Photo: FC Bayern
Mario Mandžukić and Bayern Munich made quick work of Czech champions Viktoria Plzen Wednesday night, winning 5-0 from the Allianz Arena. Mandžukić received the start and played 71 minutes in the victory before coming off for Claudio Pizarro. Mandza assisted on Bayern’s 2nd goal as he headed down to David Alaba who did all the work, taking on a defender and making a nice cut before firing away on net. Mandžukić finished with one shot on goal.
Bayern Munich sit atop Group D with a perfect 3-0 record; three points in front of Premiership club Manchester City. The reigning European champions will next play Viktoria Plzen on November 5th in the Czech Republic.
Mandžukić assist @ 2:06
Luka Modrić’s Real Madrid also stayed perfect in Champions League Group B with a 2-1 win over Italian champions Juventus. Modric got the start and played the full match; receiving a yellow card in the 78th minute of play. A Cristiano Ronaldo double in the 1st half would be enough for the win as Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off on a straight red card three minutes after the restart. Real Madrid take on Juventus again, this time in Italy, on November 5th.
Darijo Srna and Shakhtar Donetsk were crushed 4-0 by Bayer Leverkusen Wednesday night in Germany as Stefan Kiessling netted twice for his side after his ghost goal controversy on the weekend. Srna played the entire match while Eduardo remained on the bench. The loss drops Shakhtar to third place in Group A withe the Leverkusen return leg in Ukraine set for November 5th.
Lovro
I absolutely hate being an Internet tough guy, but you’re retarded. That’s the response you deserve.
Armada
Noone on this site should listen to opinions on ESPN. Their opinion piece writers have no idea what they are talking about. I don’t have the time to write all the ridiculous shit I’ve read on that site. ESPN really doesn’t do the sport justice having such idiots write for the site.
In other news, modric had 101 passes against juventus the other day, first time for him getting over 100 passes and fairly impressive.
Im all in for a pranjic call up.
@Marko,
Yes, you made a good point. Iceland is the easiest task for us.
@Goldenchild,
i am against Shakhtar ever since that bullshit goal. I was happy with the result.
@JM,
I just meant player for player. Same faces. However, if you want to compare form, then yes, this team should be better at least on paper.
@ denis
“2013 Croatia is almost identical to the 2012 Euro team. Stimac dropped Schildenfeld and Pranjic. Pranjic only started the last game against Spain and came off the bench against Italy.”
I think the team is much better right now than it was going into euro 2012. Look at the player progression
1) Modric: biggest bust at Real to now controlling their midfield
2) Mandzukic: No name to top striker on best club team in the world
3) Rakitic: Career floundering to captain at sevilla putting up big stats
4) Lovren: lyon scapegoat to southampton darling
5) Kovacic: @ dinamo and seemingly over hyped to playing center at inter and viewed as the club’s future
I’m not sure you can find a position in euro 2012 where we are weaker at than today
I wouldn’t have wanted us to play Romania. They’d rope in Serbian ultras for their home support base and Bucharest would end up as a hostile venue for us, almost like it was in Beograd. All bets are off as to playing form in those circumstances.
Romania has a player at Stuttgart named Maxim that seems pretty legit.
@Matesic Method:
I agree about Pranjic and Perisic.
Two years ago, I would have thought that Perisic would be a stud by now, but it hasn’t been working for him at club or country.
Pranjic at left wing is great move!
Who the heck has claimed that spot for us . He is a natural lefty that is quick and good on the ball. Being in form for panathinaikos is good enough to suit up against Iceland.
Plus he is battle tested. Perisic has laid 3-4 eggs in a row.
Rakitic is too slow to play on the wing.
We need to create some width to keep Iceland honest. Plus as a LM pranjic is good defensively as well.
We have to compete for 180 minutes. All hands on deck and all options need to be explored.
Anybody else astonished that Shakhtar lost today? I know they have lost some talent, but to lose to Leverkusen….wow.
Goals during World Cup qualifying:
Ciprian Marica 5
Nikola Kalinic 0
Imocan, what are you going to tell me next? That Peter Krpan was better than Gheorghe Hagi?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVLZ4U4kCAI
very funny vid little off topic
ibra kadabra 4 goals 3 of which were sick 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6XcXGrWZwA
@Ivan the red,
I agree. Romania has a shot. Shit, any have decent European team has a shot against the greeks. The greeks beat slovakia 1-0 because of a Skrtel pass back to the keeper.
Ziva, you could have said the same thing when Cro played Turkey in the playoff for Euro2012 when we had Bilic and they had Hiddink…but Bilic played it very well. Niko outcoached Ottmar Hitzfields’s pet assistant in that Switzerland U21 vs Croatia U21 match in Lugano where the Swiss were supposed to be the clear favorites. He played a smother and counter game that worked perfectly.
