Croatia

"When I saw Buffon in tears, I wanted to give him my spot in the World Cup. If I could, I would. He deserves it. What he has done in football is incredible," Rakitić said to ESPNFC. Obviously, this is a humble gesture towards a footballing legend in Buffon. But as a Croatia supporter, do you want one of your veteran players saying he would give up his spot … [Read more...] about Rakitić Would Give Up World Cup Spot To Buffon

An individual extremely high in the HNS told CroatianSports.com months ago that if Croatia qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the Vatreni away kits would be an all black & grey checker design; similar to what is pictured above. Well, Croatia is headed to Russia; so will be seeing the first Croatian kit not to feature red and white checkers since 1994? … [Read more...] about RUMOR MILL: Croatia Bringing Black Kits To Russia

The 32 teams who will compete at the 2018 World Cup in Russia are set! And so are the pots for the December 1st draw. Because Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, Croatia was bumped up to Pot 2; making their group stage route much easier. Croatia will not be able to play any fellow Pot 2 team in group stage but can play them later in the tournament. … [Read more...] about OFFICIAL: World Cup Pots Confirmed

Op-Ed written by Peter Novaković So all of us Croatians can breathe a bit easier now that we have finally qualified for the World Cup! We never seem to take the direct route from point A to point B so everyone is kept guessing and stressed out of our minds - but we eventually get there - and we did it again and our boys are going to represent us in … [Read more...] about GENERATION NOW: What Croatia Must Do At The World Cup In Russia

Croatian Football Federation president Davor Šuker confirmed Sunday after the Greece draw in Piraeus that interim manager Zlatko Dalić will stay on as manager for the World Cup in Russia next summer. Dalić came on after the 1-1 draw with Finland in October and rallied Croatian troops to a must-win 2-0 result on the final day of qualifying versus Ukraine and a 4-1 … [Read more...] about Dalić To Stay On For World Cup

Croatia Starting XI: Subašić - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić - Rakitić, Brozović - Mandžukić, Modrić, Perišić - Kalinić Mission accomplished! Albeit a boring match, Croatia got out of Greece with no injuries, no cards and the result they needed to reach the World Cup in Russia next summer. The match ended 0-0 in Greece with Croatia's 4-1 first … [Read more...] about TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE—CROATIA HEADED TO 2018 WORLD CUP!!!

Thursday, we learned this group of Greek players are not the Greece of old. Not by a long shot. Greece gifted Croatia three goals in a 4-1 defeat at Maksimir with Vrsaljko's cross to Perišić the only score that did not come from a complete defensive blunder. Now Greece, a perennially defensive team, will need a minimum of three goals in Piraeus on Sunday to make … [Read more...] about Croatia vs. Greece: Round 2

Croatia have one foot in the World Cup door after their 4-1 spanking of Greece Thursday night in Zagreb. And if things hold the way they should, here is how the December 1st World Cup draw would look. ESPNFC has already calculated World Cup pots should all the "favorite" playoff teams win. As of now, and if Croatia progress, they would be put in Pot 3 in a … [Read more...] about Who Should Croatian Fans Be Rooting For?

CROATIA Starting XI vs. Greece: Subašić - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić - Rakitić, Brozović, Modrić - Perišić, Kramarić- Kalinić. Mandžukić on the bench with a thigh injury. Wow! Who saw that coming? Croatia will be in cruise control Sunday versus Greece, and barring a complete catastrophe in Piraeus, will be heading to Russia next summer. The Vatreni … [Read more...] about Goals Galore In Zagreb! Croatia Defeat Greece 4-1, Now 90 Minutes Away From World Cup In Russia