a bit less corruption (maybe Boban in Sukers spot, and less Of Mamic). Notice I didn’t completely omit Mamic because the argument can be made that these players aren’t where they are if he don’t exist, but that’s a whole separate conversation. My point is, that this generation of talent perhaps was held back from its full potential because of these above mentioned factors, at least repka wise, and it drives me crazy thinking what could of been? Will this pipeline that keeps spewing out talent dry up soon? I hope not, but time will tell.
@ manijmo
I respect your findings and data driven response. About ten times a better response than the blind homerism i usually read here. I think there are still some homes in the argument. Let me check my database and models and will come back
Some of the children on this site (like zee) think I’m simply trolling. But I’m actually challenging the participants to improve the quality of their thoughts and comments. Maminjo has stepped up to the plate
All I’m trying to say is we’re good at football.
Population in millions:
Brazil – 207.7
Germany – 82.7
France – 66.9
Italy – 60.6
England – 53
Spain – 46 6
Argentina – 43.9
Holland – 17
Croatia – 4.2
We put a scare in all of those countries when we play them. I’d rather enjoy how uniquely good we are considering what we have to work with than cry about not being elite.
Call me stupid but come June 2018 I’ll be liking our chances in any game we play.
Ok, laku noć.
@Maminjo
“We play up and play down to our competition.”
The truth said something similar to this not long ago, and everyone told him to piss off!
Maminjo you must be a jock?
@Poglavnik & Danny J
So when we beat a big team they didn’t play down to us, is that what you guys are saying?
Maminjo.. shutting down the trolls i love it
Look we all know we can be beat by Kosovo on the right day and we can also give it to the best team in the world just the same
Ya we need consistency but we consistently qualify and that’s half the battle Everyone here knows with a bit better luck or not so shitty a ref who knows what happens in the last two
Euros
Heck look how bad we got screwed in Brazil
Anyways that’s the way it goes
I would love to be killing teams in qualifying but everyone knows even the minnows can surprise these days. Everyone is improving
Heck at least we ain’t England;)
^ ^
I like this.
Time to bust out the facts…
Against elite competition, Croatia actually has pretty even record (which is remarkable).
The teams that I would consider in the elite category are the following:
Germany, Italy, France, England, Brazil, Argentina, Holland and Spain
In competitive matches, our record against these teams is 8W 9L 5D
Germany: 2W 1L 0D
Italy: 2W 0L 4D
France: 0W 1L 1D
England: 2W 3L 0D
Brazil: 0W 2L 0D
Argentina: 0W 1L 0D
Holland: 1W 0L 0D
Spain: 1W 1L 0D
We played a lot of these teams at their peak too (Holland during France98 with superstars like Bergkamp, Davids, Seedorf on the team). Germany from Euro96, France98 to WC2002 were contenders. We beat them even when they made those Euro2008 finals too.
Many of these losses came against the eventual champs too (Spain at Euro2012, Germany at Euro96, France at WC98), and these were controversial losses too.
We even played (and beat) some near-elite teams during their best generational years, such as Sweden when they were sporting prime Ibrahimovic, Ljungberg, and Larsson back in our WC2006 qualifying years. They seemed unbeatable during that qualifying campaign and we beat them twice. I didn’t bother including this in the stats above, but still it’s notable.
Croatia steps up significantly when it plays against elite competition, and they are actually on par with them record-wise.
Croatia the BEST record in the World against these teams.
AGAIN….Croatia has the BEST record in the World against these teams.
Every other team in the world does not have a near .500 combined record against these teams.
Aside from the dropoff in talent (during that 6-7 year stretch in the early 2000s) due to the impact of the War of Independence…our problem has always been a mental one.
We play up and play down to our competition.
We’ve been eliminated from tournaments by lesser opponents in Australia during WC2006, Turkey in Euro2008 and Mexico in WC2014.
These three tournaments hurt, and is the reason for most of this anger.
Maybe it’s our coaching, maybe it’s our playing style that doesn’t do well against teams who sit back and defend, or maybe it’s just shitty luck.
Lots of these elite teams had shitty luck and bad eliminations for decades before winning a tournament. Not everyone can be a ‘2004 Greece’.
The important thing is that we are always qualifying, and we’re always a dark horse in these tournaments. We just need to figure out how we make that next step (without resorting to throwing $1 Billion of public funds into football like Germany, or going all out with scouting and handing out citizenship like Belgium and Switzerland).
