In a shock move Monday, the HNS announced that Ivan Rakitić has played his last game for the Vatreni. It’s still unknown what his main motivation for the move is but Raketa will address the pubic in the upcoming weeks regarding his decision. Both Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić sat out Croatia’s two UEFA Nations League matches versus Portugal and France this month, but the initial report said it was due to normal rest and fans should not be concerned.
Both Croatian veterans said earlier in 2020 that they would stick around for Euro 2021 next summer. Now it looks as if only Luka Modrić will honor that as the Croatian captain will be part of the squad for next month’s matches versus Switzerland, Sweden, and France.
“Saying goodbye to the Croatian national team is the most difficult decision in my career, but I felt that this was the moment when I had to break and make that decision. I enjoyed every game I played for my homeland, and unforgettable moments from the World Cup will remain among my favorites,” Rakitić said.
Rakitić is Croatia’s fourth most capped player in history – playing in 106 matches – only behind Srna, Modrić, and Pletikosa. Rakitić is tied as the ninth leading scorer in Vatreni history with 15 goals. However, Raketa is the only player in World Cup history to score two clinching penalty kick shootout goals when he did it in back-to-back games against Denmark and Russia in 2018. A Croatian legend.
BZ, that’s not completely accurate about older players.
A Spaniard, especially in the NT, will get preferential treatment in a Spanish club. Same with Italian, English, etc. That’s why these leagues have diminished in quality.
People speak about racism and respect….evo ti kurac.
Maminjo-YESSS, but it seems European soccer clubs shame and pressure their elderly players to retire or take pay cuts elsewhere.
Swallow the pride, warm that bench, and beatdown the countries of the players playing in front of you.
Uh oh…
Raketa went all in on Sevilla. Took a pay cut from his Barca contract… retired from the Cro national team to focus more on Sevilla…
Watch him end up on the bench by the end of the season.
He should’ve just chilled on the bench at Barca, collected that cheque, and focused on the Euros and World Cup for us.
He can always be a bench warmer at Sevilla next season.
😉
Rakitic was subbed off after half time against Bayern today. I get the feeling that he will be treated like he was at Barca again. The set pieces from other Seville players were horrible.
By the way what’s the percentage rate for a guy making penalty kicks I’m sure it’s pretty high.
Joe Simunic je legenda always played 110%.
Rakitic played for croatia but once he reached barca he half assed it look at the qualyfyers for proof.
Modric je ikona za Raketu. The man still trying to prove himeslf in Real and is looking to captain Croatia to 2022 it looks like. Just like ronaldo for portugal same age as modric.
Listen some of you lay off the Soy
Products it’s showing
And yet Super Joe did what a real
Hrvat would do by sending the Mujo Serb
Into the dirt. ZDS Legenda!
Rakitić would never unless his
Wife let him. Adios Amigo!
Super Joe is not a legend, lol.
He’s a diaspora favorite, sure… But he was average at best on the field. Made lots of blunders, that’s for sure. There’s a reason why he could never progress from Hertha Berlin.
Suba is 100% correct Rakitić could have done far more if his heart was truly in it playing for us.
A few PK’s does not make a hero.
Jesus suba so dumb. Rakitic will be remembered for his his legendary PKs in WC 2018
Just saying Suba you are an idiot.
Unfortunately the haters out there are right
Rakitic will be remembered for that miss against Spain at 2012
That’s what helped him to progress his career in Spain
Think what you like but hey just saying
Rakitic in his first spell at Sevilla was awesome, no Croatian player I enjoyed watching more at that time.
Super Joe and Luka are Legends.
Rakitić? Not so much…..little Fanook
Type
I passed Pizzaland the other week.
Heading towards the Bellville turnpike
Rakitic is a legend. plain and simple.
I will make you happy stipe only because I loved the sopranos my favorite jersey family and you make a valid point.
@Stipe
It’s still raining in my ears.
You head in down not at the goalie.
Rakitić has been flakey since the WC.
