Andrej Kramarić scored a fine goal Saturday as his Hoffenheim side drew Herth Berlin 3-3. With his own goalie launching the ball his own half of the field, Kramarić chased down the ball, beat his defender and slammed home for the goal. After that amazing dance against England last week which gave Croatia the early lead at Wembley – it’s safe to say – Kramarić is hot!
Kramarić Goal 1:10
Ante Rebić got on the scoresheet for Eintracht Frankfurt Saturday with a simple tap-in goal in a 3-1 victory over Augsburg. With the win, Frankfurt sit in third place in the German Bundesliga. Rebić was a hot commodity in the summer following the World Cup. If he keeps scoring goals, will the big boys in Europe come after him more seriously next transfer window?
Luka Modrić and Real Madrid lost their fifth La Liga match of the season Saturday – 3-0 to Eibar. The team has not seemed themselves since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and currently sit six points behind leaders Sevilla. Luckily for them, much of La Liga has been beating up on each other so they are still in range of making a push for first place this early in the season. It was rumored that Modrić may leave Real Madrid for Inter Milan in the summer. If this keeps up, he may have to pull the trigger sooner than later at age 32.
Milan Badelj was voted Man of the Match in Lazio’s 1-1 draw vs. AC Milan on Sunday. Badelj has been a bench player for Croatia since Marcelo Brozović took his spot at the World Cup in the defensive midfielder role.
^
We talking about the NT here not club level.
^^ obvious that bird face comment was not me
If Perisic played LB, we would have won the WC. When pressed. Count it. Strinic was still sucky, but played better than he ever did, but he certainly is not a winner at club level. So pretending Strinic plays winning soccer at the CL level like Mandzukic and Rebic, is dumb.
Lovren played great, but as you know, my issue with him was his demands to start and his weak passing out of the CB position.
Yeah yeah but I miss that bird faced guy.
Mario was great in that Euro match against
Ireland, He did score one of the greatest goals
Of our history and he will always be remembered for it.
However, we need to move on.
@BZ
The “Mandzukic detracters” thought Mandzukic sucked in Euro 2016 qualifying, and his actual performance in that tournament itself was poor, although for some reason you along with Slavonac from Canada thought he was great lol.
But good on Mandzukic, he had some good moments at the WC (the goal against England was great), but make no mistake, retirement from the NT is the right call from him.
Anyway, weren’t you the guy that wanted Perisic at LB, and like many others on this site never imagined that Lovren and Strinic could be a part of “winning soccer”? Lol, now you know what “winning soccer” looks like.
Kramaric is as good as Mandzukic at the same stage of their careers. He is getting better. The god of Brekalo is the future.
Mandzukic and Rebic are twice as good as Brekalo and Kramaric, and I like Brekalo and Kramaric.
Hopefully Mandzukic feels as though he has proven his point. He is good, and his detracters knew nothing about winning soccer.
Nice assist by Vlasic, but another kid to keep on eye on at CSKA is Bistrovic. The 20 year old is the starting defensive midfielder for the club, which is a strong team (currently 3rd in League play).
We haven’t produced too many DMs lately, so it’s nice to see one up and coming.
Krovinovic made his debut for Benfica, after a 10 month layoff due to ligament injury to his knee. He played the first 45min and did well, coach pulled him off at half time because he wanted to ease him back into playing full time.
He should be ready in time for the Euro Qualifications, and will be a nice playmaker to add to the side.
@ soul champ
You constantly advocate for young legs and then keep pushing for the return of a 34 year old mandzukic at euro 20 when most of us thought he was a shadow even 2 years ago?
self-explanatory, I can’t wait to see the french team in 30 years, might as well just play team cameroon, same thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56b_rmUHUg4
Great post @torontocroatia, never saw that one before.
Thanks for link, Toronto Croatia!
MARIO MANDZUKIC- 8. Capitano Mandzukic got off on the right foot in his first ever start captaining the side, scoring the second goal. He and Ronaldo have really formed a great partnership and understanding, with them playing off of each other superbly.