Not sure why you seem to love Lars Lagerback so much. He seems to be a good co-coach, but has mixed results as a solo coach with Sweden, Nigeria, and Iceland.
Despite his lack of coaching experience, I think Niko will have this team prepared as well.
@Misu Moj
Yea, I too am hoping for some fresh faces as callups. I am sick and tired of bums like Kalinic and Sammir who play like shit for their club teams, but keep receiving callups for the NT.
Benko and Santini need to be looked at (not as starters, but at least a callup to see what they can do). They are our hottest strikers right now. I also don’t understand how Renato Kelic, a former captain of our U21s, has never been called up. I’m sure if he had played for Dinamo or Hajduk, instead of going straight to the Czech league, he would’ve been called up by now and probably sold to a bigger club. He’s a young center back, and it’s not like we have an abundance of talent right now in the back. Also, Brozovic has been on fire and it would be nice to see what he can do at senior level as well.
Kovac doesn’t have to throw new faces in the lineup, but by calling up these (likely hungry) players, it keeps the rest of the team honest. If Vida gets lazy in the back, then we have Kelic breathing down his neck for his spot in the rotation. If Rakitic decides to give everything for Sevilla and take it easy for Croatia, then you have Brozovic coming on as a sub to show Raketa what it means to hustle.
I’m a Kovac supporter……But, remember, he is not going to outcoach Iceland. Look who they have coaching for them. We might win the playoff round – and we should. But, Iceland will be prepared.
@ Ivan the Red & Bobby V
I hope Romania knocks out Greece, but I really don’t think they have the quality to penetrate that Greek wall.
Have you seen Romania’s squad?
Honestly, we did not draw the weakest team in these playoffs…Greece did. Offensively, Iceland is much better than Romania. Sigurdsson has more creativity than the entire Romanian midfield, and on top of this, Romania has no strikers. Adrian Mutu is done, and Ciprian Marica has never been a prolific scorer.
Iceland’s Sigthorsson is now the starting striker for Ajax, and he’s hot right now. He’s scoring all the goals that Ajax thought they were going to get from Bojan Krkic (who still has zero). Sigthorsson has 13 goals in 19 caps for Iceland.
Iceland also has a second striker who is red hot right now in Alfred Finnbogason who plays for Heerenveen. This kid has 11 goals in 8 games so far this season.
I would’ve much rather played Romania than Iceland. I hope I’m wrong, but I highly doubt Romania get past Greece.
ciprian marica is NOT an excellent striker…he is below below par
Kalinic >> Marica
@Ivan the Red
If Romania wants to take the initiative and beat the Greeks that is fine with me.
I realize we lost to Scotland twice during this campaign but I would rather we play the type of football we play and have played in our history than ever to play the way the Greeks play football because if we ever resort to playing the way they play I would call it quits on our national side. Regardless of the results.
The Greeks are irreverent and cataclysmic in their approach to the game of football. Similarly as to the act of watching paint dry.
Triba navijati itko moze ici u zg na ruglo i napuniti ga i biti jedanza nase momce i protiv mafije i navijati lipo za vrime utakmice za nas decke i kasnije malo protiv Hns jendo smece otisli ali glavni mis je osta
@ Ivan the Red – I agree, Romania has an excellent striker Ciprian Marica who plays for Getafe.
If Croatia doesn’t get their act together, we may have all four bottom seeds advancing.
Sweden, France, Romania (all bottom seeds) and Croatia are my picks.
@Denis & fonzie
Remember Romania put an end to the Greeks unbeaten run with their current coach during 2011-2012 and what’s more they did it quite convincingly.
Yes I know it was only a friendly, but their (greek) bunker was opened up nicely by the Romanians, 4-0 if I remember correctly?
So I wouldn’t count them out just yet. Usually over the two legs the better side will overcome. I think Romania can achieve this.
@ denis i know not now Kovac said today that he is counting on the same bunch the core players for the 2 games olic eduardo srna jelavic modric pletikosa kranjcar rakitic simunic carli mandzukic to get us to kopa kobana
@Misu Moj,
Its kind of dificult to “take a look” at players less than a month before two playoff games without any friendlies scheduled. All os those names you mentioned might have a look if Croatia qualify for the WC or in friendlies starting next February.
Im gonna say anyone who is in form and plays well for club should get call upsto be in squad not prvih 11 but be taken a look at like santini tomecak benko kramaric brozovic mikanovic brucic kelic i mean why not instead of sammir kalinic jelavic pivaric milic halilovic and on.
@Misu Moj,
Pranjic is playing LM for Panathinaikos. No way Pranjic returns to play LB for Croatia. Danijel might accept a role off the bench for Rakitic.
@Mishko,
Yes, sir
@Misu Moj,
I always liked Sifo. I’m still surprised how well Lovren is doing in England. You are right, for the checkers he’s been at fault for a number of goals. Tough call. But most importantly, I dont think our defense is the problem. Our midfield stinks.
