Croatia have only led for 46 minutes this entire World Cup and they will be playing in the semifinals against Argentina on Tuesday. Wrap your head around that statistic. It was only in the 2nd half against Canada in group stage that the Vatreni pulled away and kept a lead. Since then, it’s been hectic and chaotic 2nd halves and extra times, with both knockout round games going to penalties. They really couldn’t make it more stressful for us.
Are Zlatko Dalić and his boys bunkering? Absolutely not! Have they been on the front foot at the start of these matches? That’s debatable. However, one thing is certain, Croatia is proving they have the best midfield in the world, which is comprised of Modrić, Kovačić, Brozović, and Perišić. This midfield can control the game against the best teams on planet Earth (please see Brazil match) knowing they don’t have a killer #9 up top to take over the game in the box.
This 2022 Croatian team in Qatar and their midfield have been patient and resilient. They keep calm when they go down a goal, which has been in every match in which they have been scored on. But how is that any different than what happened in the 2018 knockout games? Denmark, Russia, England, and France all scored first.
It would be great to score first against Argentina. Knowing the Croatian midfield can control the game with the defense being rock solid across the board; that could really put Lionel Messi and Argentina on the back foot quickly. That’s how you force them to open up and go for the jugular and a 2-goal lead. Croatia slayed one of the World Cup’s two beasts last week: Brazil. France is the other beast. But Brazil in my opinion is a much better and complete team than Argentina. Even if Argentina open the scoring on Tuesday, this Croatian squad has shown incredible resilience from playing from behind. But would it be too much to ask to score the opening goal and play with the lead? We haven’t seen that From Croatia in the knockout rounds of the World Cup since 1998. A crazy thought with all of our success lately!
I apologize in advance but I did not save a recent article I read with Dalić saying the following (and I’m paraphrasing). Dalić said something along the lines of “the World Cup is not a 38-game club season. You can’t afford to make mistakes. You make one mistake and you go home. You play for results at the World Cup and play to move on. If you want excitement, go watch figure skating.”
What that means to me is that Dalić is on a mission to put a golden star above the HNS crest on all future Croatian merchandise purchases. He’s thinking logically and doesn’t need to blow teams out 4-0 to be praised. His linear process of thinking: qualify—>get out of group—>win your knockout matches by any means necessary has worked for three straight tournaments. And now Dalić and the boys are two matches away…once more.
He’s here for results and knows Croatia can win the whole thing; even if the team is playing from behind for the majority of the tournament. Maybe that’s why Modrić returned for a 2022 run. He could have (basically) gone out on top with Suba and Mandžukić in 2018, but didn’t.
Croatia led for a total of 25 minutes in the knockout round matches of the 2018 World Cup. In 2022, that number is ZERO through the first two elimination matches and 46 minutes for the entire tournament.
That’s a crazy number to put out there: only 46 minutes of being ahead. Just wonder what they could do with an early goal in the next match…or two. 🙂
[…] been one of the more resilient squads of this tournament, the “comeback kings” having spent only 46 minutes leading games up to that […]
@ Slavonac
Much of what you’ve said I agree with. We’ve played an excellent possession game but we almost always have. The difference this
time around is that because of a lack of scoring punch, we’ve had to focus even more so on team deference and have been excellent in being organized from the back. Gvardiol has transformed our back line. Without him are done in the group stages. He has been the MVP for us in my opinion.
With all due respect Livakovic, Lovren and Juranovic were justifiably trashed because their play had been poor in many cases.
Livakovic constantly misjudged/ failed to attack high balls as he lacked the confidence to do so. He’s always been an excellent shot stopped. Lovren still is a poor passer and has his moments. Juranovic has been a liability on defence since he’s played with us and still hasn’t been perfect (ie the Canada game where he lost Davies on the goal and almost again 5 minutes later!).
All of this being said I’m incredibly happy that they’ve all stepped up their games and played exceptionally well for the majority of the World Cup. They’ve all proved me wrong and I couldn’t be happier!!
We lack speed so even countering has been difficult. Our slow build up play and ball possession has frustrated opponents. We’ve been force to transform to this style given our strengths. The ‘experts’ can keep picking us to lose because this tactical style isn’t exciting….but damn it’s effective!!!