@The truth
“Well it seems many here think Croatia is a first tier European team but they have just never showed anything to suggest they are on the level with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, uk etc”
2008 Euros, beat Germany.
2010 WC, didn’t make it.
2012 Euros, beat Ireland.
2014 WC beat Cameroon, who some say bet against themselves.
2016 Euros, finally beat another big boy, Spain, and most people here believe that was a fluke.
We beat Germany at Euro 2008 and since then only one other win against one of the big boys, and that’s Spain at the last Euros, something they did without Mandzukic (1goal in qualifying, none at Euros), your boy Modric (pathetic against Portugal), Vida and a recognised LB. Modric for Croatia has played in 1 win against one of the big boys for Croatia.
I doubt anyone believes we’re a first tier European team. Since 2008 all those teams you mention have played a final in a major tournament, while Croatia have been 2 time second round participants, that’s not first tier, everyone knows that.
Anyway, who gives you the impression that Croatia is a first tier European team?
Ragtag is the way I look at this team, success for us is simply making the WC.
Noel- you have such a short memory! You must have forgotten what 1st tier Spain did to our 2nd tier asses last summer at the Euros!
If Iceland bounces back and beats ukraine, and turkey beats us, this would be the craziest group ever
The Truth: Well it seems many here think Croatia is a first tier European team but they have just never showed anything to suggest they are on the level with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, uk etc”
In my recollection Italy has NEVER beaten Croatia.
If we beat Turkey on Tuesday, we’re topping this group.
Ukraine are good, but they’re bad at finishing their chances. They outplayed Turkey yesterday, but the two goals they scored should have been called back (one was offside, the other was out of bounds by quite a lot before sending it in).
I see Iceland bouncing back after their Finland loss, but I’m hoping they end in a draw. Either way, a draw or Iceland win would be good for us.
@danny someone had to finish second over there asensio and Isco were just too much
Looking at the table this is a must win game for turkey
we beat them we are 8 clear of them so impossible to catch us and they’d need help to even finish 2nd
Its sad much of the diaspora responds to doses of reason and withdrawl of hallucination with claims of trolling. So is the addict
Say what you want, but i gave you the list of Croatian goals this cycle…. Is anyone impressed?
2 bozovic outside the box
1 kramaric knee in stolen by mandzukic
1 vida where am i header
1 great play by kalanic
1 penalty kick
For a team with promise against this level of competition it should read like this
6 goals off penetration and crosses back to the middle
2 goals outside the box
3 goals off sets/corners
2 goals miscellaneous
The main thing missing from Croatia, is they are not creating those goals off penetration and bending of the defense
Don’t worry boys. We will prevail. Much to the disgust of the troĺls. Trust me!
We had the hiccups but we are in a good spot
Sure I would love to smash Kosovo but all good
On to turkey
Like poglavnik defense wins championships in most cases
heck Italy just got smoked by Spain. Guarantee they aren’t over there in full panic mode
^ ^
That would be pretty awesome actually.
what if these two trolls are the same person…..and he has some major personality disorder and he’s actually talking to him self……anyone seen the movie split?
Well it seems many here think Croatia is a first tier European team but they have just never showed anything to suggest they are on the level with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, uk etc
@The truth
“Well another game showing Croatia is a second tier European team.”
Second tier European team on top in their group, you should be happy idiot! I don’t see anyone claiming to be impressed by our offense. Do you expect more from a second tier European teams offense? You do!
“Clearly you must have a heavy dose of Neanderthal.”
@ soul champ
big fan of Rog…..
but once again he’s stuck on the pine…..kovacic situation all over again
I thought kovacic was missing vs Kosovo wasn’t his usually busy bee self
so soul champ I hear kovacic and and modric are locked in for you…..whos your 3rd starter?
I actually really liked our goal. Look at the space that gets created underneath. Great little pick near the spot. 2 of our players had perfect looks at that ball.
How about France’s last 90 minutes? They almost lost on a late shot of the post too. It happens to everyone.
I call BS on the last 180 minutes.
Burnt out on CL by June, plus no Pjaca or Vrsaljko and Iceland are tough at home.
Kosovo deluge was a farce.
Pitch today was lumpy and slow.
Turkey sucks and will get the beat down they have coming.
If Čačić has half a brain he’ll plug in some fresh legs.
@ Idemo
Kovačić is the X factor for our midfield.
Modrić is the best midfielder on the planet.
Rakitic does not offer enough contrast to Modrić and is slowing down considerably … although I like him to start and come off when he tires.
France has the most talent in the world at present and they have a good coach in Deshamps.
So yes Frances’s midfielders benefit from Grezman infront wreaking havoc in the attacking third, stretching the game and creating space for midfield movement.
Maybe Kovačić can become that true #10 and provide that explosive attack in the final third ?
