Croatians Around Europe

The prodigal son has returned! Well, sort of. Alen Halilović is alive and well and was last sited Monday night scoring a 90th minute game winner for Spanish club Las Palmas in a 1-0 victory over Malaga. The 21 year-old Halilović was supposed to be the "Croatian Messi" but never panned out after a short stint at age 18 with both the Barcelona senior and B squads. … [Read more...] about Alen Halilović: He’s Alive!

Andrej Kramarić ended a long drought with a penalty kick Saturday against Hertha Berlin. Kramarić got the start and played 83 minutes; converting the penalty in the 38th minute for the game's opening goal. But Hoffenheim couldn't manage the lead as the match would end in a 1-1 draw. The draw puts Hoffenheim on 28 points; six points behind a Champions League berth. If … [Read more...] about Croatians Around Europe XXII

Croatia's Mateo Kovačić will turn 24 years old in three months time. He will be entering the prime years of his career; and although he has been a key player for Real Madrid off the bench, his time in the Spanish capital has been riding the pine rather than playing the pitch. Real Madrid are having a horrendous season. Los Blancos are currently 19 points behind La … [Read more...] about The Kovačić Conundrum

It's been all UFC, handball and Australian Open here at CroatianSports.com for the past week; but let  me return you to our regularly scheduled programming- football. And although it was a slow all-around week for Croatian internationals, Mateo Kovačić had a snazzy assist for Real Madrid on Saturday. Kovačić came off the bench in the 88th minute for Luka Modrić and … [Read more...] about Croatians Around Europe XXI

Marko Pjaca scored a goal in his first career start for new club Schalke Sunday; currently on loan from Juventus. The 22 year-old cut the ball back quickly in the box in the 16th minute to get his defender to flinch and then fired away with his right foot to the far corner for the first goal of the match. Hannover would score late to force a 1-1 draw. With the point, Schalke … [Read more...] about Croatians Around Europe *XX*

Dejan Lovren has been a Jekyl and Hyde character for Liverpool this season. And at times, fans have wanted off with his head. With Southampton defender Virgil van Djik coming to Liverpool in the latest winter transfer window for a record fee, it looks as if Lovren would be riding the bench the rest of the season. However, van Djik picked up a hamstring injury in training this … [Read more...] about Croatians Around Europe *XIX*

It was only one month ago that Inter Milan were flying high in Serie A. They were in first place, leading Napoli by one point, and looked to not only make a run at a Champions League berth for next season but to dethrone champions Juventus as well. Fast forward one month and Inter Milan have dropped points in five straight Serie A matches (2 losses, 3 draws) and now … [Read more...] about Should Perišić Jump Ship?

Atletico Madrid is back in form and rumored Croatian transfer Šime Vrsaljko is flying high. On Saturday, Atletico defeated Getafe 2-0 to take sole place of second place in Spain; sitting nine points behind leaders Barcelona. Vrsaljko played the full 90 minutes in the clean sheet victory and assisted on Diego Costa's 68th minute goal with a long cross into the box from the right … [Read more...] about Croatians Around Europe *XVIII*

Marko Pjaca, the 22 year-old Croatia and Juventus winger, will be loaned out to Bundesliga club Schalke for the rest of the season, Goal.com reports. Although Pjaca has played in 14 matches for the Italian champions since coming over from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2016, he has not cracked the squad after returning from an ACL tear he suffered against Estonia in a friendly … [Read more...] about Pjaca To Join Schalke On 6-Month Loan