Croatian defensive back Šime Vrsaljko played the first half of Atletico Madrid’s 3-0 Europa League Final victory over Marseille Wednesday night. He was taken off at halftime; already on a yellow and the game only at 1-0 in Atletico’s favor. Vrsaljko was sent off in the first leg of the semifinals vs. Arsenal for grabbing two yellows in the first 10 minutes of the match.
This is Atletico’s third Europa League title in the past nine seasons.
Vrsaljko has had a good season in La Liga this year and will be vital for Croatia at the World Cup. Marseille’s star player, Dimitri Payet, who also plays internationally for France, exited in the first half with a serious hamstring injury. There is a good chance Croatia could play France in the Round of 16 at the World Cup should they get out of group stage.
Apologies …
Thought I was signed in.
Not a fan of “anonymous” posts.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11390086/croatia-tired-of-underachieving-at-world-cup-says-vedran-corluka
The first step to recovery is admiring the issue.
Nigeria match is going to be on fire.
They will come out flying and we have to match the intensity and play our game.
We need to get into a whole new offensive gear.
The reason we keep on getting stuck in the World Cup pools is because we have been slow, methodical and predictable.
Let Modrić create as a true #10 and let everyone around run there asses off.
Compete with courage.
Also want to see some real intent this Sunday.
“This is Anfield!”
My bad, intended to say that they did not opt to attempt to sign him again (via another loan or permanent deal via transfer.)
The article I had read said both club (Schalke) and player (Pjaca) thought it better to not play him often because he has not fully recovered.
Juve has some decisions to make regarding his future.
^
Maminjo is correct, BZ is wrong.
@BZ
“Schalke did not pick up the option on him because they know he isn’t 100%, but an 80-90% Pjaca might be better than Brekalo.”
What do you mean by this comment?
There was no ‘option’ to pick up. Juventus made absolutely sure of this, and declined to include any option for Schalke beyond this season. It’s probably a reason why they didn’t play him too much either.
The truth says:
@ hannah
I’m probably the foremost expert on things Croatia on this site. I would offer to help but my time is valuable so I’m not sure you’d be able to afford my going rate
May 16, 2018 at 4:20 AM
The truth says:
Wow some of you guys are dumb
Hannah is not a real person
It’s some poster just trolling you guys and you swallow hook and sinker
May 16, 2018 at 5:35 PM
@The truth
Maybe you could ask your friend Ante K to come out and warn the people that post under other peoples usernames to stop there shit (that’s the reason I post under Anonymous)? Worse than trolling in my opinion, do you agree?
Which one of those above comments was yours, both spell truth with a small t, while the one that uses a capital T you call a fake?
Truth Troll just can’t stop his 4th grade self
Actually that was a fake poster. I have always said bustalo was one of the most promising prospects and on my to watch list
Analytically he rated very promising from his youth because of his successful take on and creation stats
Similar to haliloshit
Remember that back in January, two of my new year predictions would be haliloshit and bustalo would do enough to get the diaspora on this board clamoring for them on the team.
Looks like i was right again
Truth Troll still a childish troll
Truth is still a goof!
Bustalo is still Bustalo
Vlad- I have the same concerns about Pjaca and Corluka, but their upside is too much to forego. I understand Dalic on those choices.
Schalke did not pick up the option on him because they know he isn’t 100%, but an 80-90% Pjaca might be better than Brekalo. I don’t like pitting the two against eachother because they are two no-brainers (assuming Pjaca’s injury hasn’t regressed too much.) Not sure where Dalic’s head is at.
with the greatest formation ever 3-5-2
Vrsaljko is expected to be more effective in every match!
as a right side, He can join in the attack and make midfield even thicker with more momentum than usual (4-3-3). Halilovic will be fit in his replace with a good dribbling and running compare to Pjaca.
Remember LAknat prophecy
vs Nigeria:
the main focus is a referee that will apparently be unfair and support Nigeria with their diving act!
vs Argentine:
Interestingly, best performing ever!
vs Iceland:
Disappointing, mental midget history will repeat again!
@ BZ
I think pjaca is a good player and is a player that two years ago was the future of Croatian soccer.