Then you can put your cousin Badelj in or my main man Marko “Robo” Rog.
Defending is what wins you tournaments. Portugal ’16, Greece ’04, even France in ’98 and Brazil in ’94 all won tourneys with shit offence. It’s not like we don’t have the players to create it. The beast just needs to be awoken! Pretty sure I prefer this team just the way it is right now. A little uncertain, divided fans, mixed expectations, it keeps the team on their toes which is how they should be.
Hvala dragom bogu vida je nas.3 points is 3. Like i said 2 weeks ago we gonna be ok. Sleep well boys. We gonna beat Turkey too. You watch.
Scraping past a shit low team with only 1 goal.
Vs turkey i expect a loss or draw.
The pattern is well established – this team is shit and embarasing!
thank heavens we won
Can we really claim to be impressed by this offense? Let’s recap
Turkey: penalty kick goal
Kosovo 1: irrelevant. It’s Kosovo
Finland:. 1 goal, nothing else created vs a terrible team
Iceland:. 2 outside the box strikes by bozobic. If that’s what you count on for goals, good luck
Ukraine:. 1 goal by a good play from kalinic. Practically the only opportunity of the match and it was converted
Iceland 2: 0 goals. Nothing created
Kosovo 2: 1 goal off some luck. Nothing created
This is not a good trend
I didn’t know that pog…..pretty good I must say
Oh boo hoo! How about top of the group with only 2 goals conceded. Quit your whinging people and stay on board. It’s a fucking World Cup year!
@truth
“One goal in 180 minutes against Iceland and Kosovo is embarrassing… The team is doomed with mandzukic as lead striker”
I agree. We can come up with the excuse of we always play bad before summer and yesterday was an awkward situation but still we got a striker on juventus, milan, hoffenheim, etc. I feel like the team wastes attacking opportunities trying to cross the ball to mandzukic.
The truth is a failed man. Lost to a real one….a Croat.
HAha anonymous. Well said. Funny stuff.
F off truth troll. Shouldn’t you be doin your 3rd grade homework or playing Xbox (running your simulations) or something?
Thank god Mandzukic isn’t our lead striker….Kalinic wasn’t even supposed to play today
Well another game showing Croatia is a second tier European team.
One goal in 180 minutes against Iceland and Kosovo is embarrassing. And then one goal was a lucky backwards header from vida who barely knew where he was. Fortunately for a guy who spends a lot of time intoxicated, he knew how to handle himself in such a situation
The team is doomed with mandzukic as lead striker
fml woke up and opened up soccerway to check wut games r on today and i saw 1-0 croatia vs. kosovo, shit i thought the game was gonna be replayed in a few weeks. Anyone got a link to the full match
and while they did bunker. Frightening our best midfield in the Europe couldn’t break through (does France have a better mid?)
All Brazilian defenders are failed forwards I don’t believe perisic is a failed forward
While pivaric did have a few poor moments today he also had a few good ones, I’d rate his performance over a few no show attacking players. Albeit he would get torn up by a proper winger. But shit so would barasic and strinic
For 352 I don’t believe we have 3 solid cbs
Most of you here dispise Lovren and you can’t tell me your planning to play mitrovic/jedvaj with vida and Charlie at the World Cup in less than a years time
Keeping our current formation with perisic at LWB
would surely mean keep mandza left pjaca right (man how much I want this guy to pan out really could be our asensio)
And a middle of raka modric kovacic?
My unpopular opinion of having Badelj start still stands, if any of you watch Man U this season whenever fellaini comes in it pushes pogba forward and gives him freedom instead of being aligned with matic …..I believe Badelj does this for Modric.
As evident today kovacic should not be that deep.
So brozo on the bench or are some of you putting him on the right?
Just woke up and saw the game had been played sounded like crap but honestly what did we expect playing a game In a situation like this
I think our goals diff is ok. Maybe Ukraine can get a few but Kosovo will not be push overs It’s not like they can’t get a point from one of them they ain’t Malta they have something to prove
We just have to do our thing and win
And if u ask say 20 year old modric/mandzukic/perisic….. to get up and kill a minnow they would play hungry
Hard to get up fir these games when u have played in the champions leagues finals and all that Still though professionals are professionals
Like I said i haven’t watched the game so can’t really comment on the play. But we won we prepare for turkey
I think turkey knows they are pretty well done but they will play us hard none the less
Glad to see vida score like someone said if anyone was gonna score against Portugal it was him
And at least finally cacic uses his subs. U know he wouldn’t if he didn’t read online comments lol
And doesn’t someone In Croatia have an uncle who can improve that drainage lol
Let’s start a fund for it lol
Does anyone by chance have a link to a replay of the game? I realize it’s unlikely.