@IvicA,
I agree. Right now I feel like Croatia’s downhill path has reached a plateau. We are like a 2002 BMW 3 series that just needs an oil change and maybe a radiator flush. We replaced the driver(Stimac) with Kovac. On a great day, Croatia can compete with a Ferrari(Spain) with a bad driver.
I dont understand the Pranjic love here, for the checkers he gave up so many goals at LB he was so often out of position and opponents read us like a book. I wont lay all the blame at his doorstep it was Bilic who was to blame, he put a player so far out of his natural position and persisted with the failed experiment. Bayern tried to play him there and i remember seeing Olic sprint the length of the pitch to cover Pranjic who got lost looking for a goal.
For mine he would have been a depth player you could inject into attack because his natural game is to set something up or hunt a goal, return him to left back you might as well wave the white flag
Love that we are under the radar.
Kovac will craft a winning strategy for 180 minutes and pick the players who are willing AND able to implement set strategy.
At this level of football the manager makes all the difference.
Iceland has no idea what is coming for them. They have no film to look at. We have played like sranje for 2 years! They have no film to reference.
Trust that we will shut down there young attack and hit them on the counter. Modric and Mandzukic will come through for us.
I actually see us in a great position to make this happen.
You can count on any non believers to be left off the squad. Kovac will not allow anything but single pointed focus.
We have more talent today throughout our youth teams then ever modern Croatian history.
I see Scotland has our breakdown and Iceland as our breakthrough.
Remember all the Mali po sranci need to stay home wipe your arses!
Samo pravi Hravti sad .
Bog I Hravti.
Guys there is 1 pot for the top 8 teams, then all the other ones are based on region… All Euro teams in one pot, South America/Africa in another etc…
The pressure of this game is too much to handle for most, I guess. People are going all menopause and we’re still like a month away.
We’re in a good situation here. We drew arguably the easiest team in the playoffs, AND we got rid of the worst coach to have ever coached our squad.
Iceland actually does have a good attacking midfielder and a very good striker, so we could definitely lose this tie. But considering where we were a week ago, man, I’m just all smiles. I’m dying for these two games to start, so I can see them play again in a normal formation.
@Denis whould you start sifo over rupa lovren sifo 5 big games at euros/ qualiyfyers solid over lovren who was at fault for half the goals this campaign
Pranjic is in greece why not but not at lb imaginge srna carli lovren pranjic its raining goals on that defense. Ill say i like the kovac braca and thank God strucnjak is gone. Under 17s have a nice prospect at lb petar mamic looked good v panama plays for dinamo kadeti
@Denis have you been reading my posts>>
Pranjic did say that he doesnt want to play for Stimac. The problem has always been, how do you play Rakitic, Pranjic and Kranjcar? Niko has been on a decline the past year or so, Pranjic hasn’t done anything for his club, so Rakitic is guaranteed to start. Now Niko dropped the Big Mac and Pranjic might come out of retirement if called by the Kovac brothers. Also, Rakitic hasn’t impressed for Croatia.
Pranjic and Schildenfeld are both starting and playing 90 minutes for Panathinaikos. Scifo picked up an assist a few weeks back. At least we know that they are fit.
@Ante B.
That is one hell of a film!
Brooks was here…. So was Red
@Ante B.
I never left and consistenly check in but have been busy. I have been to church everyday since May to moli the krunica so that our NT can make it. I am convinced the Croatian priest at my church is Ziva Istina. Amazing sermons.
Furthering the Shawshank theme, it looks like Croatia will have to crawl to freedom through 500 yards of the shit smelling foulness I can’t even imagine. That’s the length of five football fields. Just shy of half a mile. Mamic will continue to be that. Hopefully we make our way to freedom and wash the shit off in the rain but instead of Mexico, we wind up in Brazil.
Or we end up like Brooks.
@Bobby V
I know! For some reason Portugal is that type of team that plays good when they need to though.
They went to PK’s in the semi finals at Euro 2012 and lost out to the eventual winners.
I think they will have a hard time with Sweden if everything is on the level that is. Sweden is fast, physical and they have Zlatan to wash that all down with.
We shall see.
@The Fonz – Portugal gave up 7 goals to Israel and Northern ireland in qualifying – Wow.
@Denis – any word of the Kovac brothers reaching out to bring Pranjic back?
@Denis Svirčić
Once again the Greeks manage to get the best draw. Although the best draw might be debatable, but what is not debatable is that they always manage to avoid the hardest teams.
They will get past Romania for the reasons you stated.
@Bobby V
Tough call man…
If I bet with my heart I take Sweden. With my brain I take Portugal.
However, your points are well taken and the fact that Sweden gets to host the last game might be the key and you’re right in the fact that Portugal’s defense is not as good as it used to be.
