Time to buckle up those seatbelts!
In less than 36 hours, Croatia will face Turkey in their 1st leg Euro 2012 playoff encounter from Istanbul. One team will play amongst Europe’s elite next summer while the other ponders what went wrong. If history serves itself, the first leg (just as in Champions League knockout matches) should be a conservative game with all to play for in the return leg in Zagreb on Tuesday.
The question is: How will the match in Istanbul end? I have the game ending in a 1-1 draw. It will be a tough atmosphere to play in, but as long as Croatia get that all-important away goal, they should be ok for the return leg.
CroSports Nation: It’s easy to be the general after the war is over, but share your predictions with the world before the match kicks off. What are you expecting with the starting XI and what does Croatia do if defender Vedran Ćorluka is unable to play due to injury?
Great game. I woke up with a great feeling in my chest.
Now the question is – is this a “flash in the pan” or is it a beginning of a new era?
Personally I feel optimistic.
@Ziva
Fair enough. I kind of felt the same way.
@poglavnik………i made no pick on this game because i had no idea what to expect. in other games i had some sort of feeling talking to people back home, in the savez and within the team….i had no feeling here.
OLIC!! I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!
@ Rob – This is clearly not the match for Eduardo to start. He may be the better finisher, however, his work rate is nowhere near the levels of Olic and Mandzukic. If we were at home, yeah, start him. You know that we would attack from the start of the match.
On the road? in an intimidating place like Istanbul, I believe Bilic is looking for guys that will run around like crazy and pressure the Turkish back line and midfield. He wants guys that will log the tireless kilometers.
That is just my take on it. Edurado is like Chicarito, when he doesn’t score, he is largely anonymous. He is extremely slow as well.
For the life of me, I don’t understand barring injury how Eduardo can ever not start, as he is the only true proven poacher on the squad.
=S
@Ziva
Love your knowledge of the game, but would love to see a little more radical heart when predicting results. I hate it when it seems people pick against us just to be right if we lose, and then celebrate with us when we win. Hopefully thats not your style. No shame in being wrong when supporting something you love!
you are missing the point…………you want to bring a guy up to the national team that has started less than 10 games in the last 3 or 4 years. Yeah, that makes sense to me.
Listen, i realize you are a fan, but let the big boys discuss soccer.
I’ll let you have the last word.
I think you’re missing the point. But that’s okay.
Perhaps you should read more carefully. I clearly said they should not be on the National Team.
I did not say I want to see him on the pitch, but on the team to get the NT experience. And not for these playoffs, but as part of contingency planning. Read more carefully.
Here is the starting line-up, according to UEFA’s website:
Pleti
Charlie/Simunic/Schido/Vida
Sarna/Dujo/Raki/Modric
Olic/Mandzo
There is no way in hell I want a backup, who is not seeing the pitch regularly, on the National Team. Give me a break.
Thank you Ziva Istina. You are the man. Can you change your handle to The Messiah, since you know so much and are such an authority on Croatian soccer.
Clearly the kid’s old man had nothing to do with him getting the back-up slot at Koln. And how do you know he has not progressed since then, and surpassed Subasic.
In any event, a back-up at Bundesliga > starter for HNL club, even Hajduk.
Simunic is too old. Klasnic should be on the bench. A forward should play only up top. I am tired of hearing that some of these guys get call ups since they have experience, what a joke. Either you are good enough or not!
The guy at Koln????????????
Please, I beg you, think before posting. You don’t know much about croatian soccer. I understand you are a fan, but if you want to make an argument at least know what you are talking about.
Let me educate you about the guys at Koln. His name is Miro Varvodic and is a back up. Before that, he was a back up at Hajduk and could not beat out Subasic even with the help and influence of his father. You do know who his father is?????? Nepotism runs rampant in Cro soccer especially at hajduk in youth ranks and this kid could not beat out Subasic for the top spot.
Ziva Istina: “Take the emotion out of it and everything will be fine.”
————————————————————————–
What kind of way is that to watch your national team???….”No emotion”???….LOL!!!
“The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.” C.S. Lewis
You can’t blame Bilic for the issues of the backline. No coach plans on playing 4th tier options. There is a reason guys like Cale, Shifo, Miajtovic are not regulars for the repka…….because they are not good enough.
A washed up Simunic is still better than those guys.
Bilic can only call up 20 players each time. He can’t call up back ups for the back ups all the time. No national team coach can.
A gree with you we are thin an LB……why???? because we have no talent at that spot. Bilic is the national team coach, he is not the youth development coordinator for the savez. Blame those idiots for the lack of depth. But, you don’t know the role of a national team coach if you think Bilic is to blame for the backline we are using today.