He was a good player but not Legenda
Status and his love affair with Spain was
Annoying……Adios Amigo
Thats the problem from 2004 do 2018. We have had some stubborn coaches expect Bilic he did his 2 euros well.
Euro 2004 Kranjcar Srna Babic Klasnic Bench
Two months later starting 11 under Cico
Then 2006 wc comes modric bench carli eduardo no call ups 2 months later those 3 shine under bilic
2014 Niko kovac the worst tournamnent in croatia history in terms of talent wasted which we saw 4 years later when you push right buttons happens
Now come 2021 2022 world cup need to rebuild and not be afraid to lose with youth id rather lose 4 0 with some under 21s then nobodys in late 20s early 30s.
@Miki
In 2004 we had decent players. We just had an old stubborn coach in Otto Baric who never trusted his young players at all.
Ironically, he relied on the young players like Srna to get us through qualifying…then proceeded to start veterans like Dario Simic and Boris Zivkovic on the flanks during the tournament.
He even called up Giovanni Rosso, Nenad Bjelica and Tomo Sokota as late additions to the squad and played them all three games (with guys like Ivan Klasnic, Marko Babic on the bench, and Kranjcar not even called up).
I’m not a fan of Krancjar or Babic, but they were playing well in 2004 for Dinamo and Bayer Leverkusen.
Butina Simic/Zivkovic Tudor R.Kovac Simunic N Kovac Mornar Bjelica /Rapaic Rosso Prso Sokota/Olic remember that team we cant be worse than that 2022 2021 2024
Rakitić did it on purpose.
Whether it was subconscious or not…he really didn’t want to beat Spain.
Same as when at Euro2016 he hit both the woodwork and post on the same shot. He did that on purpose. 🙂
@Stipe 2
I’ve been on the website forever. I don’t post shit all the time. But I’ve had my battles and I’ve earned my spot.
@Elviss @Maminjo @Anonymous @Slavonac – they can Vouch for me. I’m Stipe, Jersey City, New Jersey.
I’ve agreed and argued with each and everyone of youse. We might not always agree but I do respect your opinions.
Stipe, I’m not crazy for asking you to put a number next to your name. Don’t make this shit confusing ya know? I got strong opinions man. I don’t want any backlash on you for what I say and vice versa.
@Elviss
Your previous post about when the news of Rakitic retiring hit. You said something to the effect of “ Raketa’s awesome header against Spain” something like that. Dude that had my dying. Modrić’s PERFECT OUTSIDE THE BOOT PASS lands on Raketa’s head – straight to the goalie. Looking back now, Rakitić reaction was priceless
Eff you I AM the original STIPE!
Who the fuck is the other Stipe making comments? Change your name or switch it up. Better be quick
Despite Pjaca’s trait to over dribble which I hate, I really would like to see him get back to pre Juve form and back on the national team. However, I get it, he just moved clubs, seems to be finally healthy, let him get acclimated in Genoa and bring him back if he continues to play well there. No need to call him up and sit him on the bench.
Like someone else alluded to previously, Orsic has been producing for Dinamo for quite some time; a little surprised that guys in their late 20s and no national team caps get the nod over him; Colak and Budimir. I get that Budimir is a bit underrated and has been scoring. Also, Colak scored a lot but he just moved clubs and there’s no guarantee that he will get the playing time at POAK or produce equally well. That said, they’re both CF while Orsic is more of a winger. Also, I’m a couch coach while Dalic is a pro.
Decent depth problems, I wish it was the same at RB for us. Maybe Perisic can transition to RB or RWB as he gets older if Vrsaljko can’t get healthy or back to form. I’m curious to see how he fits with Inter this year or whether he even stays there. I heard there is a chance he might play LWB or RWB.
You forgot to mention Mario Gavranovic played for Switzerland and not Croatia not a big talent we saw him play at Dinamo Zagreb.
Surprised to see Pjaca not even on reserve list. He’ll be drifting across the top line for Genoa all season. If healthy, He may help bolster our Striker corps. Let’s hope.
Budimir
Melnjak oh boy
Rog
Yea, Livaković doesn’t have a commanding presence and he’s not vocal.
