ENGLAND
In Leicester City’s last match of the season, Andrej Kramarić came off the bench in the 65th minute to score the last goal of the campaign, an 86th minute right-footed strike to the far post from inside the box to defeat QPR 5-1. Kramarić has not been a vital part of Leicester’s rise out of the relegation zone, but he has had glimpses of greatness since coming to England from Rijeka in January. With only playing half a season in the Croatian Prva Liga, Kramarić is still in the lead for top goal scorer, one ahead of Angelo Henriquez, who currently has 20.
Kramarić goal vs. QPR
Niko Kranjčar and QPR were officially relegated weeks ago. The Croatian midfielder will be 31 years old when the new season starts and his national playing days are well behind him. Who will pick up Kranjčar on the cheap? Or will he play for QPR in the English 2nd Division?
Dejan Lovren was left on the bench as Liverpool were embarrassed by Stoke City 6-1 on the final day of the season. Liverpool is rumored to have a large overhaul in the offseason. Will Lovren be a part of it or will he stay at Anfield? Niica Jelavić and Hull City were officially relegated from the Premiership Sunday afternoon after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United. Jelavić will be 30 years old in late August. Will he be shipped to another English team or play elsewhere in Europe next season?
Germany
Photo: EPA/DANIEL REINHARDT
They say that great players have to come through in difficult high pressure moments to be considered great. Ivica Olić did just that after scoring the opening goal in the 49th minute to lead Hamburger SV to a 2-0 win over Schalke 04 and into the relegation playoffs against Karlsruher SC on Thursday. The former Dinamo Zagreb striker has never been a “world striker” but has always managed to find a way to get the ball into the back of the net with his workhorse attitude and German-like mentality. Ivica scored off his only shot on goal as he poached in a lose ball off a Hamburger corner kick.
Photo: EPA/AXEL HEIMKEN
Ivo Iličević started and played 90 minutes as a left winger for Hamburger SV in the win. The German born Croatian international had a few nice crosses early on but wasn’t much of a threat against a good Schalke defense. Ivo will hope to shine for Hamburger SV on Thursday and Monday in the Bundesliga playoffs.
Photo: Kicker
Wolfsburg clinched the Bundesliga runner up spot following a highly entertaining 2-2 draw against Koln on Saturday night. Former Haduk Split prospect, Ivan Perišić, started and played 74 minutes on the right wing for Wolfsburg in the draw. Ivan finished the Bundesliga season with his fifth goal of the year in the 15th minute of play. Daniel Caligiuri found him in the box with a beautiful cross and the 26-year-old scored a typical-Ivica-Olić-like goal. Wolfsburg will entertain Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal final next weekend.
Photo: EPA/ARNE DEDERT
Tin Jedvaj had one of those days at the office on Saturday as the former Dinamo Zagreb defender played a part in both goals in a 2-1 loss against Frankfurt on Saturday. In virtually a meaningless game for both sides, Tin started and played 87 minutes at center back for Bayer Leverkusen in the loss. Tin looked to have tried to play an offside trap but was burned on the left side as Haris Seferovic opened up the scoring for Frankfurt. Five minutes before the halftime whistle, Alexander Madlug will put in the game winner for Frankfurt off a corner kick as Jedvaj could only get a touch on an attempted clearance.
A bit of an unlucky performance by Tin Jedvaj as he tries to get accustomed to played center back. No need to worry as the 19-year-old has a bright future ahead of him. Tin represented Bayer Leverkusen 18 times this season and even managed to score twice.
Italy
PHOTO:EPA/PAOLO ZEGGIO
Mateo Kovačić and Marcelo Brozović both got the start for Inter Milan in a 3-2 loss at Genoa on Saturday night. Marcelo started on the right wing while Mateo led the Inter attack on the left side. Genoa would equalize twice and eventually go on and win with an 88th minute goal from Juraj Kucka. Marcelo didn’t do much on that right side but came close early in the first half as his header just went wide of the post. Mateo was fouled a game high four times and did well distributing the ball to start the Inter Milan attack.
Photo: EPA/ALBERTO LANCIA
Igor Bubnjić and Stipe Perica both started for Udinese in a 1-0 loss at home to Sassuolo on Sunday. Stipe played the first half and finished with three shots, while Igor went the distance and wasn’t at fault for the lone goal. Šime Vrsaljko missed the match and is questionable to be ready in time for Croatia against Italy in June.