Blame Bilic for tactics and whatever you want, but the backline is not his fault.
Since we are forced to go with 3rd or 4th tier options on the back line, this again exposes another weakness of Bilic — poor long term planning and inadequate contingency planning with respect to the back four.
It is clear that Simunic is done, and that Vida and Lovren are not yet ready for prime time. So we are left with a void. This is where a stop-gap measure, such as Mijatovic comes in. This transition process should had started in the past year. And the LB clusterf*ck continues. Are we that thin at LB that we have to rely on a RB just barely recovered from injury?
I’m with a majority of you guys, I don’t like Mandzukic on the wing if this formation is true. I rather have him up top if we decide to go with 3 forwards.
I would play Vukojevic over Dujmovic because Vuko has more first-team football.
I have no issues with the backline. Arguing for Cale or Mijatovic or anyone else is worthless. Those are all 3rd and 4th tier options along with Schildo. The injuries have hurt putting a backline together.
We’ll see what happens.
Just remember I will be here after the game to calm you guys down. Take the emotion out of it and everything will be fine.
Okay, I still do not believe we will win, but, I will chime in with a war cry since kick off is a few hours away.
bježite Turci,bježite iz grada,stiže ekipa pijana,bježite Turci dok postoji nada,jer ovdje igra HRVATSKA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off to the beer store!
WTF, I seriously hope that is not our formation.
Mandzo as a mid is a disaster. Put Raki on the right and insert Perisic on the left.
Dujmovic? Has he even played for club this year?
If he is going with Schidly, then he should’ve called up Andre Mijatovic instead.
Corluka on left is a gamble. Why not give Cale another run, considerinig Cale plays in Turkey.
Eduardo-Olic up front is ok, but I would have liked to have Klasnic available as a sub.
Again, if we win, it is despite of Bilic, as this moronic line-up proves.
mandzo on the wing again so stupid, olic from first minute, the guy has barely played all season, from petric to mandzo this never works, i hope it does but playing a striker on the wings is dumb, heres an idea play perisic who plays on the wing and is currently in good form just a thought!
Bring the Dinaric.
Bilic, the biggest fool to ever coach has a striker on the midfield wings, yet again. How well has this worked for us the past 4 years?
Looks like we are going 4-4-2:
Pletikosa
Srna – Schildy – Simunic – Corluka
Mandzukic – Modric – Dujmovic – Rakitic
Eduardo – Olic
I actually don’t mind it over all, I slightly prefer Dujmo to Vuko, but that won’t make or break us. Not crazy about Mandza at RM (or at all, really), I’d rather play him up top with Eduardo, move Olic as a sub for second half (how in form can he be?), shift Rakitic to RM and start Persisic at LM. Perhaps Vida over Schildy, but I think I’d rather Schildy in a game like this on the road due to maturity/experience.
http://www.jutarnji.hr/bilic-ofenzivno-na-tursku–trojica-napadaca–srna-u-zadnjoj-liniji–corluka-prosao-testiranje/986449/
The sun rises today….. Go Croatia!!!!
Let’s do this!
Croatia so close to anable win againts Turks
in Istambul . BIlic get something wrong with his strategy.
maybe luck for draw ,. maybe not, if their deff so suck.
Can’t sleep.
Fifa 12 outcome:
Croatia 0 Turkey 1
Hopefully this brings us good luck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytyzFZ881GE&feature=related
Game time 2:05 Eastern standerd time…..-U- ZA DOM SPREMNI BOLJE GROB NEGO ROB USTAJ SE I PRBI BOGA OD NJI…..GREETINGS FROM CRVENI GRM…..
For the first time ever, I really don’t have a clue about how Croatia will do. I’m usually 60/40 on how the game will be played. However, this game could be played conservatively with a nil-nil or 1-0 score, both teams might duke it out with a 4-2 score, or it could be a combination of the two and a score of 2-1.
All I do know is that Croatia must score in Turkey to qualify. I wouldn’t be disappointed with a 2-1 loss. So I will stick with that. Last week, I had a dream that Modric scored, so I will go with that as well.
Fu##k the savez fu##k the politics Fuck the perdictions Fu##k bilic ‘s tactics like a great man once said ” Just win baby”
when is the game in eastern time?
I have a feeling Kalinic is going to impress in tomorrows game.
I just placed $50 on a draw… a high scoring one hopefully.
