Super Mario Mandžukić scored the greatest goal in Croatian history. His 109th minute extra time winner would secure a 2-1 victory over England to book Croatia’s first ticket to the World Cup Final.
Is it the greatest Croatian goal ever? Absolutely.
But what other goals round out the top-5?
- 1. Mandžukić extra time winner vs. England (2018 World Cup)
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
Modrić vs. Argentina in 2018 has to be on the list. So does Šuker vs. Denmark in 1996. What about Rapaić and his winner vs. Italy in 2002?
What was the biggest goal of Croatia’s 3-0 win over Germany in 1998? Jarni’s opening goal from 24 yards out or Vlaović’s shot just inside the post to seal it?
What are the top-5 Croatian goals of all-time?
Rebić’s volley off Argentina’s goalie’s mistake at the World’s in Russia. Rebić didn’t have to work for it, but it broke the Gauchos.
This isn’t top 10 but Rebic smash vs Argentina in 2018 was awesome. Most normal people wouldn’t have tried it! It was a beauty.
I think most people on here have forgotten that goal by Rebic. Yes, it was a mistake by the goalkeeper, but he took it superbly and in my opinion, it is a top ten.
Yea. You know that 9 times out of 10 that was sailing over the bar.
A pretty good goal summary, especially by maminjo.
I would perhaps add
1) The two goals vs iceland to qualify for the world cup in 2014. That was a pretty tense moment after 0-0 in iceland and going back to zagreb. Croatia had missed out on the 2010 world cup and was disadvantaged by the away goal rule. A loss would’ve meant Croatia would’ve had 12 years between world cups!!
Mandzukic had a back of the net tap in off a rakitic pseudo cross. And then mandzo got a red card and in the second half, kovacic had a slalom run and drop off to srna for a nice goal to make it 2-0 and let us all breath more comfortably.
kovacic actually had two great slalom runs in that game that set the hopes for croatians for what kovacic would do over the next decade. haven’t really seen that since
Yes that was good. Especially after such a bad game in Iceland.
I can’t believe I forgot the 1-0 Ireland goal that Kromiza brought up.
Also, Vlaović’s crazy run at the end of the Turkey game in our first ever tournament match at Euro96.
Pulisic:
https://www.marca.com/en/football/serie-a/2023/07/13/64b04329ca47412e238b456c.html
Idiot, could have actually been something with the Vatreni
Enjoy playing canada In February for the next 10 years;)
Did they ever try to pursue him? was there ever actually a choice for him? AFAIK, the US was the only country that offered him a spot but I could be wrong.
To change the subject for a sec, we have a Wimbledon champ again. Mate Pavic won the mixed doubles final. Great work!
Nice!!
Every goal ever scored by Croatia is priceless
Loved every single one of them
2007 England vs croatia Petrić winning goal
I can’t believe no one mention Suker goal against ireland in 1999′. Amazing. Scores at the last second. Traps a long bomb pass and taps it in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcwJm87ycY4
Pass barely comes just above defenders shoulder , who has Suker covered like a blanket.
All these comments regarding goals are awesome! I remember each one and can’t believe how many decades have passed.
I still feel the Petkovic goal against Brazil is one that will make it into tall tales and legend. When Neymar scored, you saw a bunch of Croatian players go to the ground. My perception and memory, even though incorrect, were none of the Dinamo players crouched down. They took the team, the nation, and all of us onto their backs at that moment. Add that Budimir came on and joined them. And then how Budimir pulled the Brazil players to him as he went into an attack which allowed Orsic to link up with Petkovic and Petkovic strike with his big boot and heavy shot.
It went to penalties, but I feel at that moment it was the moment that shook the world. Everyone was calling Brazil to win it. And I think that game changed everything.
No disrespect to any other goal, players, or game moments; as all other goals in all other games lead to the moment in the Brazil game. And no disrespect to any other comments or opinions.
Am I misremembering? Or did Vida score a very important goal against Russia in 2018 that had everyone in the world and the grandmothers from Krama’s village jumping up an down in sheer exitement?
Not misremembering: https://youtu.be/aU9McfMe90g
Yah, TGAD, love the call by that English commentator.
Still brings chills to the old spine.
Modric Croatia v Turkey 2016 Euros
We had a lot of visually beautiful goals, but they don’t feel as great as critical game winners or moments in terms of importance and impact.
To me, these were the most important ones (in order of when they happened)…
1. – The two Suker goals in our easy 2-1 away win in Italy right after Italy was a 1994 World Cup finalist and topping our Euro96 qualifying group (showing the World what kind of football nation we really were)
2. – Suker’s chip over Schmeichel’s head to secure the quarterfinals at Euro96
3. – Suker’s 1-0 away goal against Greece back in the World Cup 1998 qualifiers…critical goal at a critical moment (when it looked like we were out)
4. – Boksic scoring the game typing playoff goal in Ukraine (for World Cup qualifying) after Shevchenko scored an early goal to get us into the World Cup. This was Ukraine’s golden generation of talent, so it was a scary game.
