You’ve probably watched Modrić’s goal a dozen times already; because it was an absolute beauty. But just in case you missed it on the Croatian feed, here it is. Drago Ćosić has had so many memorable calls for the Croatian football team and now he gets to add the Modrić goal to his résumé.
You may have watched the game in the States on ESPN or TSN in Canada, but it never sounds the same unless it’s coming from the mouth of Ćosić. And call it what you will, but his best moments commentating have always come against Turkey.
WC 98 we lost our last group game, still made semis!
2008 won every group game, lost in the quarters.
2008 we were confident and lost.
Blazevic tipped Croatia to win WC98, he reckons it was one of the reasons we finished 3rd!
The best way is the easy way and that’s Austria now!
@lazio, Portugal currently 3rd in group F, hungary top. If you finish top you’re winning games, that breeds confidence, it’s not about who you play next. There has been a lot of talk about “going deep” in the tournament, to me that is nonsense. Why set limits? Either you target winning the whole thing, or you just take each game as it comes…..
Taking it one game at a time doesn’t mean you don’t look ahead, it’s looking ahead that makes the game in front of you more important.
@Crnkovic
Why were you checking out some of the possibilities?
When you watch us playing the Czechs are you going to be thinking about those possibilities? No, you’re not.
Do you reckon Croatia want to finish on top of their group, if yes, why?
@Slavonac – I would love to see Kramaric shine too. Better in the long run for us as a team. He always serves as a great sub. Can hold the ball if we are up, and can counter/create if we are down.
The first half of this last season he was one fire?
maybe its just that I prefer Kramaric and feel he’s a much more dangerous guy inside the box, I hope he gets the chance to prove it!
Slavonac-Early this past season for club, but his service at Fiorentina is nothing compared to that we have on Croatia. The better question is: when was the last time he was out of form for Croatia? Not since Cacic took over. He is scoring at a pretty solid clip in limited minutes too.
That said, Kramaric can finish too.
BZ…you forgot one thing:
“I am not big on his talent, but he is great at positioning himself on crosses.”
Kalinic is good when he’s in form…when was the last time he was in form?
Oh and right on cue, the morons in uefa considering punishing Croatia for that miron who ran on the field, and fireworks. Russians cause mass riot in stadium & streets, but yet some failures in Uefa stadium security gives uefa an excuse to punish our team. Writing is on the wall.
With all due respect Slavonac/Crnkovic/Anon, we all know the team needs to take it game by game, but on this forum it is fun to speculate and analyze potential matchups.
T-bone: We are on the same page. To answer your question, yes I do see a benefit in pairing Kramaric or Kalinic up top. I know people hate Kalinic, & I am not big on his talent, but he is great at positioning himself on crosses. Any casual observer can see crosses are coming easy in our last 7-8 games.
I think we can beat the Czechs with multiple different formations. Same formation or 442 should be enough.
on paper conte > wilmonts
On field conte > wilmonts
For sure
each game is different and presents opportunities and challenges, I think it’s a mistake for anyone here to consider or discuss our future games in the next round….we haven’t even played the Czech’s and some of you are matching us up against the Italians, silly!
the Czech game won’t be easy, they are fighting to stay in this tournament and although we are superior on paper, the strategy and tactics will be played on the field.
my suggestion is we do NOT get ahead of ourselves and we take one game at a time. if we start looking ahead, we are definitely overlooking the challenge in front of us. at this level, a lack of concentration results in a loss!
…what I’m saying is you don’t know who is going to be the easiest opponent. So if you start saying I hope it’s hungary, then hungary turn out to be the surprise package of the tournament and knock us out in last 16 how you gonna feel? For example maybe Belgium won’t even qualify now, Ireland and Sweden will shock them too….I been saying this for months now. People keep trying to predict based on reputation but reputation wins you nothing. 90 minutes on grass…that’s it
@lazio, yeah but did you watch the friendly against hungary? They gave us some problems. Of course we would still be the favourites. I’m just just saying, the whole thing is organic and fluid, look at Italy vs Belgium last night. On paper Belgium a much better team, totally outplayed by Italy. Some stupid people were predicting on this site that we’ll get knocked out in the second round by Belgium. Assuming that they win their group!!!! Based on what?!? We haven’t even seen hungary play yet. What if they are the new Greece? What if hungary wins the euro’s? See what I mean?