@ Armada87 well dude those are the choices from croatia what can i do thats the reality i dont want a foreign coach because i was nevr a fan of it it called a national team not international my opinion. Whatever happens the reaon w are in a piss poor sitaution is not the coach but HRVATSKA NOGOMETNA LIGA is poor and Markovic is the reason. Plus diaspora players are choosing to play for where they are born. if we lose to turkey our football will be in shadow for a while thank Markovic for that.
Also, this just got posted on youtube not too long ago hahah
“Croatia Strikes Back!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy-Y2F7b23I&feature=related
@ DALMATINAC
I wouldn’t want any of those dudes, not even my homies Elvis Scoria and Igor Pamic from Istra. We need to go with a foreigner, when the time comes for it.
@JM yeah they probably will. If your there, come meet me. Ill have a modric jersey on checkered as number ten. You can even do a quick interview with me. I love meeting members.
@ Radman New croatian coaches after Bilic candidates are Stimac, Soldo, Cico ,Ivankovic, Pamic ,Kuze, Jurcic ,Katalinic, Poklepovic, Elvis Scoria ,Katenac ,Vulic Long shots are Prso KovacN and the return of MIROSLAV CIRO BLAZEVIC haa..
well almost there! lets hope for the best. anyone going to scorpios for the game tomorrow? i’m guessing they’ll be charging at the door
way too early to speculate on a replacement….
You will here the same retreads mentioned…..mainly Ivankovic and Cico. Some will call for a foreign coach, but they won’t get any foreign coach that will call his own shots, it would be someone who will be somewhat controlled by the savez. plus, its not like the savez can pay a coach a million. And they should not when you look at the current ecnomic conditions in the country. Makes no sense to pay big money for a coach.
But, still to early to specualate on a coach. Let’s see where we are at on Tuesday night.
I am hoping for the best, BUT, I see the following;
Turkey 3 – Croatia 0
I pray I am wrong and truly hope you can all say I was dead wrong.
@ Ziva Istina – if we are eliminated, I assume Bilic and his staff will leave. What have you heard with regards to a replacement?
Sutra i 15.11 ako ne prodemo samo zahvaliti triba Markovic sto HNL je smece i jani igraci ne primaju place i jadno Markovic krepaj. Dinamo mafija i Hns krepaj
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1540517.html
Emre seems pretty confident: he says “the Croats have been drawn against very strong opponents”, and that Turkey “fully deserve to be mentioned in the same breath” as GERMANY and SPAIN.
@Ante Kvartuc
“He may not be your favorite CroSports personality…but the man does bring it. And he means it. Hasn’t sold out to this day. See you all tomorrow from Alpine Village in Torrance, California”
That was pure comedy.
“I by the way always pour my heart out when commenting on this board.” -Ziva
He may not be your favorite CroSports personality…but the man does bring it. And he means it. Hasn’t sold out to this day. See you all tomorrow from Alpine Village in Torrance, California.
To ALL: Send us your pictures and videos from watching the game. We want to share your experience with Croatians all over the world.
However I did have a dream last night the game finished 4-4 lol
Ya’ll should be ashamed of yourselves.
I agree with shinobi. I’m feeling 2-0 turkey 🙁
1-1, don’t want to be pessimistic but I don’t see a win in Turkey, a draw would be ok though.
And regarding the music in the video, I thought I was the only Croat that listens to Dream Theater…
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”
CS Lewis
i know its soccer, not war. I was just using quotation, not being serious ziva.
But you are right, we win we celebrate. If we lose, so what.
The euros will still be enjoyable with or without hrvatska. It would be better if we are there. But it will still be great to watch even if we are not. Good point.
Slavonac there nothing wrong with constructive critism. However, when the game starts I think Ziva will have his jersey on and his fists pumping. We know our problems but come on tomorrow is a histroic game. Get the pepto and Ozujsko out. I just do not accept defeat before the game is even played.
Regarding the game tomorrow, I don’t necessarily have any type of gut feeling…I almost feel disconnected because there are many variables to this game and I’m not sure we are in form! I hope and pray we control the tempo and let the Turks play into our hands but playing in Turkey isn’t easy for anybody…that said Hrvatska hasn’t proven lately that we are a dominant team in any aspect…we seem to play for FIFA ranking rather than for the win!
I think if a person makes an opinionated commented regardless of if its perceived as positive or negative…it should be respected. To those of you who slag Ziva because he posts his opinion and it isn’t what you want to see …well…I think his views are pretty realistic. I don’t always like how he expresses himself but I’ve learned that his opinions are relatively fair, if not even more than fair (accurate)! I don’t think he’s a soccer genius but his comments are generally intelligent…more than what many of you give him credit for so I’d say to most of you…he’s good for this site and I pretty much read what he says because I think he’s informatively honest about his points, something I don’t necessarily see from many others here. Many of you post based on your heart which is also ok but it isn’t necessarily based on experience, knowledge or anything other than your personal feelings….and that makes a huge difference!