He’s hesitant to leave his box, although he has good reflexes.
He’s hit or miss for me.
We always seem to default to whoever is Hajduk or Dinamo’s keepers are. We had Grbić at Lokomotiva get recognized by Atlético Madrid, yet never receive a senior callup.
I don’t watch enough HNL matches, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of those other teams had a solid keeper that is simply being ignored because he’s not on the two biggest teams.
@Maminjo
always a fear… ive seen it on this site before but Livakovic has that deer in headlights look.. he doesnt exude confidence. now he is a really good keeper but just that image he puts off as not confident makes me afraid of how he will handle pressure at a bigger club.. idk if there is anything to it but just how i feel.
Miloš Hvar
Imagine he gets benched after making a few early gaffes?
Ends up like Lovre Kalinić?
Would be scary, considering the Euros are not far off… But I guess we have to see what Livaković is made of (since he’s kind of sheltered in the HNL).
Hvala Ivane- you brought so many great memories – penalty shots in the World Cup- he showed up most of the time and it’s time to see the nova and what they have or don’t have
Ivane- go out with your head up – you did what many of the checkers have done before you – played hard and respectful to your country- you can’t ask for more
Livakovic close to a transfer to Rennes to replace Mendy
It must be nice to be part of the white upper middle class who grew up in nice suburbs and whose parents shielded them
From the joys of urban living. Listen very carefully Croatian lives matter nobody is our fucking Burden. We are part of the great white ethnic demographic in America and we don’t owe anyone anything everything we have we worked for and we never own slaves or sold them as a matter of fact at one point we were the slaves so fuck you all you liberal douche bags and your self hating bullshit. Za Dom Spremni.
LOL
Watched the NBA playoff game and tried to sleep but there was a mosquito in the room which I finally swatted.
Then you wake up tired, go to this site looking for interesting sports articles,thoughts or banter but you wake up to the anonymous mosquito with his political racist garbage which no one cares about.
Mosquitos sure are annoying.. I really don’t see what purpose they serve?
“There is, officially, no group of people who are Americans.”
Who stole Mexican land then, white privilege?
Something about Switzerland that ties into what I said about the words “patriotism” and “melting pot” being like oil and water.
The land that is today called Switzerland was founded by fiercely independent Germanic tribes living in the Alps who banded together to prevent the Hapsburg Empire from uniting them with “mankind”. And they thoroughly thrashed the big bad Hapsburg Empire. The U.S. was essentially supposed to be a giant version of Switzerland: White, Independent/Neutral, with a citizenry armed to the teeth.
Unfortunately, Switzerland, like the rest Europe always does, copied the U.S. and adopted “multiculturalism”.
@ARMADA
Yea, I remember WC2002 and how we trotted out the corpse of Suker and Prosinecki.
However, that is much more different than playing Modric or Rakitic deep into their 30s.
Raketa is still playing high level football on Sevilla in the best league in the world.
Modric still starts for Real Madrid.
Lovren (as much as I want to move on from him) is still playing first team football in the best team in Russia.
This is much different than back in 2002, when Suker joined a second division German club just to get into shape for the World Cup (after not playing first team football in years).
Prosinecki was also leaving his mediocre EPL club to join the Slovenian League.
Even Jarni and Boksic (who were useful in that tournament) were playing on second division clubs and retired shortly after.
Our vets are older, but are still starting and playing on very good clubs. Sucks that Rakitic left, as he would have given us some quality depth (even if we go with Vlasic as the starter).
But what matters most is that we do not stick with our vets simply out of loyatly despite any weak performances at club level.
I grew up in a neighborhood and went to a small catholic school that was predominantly 1st generation Croatians and Italians. I remember when I was a kid the year Italy lost to Brazil in the WC Finals in the U.S. my two Italian friends arguing over who’d they root for if the U.S. played Italy.
I also remember a few years after 9/11 a New York Fireman who also worked part time in my office and who is an Irishman I believe at least 2nd generation american told me out loud in the office he’d be rooting for Serbia over the U.S. in the Olympic Basketball Gold Medal game. And we all know why.