We can beat anyone on our day, I just hope on the day of the 2nd round it’s Hungary!
The goal is to get to the Final and the best way is the easy way.
@mishko, nice political analysis. It’s true.
@lazio, was looking at the different possibilities last night, but at the end of the day croatia are capable of beating any team in the tournament. I recommend taking it one game game at a time. U boj
Top the group we play a 3rd placed team from either Group B, E or F.
Preferably F!
ok i know its been talked about but most likely unless we completey implode we should minimum get one of the 3rd place spots and still have a very good shot at even winning our group
what are the potential matchups.. i know it was said belgium, italy.. is it just that group with wops, belgium,sweden, ireland that we can play?
Everyone saying the Czechs have to press us should realize it’s even more important they dont lose. They can take a draw againt us and play for 3 pts againt Turkey. Surely that’d be enough to be one of the 4 best 3rd place finishers.
Here’s my 4K HD Analysis (not really):
Great win. Would have been better with one more (or two) goal(s). I’ve been hyping up Perisic to my soccer buddies and he definitely backed it up. Dude’s crossing is superb, actually almost too good considering couple opposite players were late in receiving balls that had the Turk D completely beaten. (The Brozovic miss was especially bad as he was simply too late or too slow in his run)
Modric. Boss. No commentary needed.
Srna. Right hand man. I think Cro might have went to the right flank a bit too often early on but I get the strategy… plus the wing was wide open on the right side so why not concentrate there? I know a LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS SITE were saying Srna should retire before the Euro and I was guilty of thinking he was a spent force, but I can say he proved that sentiment wrong. Yea he had a terrible game against Norway last year but he was very very good in the Turkey match.
Corluka was f-in phenomenal. Bleeding from the head and going about his business looking like the Croat from ER back in the day. LOL.
I would like to see two strikers against the Czechs in a 4-4-2 but this won’t happen. Anyone else see a benefit in Kramar Mandzu starting together?
Lovern is not a good fit because of his being a bitch on a good team I’am starting to like Cacic and his demeanor Lovern fucked up and should have been a good teammate
@Maminjo, honestly the conversation is pointless, Lovren isn’t there and he needs to deal with that, he started that shit. But I’d bet money that Cacic talked to a few key players about it before deciding to leave him.
I guarantee no one knows what the locker room looks like, and that is key. We’re certainty not perfect, But we look like a team, watch the game again, a lot good conversation going on during the game, and trust. I just hope we keep being who we are. FYI, I haven’t looked but watching the game Brozovic must have had the most shots on goal. Any who, Croatians a genetically gifted.
I disagree.
I think if we had Kovač, Pranjić, Olić and Lovren we would have finished those chances against Turkey and won 5-0
Just kidding.
Who here agrees that if Lovren was playing, that Turkey would have gotten an equalizing penalty at the end of the game.
Hey guys we shouldn’t listen to the faggot English announcers they’re globalist pricks that are PAID to push certain teams, remember when we played Brazil and and they said it was a clear foul. Fuck all those assholes because this game is rigged until they can’t rig it. Remember we’re a very small country with very small purchasing power. They want all the hugely indebted countries to feel good good good, and not loose to a country of 4.5 million people
The ONLY thing we need to listen to, is our eyes. The Czechs HAVE TO COME, They need the points, I expect a very counter attack game on our part, which I think we’re very good at. They have to open up because they lost to Spain, and this is very good for us. Also looking back at the last friendly, this was a PERFECT game for us, we had to unlock the team and build cohesion, I think over the next few weeks Cacic will be called a genius, or he fucked up who knows.
Sure we can argue about Srna etc, but it’s WAY better than what Kovac had and I was a supporter of his, Very confusing shit at the time. I think the players are happy, they look organized and really playing for US. And just google what they’re saying, you can tell they’re a lot happy with everything. I think we’re only going to get better from here. My 2 cents
Bet the Italians as well !
They might rally around their Captain and I feel be the Story of this Tourney
Need to throw some Kuna on them
This team is I feel a really good team could win it all at Euro 16
Serbia and Belgium are similar in a way. All of their best players play in the Premier league and we keep getting force fed that it’s the best league in the world, hence Belgium is great and Serbia should be good too. I remember watching a Serbia qualifying game last year and the English announcer saying how they are a dark horse for Euro 2016 because of the class of players that play in England (umm, they need to qualify first). An announcer today even said how Ireland should have the advantage because of their players’ Premier league experience. Like Spain, Germany and Italy have a lot of guys playing in England – NOT!