Now that Brazil is out…who did Kramaric pick as next best? Lol
What do you think the odds are in reality ? I know odd makers favor Argentina but i feel as its 90% chance Croatia going thru. How confindent are you guys?
jesus no where near 90%, i think like most things at this stage it feels to me like a fifty-fifty prospect. I was a lot more worried about Brazil, i really didnt expect to win that one. This one i think we have a better probability, but could go either way of course.
Just heard on HRT Radio that we are changing shirts and will be wearing our blue away strip for the match v Argentina.
New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/sports/world-cup/croatia-luka-modric.html
Fun fact of the day everyone, I will apologize if someone already caught this.
The VAR ref for the 2018 final between Croatia and France was Massimiliano Irrati
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_officials
The VAR ref for Croatia vs Argentina is, you guessed it, Massimiliano Irrati.
https://cultofcalcio.com/orsato-leads-italian-referee-delegation-for-argentina-vs-croatia/
Rebic being off the team allows us to dominate possession like this.
We really needed this in that Spain game at the Euros last year.
look at Lovren _
he won’t get away from Argentina
if it’s so then it’s another luck []
look how bad his defending vs Brazil
not covering areas well, almost cost us ~
now… he will run out of his luck []
or should Morroco punish us in the Final?!
No pressure on us!!!
Exceeded all expectations by a country mile!
We just need to play our game and let the Argentines chase the ball all over the field.
We’ll get the goals we need when we need them.
Our Lady of Guadeloupe, moli za nas!
Happy Feast day everyone!
Bog i Hrvati
I think there’s some logic that has to be applied to this “46 minutes” comment.
We’ve matched every opponent thats supposed to have beaten us in possession, passes and other than Brazil, we were relatively close in shots as well. In most cases, we did what was unexpected against Brazil…we kept possession away from them for very long periods, forcing them to commit and look to re-gain possession….thats tiring for a team to chase the ball and it takes away from their momentum.
In Croatia there’s a saying, “sakrili smo loptu” which means “we hid the ball”!
back to the “46 minute’s” comment. Prior to getting to Qatar we have been talking about the lack of a goal-scorer and how that might affect us. Well, this is exactly why we have fallen behind in our games. Dalic has obviously recognized we have trouble scoring. A good striker makes it happen, sometimes by the slightest scoring chance and they know how to finish the opportunity, we don’t have someone like that which is why we keep trying different options.
Overall, this team has been EXTREMELY disciplined at this world cup and although for the first few games I kept reading shit from many here (which is why I just decide to not comment sometimes), we were smart, didn’t panic and we kept on playing with belief and hard work. After the Japan game and after Morocco beat Spain, people started realizing that beating Morocco is a lot harder than they believed it would be. The thing is, when you watch games, you really have to give some credit to the opponents as well. We kept saying the same shit about Juranovic, Lovren and even Livakovic when all 3 have been excellent.
Bottom line is Dalic has had to play this style because we just don’t have a goal scorer so we can’t take too many offensive chances. It is what it is…but we are playing very well and I’m ok with this strategy!
It is the tournament of opposite theory
Livakovic isn’t good enough to start for Croatia.. Livakovic wins the golden glove.
Lovren is trash and a liability. Looks like peak Ramos.
Juranovic is a defensive liability. Puts Vini Jr in his pocket
Dalic doens’t know what he’s doing. Dalic a tactical genius against Brazil.
So, we might as well keep going with the theory. As a result, the only likely occurrence tomorrow is that
1) Mateo Kovacic scores a goal
2) Croatia is unjustly rewarded a penalty kick
love it , The Truth- i hope for a pattern shift even if we’re winning. Odds are you go to extra time and lose- it’s not a sustainable pattern unless it’s a sustainable pattern-LOL. I totally agree it’s very hard to predict anything.
@the truth AKA Ziva Istina: f*ck off and crawl back into the cave from whence you came, you sorry excuse for a human being. You write all sorts of predictions, only to claim that you predicted this and that when the game is over. Your momma is out tonight doing her $2 a piece bl*w jobs so you can set aside a little bit more for your marvellous 133mhz pentium monster machine.
