2016 is over. It saw Croatia top their group at Euro 2016 after a phenomenal 2-1 win over Spain; only to be brought back down to Earth in extra time against eventual winners Portugal. It saw Luka Modrić lift the Champions League trophy for a second time in three seasons for Real Madrid. But it also saw some amazing goals from our Croatian players. Luka … [Read more...] about 2016: Who Scored Croatia’s Best Goal?
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Croatia Get Job Done With 2-0 Win Over Iceland
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It was a quiet night in Zagreb. The pitch was in horrific condition. There was zero atmosphere because fans were once again not allowed in the stadium. But Croatia got the result they were looking for. And although a 2-0 scoreline looks great on paper, Croatia should have had the game in the bag much sooner than their injury time insurance goal from Marcelo Brozović. … [Read more...] about Croatia Get Job Done With 2-0 Win Over Iceland
Croatia Defeat Finland Behind Mandza Goal
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Croatia got the job done in Finland on Sunday by securing a second straight clean sheet with a 1-0 victory. 'Super Mario' Mandžukić scored the lone goal of the game in the 18th minute when he cleaned up Andrej Kramarić's shot (which appeared to be headed in the back of the net by itself) in front of goal. Nonetheless, the lead up to the goal was solid as right back Šime … [Read more...] about Croatia Defeat Finland Behind Mandza Goal
Croatia Crush Kosovo 6-0 Behind Mandžukić Hat Trick
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It was a routine outing for Croatia without Modrić, Rakitić or Pjaca in the lineup. Mandžukić scored a hat trick inside the first 35 minutes of the match with two headers and a right-footed chip to get it past the goalie. The second half was calm with Croatia scoring three more late goals from Mitrović, Perišić and Kalinić. Highlights to follow. Next up: … [Read more...] about Croatia Crush Kosovo 6-0 Behind Mandžukić Hat Trick
Croatia – Turkey 2018 World Cup Qualifier 1-1
By 230 CommentsCroatia and Turkey kick off the 2018 FIFA World Cup UEFA qualifiers Group I at an empty Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb on Monday night. Croatia has been sanctioned by FIFA to play two home games behind closed doors after two cases of "discriminatory chants by fans" were filed against them to the sports governing body, which took place during exhibition games against Israel and … [Read more...] about Croatia – Turkey 2018 World Cup Qualifier 1-1
Remaining invested in the Croatia national team
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Separating the beautiful game from politics can be challenging. Between 2012-2013, I stopped watching the sport and closely following the national team. Former manager Igor Stimac changed the formation for every qualifying match. Inserting Sammir into the squad was an insult. The inclusion of Davor Suker as president only increased poor morale surrounding a once-exciting … [Read more...] about Remaining invested in the Croatia national team
Why Does Croatia Underachieve In Major Soccer Tournaments?
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Written by Branko "King Bronk" Tomasović Why does the Croatian National Soccer team always seem to underachieve at major soccer tournaments? Some casual observers may attribute it to the "mental weakness" of the team during big games, poor coaching, and at times, "bad luck." However, when one examines this situation more closely, it becomes evident that Croatia has also … [Read more...] about Why Does Croatia Underachieve In Major Soccer Tournaments?
Evaluating Croatia’s national team following Euro 2016
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After two weeks of processing Croatia’s harsh exit from Euro 2016, it’s time to evaluate the entire squad’s performance and future. This was a very productive tournament for almost every player on the national team. With only one player expected to retire, they should carry the positive momentum going into 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Here is my brief evaluation for every … [Read more...] about Evaluating Croatia’s national team following Euro 2016
Another major tournament, another cruel ending
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There were a fair amount of groans about Croatia drawing Portugal in the round of 16. A somewhat favorable matchup against Iceland seemed to be on the cards. That notion ended when they scored on a last-second counter attack against Austria, which resulted in one of the greatest commentary moments ever. It also meant that Croatia was going to face an underachieving Portugal … [Read more...] about Another major tournament, another cruel ending