Milan Badelj looked on from the bench as Fiorentina took a step closer to a Europa League spot with a 3-2 win over Palermo on Sunday. Duje Čop started and played 62 minutes in a 1-0 win over Cesena in a battle of Serie A relegated sides. The only question on Duje’s mind is where will he be playing football next season. Ivan Strinić looked on from the bench as Napoli will most likely finish with an Europa League spot following a 3-1 loss at Juventus on Saturday.
FRANCE
Monaco’s season came to a successful end on Saturday, winning at Lorient 1-0 in their fourth win in five matches. Monaco needed every one of those victories, as they finished 3rd in the Ligue 1 table, and in the last Champions League place, by two points. Dainjel Subašić made two easy saves in the match, earning a clean sheet, and picking up a yellow card for time-wasting in second half stoppage time.
RUSSIA
It took 120 minutes, but Lokomotiv Moscow was able to overcome opponents Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday in the Russian Cup Final, qualifying for the Europa League in the process. Vedran Ćorluka played all 120 minutes, and was not responsible for Kuban’s goal. The final score was 3-1, with extra time goals coming in the 104th and 111th minutes. Lokomotiv have two games remaining in their Russian Premier League campaign, and will finish between fifth and ninth. They take on Kuban Krasnodar again on Monday.
Ćorluka’s thoughts on the match
GREECE
Panathinaikos are two for two thus far in the Greek Super League Playoffs, picking up a road win against Asteras and a home victory against Atromitos on Sunday. Gordon Schildenfeld started in both matches, while Danjiel Pranjić was a second half sub against Atromitos and Mladen Petrić didn’t play in either match. Schildenfeld scored the first goal in the 4-0 win over Asteras, poking home off a corner in the 26th minute. Panathinaikos sit four points on top of the playoff with four matches remaining. The top team in the playoff advances to the Champions League qualifiers next year, and second and third will head to next year’s Europa League.
UKRAINE
Shakhtar Donetsk fell 3-2 at Dnipro on Saturday, as they failed to lock up second in the Ukranian Premier League. Darijo Srna started and was forced off in the 9th minute with an injury. The injury was not serious and he is expected to be back within a week. Nikola Kalinić did not feature for Dnipro. Shakhtar can clinch a 2015/16 Champions League berth with a home win against second-to-last Karpaty Lyiv next weekend.
Domagoj Vida was left out of the Dynamo Kyiv squad on Sunday, as the side won 1-0 on the road at Karpaty Lyiv, with the Ukranian Premier League title already wrapped up.
Next Matches:
Wednesday, 5/27
Sevilla vs. Dnipro (Europa League Final)
Saturday, 5/30
Wolfsburg at Borussia Dortmund(DFB Pokal Final), Barcelona at Athletic Club(Copa del Rey Final), Lokomotiv Moskva at Zenit, Metalurh at Dynamo Kyiv, Karpaty at Shakhtar Donetsk, Dnipro at Hoverla
Sunday, 5/31
Chievo at Fiorentina, Empoli at Internazionale, Genoa at Sassuolo, Lazio at Napoli, Udinese at Cagliari
~Ante Kvartuč and Denis Svirčić reporting from sunny Southern California, Zach Gilfix reporting from Minneapolis, MN
If he feels that way Barbour Strinic, no biggie. Not every guy burns with desire to play for the repka. THere have been players in the past who have had their desire questioned behind closed doors about playing for the repka. And have only continued to do so because of the fear of the backlash they would get from the fans for wanting to play for “novac” over “Hrvatska”.
EURO 2016
SUBASIC
VIDA CORLUKA LOVERN SRNA
PRANJIC
MODRIC RATKIC KOVAVCIC
OLIC MANDZUKIC
3 SUBS PERSIC BROZOVIC BADEJ
NK stated Strinic doe not bleed for the shirt like Olic Pranjic Srna because we won so much with them the past 12 years!
Heres your answers
http://www.jutarnji.hr/zasto-niko-kovac-nije-zvao-strinica–izbornik-mu-zamjera-nedostatak-zelje-da-igra-za-vatrene/1315863/
I’m not sure what’s up with Strinic. Ivan failed to get off the Napoli bench the past two matches after returning from an ankle injury the week before.
whats up with strinic?
is he hurt?
does kovac simply not like him?
or does he not have much interest in playing for the repka as i heard some rumblings about?
anyone else see Suker’s commentary about the meeting they had with Hajduk?
is was quite odd, to say the least!