This dude has 2 more years at an elite level.
Not sure if anyone ever posted this but it’s a 20 min Modric documentary if interested.
https://youtu.be/H_0mUjfAGaM
^ ^
Ha! So basically he would’ve won the Golden Boot?
He scored one single goal in the tourney and it was put on a plate for him by Mandza.
Still not a Kramaric fan. Even that slick goal against England last week showed his selfishness.
He’s a nice complimentary forward but we need a better #9.
He’s no Suker, Boksic, Dudu, Mandzukic, Prso or Olic. He’s more on par with Klasnic for me but Klasnic was more likable.
Weirdly enough their scoring rates for the National Team are nearly identical.
Kramaric 12 in 42.
Klasnic 12 in 41.
Kramaric > Mandzukic
Kramaric would have scored at least 5-6 goals if he started every game at the world cup.
It’s all up to Mario. I am sure they would take
him back. However, what really happened with him?
I remembered many a time people were
Critical of him. Calling him invisible at times
Or a tap in guy.
Do we realize that MANdzukic is still 32 years old?
His game was never predicated on explosive speed.
You don’t lose power in your early 30’s.
He will be a young 34 by Euro 2020.
He has scored big goals in big matches every big club he has been at.
It’s not like he plays every minute for Juve.
In that second half Mandžukić scores on one of those chances and probably helps out on the set pieces.
Maybe he needed to skip UNL and will be back in March?
He can play minutes in every match and a make a difference.
I can understand if he doesn’t want lesser role.
If we get bronze and silver stars over the crest, can we add three participant ribbons,too? Just to make it a complete set!
Brekalo and Vlašić are guaranteed to be playing in the U21 European Championships.
That is without question.
Making the Olympics would be great. More worldwide exposure for our National team… And since we can add three senior squad members, I will pay good money to see Rebić get picked and maul a bunch of 20 year old kids trying to stop him from scoring, haha.
Kovacic with a shit performance. Pulled before the hour mark. In his defense he was a question mark to even make the trip.
mannnnnnnndzukic gol
Yugo scum never show in public.
as long as there is are no red stars, thats all that matters
I’m guessing it will be tough for the u 21 cause i would assume brekalo and vlasic and maybe caleta car will be permanent members of the senior squad no?
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/football-leaks-doping-tests-and-real-madrid-a-1240035.html
There’s a bit of a doping scandal with Ramos… RM are denying any rules broken…
Lol, Joe Simunic missed a WC for chanting an sacred battle cry, lol!
ZDS is not Ustashi, it is our sacred battle cry.
so 3 groups of 4, and u have to win or be best second place/
man that’s really difficult.
A real challenge there. If we can do it, would be sweet tho for sure. The Olympics is obviously not a big soccer deal but it would just be nice to showcase our lovely checkers to the world on that stage again 🙂
Speaking of ZDS what was the award Gotovina was presenting Lukita with i saw on Dnevnik news the other day??
Good to see. Although it is obviously way out of whack and perspective, to have Gotovina at the mic talking about how great Luka is, lol. Like, clearly, it should be the other way round, but anyway it’s nice.
There are 3 groups. Top team from each group qualify for the semi finals and the best runner up. A spot in the semis means a spot in the 2020 olympics
Or we have two stars above it. One silver and one bronze.
Anywayss the U21 draw was today/friday
Cro, England, France, Romania.
Itll be a tough one
hahha
@Maminjo – they’re going to put a bronze star, silver star then a question mark above it apparently.
^
Good call.
The current crest is nice.
I hope they don’t do something embarrassing like put a silver star above it (like how actual World Cup winners do with a gold star).
Don’t know why they would change the crest. It’s a solid logo and now has some good history tied to it.
It should have ZEUS on it, Za European Union Spremni, that’s a lot more suitable for the modern day liberal Croat.
ZDS is for Ustase, only they can say ZDS properly.
I heard it has the initials ZDS on it.
Hmm nah i didnt know that, hope it’s cool
Anyone else aware that HNS will be unveiling our new crest/badge next month?