1- I don’t like statistics to make arguements, even is pjaca scored two goals in fewer games doesn’t paint the whole picture. For one some of his playing time was kind of like a striker and second over all he had less defensive responsibilities. Brekalo played on a very weak team that played timid and scared most of the time as hey we’re batteling regulation, that’s tough on a young guy trying not to be a reason for losing. Also Wolfsburg center midfielders are aweful.
2- as you mentioned he had battled soreness and stiffness and in response to that he hasent played. Why will the World Cup be any different ? This is the main reason I wouldn’t call pjaca ! You play in the heat in competitive emotional games in short period of time ! You need fit players ready for 90 mins not 65?
Between corluka and pjaca we have two players batteling problem and not being able to finish games it is without a doubt a concern. I hope both players perform well and bring us wins as that is all I want but I’d be lying that corluka and pjaca aren’t a concern.
Touting Brekalo all year. He is electric, which is why I call him:
Electric Brekalo, the kid be breaking (ankles) too!
@Vlad-My argument for Pjaca over Electric Brekalo would go like this:
1)Goals per minute. Pjaca is still not fully recovered. Schalke took it easy on him, as he was complaining of soreness still. That said: An 80% Pjaca scored 2 goals in 260 bundesliga minutes this year, while Brekalo scored 4 in 1564 bundesliga minutes.
2)Brekalo’s 3 Wolfsburg goals came against the worst team(Koln), the 2nd worst team(Hamburger), and the 5th worst team in the Bundesliga(Mainz).
3) Today’s goal was against the 3rd best team in the 2nd division. Not exactly stellar competition.
Brekalo deserves a spot on our NT, but that would be ahead of guys like Santini, Pasalic, Rog etc, probably not Pjaca.
Here’s to hoping Pjaca got good rest, as Schalke did the right thing by keeping him on the bench (even though the coach wanted to play him more.)
In case you haven’t seen Brekalo’s goal
https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/wolfsburg-slavio-brekalo-zabio-pogledajte-bombu-mladog-hrvata—517535.html
What a strike!
Omitting brekalo was huge mistake honestly don’t understand how he couldn’t make the 32? Honestly for me he is 100 % in the top 23. We don’t need Padilla Rog, santini cop, etc etc I don’t even k ow how Someone can argue that pjaca is ahead of him honestly it baffles my mind when people say they would at this moment want pjaca over brekalo. Pjaca hasent played soccer for basically 2 years and somewhere in between he had to battle a serious knee injury. I hope he proves me wrong but I honestly doubt he will. I wonder had brekalo stayed at Dinamo longer and gave them a big transfer like pjaca did would things be different. If pjaca started today would he be able to go 90 mins?
It’s a shame that Brekalo didn’t at least get called up to the preliminary squad.
He led his team to victory on the final match day, keeping their hopes of remaining in top flight alive….And today… he scored the go-ahead game winning goal with a spectacular strike.
Right now, Brekalo is one of our most dangerous forward/wingers. (the others are Kramaric, Perisic, Mandzukic, and Rebic).
Guys like Cop, Rog, and Pasalic gettin’ the nod ahead of him…SHEESH!
Only thing that worries me about Sime is his aggressiveness. Don’t get me wrong, I love the tough tackling but he tends to get cards which is probably why he was subbed off at half time.
Brekalo was huge today. Still can’t believe that he didn’t even get an invite.
he he he he today I read vrsaljko to Manchester United he he he he he
Brekalo plays left and right wing at the professional level, but like most righties he prefers the LW. He can play both at a high level.
Is he not a left winger?
Other than the highlights I’ve only watched him in those
U17 WC matches from a few years ago.
Thought he was hands down our best player on that team.
@ Poglavnik
Brekalo is the goods and again fills a RW need for us.
@ Svima
Are you ready for Šime Vrsaljko to have world class cup for us at RB!
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/transfer-talk/79/post/3501303/transfer-rater-sime-vrsaljko-to-man-united-sokratis-and-evans-to-arsenal
Also Brekalo with a goal in a huge game for Wolfsburg.
His omission from the National Team bothers me most..