At Euro 2012 their defense was solid!
portugal-sweden is a coin flip. Rooting for Sweden, but I think FIFA will push for Ronaldo. Look for a red card, pk, etc.
France gets by Ukraine with ease.
Greeks will bunker at home and celebrate qualification.
2013 Croatia is almost identical to the 2012 Euro team. Stimac dropped Schildenfeld and Pranjic. Pranjic only started the last game against Spain and came off the bench against Italy.
Pranjic was undervalued. He played well for the checkers.
The talent is there. We just need to be there mentally.
we sucked in Euro 2012 qualifying as well. We struggled against Israel, lost and drew to Greece, and lost to Georgia.
6 months later we are a Rakitc header away from knocking out the world cup and eventual Euro cup champs.
Sweden – they are the better team at the moment. Portugal has gone thru Bosnia twice in the playoffs for the last two major tournaments, but, now their luck runs out. Portugal’s defense is not like it used to be.
How about you?
Relax people. Bobby is a good guy. We are all on the same team here.
Bobby, yes, we don’t deserve to qualify. However,
1) There were times when we deserved to qualify(Euro 2012), we deserved to at least make quarters…
2) Every world cup has at least 3 teams that dont deserve to qualify.
This year so far:
Iran,
Mexico(if they beat new zealand),
Greece or Romania.
Iceland(if they beat us) lost to Cyprus and Slovenia at home.
@Bobby V
Who wins, Portugal or Sweden?
4 goals today for Zlatan – Wish his Mom was a huge soccer fan.
New coach new attitude Stimac compared Croatia with spain and germany last year that was over doing it Niko will change culture and attitude of this team and if we get to Brazil Boze daj. 6 months will be enough to geta descent 23 roster to comoetebluck of the drawin december who knos what fragi Bog has instored for croatia remeber 1998 yes that team was stalented but we bareley made it fans were not showing up to games also and look what happened
In no way am I cheering against Croatia just so I can say told you so.
Best case scenario is that we get in (obviously), get drawn into a good group in December, and, most importantly, give the Kovac brothers 7 months to get everything lined up.
Speaking of the draw, it really doesn’t matter if we are placed in the third pot. A few months ago, Croatia was 4th in the World and probably would have been drawn with some of the same countries who have now passed us on FIFA’s list.
^ ^
That’s right! 🙂
@Poglavnik
Red: Get busy living, or get busy dying.
Andy: [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
[last lines]
Red: [narrating] I find I’m so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.
I posted my comment just as you posted yours.
Sorry…..
@Slavonac from Canada
What is with the hostility brother? Bobby V is a good guy.
One of the first comments out of Kevin De Bruyne’s mouth after the Belgium game in Zagreb was questioning our tactics and understandably so.
Bobby V – I get really frustrated when we, as Croatians complain about everything but the problem, it reminds me of my dads generation…everyone’s wrong! Sorry but i am passionate, I love the game and of course I love Croatia…I feel the team has been sacrificed for political reasons, this very same team played well in the Euro’s and could very well have advanced. Stimac was given the position after what…what were his credentials….who did he ever successfully coach?
Players are complicated, they need a system that works for them and Stimac was just full of hot air. I truly believe this team has the heart and talent to be a top 15 team…but they need leadership!
Sorry, I lost it a little. We’ve now changed the coach, Kovac brothers are travelling Europe to meet with the players individually and hopefully deal with the current issues. I never want to believe we are the same mentality as Serbs, Bulgarians, Turks…and that the way you described us. Croatia has the ability and I stand behind them…I would be the first to pack in my support if I felt they were just spoiled, not interested and not trying….but I dont believe that to be the case…sorry Bobby…you struck a nerve!
MB13 – one was mark Wilmots, the other was Strachan…I cant exacly remember the 3rd…Wilmots was the most vocal, he said something like he was almost surprised at the formation Stimac and thought it wasnt thought out very well…
…does not deserve to qualify
I think everyone here knows whats been going on with this team, and where they stand going into these qualifiers. Lets not bitch and moan just yet. We got the ideal draw we all wanted and with the 2nd leg at home. Lets have some hope boys.
For all of you negative bastards on this sight, go watch The Shawshank Redemption as many times as possible, from now until Nov. 19th.
You might learn a thing or two about having “hope” and never letting it die. 🙂
My point is that unlike in 2008, where we deserved to win the European championship, this current squad, between it’s lack of talent, lack of effort, and the advantage of a comfortable qualifying schedule – does not.
I complimented you a few weeks ago as one of the best posters on this site – and you had a nice write up a few minutes ago.
What’s with your last 2 questions?
i can confirm……A couple of the coaches did come out and say they were surprised with our tactics.
MB13 – I read them after the game reports came out and didnt save them, sorry but I swear its true!
Bobby V – we already know the results, thanks for reminding us…what’s your point?