Rakitic had some good moments with us, especially at the last world cup with those key penalty kicks. He was calm at the right times and had a sure foot when it was needed. He played well at the start of his international career and looked promising, but seemed to lag for a long time. He messed up that clearance against Turkey, can’t remember the year, although he had played well in that tournament. The problem with our players going to big teams is that they have to adjust their games and play second fiddle to the superstars. Who would Rakitic have been had he not gone to Barcelona?
It’s still unknown what his main motivation for the move is but Raketa will address the pubic in the upcoming weeks regarding his decision
What’s wrong with his pubes??
😉
I thank Ivan for his service and the memories he provided us. I know prior to 2018 his NT service was spotty, but he became a legend for us in that summer in Russia. Svaka cast, Ivane!
Present day, I think this is a blessing in disguise. Even if he would stuck around for the Euro’s, he would of retired immediately after. This now gives guys like Vlasic and Kovacic more time to play with the starters and build that chemistry more with Modric prior to the summer.
I know it was a different era, different scenario but I distinctly remember watching the 2002 WC and us trotting out our horses from 1998 and just being completely flat. Suker, Zuti, Boksic, Jarni and Soldo had nothing left in the tank. We should of handed the reigns to the younger guys, pre 2002 and I bet you we at least get out of that group.
I was worried that would happen this summer with guys like Rakitic, Modric, Lovren, Vida, etc. but I like how Dalic is including younger guys in the XI, trying out new players, etc.
I think the big change will be post Euro once Modric hangs them up. So much of what we do depends on him and his magic. He’s as world class as it gets for us. I just wonder if we still remaining a midfield dominant/keep possession type team or we start to morph into a stronger defensive team or potentially some of our FW’s really blossom and we become even more offensive minded. Will be cool to see how these young guys change the look of the repka!
Milos Hvar said “There’s a lot of us American diaspora that would put on the checkers. When my non croat friends ask me who I would support in a Croatia vs USA match they get offended when i say Croatia. I just have to respond that I dont expect them to understand.”
I understand, it’s a gut feeling. But instead of responding “I don’t expect you to understand”, which isn’t a response/a defense of your position at all. If you have a little moral courage you will tell them:
There is, officially, no group of people who are Americans. The words “patriotism” and “melting pot” are like oil and water.
For OURSELVES and OUR posterity is the opposite of melting pot.
Shout out to Slovenia for their historical domination of the Tour De France. Roglic/ Pogacar. pretty impressive. Sorry for Roglic’s lost, but at least it was at the hands of a fellow country men. Cruise boats seem to know where Dubrovnik wall is now.” Call it is paradise kiss it good bye.” Don Henley.
May Slovenia remain an obscure mystery to the masses, and the favorite question from their tongues be, where is it?
euro 2021 Knowing Dalic he aint chaninging much
His 11
Livakovic Vrsaljko Lovren Vida Barisic Modric Brozovic Vlasic Rebic Petkovic Perisic.
Id go Livakovic Vrsaljko Lovren Pongracic Bradaric Modric Broz Brekalo Vlasic Perisic Petkovic
So we come to wc 2022 and a possible lineup
Livakovic/Grbic- Vrsaljko Pongracic Caleta Car Barisic Broz Kovacic Vlasic Brekalo Rebic Petkovic.
Goalkeepers Posavec Kotarski Sluga Nevistic Pandur
Defense.
Sosa Gvardiol Sutalo Katic Benkovic Peric Juranovic Karacic all be contention for 23 spots even 11
Midfield Majer ivanusec Moro basic najesmic rog krovinovic lepenjica sunjic Bistrovic
ATTACK
Marin Vizinger Colak Brekalo Vlasic
We will never have a new modeic for now we have to live with that
@Londonac
Yes, you’re right. The pressure is increasing for players to play for their countries of birth.
However, the new rule which allows players to switch after sitting out for three years is a good rule to protect them in case they were pressured and capped at a young age strictly to prevent them from playing for another country.
