MANDŽUKIĆ HEADS HOME THE FIRST GOAL IN THE 5TH MINUTE
Dinamo Zagreb stuck a dagger into Hearts players Thursday night at Maksimir as the Croatian club easily won 4-0. Mario Mandžukić, Dimitrios Papadopoulos, Ivica Vrdoljak and Igor Bišćan all scored goals in the thumping of the Scottish side. Dinamo has all but stamped their ticket into the Europa League group stage.
Although Hearts weren’t much of a challenge for Dinamo, it’s good to see Dinamo score some goals and build some momentum before group stage matches begin.
1ST HALF GOALS
2ND HALF GOALS
Mladen Petrić scored a hat trick as Hamburg took care of second division French team, Guingamp, 5-1 Thursday. Guingamp qualified for Europa League by winning the French Cup last season, only to get relegated from Ligue 1 in the process. Petrić played the full 90 and made the most of it. Check out his goals.
GALINOVIĆ GOT BANGED UP AGAINST ATLETICO
Panathinaikos held their own against a far more superior Athletico Madrid squad for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff in Athens this past Wednesday. However, the 3-2 victory leaves a tough road ahead for Panathinaikos to advance to the group stage of the tournament.
Mario Galinović provided a less than stellar performance between the pipes for the UEFA Champions League playoff, appearing uncoordinated and confused with each goal he surrendered, especially the third and final coming off the foot of Argentinian phenom Sergio Aguero. In simple words, Galinović played like a clown. No way he deserves even a chance of a call up after this performance.
ANTE RUKAVINA RIDING THE PINE ONCE AGAIN
Ante Rukavina was listed as a substitute but remained on the bench for the entire match. Look for the Panathinaikos management to include Rukavina in the starting lineup for the second leg next week in Madrid to inject some speed and creativity into the starting XI.
Hrvoje Čale started for Trabzonspor but was subbed out in the 80th minute in a 3-1 loss to French side Toulouse. Trabzonspor travel to France next week for the second leg.
Drago Gabrić has yet to make an appearance for Trabzonspor since joining them from Hajduk Split.
Rapid Vienna upset Aston Villa in Europa League play as 23 year-old former Hajduk striker Nikica Jelavić provided the lone goal for his Austrian club just 16 seconds into the match. Jelavić played the entire match and will be traveling next week to England with his team for what should be a very difficult second leg against a resilient Aston Villa squad.
JELAVIĆ BRINGS PANDEMONIUM TO THE GERARD HANEPPI STADIUM!
IN OTHER NEWS AROUND EUROPE…
Eduardo started Tuesday’s playoff match against Celtic on the bench but never even came out of the locker room after halftime. He is heard to be ok and should play this weekend against Portsmouth. Arsenal easily won 2-0 and should make the Champions League group stage yet another year.
Darijo Srna and Shakhtar Donetsk took care of Turkish side, Sivasspor, 3-0 in Turkey on Thursday night. Look for Shakhtar to be hungry as they defend last year’s UEFA Cup title as they were bounced out of Champions League too early this year.
Ivica Križanac and former UEFA Cup champs, Zenit St. Petersburg, lost 4-3 on the road to Portuguese club Nacional. Although they lost, Zenit still look good to go through as they only need a 1-0 or 2-1 win in Russia to make group stage as they scored three away goals in the first leg. Križanac was injured last we checked and is not known to have played any minutes in this game.
Ivan Jurić and Genoa took care of OB Odense 3-1 in Italy Thursday night. They should be part of group play action with this nice display without last year’s goal scorer Milito.
~ Ante Kvartuč finally reporting with Internet access again! Ivica Peroš reporting from Yonkers, NY
Osijek's youth is prob the best in Croatia. Suker, Vlaovic, Pranjic, Ljubojevic, Babic, Vranjes, Cvitanovic all came from there. But they just need one of two oldies. Valentin Babic was a big loss as well. They prob need something like bringing back Mario Tokic on a free just to calm the nerves of the youngster. They also need a fit Karlo Primorac. I think ultimately Osijek might be okay. I definitely have Medimurje and Seveste down for relegation.
Osijek and Zagreb are gonna have to scrap like hell to get above Sibernik, Cibalia, Zapresic and Zadar as i think they are all tough this year. They kept their strong players and have added to it.
Regards competition for Dinamo at present i don't see any. Hajduk given us a massive head start and are still reshaping their team.
