(During the next 30 days, starting May 10th, CroatianSports will be giving “season grades” to 30 of Croatia’s most important football players: Starting XI, bench, fringe, prospects. Grades will be given on preseason expectations vs. actual season performance; not stats.)
Day 9: Borna Sosa
Season Grade: C+
National Team: D+
Stuttgart: B+
Season Highlight:
Beautiful bar-down free-kick in 3-0 victory over Koln
Team next season:
- Mid-table Bundesliga club (50%)
- Move to a big team in another top 5 league (40%)
- Stay at Stuttgart (10%)
What the future holds:
Sosa has had another solid season for relegation-facing Stuttgart, but has yet to take that next step in his career in order to unlock a new level of play. This season has to be his last with the club, as he has recorded a respectable 2 goals and 7 assists from defense and has an average match rating of 7.21 according to SofaScore. The reason his season grade seems harshly low is due to National Team performances and the fact he just isn’t really meeting expectations. Let’s be honest, has Sosa really contributed anything more than predecessor’s like Barišić or Strinić, except for the lucky own goal he created against Russia to secure qualification? Without a doubt, he is a much better footballer than those just mentioned, but we just haven’t seen Sosa shine on the left flank as he has proven defensively shaky (in the WC) and doesn’t really connect with Perišić very well. Perhaps he is limited by the fact we have no true striker and thus his crosses don’t connect like they do in Germany? Whatever the case may be, he is still the best option at the position, but considering his talent, Sosa should be elevating his National Team play.
the croat born njemac will bounce back….
I just realized the Champions league final is June 10, and Nations League semi is on June 14. Will Brozović be ready? Maybe it’s a blessing that Real didn’t make it?
Brozo can handle it.
World Class [Gold Type]
Luka Modric
Be Considered [Silver Type]
…………………………………………….
Decent Players [Bronze Type]
High Level –
………………………………………….
Mid-level >
Perisic, BROZOVIC
Low level –
Gvardiol, Kovacic
similar to what happened in WC2018 with Croatia,
Inter Milan has a path without a great challenge -> to the Final!
Porto, Benfica, Milan?? | were not a great challenge./
On the other side…
Manchester City is similar to France WC2018
with some great challengers – Bayern and Madrid
so what’s the fucking difference here’
if Dalic has to manage Inter right now
He is fucking stupid and 100% certainly –> lose
look at Simone put in a brilliant strategy
for making Brozovic a super substitute…
if He coached Croatia in 2018 | for sure
He could rest Subasic –> Out }} for a God Shake
and gives an order to Rebic to mark Mbappe for 90min
Simone will certainly lift the trophy ~
this wise man is a brilliant manager 0
National League players level -o
this is the standard – not to divert.
World Class [Gold Type]
Luka Modric
Be Considered [Silver Type]
…………………………………………….
Decent Players [Bronze Type]
High Level –
………………………………………….
Mid-level >
Perisic, Brozovic
Low level –
Gvardiol, Kovacic
______________________________________| below list]
Be Considered as Decent Players –
…………………………………………………..
Average players
Livaković, Juranovic, Kramaric, Mario Pašalić,
Lovro Majer
Not Impressive
Livaja, Petkovic, Sosa, Stanišić, Šutalo, Barišić
Martin Erlić, Vlašić, Vida, Ivica Ivušić, Labrović,
Ivanušec, Petar Musa, Dion Drena Beljo
So Dalic named the team for league of nations expected called best we got. Id like to se bradaric domagoj get a oetpoziv atleast hes been playing decent football in italy all in all ok list
Yea looks good. He even threw in fan favorite Matija Frigan as a pretpoziv.
Vratari:
Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Nediljko Labrović
Obrambeni:
Domagoj Vida, Borna Barišić, Josip Juranović, Joško Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanišić, Josip Šutalo, Martin Erlić
Vezni:
Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanušec
Napadači:
Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Bruno Petković, Marko Livaja, Petar Musa, Dion Drena Beljo
Pretpozivi:
Josip Brekalo, Mislav Oršić, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Filip Uremović, Ivo Grbić, Nikola Moro, Matija Frigan
No surprises here. I think Dalić put Brekalo, Oršić, and DCC on the list to boost their confidence…let them know they still have a place on the squad if they turn their club careers around. This is a good example of Dalić’s loyalty.
I remember the days when any player who was playing in a good league would be called up, lol.
Now we have guys who are on Serie, EPL and Bundesliga teams who can’t even get called up. Some don’t even get called up on standby either lol.
Everything is down to the last game in the Bundesliga this season. RB Leipzig upset Bayen yesterday to secure a UCL spot, but also handed Dortmund the title if they win next weekend. I’m happy for Terzić, who is a lifetime Dortmund supporter, and an intelligent young manager. He is half Croatian, half bozniak, born in Germany, but he has Croatian citizenship.
He also identifies as a Croat and is raised in the Cro community in Germany. He’s probably Catholic.
His Instagram is just Borussia Dormund and Hrvatska. Nothing Bosnian.
……………… Decent players ………………..
______________________________________
so where is Sosa?| below list]
Be Considered as Decent Players –
Bilic, Stanic, Corluka, Asanović, Biscan, Kranjcar,
Eduardo, Zvonimir Soldo, Pranjic, Dado Pršo, Petric
Average players
Subasic, Livaković, Vrsaljko, Juranovic … etc – 30% more
Not Impressive
Livaja, Petkovic, Strinic, SOSA, Barisic … etc – 50% more
Sosa has been criticized by the German media in recent times for his on-field performances. According to the media he looks disinterested and does not care if Stuttgart gets relegated. Sosa wants to leave, however, according to club sources and being reported by German media there is not much interest for his services. His contract with Stuttgart runs till 2025.
Yes the man looked quite awkward at the World Cup
Easily our most disappointing player at the World Cup.
Seemed too nervous on the big stage. Then again, Gvardiol didn’t have the best debut tournament at the last Euros, and then looked awesome at the World Cup only one year later. Hopefully the same thing happens with Sosa next summer.
Gvardiol’s situation in the Euros was completely different compared to Sosa’s situation with this world cup.
Gvardiol wasn’t molded into the team thanks to Dalic panicking the last minute and throwing him at left-back with 0 preparation with the team and players and let’s also not forget, being played out of position.
That’s for sure
Tho I think sosa will improve He has more upside then down for the repka at this point
Maybe bradaric could get a go. It seemed like he had a solid enough season??
I guess barisic being serviceable still is good too
I wouldn’t disagree with your point about Sosa as I think in need for that to happen, he needs that tall striker upfront which can enable Sosa to rejuvenate his status with the NT.
Personally, I do not rate barisic as I have never seen him impress for the national team in a long time.
Bradaric, I wouldn’t mind with Sosa as a back-up or to compete for the starting spot but I am unaware of what he’s defensive game is like. I wonder if he is very similar to Sosa’s game where it’s just a lot of emphasis in the attack?