But to be honest…I can’t think of any Croats from the countries you listed that would not have played for Croatia.
Diaspora Croats who opted to play for the countries they grew up in like Gavranovic or Drmic would have played for Cro but were not good enough.
Today you have young guys in these countries like Marin Pongracic flat out saying how there’s no chance they wouldn’t play for Croatia (and he’s born, raised and currently plays in Germany). Even that Austrian Croat kid from our junior squad (Luka Sučić) already committed to Cro. The crappy dijaspora ones play for Austria…but would probably switch too.
Ibrahimovic and Pulisic are the only good players who stuck to their teams, but they are only half Croats and never had citizenship, and do not even speak the language.
@Londonac and Bilo
RE: The Swiss Albanians…
ALL of those guys wanted to play for Kosovo. All of them.
They were screwed out of it when FIFA ruled them all ineligible at the last minute.
After Kosovo’s Football Federation was recognized by UEFA…UEFA immediately put out a notice stating that all players who are of Kosovar descent (and have NOT already played in a UEFA or FIFA sanctioned tournament) can play for Kosovo.
This was a last minute change they made to protect Switzerland.
All those guys like Adnan Januzaj and Xerdan Shaqiri were going to switch, but they were called up and took part in the 2014 World Cup (or at least were a part of the squad).
Had they known that accepting a callup to the World Cup would have prevented them from representing Kosovo, I’m sure most of them would reject the World Cup.
I think the Kosovo Football Federation was simply happy to have been recognized and didn’t put up a stink. UEFA did them a favor by recognizing a non-UN recognized state (which they never did before) and in exchange, they protect Switzerland from losing half their team.
But make no mistake…diaspora Kosovars would have definitely switched.
LIke I said a year ago, it was a time for the turning of the guard in the midfield for vlasic to supplant rakitic… vlasic did it, and rakitic departure ends the conversation for good
at the end of the day, props to rakitics for picking croatia but in the end you can tell the difference between the swiss born rakitic and the kid from the war torn selo in modric
rakitic was brought up with some of that old school disapora fervor, but it faded as it he was introduced to the rest of the world and became cosmopolitan
croatia in the end was more hobby, and passion of nostalgia…than his essence
his heart has long been drifitng toward club and spain, particuarly sevilla…
he had long came up with injuries in front of croatia qualifiers only to heal for the next barca la liga game which showed how this would play out.
and at the end of the day, when he looked at continiuing to contribute to croatia possibly off the bench or to hang it up and hang in spain…he chose the leisurely life of spain
nothing wrong with it. next time i see rakitic again i’ll shake his hand and thank him for his service again
but playing for the repka became more chore than passion.
unlike modric… rakitic has the geni kameni, but not the vatra gori u meni
I would generally be described as an American patriot.
I have a hard time rooting for USA athletics in any sport, vs any opponent.
I see American sports as part of the degradation of society, and a key ingredient in the demise of focus on the sciences and education for young American males. (Same holds true for other sport loving countries.)
Idolizing a media hyped athlete who would otherwise be robbing you at gunpoint is embarassing. Don’t let your children do it. Let them aspire to athletic greatness, but balance that with academic greatness, and a Croatian-like enjoyment of family, friends, and life.
ps-Rakitic retired waaaay to early. You only live once, and if you are afforded the opportunity to play ANYTHING ANYWHERE, you do so, until you are no longer effective. When Rakitic is 42 he is going to wish he could get that call up.
32 is the new 28.
@london
So now we are comparing kosovo
And Šiptari to Croatia??
Those guys chose to play for Switzerland because it’s A bigger shithole than Croatia (politically/structurally)
@Maminjo
That depends where the diaspora come from. Maybe not in the US, Canada or Aus but the kids growing up in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK, Ireland, Sweden will have similar development systems as in Croatia if they’re good enough. The pressure on them to play for the countries they grow up in is getting bigger every year.
Look at the Swiss team – half of them are Kosovars or Albanians. They’re not any less patriotic than us as a nation but there’s a reason they were persuaded to play for the Swiss.