Fun fact of the day everyone, I will apologize if someone already caught this.
The VAR ref for the 2018 final between Croatia and France was Massimiliano Irrati
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_officials
The VAR ref for Croatia vs Argentina is, you guessed it, Massimiliano Irrati.
https://cultofcalcio.com/orsato-leads-italian-referee-delegation-for-argentina-vs-croatia/
Ante
Not sure if you’ve seen Sportski Novosti reporting:
Argentina 🇦🇷 is out to do a hatchet job tomorrow vs 3 of our boys 🇭🇷. Insulting their wife’s, get them kicked out within 60 mins.
Dirty bastards
It has been speculated, but there is no evidence to back this up. I 100% don’t doubt they won’t try to do anything to win, even if it takes shit talking and pinching our players.
I just hope they stay level-headed and calm. Across all the previous games we played, we were calm the entire time and collected. It provided mental clarity needed to score.
If we know about it, and this is true. The team certainly knows about it. Much easier to manage your emotions if you know what is coming.
Vs Holland – Argentina gave away the type of team they are and the extent they will go to prevent a game from slipping away.
Fair to expect if we go up 1-0 or if this stays 0-0 for too long, Argies will show their dark side and this game will get dirty.
If it goes that route we just need to let them get themselves into trouble.
One thing that does concern me is the diving by Messi and co. versus netherlands i recall a dutch player running past messi and he may have lightly touched his chest, and messi went down as if he had taken a howitzer shell to the stomach. Foul was called. And he popped up 30 seconds later.
We know brazil were diving, but i think argentina will take it to new lengths.
I think we can all agree from an unbiased standpoint that we’ve faced way tougher competition.
Argentina
Lost 2-1 to a Saudi Arabian side that didn’t progress
Blew a 2-0 lead against the Dutch
Beat 2-1 Australia that is a below average team
Croatia
Drew Morocco that has beaten Belgium, Portugal, Spain and done it without conceding
Beat Japan who beat Germany and Spain
Beat Brazil who were the favourites to win it all
We’ve conceded only three goals and all were in open play. They’ve conceded four goals in open play. Shut down Argentina early because they’ve scored the last two games before half time. If we can make the midfield run then the game is ours. Luckily for us, we don’t depend on a single player to score and do all the work. We’ve had five different scorers. Messi has four goals and two assists. Argentina found gaps in Australia’s and the Dutch right back to score the openers. Also left Messi unmarked. Jurnaovic has to really be on point. Gvardiol has to be on Messi like a fat kid on a a smarty. Molina, Di Maria and Fernandez are all dangerous too. It’s ironic how three of Argentinas players out are all Sevilla members. Shut down Messi then we have already eliminated 90% of that offence, don’t leave him open for a minute, play aggressive but not dirty, score early and allow our midfield to control the game. Our back line is much better. Striking wise they have the upper hand.
This game has to finish in 90 minutes. Its not just because of their goalie . Although he is scary good. I don want out guys playing 140 minutes and burning out . We need to be at our best if we have play France or Morocco in the final. PK are a crap shoot and we are rolling the dice one too many times.
I am really hoping at least we can score first in this one and finish the game in 90 mins. If it goes into OT and penalties, Argentina is bloody good at it too, and even though we have a good rep, Argentina can kill our streak.
I know we have been trailing in the previous games, but I don’t know how that will work against Argentina. If they score early and decide to park the bus, that can be dangerous.
We are a team that has the offensive power and potential to drive the ball forward and score first. I hope we can show that tomorrow.
To me I don’t care. They can play calculated and measured, or defiant and aggressive. Whatever is required. Having this type of midfield domination is psychologically taxing for any team to encounter regardless of preparation or strategy. Modric making timely defensive stops in the midfield is just demoralizing.
They don’t have to prove themselves to suit my comfort level anymore. They did it in nations league after losing that stinker to Austria. Since then they’ve been stoic and resilient. That rain game against Russia was an archetype of the struggle our people’s have endured. I know my family has Generational PTSD, but we never give up. We always fight and along the way we win.