@ Maminjo
I’m not saying they are good. They have been hyped up, depending on who you talk to, that they “will be” good.
But as you and others touched on now, all their big names are coming up or on the wrong side of 30. In a year or two time, there best players will be Matic, Ljajic and Mitrovic and none of those guys strike fear in the heart of opposing teams.
I know they won some big youth tournament recently, but I don’t see them making the next WC or next Euros with the current and potential future pieces they will have.
What will have me dying laughing is if Kosovo qualifies for a tournament in the near future before them.
Who creates for them?
Who scores the goals?
Vidic is old and long retired.
Ivanovic is a system defender who is great for EPL but terrible for Serbia, plus he’s teetering on the has been edge now that he’s 32.
Matic is a good DM, but he’s plateaued now that he’s 28, and he’s no going to do anything more for them. He’s their best player. If your best player is Matic, you don’t get to qualify for real tournaments.
Vidic
Ivanovic
Matic
@Armada
Stop perpetuating the “Serbia is good on paper” myth.
That team is just filled with busts and has beens. Honestly, I’ve never seen so many young players who are supposed to be future stars bust so badly. It seems like none of their players ever pan out.
The only reason why western clubs even buy young Serbian players is due to their association with us.
Badelj misplaced a coupla passes, but this was mostly due to nerves. This is his first time playing in a Tourney for us.
He’s got potential, I’ve seen him play so much better for Fiorentina, where he is effective at recycling possession and putting in challenges. I’d give him the start again against the Czech and give him a chance to settle into the position.
@Brkic, I don’t necessarily think Courtois threw the manager under the bus, I just think they don’t really play as a team. Bu then again Hazard is the captain, which is odd as hell.
Anyway, you guys might want to watch the game again without the stress I thought the guys looked great, my weakest players was Badejl, he gave away several balls right infront of the the defense, a good team will make us pay for that.
.
I fucking hate the Italian NT…. but man, nice win by them today.
Belgium reminds me of a western European Serbia. Great on paper, but just can never get it together to actually do something.
Hehe…
We faced Italy home and away not too long ago and drew twice although we arguably outplayed them. Both teams are probably better at this moment, but it’s a positive sign that Italy won today. If Belgium won 2-0 I would be concerned that Italy is a weak side that we could not beat.
Courtois said after the game that they were “tactically outclassed”. He’s right, but talk about throwing your manager under the bus…
which one of you tweets holiga like he’s some god like his opinion is holy water and we should be baptized by it? Samo jede govna
All my comments now say awaiting moderation, why’s that?
Exactly. Focus one match at a time. Btw I was also impressed with Italy today, very much so. But Belgium tactics were dreadful, really schoolboy. No width at all, against a strong, but slow Italian back 3…played right into Italy’s strength…..
@idemo, exactly. Beat Czech team and then plan for Spain. One game at a time.
.
This link on Corluka gave me a good laugh.
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/item/12420-vedran-corluka-conquers-social-networks
focus: Czech Republic
Spain? The team that had to spin Corluka 360 degrees
By his jersey to beat us?
Belgium missed EASY chances. Italy was beyond lucky to keep the game 1-0 in the 2nd half. Italy also took around 5 yellow cards. If Lukaku and Origi had confidence the Belgians win that game.
I’m telling you right now guys, you gotta play the hand you’re dealt, never wish for anyone. My personal opinion is that I do not want to play Italy this time. The reason is that we have ever lost to them, yes that’s the reason. I’m a betting man , and I’m telling you those kind of streaks do not last forever. Simply put we are due to lose to them. I know you may think I’m nuts but that’s how I see it. Even if we’re better than them , I’m nervous about that, plus the fact that everyone is saying how Italy is weak and they have injuries. Bullshit , you saw it today, that’s exactly when they do really well. One more thing, everyone assumes Belgium will be first or second in that group. They are way too hyped up , another recipe for failure!
Agree with Crnkovic, doesn’t matter who looks good now, every match is different. Croatia looked like one of the best teams in the 2008 round robin and everyone penciled them into the semis when they drew Turkey in the quarters.
If they get through the first round, there is nobody they should fear. Italy is a better matchup than Belgium IMO, if we end up second. Then the draw would probably be Germany in the QF and then France in the SF, just like 1998. I wouldn’t mind a repeat of that. But it would be better to win the group.