Ok Ziva can you at least give a cheer?
If we lose saying IF will bilic get sacked ? Because he is prolly the worst coach ever for Croatia in my opinion
This is a soccer game. not war. The country is no longer occupied, democratic now and run by a bunch of idiots.
If we win, great we will all celebrate. If we lose, oh well, we still wake up the next day.
We were not in the WC and I still enjoyed the WC. I’ll enjoy the Euros if we are there and eliminated in the first round or if we are done after this Tuesday.
@Dino
i get where your coming from, its good to be optimistic sometimes. The law of attraction= think positive, positive things come to you, think negative and thats all you will get.
But its not up to us to control their destiny, its up to them(the team). They need to believe in themselves, they need to believe in their ability and their cause to overcome the old enemy(turks). Football is a mental game, and if they can do that, then maybe they can win. Once they start believeing in themselves, then i will start to believe aswell.
Man in the old days at Cafe Max in Astoria NYC the crew would never feel hopeless. Even when 1/3 of our country was occupied. Maybe I’m crazy but fuck it. We will win tomorrow..
We have a big game tomorrow against an enemy in many ways. Unity my friend come on….Ours boys will be in the belly of the beast tomorrow don’t turn your back on them. If they lose life goes on but I don’t understand the down talk.
Its ok to talk tactics and how stupid the coach is but don’t sound so down. I was so pissed when they lost to Greece. I composed myself and looked towards tomorrow. Come on they can do it!!!!!
@Dino……so what do you want, blind support. if people want to be negative and point out the negative things about the team, let them, who cares. the results from these guys over the last three years is far from encouraging.
Back to the predictions……predictions are worthless. We have idiots on here who always say Croatia will win, big deal.
I still marvel at the people who can make a judgement by watching a computer screen to determine if team has heart. I’ve never doubted the effort level of this squad. Say what you want about Bilic’s coaching or the talent on the pitch, but the effort has been there.
Some of you clowns think:
win = heart
loss/tie = played with no heart
I by the way always pour my heart out when commenting on this board.
“We are up against the wall and must give more than 100% so we can look our fans, friends and families in the eye after the match………. Darijo Srna”
No Darijo 110%
If we win, it will be despite Bilic, not because of Bilic. He’s lost his mojo and will be out-coached by the opposing coach (again). He will be the first (and hopefully only) Croatian coach to fail to qualfiy for two tournaments.
Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but I see a 0-0 tie in Turkey and a 1-1 tie in Zagreb. Bottom line, we are unable to score away goals and always give up a home goal. And this will come to haunt us.
Bilic will try to put a positive spin on these results, in that we did not lose a game! Was a mistake in having him for this tournament. The player selections were questionable, the tactics were horrible and, as someone pointed out above, there is no team chemistry. With such an easy group we should’ve qualified automatically.
On the other hand, maybe this will be the turning point and we will get back on form and Bilic will get his mojo back. Will be hoping for the best.
How many Dalmatians on the team? If you want something done right you need to have one of them do it.
Please…Hrvatska is goona qualify! Stop worrying so much.
3-0 agr 3-1 at worst
I couldnt care less about predictions or who was closest either, i just pointed it out to ziva, to say so what! plenty of us predict the correct match scores. It doesnt mean anything. I do it at the betting agency aswell, sometimes you win sometimes you lose, no big deal!
I don’t think Bilic will play for a draw. Everyone expects this but he needs to be more creative. Croatia will open with an attack. Man…. so many negative people but thats the Croatian spirit. Most Croats are always negative anyway. If you are positive that Croatia will lose then stop caring. Lets not watch then. Ah but you really do care don’t you? Deep in your heart you feel that pinch that tells you no tomorrow the sun will rise and we will win. Long Live Death!!
Boys who cares about who has made the most accurate predictions. It’s as pointless as two 5 year olds arguing about who can count the highest.
Point is that Croatia will be lucky to come out with a draw. Odds are that bilic will play for the draw. Trust me when I say that there is no srce in this team. Judging by their past couple of performances, it is clear that the team has no chemistry whatsoever. Most of them have proberbly lost hope in bilic aswell. But these last couple of lines are pointless, because most of us are already aware of this.
You couple of guys that are watching those videos, make sure you save it in your favorites because you will need some cheering up on Friday night when you can’t sleep out of frustration.
If in form Olic is the key.
