KICKOFF @ 2:30 PM (ET)
It’s not every day that something recognized as ‘world class’ visits our small country of Croatia, which only has a population of 4.2 million people. The only other thing that comes to mind is when the Pope pays an occasional visit. So what brings the best football club in the world to little Croatia? What brings soccer royalty to Split?
Hajduk Split have managed to host current European champions Barcelona FC at the Poljud in Split; in a friendly match to commemorate their 100th year of existence as a football club, Soccernet reports. Hajduk may only be the second best club in Croatia at the moment, but we all know that Poljud will be rockin’ with 35,000+ Saturday night in complete ecstasy and jubilation.
FIRST COMMENT UNDER THE ABOVE SOCCERNET LINK
However, what do you expect from the match. Should Hajduk go all out and try to beat Europe’s best or just kick the ball around? They surely won’t let Barcelona run all over them, right?
HAPPY 100TH HAJDUK!
HAJDUK MANAGER BALAKOV PICKING UP ON THE GIRLS BEFORE THE BIG MATCH
“There is no room for nervousness, it is a day that will be a holiday in Split. There will be a lot of emotions, I expect a good atmosphere. It is with great pleasure to play these type of matches, we are lucky to play against such a big club. Maybe we will see something that we have not experienced yet.
I feel great respect, we have to have it when Barcelona is on the other side. But that does not mean that we fear them. I told my squad that I do not want to see fear in them. Even the players of Barcelona are people. I do not think about a win or a loss as there is little difference between those two things. I am an optimistic person, I believe it will be a good match and that we will enjoy it.
Every player in Hajduk is good. The only difference is experience, some are a little more experienced than others, and now everyone will get a chance to show their quality. I have not noticed that the team is nervous or scared. The atmosphere in the locker room is good, we train well, and there will be no problems.
It will be interesting to see how my players will react against the best team in the world. I want to see what is the difference in quality between my players and Barcelona’s. This match will prepare us against Stoke, even though they don’t play the same style. Barcelona will play seriously, and the match will surely be quite different from Šibenik. I wish that the players show everything that they know, to show how good we are progressing.”
-Hajduk coach Krasimir Balakov
It is understood that Hajduk will earn anywhere from €500,000-1 million in this friendly match; where Barcelona will sport their new Qatar Foundation kits. However, 3,000 seats have still been unsold for the match. Messi, Alves, Adriano, Mascherano, Milito, Puyol, Krkić and Xavi will not play.
MORE CELEBRATION FROM SPLIT IN FEBRUARY
“From the beginning we have to go victoriously. In all the friendly matches we seek victory. I do not accept a philosophy that in such encounters we don’t put in much effort. The best way to prepare for the new season is to play against quality opponents and to win.
Hajduk is an old, well-known club, so I know. I watched some videos and the scenery is beautiful. I believe that the stadium will be full and that we will meet the expectations. This is our first game, but we can not treat this game as a warm-up.
I know this is a new country, twenty years ago, right? I welcome Croatia. You have the Adriatic Sea, they told me that the beaches are beautiful, one of my friends from Qatar told me that the sea is so clean that you can drink it. I have never been to Croatia, now I will see Split, maybe I will return next summer.”
-Barca manager Pep Guardiola
THE WALLS OF DUBROVNIK BURN FOR HAJDUK
We’ve come a long way since…
that ESPN piece was in the works for a while and it came from a croat journalist/blogger.
This site works for Internationals.
http://atdhe.ws/
I haven't been able to find any FREE live streaming sites for domestic Croatian games. I think it's pay to play.
On another note, it seems that you guys are shaping the news at ESPN(safe to say). That guys whole piece focused around who Hajduk is. Don't think it's just a coincidence that it came right after that Beckham comment. Great ESPN story on Hajduk. As a Dinamo fan, I had no idea about their story.
Keep up the good work, and tell Mourinho to lighten up.
anyone have a link for dinamo v inter today? thanks!
Here's a thought for those who want to complain about "hajduk Ramadan"…..don't watch, listen or read anything about this whole Barca-Hajduk thing.
Its nothing more than a glorified friendly.
Congrats to hajduk for actually getting this done. But, i also don't want to hear anyone from hajduk bitching about the # of first-team players missing for barca. This type of shit happens all the time when the big name clubs travel for friendlies.
The price is so inflated for this that many of the true hajduk fans and true soccer fans within Croatia are unable to attend.
In the end Hajduk will make some decent cash from this whole thing, but I hope the let many of their young kids get a chance tonight. The result is meaningless, they all are meaningless for friendlies.
You guys ready for "Hajduk Ramadan" ? I know Ante B is