5. – Suker (twice) scoring the PK against Romania’s golden generation in a much deserved win, despite Bogdan Stelea having one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen from a goalkeeper to keep his team in it
6. – Jarni scoring on Germany in France98 after they received a red card, giving us revenge against them from the previous tournament with a very high profile 3-0 victory on the World stage
7. – The must-win 2002 World Cup qualifying game against Belgium, that Boksic scored in the 75th minute when Balaban came off the bench and made that run to set him up for the goal in the final match of qualifying
8. – Rapaic’s weird top corner goal, beating one of Italy’s best ever teams in 2002 (with our worst ever team)
9. – The horrible Dado Prso goal that went under the Slovenian keeper’s arm one minute after Tudor got that red card in a must-win Euro2004 playoff in Slovenia to put us through (ha ha)
10. – Srna’s soft but accurate free kick goal against Sweden’s golden generation (to win 1-0 in the WC2006 qualifiers); This felt great because Cico Krancjar became coach and brought back our offensive game
11. – a 19 year old Niko Kranjcar’s cheeky goal in our 3-1 away win in Bulgaria (giving us revenge for losing to them in the Euro2004 qualifiers), keeping us on top of our very difficult 2006 WC qualfiying group ahead of Sweden
12. – Eduardo’s goal against England in 2006 when we beat them 2-0 on route to topping our group for Euro2008 qualifying
13. – Mladen Petric’s goal to beat England 3-2 in Wembley and kicking England out of Euro2008 (despite not even need the win ourselves)
14. – Srna’s goal against Germany in Euro2008, when we pumped them to top our group and set the tone for the Euros
15. – Any one of the Turkey goals in our 3-0 win against them for Euro2012 qualifying, giving us our perfect revenge after being bounced in PKs at the previous Euros by them
16. – Any of the goals against Serbia when we beat them 2-0 in a pretty one-sided match in 2013 (ending whatever demons were left from the war and really stamping down who the best in the region always was)
17. – Kalinic’s cheeky goal against Spain in Euro2016, when our B team topped Spain to finish first in the group
18. – Perisic’s textbook run at the end of that same Spain game, scoring for the 2-1 win…right after a Subasic saved a PK taking away a win from Spain that a terribly biased referee was trying to hand to them
19. – Kramaric’s deep and accurate header against Ukraine in the 2017 playoff, allowing us to qualify for 2018. Very underrated goal at a time when it looked like all was lost. The Rakitic assist on the second goal deserves a mention.
20. – Modric scoring the second goal against Argentina in 2018, setting the tone for it being a great tournament
21. – Perisic’s high boot game-tying goal against England in the WC2018 semifinals (in a game that looked like we were lost) which triggered a one-sided onslaught for a 2-1 victory
22. – Perisic scoring that deep header against Japan, getting us into the quarterfinals in 2022 in a game where it looked like we were going to lose
23. – Petkovic’s game tying goal against Brazil in extra time versus Brazil in 2022 (obviously)
24. – Orsic’s top-corner game bronze medal winner against Morocco; Despite it being a consolation game, it felt good to medal again despite FIFA and the media being heavily biased in trying to give it to Morrocco
25. – Lovro Majer’s deep game winner against a strong Danish team to cap an amazing run that put us in pole position to top a difficult Nations League group after a terrible start
26. – Bruno’s winning goal against Netherlands this past June, giving the Dutch their first home loss in like 20 years and getting us into the Nations League final
Somebody please make a youtube video of these goals. I remember many of these, forgot some, but would love to re-live them all.
What are your 26 favorite goals? 😅
The moment it was scored it was our most important goal EVER…perisic against France in the WC final.
If we had won where would that goal stand?
True. That was an amazing goal.
You need a life and a girlfriend. 😂
Tough. I see a lot of good ones and a few dumb ones people have posted here.
But I don’t see anyone saying Klasnic vs Turkey. Has to be top 5 no ?
Probably because of how we all felt a few minutes after that, lol
1. Mandzukic v England (WC 2018)
2. Perisic v England (WC 2018)
3. Petkovic v Brazil (WC 2022)
4. Suker v Denmark (Euro 1996)
5. Petric v England (third goal at Wembley for 3 – 2 win and knock England out of Euro 2008).
I think that Perisic’s high boot goal against England in 2018, tying the game 1-1 and triggering an onslaught against a backpedaling England team, was a nicer goal and a more impactful one than Mandzo’s.
That game was lost, and we were just going through the motions…until BAM!
Perisic scored out of nowhere, and England were just reeling and trying to hold on.
The game was completely one-sided in our favo after that goal, and it was only a matter of time until we scored the winning goal. The Mandzo goal was an inevitability. We should have wont that game 4-1 if Rebic didn’t botch a sitter, and if Kramaric passed to a wide open Perisic in front of goal.
I think a notable mention is that Srna goal vs Germany at Euro 2008. The goal itself has an amazing buildup (I think all 11 players touched the ball in buildup) and between the service from Pranjic and finish by Srna, it’s picture perfect. That was a big win at the time and we dominated the Germans for large swaths of that game. Unfortunately that tourney didn’t end good but that turned out to be a great game.