I think we're baffled as well at present whether to alter our team or not. We prob might get a bid for Ivica Vrdoljak from Red Bull this week. I am totally unsure if we should accept it or not. Vrdoljak could be a star in Austria and improve his game. But we could also keep him and see how he goes in the Europa Liga or gets better during the course of the season. If we did sell him, we'd be aiming to buy Nikola Pokrivac which would sort out his situation. I think ultimately we prob will just reject Red Bull's bid as avoid the hassle of having to buy a replacement. After all we're only talking about £2m. I'm not sure that type of money means that much to us these days.
I think Soldo wants a lot of his ex Dinamo players, but his board aren't backing him. He's been interested in Vrdoljak, Pokrivac and Cale, but i don't think the money is there.
With regards to Osijek. I have a soft spot for teams that embrace the total football mentality and can create their own stars from their youth ranks. I was only 10 in 1990 when my father took me to see the Dutch giants Ajax. Hajduk, Ajax and Arsenal were the first clubs that I followed. As I got older, the Internet made things easier to follow football in Canada where everything seems to be about Hockey. I love following Barcelonas youth academy, Boca and River down in Argentina as well. Thats why I admirer Osijek. They brought in all the young kids, they call them the generation of 1990. Most of the team was born between 1988 – 1991. I hope that the kids can mature together and get it right. Osijek, Rijeka and Varteks have a long tradition of nurturing football talent in Croatia. I hope that they thrive. Sibenik and Zagreb also have a few young prospects which look interesting.
Big Sam jumped to the defense of Kalinic as well, saying that while he didnt have his shooting boots on, he did work into good positions. It looks bad, but, I cant really get down on it. This is his big move outside of Croatia, his heart was probably pumping a millions times a minute. First, he thinks he will sit on the bench, then Di Santo gets hurt and he has to jump on the field. I would have preferred him in Germany or Portugal.
Krancjar apparently turned down a move to Sevilla. If it is true, hes on crack.
Caught the second half of the Bayern game. Olic looked lively, Prajnic was subbed off at the 39th minute. No word if it was tactical or due to injury.
Still plenty of time for the teams in Croatia to separate themselves from the pack. Plus, the transfer window is still open, allot can still change the equation.
At least you can possibly say that Kalinic got himself in good scoring positions. He also did himself no favours by missing preseason. I'm not a big Kalinic fan, but i'm not gonna criticise him about today. Its early days for him. Kranjcar is more concerning as he put in the laziest performance ever today. i don't think he wants to be there anymore.
I think 10 or 12 teams is best. To be honest i'm not sure it really makes much difference whether its 8, 10 or 12. It doesn't seem to increase or decrease the quality cos if the standard was dropping Lokomotiva, Pula and Karlovac should really be at the bottom, but none of them are and if you look through some of their players to be honest Asim Sehic, Traore, Nino Bule are among the better players in the division. I think it wasn't intended by Stimac at all – knowing HNS they prob did it to give Croat players top stats so clubs, directors and agent could earn money out of them. However actually whats happened is like a cat being thrown amongst the pigeons type effect. There are teams who have been mediocre for years who are being rattled by the new sides in HNL1. I think young players is all well and good but past history has also shown that guys with good foriegn experience normally shine in HNL1. This season Nino Bule looks like he's gonna rip up the league and all those sides like Zagreb, Osijek possibly missed a trick in not signing him.
I think Osijek are starting to realise this again and trying to get Milan Pavlivic and Skender back. Zagreb also need to get Lovrek and Jese back cos their clearly talented young puys needs help.
Apparently Kalinic was quite poor. I had hoped he would go to a league where there wouldn't be as much pressure and media attention.
I like Osijeks chances to stay up. They have a very talented, but, extremely young side. Against Hajduk on the opening day, I believe the average starting age was 22 or 23.
Dinamo, as well as Hajduk would greatly benefit from a league of 8, no more than 10. Teams may not be the strongest, but, its pretty decent quality week after week. I would really prefer reuniting the Jugoslavian League.
I like Karlovac. I think they're alright. I don't think HNL should be 16 teams, but i don't think Karlovac, Lokomotiva or Pula make the division any worse. I think Seveste are rubbish and Medimurje aren't up to much, but its a lottery as to who else are likely to go down. Prob Osijek or Zagreb if they don't buy some players.
There is a team called SNK Split in HNL2. I reckon Hajduk should take over this team and send their youth down there.
Kalinic came on as sub today, but missed an open goal in the last minute.
Eduardo set up goals in 4-1 win over Kranjcar's Portsmouth. Kranjcar has to transfer from Portsmouth in the next 7 days. Kalinic should be thankful he didn't end up there. I think in EPL Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City can all win title – then will come sides like Villa, Fulham, Everton and Sunderland. The rest will be miles behind.
Haha, forget I said Karlovac. I was looking at the wrong name. They are nowhere near Split.