I know, just being fanciful. Could have quite a few games to play though… 😉
Rest Luka? Man some of the stuff you people say
@bobby italy were really compact they came not to lose would have been completely satisfied with the draw and just like that they get a superb win
Ohhhhhhhhh I get it! Lesson learned: I need to read slower.
Poglavnice,
What do you mean? Remember I’m not Ziva 🙂
Long way to go. Each match has it’s own story. Can’t predict too much. If we can beat the Czechs with some conviction the momentum will build. I’d like to see 442 against the Czechs, just to show we’re flexible and to get mandzukic some support, get some goals. I’d give kovacic a start as well, In the middle with badelj. Rest luka…kovacic cuts through them like a knife through butter….win 3-0…pjaca gets a goal off the bench…then the mood gets really hungry like lions for the spain match…..:)
@ Poglavmik – Just said the same thing about the yellows possibly helping with suspensions against Croatia, if we play them.
Nainggolan is the only player with heart and hustles for Belgium and he was subbed – the rest are a bunch of prima donnas.
Who was the poster here that insisted on Belgium’s superiority? Man, were you schooled by Slavonac from Canada,
Watched every game so far, Croatia and Italy have looked the best. Portugal will be in the mix I’m sure as well.
Belgium just got a wake up call.
Watch Ibra have his best game against them.
Fuck do the Italians know how to play though. Been behind the ball and blocking shots all game. Deadly on the counter. They truly play as a unit.
to NY croats
any recommendations where to watch the game? i’m looking to go back to work after so looking to avoid the scorpio scene which can leave the scent of cigarette smoke
there is not too much more I want in life than to beat the guineas in the knockout stage of a major tournament…
Hopefully Italy keep racking up yellows.
Might come in handy in the next round.
Ha! I had Commercial Drive in mind when I was thinking of beating them.
Anyone else think Hazard looks like garbage today? Lots of possession but there’s no link up in the final 3rd.
Lol some of these guys with the tattoos and Mohawks
Nothing better then beating the wops
I work near commercial poglavnik and u know how those fuckers are down there
Actually check that. I want the Wops! Nothing beats showing up the Italians.
Belgium have a weird dynamic to me. Also Hazard being a captain seems weird. Italy’s squad looks as beatable as ever on paper and Belgium is still just Belgium to me. I don’t care who we get. It’s more about how we play. We can take it to either of em.
keep him there. He didn’t mess up too bad neither did Badelj. They aren’t world class players but they got the job done with minimal mistakes.
after watching strinic would you guys still want him there or take vrsajlko on the opposite side??
i think kovac is just too business and too practical
my only assumptions like i said before cacic is a practical guy(he fixed tv’s, ran his own business, running a small business as most know and succesfully doing it takes a lot perseverance and knowing what your good and what your not good at… he made the choices to free up the weapons we have or at least tried to
kovac kept trying to fit the wrong pieces in the wrong places, ex. pranjic. and seeing as they were all his buddies from playing but still tried to be the boss man… its hard to do i think.
my hunch is probably talks to the leaders like modric and takes their opinions in mind. freaking guy like modric reads the play better then anyone watching… he knows everything what is going on and he knows what we need
just guesses… who knows maybe we say the opposite after the czech game… but seems like the mood is good. no idiots like lovren causing problems
Having an MLS centre back probably doesn’t help..
and whoever said bayern was looking at corluka… i bet their interest really peaked yesterday
@Dannyj, I agree. Not to beat up on Kovac but the team just seems to be hungry and full of desire under Cacic. Thoughts?
we shit on our defence, but more then not they are solid
look how shotty belgiums defence looks
Belgium is a paper team no style of play to describe them
Watching this I wouldn’t mind them, would prefer to win group
i thought belgium had more of the pressure till then, but nice goal for the wops for sure
honestly man maybe its my homer glasses… we can beat both of them
Agreed about experience being huge. Our veterans looked composed. Brozo and Perisic are growing too over at Inter.
I know Ant B doesn’t want to hear it yet but damn am I excited about our chances for a run here!
Belgium does not look good against Italy, and bang, goal for Italy.