@ BZ
I’ll sign up for 3-5-2 with Perišić and Vrsaljko at WB’s.
Lovren-Corluka-Vida at CB’s
Modrić – Kovačić – Rakitic dominating the middle
Pjaca – Kalinic up top
@ Svima
1st place with 3 games to go!
Vida was due for header … he attacks each free kick like he is going to score.
Iceland v Ukraine will determine who is second ?
Need fresh legs in Instanbul.
Good news is this time of year most of the boys are not run down.
Rog
Pasalic
Čop
All need to activated.
You want to win your group this what it takes.
We all would have signed up for this rain out scenario with Iceland losing to Finland.
U boj …
Ukrajina plays Iceland I’m Iceland on Tuesday.
Would be awesome if those two drew and lost points to one another.
If this happens and we beat Turkey, we’d just have to beat Finland to clinch.
Given the situation, a win is a win. Vida almost saved us vs Portugal, and his hard work was rewarded today.
Saying it again, we will not go far in WC with Pivaric et al playing LB. we win it with Perisic at LB. Real Madrid moved Marcelo from LW back to LB, do u think they regret it as they search for 3 UCL championships in a row?
wasnt pretty but most important thing is the 3 points, especially with iceland losing yesterday. Todays part of the game had a “friendly” like feel to it. Lucky Vida put his beer down and said let me have a go at this. On the whole debacle of Maksimir, its sad that countries like Malta, Cyprus, Albania, and so on have much better stadiums than we do. All the tournaments we have qualified for and made millions, and thats the product of a field we have to show for it. Disgraceful. I have a friend from Albania, and he says they and the rest of europe are laughing at us after this weekends disaster. You go from first class everything with teams like Inter, Real Madrid, Barca, Juve, to this crap. Then we wonder why the players at times look like they have no desire.
My concern is should score more..goal difference may matter in the end..ukraine iceland still have not played kosovo..if they thrash kosovo, then this grp will be interesting
Given the pitch conditions and delay I’m happy to get out with three points and no injuries. Obviously, we should win more decisively against that team.
Not a good game, but due the circumstances that was to expect.
Weird game but… a happy ending.
Just glad we got the 3 points. On to the next one.
Great foul pivaric
The balls in have been way too high….crossing has been trash
his second career NT goal lol
Any notice how solid Lovren has been? He’s won 2-3 1v1s for us. Limited opportunities for Kosovo, but he’s sniffed out a few.
Funny with all that firepower on the field Vida is the one to score.
Now they attack and we should bang in 5
Phew… goal
YESSSSSS GOALLLLL
GOAL VIDA
All subs by 70th min…..what will the excuse be today fellas
Oh wow now Kalinic is in and Brozo out. Way more offense now
I found a Facebook link after doing a search there.
Kramaric misses a sitting from 5 yards
We score just one it will finish 5-0
any other links, the ones suggested are not working… thanks!
Looks like Cacic has been reading here
Perisic with a great beat coming left from the right….inches away…robben type ….actually touched the post a bit
Mr.black
Can you suggest another window for the game to be played? I agree we were supposed to bE traveling right now but there is literally no other option
I just hope Cacic doesn’t wait until the 89th minute if things are still scoreless after 65 min.
Pivaric (PS) Looks like crap. The pitch looks like crap. The passing looks like crap and hopefully they pick it up in the second half.
Thanks for the link, Zach.
It’s a disgrace that Croatia is forced to play today when they have to play Tuesday again. If we were Germany or Italy or England, this would not have happened.
Also, Croatia already lost 22 minutes in conditions where football wasn’t possible. Kosovo only needs to avoid a goal for 70 minutes.
For those watching, how does the pitch look?
Hoping we can find a goal or two in the second half. Not getting maximum points from this game would be brutal.
http://cdn.livetvcdn.net/webplayer.php?t=ifr&c=763332&lang=en&eid=556227&lid=763332&ci=1250&si=1
this has been working for me more or less
Stream link? Above doesn’t work
Modric and kovacic playing very deep
Does Charlie start at WC?
Perisic misses a sitter 3 mins in (24 mins ) lol
Is mandza our best striker?
http://www.jagledam.co/HRT-2-uzivo-stream
Stream 3 works for me but very stuttery – anyone got anything better?
any one have a link?
I think someone on the previous post someone said this is our best like up,
I think a healthy pjaca can be our Asensio type
And pivaric ?
I figured that would try to get it in today. Not surprised. Hopefully the pitch is a bit better.
Hi – can anyone suggest a stream for the Croatia Kosovo game, starting at 2.30pm?