Ziva- yes I actually shouldn’t have suggested him, I was reacting to seeing Rebic on the list and although I know he’s a good player, he’s done little over the past 2 years at his clubs.
Coric doesn’t deserve a call up right now, come on. No need to force him. Plus, it came out last week that Dinamo didn’t want him called up.
Sto je tu Vs gibraltar Kalinic Tomecak Jedvaj Sifo Leovac- Pasalic Badelj Pjaca Halilovic Rebic Kramaric/Kalinic.
Most likely vs Italija Suba Srna Vida Lovren Pranjic Brozovic Rakitic Perisic Kovacic Olic Mandzukic.
Lovren for Croatia never played well in all his caps Sifo Carli Even Vida are soild in back but Lovren man its like he trys to hard not to fuck up and he fucks up haaa. Even jedvaj v argentina looked good. Im not a lovren guy. Also How does Halilovic get called up but Coric who is better than Halilovic and plays standarly in HNl gets cold shoulder man NK Situm? Rebic Halilovic Pranjic getting call ups really puzzle me yet Perica Santini Livakovic Dont get called. I have to say if your building for euro 2016 to make a run then Srna Olic Pranjic have no buisness being in 11 to start game. I really dont know with croatian coaches i really lost interest in the Repka since clearly the best 11 or 15 arent on game day sheet.
actually and if anything, it looked better on him that he sat and they got killed…what a shit show at Liverpool!
Why not sit. Not like he earned the opp.
Why did Liverpool sit Lovren?
So based on Čevaps potpis Vs italy it will be Subasic Srna Lovren Vida Sranjic Brozovic Kovacic Rakitic Perisic Oldic Mandzukic and bez Modric we suck My lineup Subasic Vrsaljko Jedvaj Vida/Sifo Strinic Brozovic Kovacic Perisic Rakitic Pjaca/Kramaric Mandzukic Bez Modric we always look bad go back to 2009 vs belarus england Scotland we will see and is anyone hyped for this game im not empty stadion who cares and the game is national televised game in the world
Croatians in Belgium and Holland:
Season was already over Milic and Blazevic (Oostende), Grgic-Bacelic (Cercle Bruges), Jakolis (Moeskroen), Cale and Vukusic (Waasland-Beveren).
Meljnak lost his last game in the playoff with Lokeren against Mechelen (2-0), so no European football for Dario next year. He had some great games for Lokeren but he remained on the bench as an unused sub during the last game of this season.
Santini (Kortrijk) lost 1-0 to Club Bruges (where Brodic is still out due an injury). Santini played the entire game but looked tired.
First game for Ante Puljic for the new Belgian champions AA Gent. Ante didn’t play this season due to an injury. He was back at the begin of April but since his colleagues were doing so well, he didn’t get a new chance. Ante played the last game (with no meaning) against Anderlecht. They lost 2-1 but Ante did well as a CB.
Robert Muric finally starts to impress for Ajax B. Rumor has it that he would be part of Ajax A next season.
After Vukusic Waasland-Beveren now decided to stop the contract of Hrvoje Cale so Cale is now a free agent.
Interesting that Strinic didn’t get called up. He must really be out of favor with the current coaching staff. I was watching highlights from Euro 2012 between Croatia-Italy. Besides Modric, Strinic was Croatia’s best player. Constantly racing down the left side and causing problems.
It’s unfortunate what’s going on, but things can always change. One big club season and an injury makes you a first choice player in the back four.
Kalinic getting called up is also interesting. Wonder how Srna feels about that.
That Corluka video has me in tears. So random haha.
Ante Coric didn’t get a call?
shouldn’t he be on the squad for the Gibraltar game?
Some interesting call ups for the repka. Not really sure what Rebic or Sharbini did to deserve a call along with Situm, but if they were only called up for the friendly to rest the regulars, than fine by me.
The Gilbraltor game should feature only backups. No reason to play any of the regulars in that match. You get nothing from a 10-0 win. Not even sure why that game is being played, but Puppet Suker has a few obligations to pay off for his votes to get into the Exec Committe of UEFA.
Good call to rest Modric. Only an idiot would consider playing him in a situation like this; he is coming off an injury filled season, the game against Italy is not a must win game. Let him rest.
I also wonder how Italy will approach with so many of their players coming off the CL final with Juventus.