Suker Denmark
Suker vs denmark was the goal that put Croatia on the map. 10 minutes earlier he tried to chip schmeichel from the half way line. It was an audacious, technical and beautiful attempt that drew ohs and ahs from the crowd and applause from schmeical. It would have been one of the greatest goals of all time. Against the European champions and the best goalkeeper in the world. To then actually chip schmiechel to secure the 3-0 win was as sensational and meaningful as it gets. That’s number 1
2. Mandzukic vs England
3. Prosinecki vs Holland
4. Modric vs Argentina
5. Perisic vs France
I think Šuker putting it through Jaap Stam’s legs was better than Žuti’s goal in that Holland game (it was the winner too).
Top 5
Greatest as in, looks good or greatest as in most meaningful?!
I’m not very good at this but I’ll give it a shot!
5) Perisic’s goal vs England in 2018 World Cup! I’ll never forget how much I was hoping for him to get subbed out at half time and then BOOM, he showed up in the second half and good God did he ever take matters into his own hands! His performance in that game was probably the best I’ve ever seen by anyone in my life…everything from the second half and I to extra time was soo meaningful!
4) Krama’s goal in the 2018 World Cup vs those feisty Russians! They scored a howitzer against us and I was nervous we wouldn’t tie it up. It was a great buildup and play all around and Krama re-directed a cheeky pass from Mandzukic
3) Mandzukic’s goal vs Denmark in 2018. That was one of the scariest games I’ve ever experienced as a fan! Those Danes completely slowed the game down to a walk as much as they could. They were tough and disciplined! If Mandzo didn’t score, I don’t think we get to penalty shots and we are out! We don’t get to play England if Mandzo doesn’t score!
2) Petkovic’s goal vs Brazil in the 117’ minute was pure jubilation! For some odd reason I believed we could tie it up but never in a million years did I envision Orsic linking up with Petkovic to score a world class goal against a giant like Brazil….especially if we consider Brazil scored in the first half of extra time. We could have easily collapsed but the character displayed was something out of this world!
1) there is no debate! Mandzukic vs England in the 2018 World Cup! That was the game of a lifetime for Ivan Perisic…he scored and assisted and hit the post and could have scored again of only Krama would have passed him a tap-in….BUT, nobody worked harder than Mandzukic and if there was ever a lunchbox hero, it’s Mandzukic! I still get tears when I see that play…and no matter if Perisic plays like shit for the rest of his career, he has earned it from that game alone!
Biggest goal of Croatia’s win vs Germany in 1998 had to be Jarni’s goal! Not only was it incredibly well taken, it broke the Germans spirit and we took over that game and dismantled them…after being under tons of pressure!
Slaven Bilic scored a header from a corner kick in 2017 qualifying in a playoff vs Ukraine. It was a sensational goal and extremely important for us to get an early goal vs a tough Ukraine with Shevchenko! I loved Bilic…the guy was such a cool dude, a decent musician, a highly educated and intelligent man that speaks several languages and he was also a bastard to play against! The Rod Stewart of nogomet! You younger guys should look him up…he was the definition of a dude on the field!
Wooops, brain fart!
I meant Bilic’s goal in 1997 in the playoffs for the 1998 World Cup!
Honourable mention for best all time club team goal, Super Mario Stanic, Chelsea VS West Ham, August 19th, 2000.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cpBfbkfkWJc&pp=ygUOQ2hlbHNlYSBzdGFuaWM%3D
How come no one is ranking 1-5? I’m interested to see how this plays out.
I purposefully left out Petko and the Dutch 98 winner to see if guys would remember. Obviously, Petko vs. Brazil is HUGE and only happened a few months ago.
1-5….its harder than you think
Jarni is up there. That Rapaic goal holds a special place with me due to the fact that I had bragging rights for a while. Lol
Prosinecki’s corner against Jamaica was awesome as well.
Rapaic was talented and did score an important goal vs Italy but I never liked him as a player even though he did make the highlight reel many times. He was too selfish for my liking and he fucked up more situations then he did any good if you ask me.
I always liked that goal by Zuti too. Both the goal and the swag with it, but the goal itself didn’t mean that much – we would of dispatched Jamaica one way or another.
Petković vs Brazil in the quarterfinals to force extra time and a shoot out in the last World cup (as you all know- it lead to a win and a huge upset), so it has to be up in the top 5 for me.
For sure it needs to be there. Probably the most important overall goal. Most memorable for sure
We need an all time important goal list
A beautiful goal list
And one that is beautiful and important list
Beautiful goals I’m thinking luka against Scotland in 2020
Luka against Turkey in 2016
Srna and the build up against Germany in 08
Perisic for the first one against England with a ninja kick can go in important and exceptionally hard
So many now to think about
The build up against the Dutch and petko scoring last month was super pleasing football
I meant mandzos probably most memorable and special
I think if we beat Argentina and hit the finals that petko Brazil would mean that much more
I feel maybe cause it took a deflection it loses some of its overall appeal of attractiveness
Still a massive goal and of course win. Cause of that we got to get a bronze and not just an honourable mention