Usa Diaspora first wont play for croatia because here in croatia you start playing football at age 5 plus nobody goes to college and by age of 14 you are bought by clubs.
Pulisic is american he has no heart to play for croatia also think Brekalo is just as good a Pulisic is.
Im looking foward to a rebuild croatia 2000 ther was a rebuild till 2008 from 2008 to 2018 sam core player held spots for us now its time for another rebuild
There’s a lot of us American diaspora that would put on the checkers. When my non croat friends ask me who I would support in a Croatia vs USA match they get offended when i say Croatia. I just have to respond that I dont expect them to understand.
The thing about Pulisic is that his Croatian heritage was very distant to him. The guy cant even respond to “kako si” and he has been living in Europe for years now and playing with Croatians. So we shouldnt have expected him to play for Croatia nor should we judge the rest of the diaspora in the US to him.
Pride for the homeland is very strong here. There’s a reason why the HNS is committed to having events here.
Patriotism for the mother land will get watered down from generation to generation unfortunately.
Will your grandkids give a flying fart about Croatia in 40 years?
What pressure who lets a bunch of Swiss cheese pressure them?
American diaspora will never play for us like pulisic.
Americans have been brain washed into thinking they are the best at everything,even if they don’t make it to the big show.
I still laugh at how the women’s World Cup was plastered everywhere but the men’s barely got a sniff due to the men not qualifying.
@Londonac
Most diaspora would choose to play for Croatia.
The problem is that when compared to Croats from Croatia, the diaspora generally suck at football.
I’m, sure guys like Ante Razov, Nick Dasovic or most of those Aussie Croats would choose Croatia…but you can’t compete with Croatia’s development system.
Rakitic should have retired at next World Cup. Otherwise good career still had at least 2 good playing years with the national team to lead the next generation could have become captain.
Raketa sve najbolje.
Now that hes gone ans assume modric leaves after euros we have no midfield for 2022 katar. Dalic is so conservative with his selections and building a team. Toma Basic deserves a call up Krovinovic deserves a try. Once the under 21 dont go to next summer euro. Sosa Sutalo Gvardiol Moro Majer Ivanusec Bistrovic Vizinger should get trys.
We should see last of meljnak skoric.
Next summer Livakovic Vrsaljko Lovren Vida Barisic Modric Brozovic Vlasic Rebic Petkovic Perisic. The conservative approach which Dalic will take.
For me Raketa was the last of our golden diaspora generation. The pressure and hate he went through in Switzerland after he followed his heart and chose to play for Croatia was immense – we must never forget that.
Joe Simunic, the Kovac brothers, Ivan Klasnic, Mladen Petric and now Raketa all grew up abroad but chose to play for Croatia. How many young kids in the diaspora would make that same choice today?
Hvala Ivan.
I prefer to remember Rakitic for everything that he is and not what he was not.
Farca is full of shit.
Half the squad was sub standard and they took a crap on the Croat.
Rakitic was world class.
He proved it 2018.
He chooses Switzerland and they make deep runs into major tournaments with a superior Coach in Petković and an organized national set up.
His heart is with Sevilla as his home now.
He means to bring his leadership for Sevilla.
Farca has dishonored him and he wants to set the La Liga record straight.
Kralj Luka is ready to lead this next generation of nogometaši to the promise land again.
No matter how you slice it, Rakitic and Modrić occupy the same space on the pitch. They both have run their legs into the ground for their clubs.
Only one could be properly supported going forward and that ONE has to be the Croatian King from Zadar!!
Whilst it may be end of an era I am sure looking forward to the next one with our new look midfielders banging in goals
Giddy up
He was solid during the World Cup run and will be remembered for that. Best wishes.
Thak you to Ivan’s gastarbeiter parents for raising him right.
Let’s not forget to thank Basel, Schalke, Sevilla and Barcelona for Ivan Rakitic, without them he doesn’t become the player he was for Croatia.
Thank you Ivan for your committment to the Croatian national team.