Croatia

Croatia manager, Zlatko Dalić, has named the preliminary squad that will face the Netherlands in Rotterdam June 14th in the first UEFA Nations League semifinal. Spain will play Italy a day later in the other semifinal. The Final will be played June 18th. No major changes to the squad from March's two Euro 2024 qualifiers against Wales and Turkey. However, there is a notable … [Read more...] about Dalić Names Croatia Squad For Nations League Semifinal

(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 2: Marcelo Brozović Season Grade: B- Season Highlight:  2 assists and dominant … [Read more...] about Marcelo Brozović | Season Grade: B-

(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 1: Luka Modrić Season Grade: A Season Highlight:  Free kick assist; full-field run … [Read more...] about Luka Modrić | Season Grade: A

Ante, Matt, Pete, and Ante all get together at Lebo's house for some beer, wine, and ćepavi. The Boys talk about Hajduk's U19 run to the UEFA Youth League Final, whether Modrić's hamstring injury is good or bad for June's Nations League semifinal...and a fight in the neighborhood breaks out mid-podcast. Lebo safely handled the situation without assistance. APPLE PODCAST LINK … [Read more...] about Episode 4: The Boys

Another tournament, and yet another medal given to a Croatian football side for being just short of the best. "I love it, and I'm proud, and it's an amazing achievement, but I want to win something already. I'm so tired of celebrating second or third place over and over again" - a good friend's (and die-hard Vatreni supporter) response to a photo of the parade that … [Read more...] about Croatian Football – Close, But No Cigar

Ante and Matt talk current status of Dinamo Zagreb, Champions League quarterfinals and Ante Rebić returning to the national team. If Rebić publicly apologized to Dalić and his Croatian teammates, would you want him back on the squad? … [Read more...] about Episode 2: Medugorje

A lot to unpack from this match, but at the end of the day, a win on the road in an incredibly tough environment is all that matters. With the victory, Croatia rectify their last second Welsh blunder to take four points from their first two EURO 2024 qualifying matches; which is more than fine. The Vatreni are now tied atop the table with Wales. Turkey trail both by a point. … [Read more...] about Croatia Defeat Turkey 2-0 With Brace From Kovačić, Amazing Display From Livaković

Two Croatia strikers have officially been ruled out for the Turkey match on Tuesday: Hajduk's Marko Livaja (who started against Wales) and Dinamo Zagreb's Bruno Petković. That means there will only be two true strikers on the roster for the match: Andrej Kramarić and Petar Musa. So what does Dalić do with half of his strike force out? Without tinkering too much with the … [Read more...] about Livaja, Petković Ruled Out For Turkey: What Does It Mean?