Where are you from? Are you some fucking non Croatian speaking jerkoff thats learned to say kako si….and now denouncing you are Croatian?
slavonac – If you could link some articles where Stimac’s opposition coaches were surprised by his tactics, it would be greatly appreciated. Did they elaborate on what tactics they were surprised with?
Or if you could provide some example of what they said.
Thanks in advance.
@Ante B
“There are two big buildings that were supposed to be a shrine to Marilyn Monroe”
Full of escorts
Good thing we didn’t draw Sweden, Ibra destroyed it today.
Croatia could not beat Scotland or Belgium in 4 matches.
Croatia can still tie Iceland twice and make it to the World Cup.
That would mean, that all Croatia had to to do to qualify for Brazil was beat Wales and Macedonia twice and Serbia once
If I was a fan of any South American, African, or Asian countrry that didn’t qualify, I’d be pissed.
Luka,
Plus I never see you on here anymore!! Di si ti ovih dana?!?
Luka,
I would have but I was in the wedding so there was no way I could’ve met up with anyone in the Missississaguhgahga area. That downtown is nice. There are two big buildings that were supposed to be a shrine to Marilyn Monroe. I thought they looked like two gigantic bongs! Next time brate. I’m sure we’ll be in Toronto again sooner rather than later. Spremni!
thanks dude…btw – you look exactly like my friend from Vancouver, he’s a Hercegovac and always has a cigarette in his mouth!
Slavonac – I applaud you! great post
Lovro – I wont disagree with most of what you said, I believe they always cared…but I tend to believe the players weren’t lead, there was almost immediate controversy, the system vs player selections were very odd, the system was very poor and the game plan was always wrong!
Stimac lost his audience 3 games into his tenure, Strinic was publicly criticized, he brought in Sammir, he played with odd formations with zero soccer reasoning and his explanations were ridiculous.
Croatia has a beautiful team but a coach must utilize what he has to the best advantage…read some of my earlier posts from other topics and I always say: a good coach with an average team can tie or beat a shit coach with a great team…in our case, Stimac was nothing short of a wannabe…and his team is far above average…I’d say 7 to 7.5 out of 10!
Bilic knew the importance of playing consistent…you build character, confidence, you set higher standards all the time and you dont deviate from focusing on the task at hand! Stimac made this into his show…his fucking ridiculous pholosophy’s, his ridiculous reactions and his ridiculous attempts to justify his starting 11 and formation blunders. His opposing coaches on 3 seperate occassions said they were shocked with his tactics…they couldn’t believe what a rookie mistake he made!
Leadership matters, when you make decisions that are clearly questionable enough for your players to lose confidence in you and view you as incompetent, you lose “the team” altogether!
@Jure
Bleacher Report is Yankee (North American, whatever) garbage!
Ok, we get it!
You don’t think we’re good enough to be in the World Cup.
Talk to us believers in just under a month.
Can you imagine a Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, or any other good soccer nation losing to Scotland twice so they can get their coach fired?
Are we accusing the Croatian national soccer team of match fixing?
Most of us have already woken to the fact that the talent is drying up.
Like my uncle pointed out, take a look at the rosters European clubs who have qualified. Fantastic players between the ages of 21-26.
@Mishko – massive clubs? Modric and Mandzukic and that’s it.
@Zivi, I might live in the u.s. but I’m not yank, more of a confederate type is you know what I mean.
Croatia’s qualifying campaign actually got off to a very good start…
That’s true! We started well, although the matches themselves weren’t that great. The victories papered over the cracks a little bit. Ultimately – and unfortunately for us – the inevitable happened: We lacked many things that used to make Croatia such a force. We used to be a unit on the pitch and I have to admit that we don’t even resemble one at the moment. In footballing terms, we’re definitely a very, very good team. But that counts for nothing unless the team is set up correctly.NIKO KOVAC FIFA>COM!
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2203464/
Since most of you yanks dont read or speak croatian heres Kovac interview in english
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1817145-ranking-the-25-best-nations-likely-to-be-at-the-2014-world-cup#/articles/1817145-ranking-the-25-best-nations-likely-to-be-at-the-2014-world-cup/page/25
Croatia have individual talent but are not a team. 2008 that was a team. even 2004 we didnt have much talent but we played as a team. This team have no unity or spirit
@ Mishko mater ti je guzica!
TAKE OFF HOMER GLASSES!
Over the past 2 years, Croatia has looked poor in friendlies – lost to Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, tied Norway and outplayed by Liechtenstein.
Croatian fan: ” Yeah, but it’s only a friendly. They didn’t care or play hard”
Guess what? It’s a friendly for the other country too.
In meaningful games, they haven’t won in the last 4 qualifiers and need 2 late goals against Wales.
Croatian fan: Yeah, but Stimac was our coach. They didn’t care or play hard for him”.