Messi can strike with just a touch but i’m grateful he’s lost his pace so he can’t break a midfield with his runs anymore. They too have a miraculous record going into the tourney so the Vatreni won’t take them lightly and will settle into the game regardless of how it shoots off. In love Croatia football. It’s my birthday and am just stoked to be given this gift of appreciation for the motherland. Let’s Go Boys!!! From Canada we are holding up the vibe wearing our checkers being the envy of everyone! 🇨🇦 🇭🇷🥃👀
God please pay FIFA’s debts. We are owed compensation for 2018. May our boys be charged to overcome any adversity, and may you light our path.
☦️ ime oca i sina i duha svetoga amen 🙏🏻
Autocorrect ruins my life *I love croatia football…” Not In love! I’m In love with Ivana Knoll 😂
kind of torn. we’re likely to score first based on odds – eventually you score first but I hate how we play with the lead- we go into a shell. Really like 2018 , 3-0 game against those guys- let’s say a repeat and we’re good.
If we score it has to be late in the 90 minute . IT cannot be early. I don’t trust our guys to hold the lead . If we do score early we need to finish them off and go for the kill and not bunker . We will have our chances. But when they come, it needs to find the back of the net .
I’ve always said, you can’t win championships trailing in every single game. It will come back to bite you. Unless your the New England Patriots of 2017. Prehaps Dalic and Bill are arguably the best coaches and always overcome adversity and not panic while trialing.
France hasn’t trailed
Morocco hasn’t trailed
Argentina hasn’t trailed (exclude the loss to the saudis)
Argentina have trailed and it was only a loss to Saudi Arabia. France has one loss as well against Tunisia. Seems like African teams were causing all the upsets. We’ve haven’t lost a match in 90 minutes since the Austria game back in June which ended 3-0. We’ve conceded two less goals than Argentina. Argentina looked fatigued after blowing a two goal lead to the Netherlands. I’ve personally only saw a lead lost like that in that fashion when Japan blew a lead to Belgium in 2018 RD of 16 match.
Look, history has shown that almost all teams that have won a World Cup have never trailed in the knockout stages. The only teams to trail in the final or knockout stages in recent history is Italy 06 and Brazil in 02 twice.
Prehaps we can be the Italy of 2006. No superstar forward, rock solid defence, only play two games that surpassed 90 minutes and beat France in the final.
France will beat Morocco. Not only will they get the calls they’re way. France has stepped up despite having all key players out; Pogba, Hernandez, Benzema, Kante. Morocco also have an abundance of injuries and suspensions; Saiss, Mazraoui, Aguerd and a few more are most likely out. Would’ve loved to witness another upset by Morocco and France knocked out. One good thing is that we’ll have an extra day of rest if we win tomorrow. Hopefully Morocco can push them and fight for more than 90 minutes.
FYI boys..Wilton Sampaio is most likely to be the referee for the final. It’s public display of corruption at this point. Sampaio was an atrocious ref for the England V France game. As much as I dislike England, that was a game called in France’s favour. England should’ve had two more penalties. Two were overlooked on Saka and Kane. Also the first goal by France, there was a foul on Saka. It’s a receipe for another courrupt final regardless if we make it or not.
Let’s pray my brothers we make tomorrow and Sunday an early Christmas gift.
ZDS
And to make matters even worse, Sampaio is Brazilian….
We’ll see.
Every game is different.
We’re all praising Modric for his play against Brazil, but he had a bad game against Japan. Same goes for Lovren now, versus how bad he was against Belgium. Juranovic was all over the place (both good and bad) against Canada too.
Livakovic looks like a beast, but his strength was always in the six yard box. It’s the 18 yard box where he is weak. Luckily our team defense is directing all shots toward Livakovic at tight angles and within an arm’s reach of him. That’s his specialty. The PKs are a pleasant surprise.
Dalic is showing us that keeping a strong and stable locker room will yield good results, and it looks like that is the case with this team. They don’t ever seem to be phased. The Petkovic goal proved that. If Bruno wasn’t there to receive the pass, Majer was there to receive it (as well as others). The team collectively ran for blood.
This game is a different game. Hopefully our midfielders dominate possession like they did against Brazil and Belgium, and they don’t get phased by the cleats-up tackles that Argentina will for sure employ.