Instead of posting your negativity here go to the Turkish board and post your negatives there which will turn into positives for them. We should be coming together for support here. Most of us are edgy enough and don’t need to hear bad things. We know our weaknesses and how the team has underplayed but so what? Turkey ain’t the Cosmos MFers!!!
@ziva
I predicted greece at home: Draw 0.0
I predticted Greece away: Loss 1.0_2.1
My predictions have been more correct than yours.
at least i give scoreline predictions and not vauge possibilities.
Prediction: I cant see anything but a turkey win. Call me negative, glass half empty, or whatever you want, but thats the way see it. Croatia havent shown me anything to be positive about, bilic is the main culprit for that. I ja mislim da to je njegov sudbina da ce izgubiti protiv turci opet. So that his dynasty of sranje can end the way he coached. Nothing but heartbreak and disapointment.
Turkey: 2__Croatia: 0
A trip to istanbul is a daunting place for any opposition team to play at, especially playing them for a place at the euros. What they lack in ability, they make up for in grit, determination, tenacity and belief. Some vital traits that croatia has lacked under bilic. Plus they have the masterstroke gus hiddink on their side, while we have coach clueless leading us. Croatia will be overwhelmed by all of this and we are set to miss consecutive finals.
I have already come to terms with this, i have endured enough embaressment and disapointment to make me numb and de-sensitizd to any more. I will however rejoice to see the back of bilic leaving the savez.
Come on. Everyone knows Ziva is more interested in being right than seeing the team win!
@ ziva pretty vague predictions stuggling, lose or tie and you you nailed one their kreskin you don,t have to wait till the morning for some scouting report do you lets here one TODAY -U- za dom spremni rob nikada
Just Keep watching the Goran Vlaović hi-light on youtube for inspiration.
Ziva don’t be a Debbie downer on the eve of battle please.
“It Can Be Done”……….
And what does a prediction show…..I’ll have one in the morning if it so interests you….
but, i have been correct on most of them so far….
said we would tie at home to greece, we did
said we would not win (lose or tie) in greece, we did
said we would struggle with georgia in both game, we did
Don’t blame Ziva Istina for being on top of things and pointing out the obvious.
the time for lamenting on injuries and previous performances is over. time to go back into fan mode. croatia 1 – 0 ! goal from mandzukic!
PREDICTION 2-2 (FIRST-LEG){OLIC AND EDUARDO} 0-0(SECOND LEG){SCORELESS} GUESS WHO ADVANCES -U- ZA DOM SPREMNI BOLJE GROB NEGO ROB
@ Ziva
….annoying
@ ziva hey buddy you think you fuckin know everything lets see a prediction out of your post -U- ZA DOM SPREMNI
You know some of you are ready to roll over and just take it with no lube. F-that. We have the quality to beat Turkey. Yes Bilic scares me but It’s the players who need to find the way. Its about the Will.
Hope I’m wrong, but I have it as Turkey 2, Croatia 1. Goal from Eduardo.
@anonymous….who cares if people decide to boo or cheer the team. Fans are entitled to do whatever they want.
@Dino…..to help you sleep you should go to youtube and watch our games over the last two years, that will help you put yourself to sleep.
I woke up last night at 5:00am EST. I cannot sleep because of this game. I watched Croatia videos on YouTube and almost cry. To bad that I am stuck in Georgia two hours from Atlanta. I may have to watch it on ESPN3 by myself. I expect 110% from this team tomorrow. No pussyfoot football. I expect their bodies to be pushed to the limit with total abandon. If you have to stop a shot on goal with your face you will do it!!!!
Video will be up soon of my preview. It’s very serious and very passionate.
excellent video. i agree with you ante, that away goal is crucial. let’s hope that bilic and the boys can pull one out of istanbul. after the heartbreak they went through (and knowing that a healthy eduardo at euro 2008 could have made the difference in that QF against the turks but he’s back with a 2nd crack at it), how could you not feel pumped for this game??? ajdemo! looks like a lot of people will be *cough cough* coming down with a 24 hour bug tonite or tomorrow morning and not working tomorrow afternoon 🙂
prediction: 1-1 (sorry to copy yours ante….first goal from cro with a late turkish equalizer)
Ćorluka će biti spreman za Tursku!
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/konacno-dobre-vijesti-corluka-ce-biti-spreman-za-tursku/582101.aspx
like i said b4 lets show some heart and cheer not jeer Bilic and the boys in checkers AJMO VATRENI; ZA DOM SPREMNI -U-
That video is awesome! Big time goosebumps! Especially on the Vlaovic goal!