When you’ve gone almost 2 years of not caring or playing hard in friendlies or qualifiers with a pre-existing excuse in your mind, it becomes a habit. – a real bad habit you are not going to break in 3 weeks.
With that frame of mind, it doesn’t matter if you are talented or not.
you tell’em Mishko!
we have talented players….we don’t have talented coaches and administrators. bad coaches and administrators can hold back talent.
@ Lovro and Jure, wtf are you two ass pounders going on about. If it was true that the NT have no talent then they wouldn’t be playing for the massive clubs they are.
You two should get a room, or I venture to guess you’re probably the same person.
However, regardless of what anyone here says, the proof will come in November. It’s truly put up or shut up time. So time will tell and all the cockholsters that come here can say what they want and speculate til then.
Why didnt we go to 2010? Lack of talent and bad results
Croatia have talent but that talent if he aint in Dinamo are Hajduk wont paly or get sold to bigger club.
@ Lovro Thank you for seeing thing
Lovro – what are you smoking dude? You are saying Croatia lacks talent?
@ Istria
nice nickname! You’re Istrian I take it?
When you lose to Scotland twice, it is one of two things – no talent, or the players gave up on Stimac.
Neither one is a good situation.
I believe in the lack of talent scenario. The smart soccer fans have seen this coming for awhile now.
When we lose to Iceland, the excuse will turn to “They still don’t want to play for Mamic/Suker.
Hard for Croatians to admit that this generation in their earlier twenties, outside of Rakitic, is really bad.
http://www.givemesport.com/390816-serbian-lineswoman-goes-viral-for-running-line?tg=%2ffootball
@ Poglavnik yes i remember that too. Nogomet wise they have a good attack and poor D. Im just saying i Believe Niko will get them to Brazil thanks to luck of the draw,the weather will be bad in Iceland 3 weeks from now cold snow bura but the Zg game they should get it done along with the fans support.NIKO I BRATE SPASITE HRVATEEE
I remember my father telling me over a decade ago that he wouldn’t care if we lost to Iceland in a particular qualifier because Iceland was one of the first States to recognize Hrvatska. Them, the Germans, and the Pope.
That’s about all I’ve ever known about Iceland…
@ Poglanik I think Stimac was the biggest problem players gave up ill take that,We lost to Scots 2 times and in ZG we lost to a C scot team. If we look at it based on players nad worth yes Iceland whould be a passage to Brazil. But its more Croatia being in a bad state of mind than Iceland being dangerous.
@ARMADA87
The ESPN FC author Miguel Delaney also picked Ireland to walk through us at Euro 2012.
@Jure
You have some points.
But it’s frickin Iceland dude, Iceland!?
What is it again that they have on us?
Hrvati form new york are the worst in general most american diaspora are bad. German hrvati are the best then its a toss up Canada and Aussies then USA are worst.
@imocan…..sure, that is a form of jocksniffing. I mean, that is celebrity-on-celebrity jocksniffing. That is even worse.
Who are they to underestimate Iceland? Croatia does not have a team open your homer eyes, No true number 9 no wingers no good Stopers no Leftback we area mediocre team at best and we shoud all open our eyes and look at it from a pundits perspective.Stop Modric and Mandzukic stop Croatia. Lets say this 11 played Pletikosa Srna Simunic Carli Strinic Rakitic Vukojevic Modric Kranjcar Olic Mandzo. that team has no wingers poor left back slow stopers and aging Srna how is that a good team time to call up some youth.
@Ante B
Brate you should of told me you were up here in my neck of the woods. I would of dropped by. Good mix of REAL Croats up here……of course always got that jugo in the weeds somewhere. 🙂
Bog
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/worldcupcentral/id/992?cc=5901
ESPN FC has Iceland as favorites for our tie.
Pizda!
obviously players wont wear shirts with our last names on the back, because we aren’t someone they know and follow. How many players wear bob marley shirts for example, are they jocksniffing bob marley?
@armada yea he really is he was always my favorite person to hangout with before he got signed with rijeka. yea the move was super last minute he didn’t know he was going to go until a day or two before he left. I hope so! I know he’s trying to. well see if he can in the future.
@ Laku Noc
Good to hear man, I wish him the best of luck. From the stuff I read on him and interviews I’ve saw him give, he sounds like a good dude with a good head on his shoulders. Although I wish he stayed at Rijeka, our midfielder is crowded and if he continues to get better at Spezia, I’m sure he can make it into a 1st league in the next few years.
Ante K would wear a T-shirt with the name ‘Bitno’ on the back; it’s the mutual retard admiration society.
@ziva I wear it because I support him and we are really close haha
@armada when I talked to him over the summer he said its better for him and his gf is supposed to move/go to school there so hell like it more. he does miss rijeka though. it gives me an excuse now to go to Italy next time I go to Croatia haha
forgot to put my name…
hmmmmm, good question. Are you over 21 years old? I would say no, but I think immediate family members get a pass. Although, being cousins is probably borderline.