Hopefully the ref makes the right foul calls, and doesn’t swallow his whistle.
I actually see this as an extra time win for us. Brazil is better than Argentina across the board, and Argentines have proven to be mentally weak and have really struggled to keep leads.
Unlike Brazil though, Argentina will foul more and will try to get away with it.
This (hopefully) doesn’t throw our midfielders off their game and that our less physical players (like Kovacic and Krama) aren’t taken off their game because of it.
I’ve always said, you can’t win championships trailing in every single game. It will come back to bite you. Unless your the New England Patriots of 2017. Prehaps Dalic and Bill are arguably the best coaches and always overcome adversity and not panic while trialing.
France hasn’t trailed
Morocco hasn’t trailed
Argentina hasn’t trailed (exclude the loss to the saudis)
Argentina have trailed and it was only a loss to Saudi Arabia. France has one loss as well against Tunisia. Seems like African teams were causing all the upsets. We’ve haven’t lost a match in 90 minutes since the Austria game back in June which ended 3-0. We’ve conceded two less goals than Argentina. Argentina looked fatigued after blowing a two goal lead to the Netherlands. I’ve personally only saw a lead lost like that in that fashion when Japan blew a lead to Belgium in 2018 RD of 16 match.
Look, history has shown that almost all teams that have won a World Cup have never trailed in the knockout stages. The only teams to trail in the final or knockout stages in recent history is Italy 06 and Brazil in 02 twice.
Prehaps we can be the Italy of 2006. No superstar forward, rock solid defence, only play two games that surpassed 90 minutes and beat France in the final.
France will beat Morocco. Not only will they get the calls they’re way. France has stepped up despite having all key players out; Pogba, Hernandez, Benzema, Kante. Morocco also have an abundance of injuries and suspensions; Saiss, Mazraoui, Aguerd and a few more are most likely out. Would’ve loved to witness another upset by Morocco and France knocked out. One good thing is that we’ll have an extra day of rest if we win tomorrow. Hopefully Morocco can push them and fight for more than 90 minutes.
FYI boys..Wilton Sampaio is most likely to be the referee for the final. It’s public display of corruption at this point. Sampaio was an atrocious ref for the England V France game. As much as I dislike England, that was a game called in France’s favour. England should’ve had two more penalties. Two were overlooked on Saka and Kane. Also the first goal by France, there was a foul on Saka. It’s a receipe for another courrupt final regardless if we make it or not.
Let’s pray my brothers we make tomorrow and Sunday and early Christmas gift.
ZDS
And to make matters even worse, Sampaio is Brazilian….
More importantly, there hasn’t been a lead where we haven’t come back from.
We’re also undefeated in all but one game in the past 21 games.
I expect a hack job on our midfield by Argentina. They’re scared, like Portugal was in 2016. Hopefully the end result is better this time and this ref gets his cards out for these Argentines.
After what appears to be Argentina favouratism from the last game, FIFA must ensure the ref does not do the same this game; otherwise, it will look even more fixed, and they will lose credibilty.
I’m not too worried about the Ref assigned to us, he won best ref in 2020, and overall he seems to be OK. It’s the VAR assistant who I hate.
Portugal did win that year and beat France in 90 minutes.
No, they won in extra time.
The final in 2018 we never did. To be fair, we went down in the second half after two controversial calls that resulted in France having the lead twice. The fatigue started to appear in the second half for us that game. It was evident we couldn’t play catch up any longer.
Another tough and stressful match ahead of us. Messi is in good form and we either have to mark him out of the game or stop the supply to him. If everyone is fit Dalic will probably start with the same lineup as against Brazil.
You have to count Kramarić and Pasalić as part of that midfield as well. The team is essentially playing with no striker when Kramarić is on the field because he does a lot of tracking back and midfield-like play. Pasalić is also a midfielder. Both have been crucial bit parts in the domination of possession, along side the superstar quartet.
They aren’t the cardiac Croats for nothing;).
Means nothing!! My football team here in Australia lost 2 games to the eventual premiers after being in front for more than 200 minutes of a total of 240. It only matters who’s infront at the end of the game.
There’s a reason why games have time limits. Our boys play to the end unlike most
I’m OK with just winning games.