^^
You’d have to throw in some Russell Brown gear too.
poglavnik you think they would trade ramos for lovren and a bag of balls and sliced oranges for half time??
like bilic said these guys are playing important roles and playing big champions league games… making these games seem the norm… i think this is a huge difference… this is the experience factor for sure
i know he didn’t have a lot to do but was very composed and looked the most comfortable i have seen him. talking bout subasic
obviously there were other holes in brazil but one would think if we had a more in form keeper we may have faired better
http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2016/06/09/57596d2de2704e22198b46a5.html
And Modric on Ramos.. Been thinking the same thing for years.
After watching Luka in that Turkey game though he’s definitely grown as a leader. His time is now!
watching the italy belgium game. so basically if we finish second in the group we would most likely play one of these two if im not correct?
i don’t know who id rather play… i think we could be the wops for sure but tournament soccer u know how they play
http://m.thenational.ae/sport/euros/luka-modric-backbone-of-real-madrid-even-more-crucial-to-croatia-at-euro-2016
Class!
Srna has left the squad after his father died.
Boys gonna play so hungry against Spain
They will leave it out on the field
Hopefully that’s enough
Spain have not lost a Euro game since 2004. Can’t wait to get a chance to break that!
You assuming they take is easy is assuming we don’t come in with 6 to the last game and if they have 6 which is probable they’ll want first place
No one is here to take it easy
No one is here to be runner up, they know the probable route if they finish second as well
i agree with horvat
a spanish win is what i was looking for today after some internal debate
but ultimately, two tournaments in a row croatia has been dealt a difficult hand by having the “clear #1 team” not take care of business
spain tied italy in opening euro 2012….and mexico tied brazil at world cup 2014….
both results left us needing a win to advance in the final game
i also heavily agree that we want the czechs to play an open game against us….as they showed in this last game, their bunker is not bad
Anyone on the site from Cleveland know where they will be showing the game Friday?
@Horvat
well said, this is a good result for us, changes the way the Czechs will play and to our advantage
If the game ended in a tie, the Czecs would be parking a bus against us. Look what a hard time th Spanish had today.
We are Croatians! Fear no one. Bring on the Spaniards. I don’t care how the other results finish. We must play like we are the favorites because we are.
If they beat Turkey, they will play with less urgency against us. We don’t want to play a Spanish team that has to win.
Look no one ever rests there starters no one ever wants to finish second in the group it’s the worst logic ever, stop aiming for second place
A goalless draw today would have been better
Pretty forgettable match that one.
Good point horvat
horvat, I totally agree
I mean, just the result I wanted today.
Just the result Inwanted today.
The Czecs now have to open up against us.
If Spain beat Turkey they may decide to rest their starters against us.
fuckn spain man, late late goal
Spain with a late goal just as I was getting excited about the prospects of a draw.
I disagree on the timing of subs. I think the only argument to leave all three subs in the final 5 min is to kill the clock or that we don’t have the depth and no one is worth bringing on. I think this is incorrect. Getting fresh legs on the pitch earlier puts the Turks on their back foot and gets some of our older players who had slowed a rest for the next match. I have been a big critic of Cacic, but overall he did very well. He selected the right lineup and tactics so based on the first match so far so good.
Also disagree on Lovren. He would be better than Shildenfeld coming in at the end to solidify things. As long as Corluka and Vida stay healthy and without suspension though we probably won’t miss him too much.
Spain just one.
Well this game is over, lets talk about what’s coming up.
Watching Spain v Cze and Cze doesn’t close down one single player, they’re giving Spain way too much space to play. I have a feeling that Spain will look a lot different playing us because we’ll be putting pressure on them consistently.
Now against Cze they’re pretty fast, and they do commit in numbers but they’re also parking the bus. Technically they’re not as good as we are, but they do seem to be well organized.
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man czechs can barely touch the ball vs spain up till half time.. not sure what result i want b/n these two
Bravo Luka!
Cacic used his subs perfectly, there was no need for any tactical changes at all
This was a good lineup.
Everybody played well aside from maybe Strinić and Badelj (who were both just okay) but this is understandable.
I wonder if Vrsaljko will be making an appearance next game for Srna or Strinić. Maybe Kovačić gets some burn against the Czechians. Either way, these are good problems to have.
Can you imagine if we played Pranjić or Lovren in this game?
Guaranteed KIKS
Thanks for the post Ante. Really does sound better hearing him call it! What a goal!
Eh, tako Luka, neboj se…zabi jos pet!
Za Corluku!