Here is my general rule if you or anyone else is in doubt about wearing a jersey with another man’s name on it…..would that same person wear a jersey/shirt with your name on it. Example: would Luka Modric walk around madrid wearing a tshirt or jersey with the last name “Istina” or “Poglavnik” or “Bitno” or “Canada” on the back. if the answer is no, then you shouldn’t either. There is never a reason to glorify another human being you don’t know and subject yourself to hero worshipping and jock sniffing. never!!.
You’re always telling “don’t talk about Politics b/c this is about soccer”. Meanwhile, when ever I watch soccer, they are incessantly shoving anti-white social messages down our throats. Yet, you don’t have a problem that?
There must have been an incident in Moscow b/c the English announcer said “in Eastern Europe they are not as advanced in their thinking” and the other one said “it’s disgusting”.
Notice how UEFA doesn’t have any campaigns against the terrorism, murder, rape of our women, etc, that “anti-racism” has brought into our homelands?
If “anti-racism” was about not hating other races or wishing bad things to happen to other races, then I’m all for it. But we all know anti-whites have defined what “anti-racism” is all about: forcing ALL and ONLY White countries to “assimilate” w/ a global herd of Third Worlders into eternity, screaming “racist” at and brutally suppressing anybody who’s against it.
Notice how UEFA launch a big “anti-racism” campaign this week, but if you go to the Asian and African federations, you will see NOTHING about “anti-racism”. Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white.
@ Anonymous
How’s Antonini liking Spezia? He miss Rijeka?
@ziva if my cousin (Antonini Culina) gave me his U21 Jersey and it has his name on the back and I wear it… does that make me a Homer glasses or whatever you call it? because I wear it all the time 🙂
I agree I’d possibly punish Olic but I its human nature to see players behave radically when they know their coach/leader has no idea what the hell he is doing. The players weren’t getting along in the changing room, there were all sorts of comments from several players…regardless of what Srna said after Stimac was fired…they didnt respect Stimac or his coaching.
What did the Rangers do when they didnt like Tortorella? How many teams have reacted negatively to Mike Keenan, Mike Milbury or even Marc Crawford…when the coaches dont make sense and cant provide a winning strategy the teams starts to implode, which is exactly what happened to our team!
Olic’s nightlife experience is a far different experience than what happened when he left for the dressing room, you are mixing up two very different issues. Several players do what he did but just dont get caught…I defend him because he gave far more to the team but for the first part of his career he was ridiculed and even contemplated retiring because of how the media and public treated him. The guy has given 100% to the team and deserves a pass….his emotions were overcome as he watched his coach make foolish mistakes game after game after game…and we all read and watched all the other story lines continued, they were bleeding on the field and in the dressing room…definitely not the same as his mistake years ago!
There’s a good chance of that. Only time will tell…
I just came back from a wedding in Toronto (Missississsaghugaha) and man you Hrvati are on a different level up there. Most of you guys are Karlovcani and dinamovci. It was the first time in my life I heard everybody speaking kajkavski more than southern dialects. Also way more ustaske and domoljubne pjesme than I could imagine. Well done Toronto and Missississaghuhaga.
We won’t be able to move on from this idiocy because Puppet Suker and Mamic are still in the savez. We will continue to have issues with those two leading the way.
I was against boycotting the repka as long as the players were out there giving it their all. They needed and deserved our support. Last 3 games or so i saw the players giving up, also wanting Stimac and others out of the repka. At this point i was for the boycotting. Like grocery store unions for example. When do buyers stop going to certain grocery stores? Its when the workers strike! We strike with them and show no support for the stores by not buying from them. Life is a union and you strike when its unanimous. This worked out well for the repka and hopefully we qualify and move on from this idioticy.
And that is why present-day unions are part of the downfall of today’s society, especially the unions of public sector employees……but, that is a political discussion not worth having on this site.
I grew up in a union town my friend and when you want something done you strike!
That means we have players who will never win anything for us, if that is the case.
I’m not going to defend Stimac here, but I want players who will play hard no matter who the coach is.
Playing bad on the field is one thing, but leaving early and turning your back on your team becasue you don’t get playing time is another.
Players not giving their all on a pitch is the same shit. It’s giving up for a cause.
No better way to get rid of a coach if players start to walk out on the team. It’s more effective than fans not showing up.
@nije bitno………….fans have the right to boycott if they want. Players on the repka have no right to boycott. They are asked to play on their national team, which is the highest honor a player can have. They can either say no more and leave, but don’t walk out and expect everything to be forgiven just because we have an idiot as a coach. Remember, this is not the first time turn your back Olic has abandoned his teammates. I recall he and a few guys skipped curfew once and traveled to a turbo-serbo bar. So, it was more important for turn your back Olic to listen to turbo-serbo music than to be with his teammates. Let’s be honest here……Turn your back Olic walked out because of playing time, not because he thought Stimac was an idiot. Do you think turn your back Olic would have walked out if Strucnjak Stimac would have subbed him in? No, of course not. This was a move by turn your back Olic because his ego and picka got hurt. Nothing more, nothing else.
