Dinamo Zagreb midfielder, Marcelo Brozović, had the game of his young career Monday night as the Croatian U-21 team took on Switzerland in Lugano in Euro 2015 qualifying. Croatia came into the match against the group favorites with a perfect 3-0 record, knowing that a win would put them in pole position to top the group and qualify for the final two-legged playoff. Only seven teams will join host country Czech Republic in 2015 to battle for the U-21 Euro crown.
But this isn’t your daddy’s U-21 team. You have Inter Milan’s Mateo Kovačić in the midfield, Dinamo Zagreb starters Marcelo Brozović and goalkeeper Oliver Zelenika, Genoa right back Šime Vrsaljko (who started against Belgium on Friday) and Fiorentina’s Ante Rebić at your disposal. But on this day, it was the Brozović show as the U-21 captain whipped in a beautiful free kick just minutes from halftime and added a second goal in the 76th minute for the 2-0 Croatia win. With the victory, Croatia sit a comfortable six points in front of second place halfway through qualifying. What’s even more important is that they haven’t allowed a goal yet while playing three of their first four games on the road.
Winning the U-21 Euro for Croatia would be nice, but it would be nothing compared to battling for a World Cup as these young players grow and mature amongst Europe’s top players. Do we have another golden generation in front of us or is it too early to tell?
Brozović free kick goal
I’d like to see Brozovic do this for Dinamo. He needs to step it up in the HNL a bit if he wants out of there soon.
I’m really impressed with both the u21 and u17 squads, and if these guys live up to their potential then it will be a second golden generation, even if not as golden as the first one
Looks like a real solid generation… But with a lot of these guys, we have to see what they look like once they make it out of the HNL and into bigger European teams… So far, from the signs of Kovacic, Vrsaljko, Radosevic, Rebic, etc. the kids can definitely play and they’ll probably highlight this crop, but I want to see guys like Halilovic, Datkovic, Brozovic, Mocinic, Zelenika move out of the HNL to a bigger league and see what they’re really made of…
Morocco, Panama and Uzbekistan ?
Should be a cakewalk shouldnt it ???
October 17 – November 8
http://is.gd/DzLm3H
At least we have this team to cheer about !
When’s the u17 wc start and who is in our group, anyone ??