@ DinamoFan – Yes, Trogir is quite close. I think Karlovac or Dugopolje (which is a bit more of a project). They do however have a great new stadium. The industrial area there is just booming. Its right beside Sinj and Trijl, so, I see the cities quite often when visiting family.
It was one poor game by Galinovic. However, if you watched the run that Panthinaikos made last year, he made some amazing saves that kept them in games. Stipe needs to figure out his own career. I am not saying hes the best goalie, but, I never really worry with him between the posts.
Regards this Galinovic criticism – i kinda see it as a touting Runje to stay as first choice, but is Runje really suitable. Whats the feeling regards Runje now? I like that he plays each week with Lens. Not sure playing a 34 year old is much good for Croatias future, but is ok i guess in short term. I hugely worry about Runje against England. My feeling on England is they do not pass that well, but quality crossing is everything in English football especially if they play Heskey and one thing i'd say about Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Cole and Johnson is they have a quality cross. We all know that Runje is one of the smallest players in the squad. His lack of height seriously concerns me against England. Almost as much as Pletikosa's lack of football. I still think we have a goalkeeping problem for that England game.
If a foreign club came for Zapresic's keeper he'd prob be a reserve, but at Dinamo we need him soon as Butina is getting on in age and Keleva and Loncaric are not sufficient replacements. I think we should make the deal at the end of the season, then loan him back to Zapresic for next season. Then put him in the team the season after. I think Hajduk might have trouble selling Subasic. Nobody seems to buy keepers these days. Hajduk prob will decide they don't need to sell. I wander how Pletikosa is going to get himself back on the season. Its a long time before his contract runs out. I think he should request to go out on loan to another Russian club. In Russia he must have some sort of a reputation. I highly doubt he'll get a transfer where he'll play first team football. I think he needs a loan transfer.
I think Zadar is bit too ambitious to be a feeder club. I think they bought Marin Ljubicic which i've heard is regarded as a bad selling by Hajduk. Zadar are more like a friendly partner like Zapresic is to us. I reckon Hajduk needs there own Lokomotive Zagreb. Who is the closest team geographically to Hajduk? Is NK Trogir close to Hajduk. They should take over a second division side like that and ship out youth players to them.
Lokomotive Zagreb is almost like Dinamo Number 2. I think Antolic might be over there soon as well.
Hajduk needs to get Vukusic out on loan somewhere. Especially with Duje Cop arriving and talk of Ivan Perisic. Rakitic was probably benched cos it was an away game. Prob changed their tactics. I think Rakitic will be in and out the team under Magath. Magath really would like some of his Wolfsburg's guys back ideally like Dzeko and Misimovic. I think all Schalke players are on trial with him.
Schalke left Rakitic on the bench today. The first two games of the season, he is subbed off at half time. Today, he doesn't even play. If someone knows something more about this, I would love to hear it. What I do know is, 3-4 weeks ago Magath was reported to have yelled at him all training because he doesn't run enough, then, he is taken off two consecutive weeks at half time. I would love to hear news that he had the flu, or is nursing a slight injury. This just doesn't look good on the surface.
Two Ljubicics' and Jozinovic have been both loaned to Zadar. They also gave us Subasic and Tomasov. The two clubs have done quite a bit of business in the past 2 years. Antonio Jezina is the starting goalie for the U-21's and starting goalie of Zadar. He should not be looked past, solid prospect.
The probem with Delic is, what happens if he gets to many admirers. Perhaps Inter recieve an offer from a foreign cub that they cant refuse. I still think the best thing for him is to stay in Croatia for another 6 years. Just grantee first team football and keep progressing.
We'll most likely give them Keleva or Loncaric in exchange so they don't go without a half decent keeper. Unfortunately for Hajduk he is at Zapresic. We all kinda know there are friends of Hajduk and friends of Dinamo in HNL. Zapresic is Dinamo's friend – its almost a second feeder club of ours. We gave them lots of players and they've aided our players – our last HNL signing Sivonjic also came from there.
Hajduk has a more difficult partner in Sibernik who tend to give them a bit of a rough ride when they want to. I think i've said this before, but Hajduk really could do need a feeder club like Dinamo has with Zapresic and Lokomotive.
@dinamofan:)
very true, a great keeper in the making who will surely go to dinamo before he leaves for a petica league.
RIO FERDINAND IS OUT FOR A MONTH. No chance he will be suiting up to face Croatia on September 9.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/index?cc=5901
Anyway Hajduk will sign Pletikosa if they sell Subasic.
Ivan Klasnic just scored again. His third in 3 games. Actually i have no problem with him staying at Nantes. Lets face it he signed a long term deal that's hard to get out of and he does kinda owe them.
Re: Ivica
lol stop giving away the name of our next keeper at Dinamo. Nobodies heard of him. He's anonymous until he's on a Dinamo contract. We need him at the end of the season. Zapresic are our friends so they'll agree a deal with us before they talk to Hajduk. They need to remember we leant them Modric, Dudu, Corluka, Tomic in the past. Can't ditch your friends in times of need:)
@ Ante K
I know we have Subasic as our goalie for the not too distant future, but have you heard of Matej Delac of Inter Zapresic. One of the great talents in Europe and he is just a baby (16 or 17 years old). Subasic will be 25 in October and he is still in the HNL. He need to get into a more competitive league to develop in time for a future qualifying campaign.
Seriously though.
Go easy on the Hearts in the 2nd Leg. They are not very good.
Regards etc.
Hibee Paul
GIRUYJS.
Rukavina was coming back from injury. That is why their last game he wasn't even listed as a sub. My Greek friends watched the game in Greek. Apparently the commentators said he sutained a small injury in practice.
Ante, lets face it we're talking about Champions League here and conceding goals to Forlan and Aguero. This is a higher level than Spartak Moscow reserves and French second division football which is where Runje was last season.
One bad game doesn't dispell all the good games Galinovic played. I think that Bilic has to stick with Runje now, but not Pletikosa. Regards Runje he Can't go round chopping and changing all the time. But still there is very little between the 5 keepers – Runje, Didiluca, Galinovic, Pletikosa and Subasic. Quite frankly any of them could be first choice. The others are all capable of that Galinovic performance too as well as having good games.
I think Srna to Chelsea and Bosingwa to Bayern is what needs to happen. I have my doubts it'd go through. The agent is a total prat, he's saying that its complicated as Srna would pay higher tax in Spain or England than he would in Ukraine and believes Srna should recieve enormous wages. That comes across really bad to the average fan living in England. English people will not like that kind of talk at all. Srna needs to tell his agent to keep his mouth shut. He either comes for a desire to play for Chelsea or not at all.
News like Babic always interests me. Always like to see plays who gone through bad spells rebuild their careers.
There is zero need for Jelavic to move out of Austria. He needs 2 years there and i think he can still play for Croatia whilst in Austria no trouble. But anyway i think he's just an option in extreme circumstances – a player of potential. Nothing more, nothing less. Far from ready at the moment. Being at Rapid is a stable place for him after spending time at Waregem and with a unsuccessful Hajduk side.
@croatiafan:),
If you watched the game with Galinovic you would know what I was talking about. He looked dazed and asleep. Every goal that got by him was due to Galinovic being one step too slow. With Subasic in the wings there is no reason to fool around with Galinovic or Didulica. It's Runje now and Pletikosa as backup.
It's not like the Greek league is fantastic anyways. Olympiakos is the only other decent competition.
Last year when they made their run in Champions League, they got in by beating Sparta Prague (big deal) and then showed up in Germany winning 3-0 against Werder Bremen. That was their big game. Granted they held there own against Villareal, they are still not a Champions League squad. They won't win in Madrid next week.
Yes we should definitely keep an eye on this Jelavic kid. Hopefully he can do well this year and move out of Austria.
Petric is going to have a much better season this year than last. losing Olic only helps him.
Thanks for the Srna news. I'll post it later today.
Interesting that he didn't start.
Bbic scored in a friendly. Not news worthy in my opinion. But thanks for the heads up.
Woo that was a bit of a stinker by Galinovic, but then again how many stinkers we seen from Runje and Pleti as well. Lets just say that was an off day.
Runje has the gloves at the moment and if Bilic wants to give him a run cos he plays each week with Lens i have no problem with that. As for Pleti – if he still has no games then swap him around with Subasic.
Galinovic and Didiluca are still good keepers that will do well for their clubs, but think they may as well give up on international football.
Petric looks good this season. I think best thing for him was to get rid of Olic and visa versa. That partnership didn't really help either player to play their natural game. Breaking them up brings the best out of both of them. Looks like Petric, Olic, Eduardo and Mandzo picks itself. I also think if Klasnic stays fit and healthy and aims to score 15 goals plus at Nantes then we don't neccessarily need him to transfer. He's 6th striker now and only gonna be considered in an emergency.
Well done to Jelavic. I think he'll have a good season. I don't think he's a Croatia player yet, but someone we should keep an eye on as he could improve.
Dario Srna actually didn't start that game and their speculation over here linking him with Chelsea. Apparently his annoying agent is doing everything possible to get him transferred.
Hey Marko Babic scored a great goal against Numancia for Zaragoza. He was breathing though like he was having an athsma attack. The guy clearly has not played enough football, but at least he's still got it. Hope it works out for him this time in Spain.