Fans can do what ever they want, as long as it is legal. Fans have the right to show up and cheer, boo, do nothing, or eat gourmet food while browsing on their ipad. Different set of expectations with players when you accept a call up to the repka
If our savez was legit, turn your back Olic would not be allowed to play the next game or two. But, we all know our savez would never do that.
@N. Bitno
Players don’t have a right to hold the savez for ransom. There is a hierarchy in place for a reason.
Fans don’t have these sets of rules.
@Nije bitno
You~
“why can fans boycott and a player can’t”????
Are you serious???
Ziva – I think that things didnt go well at some point during Bilic’s days as the coach but we never saw these types of behaviors because he did have more respect from the players (other than Simunic and Pranjic) and if they did revolt…it wasnt during a game, at least I dont remember of any outbursts! I also believe we are tempermental people but for the most part, they understand the levels of respect and heirarchy…most Croatian players behave as professionals…especially when they play outside of Croatia.
Most teams have mental midgets, if not worse than ours….look at Holland, Italy, France, England….our problems arent nearly as bad as theirs!
Ziva why can the fans boycott the repka but a player cant? I mean you were all for not having anyone show up for to support the repka even the players if it meant changes being made. What makes Olic different in your eyes?
damn….that song by Southampton fans for Lovren……ouch
I guess we found out what is worse than wearing a jersey with aname on the back…its putting a song together for another person.
Agreed, that Strucnjak Stimac was boneheaded, but walking out on your team is walking out on your team. So, much for all hands together when the going gets tough.
Face it, our guys are a bunch of mental midgets. When things are great everything is fine. But, when everything goes to shit, you then find out who the leaders are and who are the mental midgets.
Mishko
That was terrible.
BTW – Olic commented on what lead him to get pissed off during the qualifying games….and I have to say he is 100% right! These comments also demonstrate that when an idiot coach makes bonehead tactical, formation and player blunders…the players all see right through his lack of experience and cant play for the idiot with full confidence he is doing whats right for the team!
Hey Iggy, the Southampton fans have a song for your boy.
To the tune of “you’ve lost that loving feeling”
We’re trying hard not to show it, Dejan.
But Dejan, Dejan We know it…
We’ve got that lovren feeling,
Whoa, that lovren feeling,
We’ve got that lovren feeling,
Now he’s ours…ours…ours…wooooooh
BTW
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/zoran-mamic-halilovic-ostaje-a-smjena-ivankovica-bila-je-nuzna-ne-sjecam-se-kada-smo-gore-igrali/707740.aspx
All bs. No way are they splashing this money on a unproven kid. He should never have been called to the senior side. He is overrated. Plain and simple.
Modric issue had nothing to do with Jedvaj or Halilovic. Jedvaj is with a winner. Roma has not lost yet this season.
the truth of the matter is Halilovic, as of right now in his young career, shows brilliance in many areas. It doesnt mean he’ll be a superstar but there is a very good chance he will be at the very least, a great player…most likely better than what we currently have (Modric plays a different role). Players at his age get attention BUT when you read about $$$ and major deals, thats when you know its the “real deal”! These teams have agents/scouts at all levels and all over Europe, they dont base their opinions on someone else’s comments…its an industry with structure and professionalism. A bad deal can fuck up an organization so I’m betting they know far more than we do!
I never believe rumors at this time of year because the transfer window is not open now.
It’s certainly not in Bayern’s interest to have this new out there. Makes me wonder that Halilovic’s contract does indeed run out on July 1 and that Dinamo is leaking this news in an effort they believe would raise his value.
If the rumour is true, then I would agree with that yes.
I just don’t believe it and think it’s a BS rumour lol
so then if you think Bayern is a respected club it says a lot about who Halilovic is and his potential!
I get the potential aspect to it, however I can’t ever remember Bayern making a move like this which is what makes it hard for me to believe (especially given the value of the rumoured transfer).
I could easily see them snapping him up for a much smaller price, but not for $20 million.
that Lambasa chick was a dime piece… RIP
were her and Carli official?
majstore – these big teams have experienced scouts, if this rumor is true, they aren’t stupid…Halilovic has potential!
he isnt yet ready, I think we all know that….some kids are more special than others and trust me, those countries that have them do whatever they have to in order to ensure those kids play. If Halilovic was 100% Croatian and we had no fear of losing him, this would never happen but he isnt and the situation is what it is. protect your interest, thats all this is….if I was on the coaching squad and my boss told me I have to have him on the roster, for whatever reason…I’d have already put the issue at rest and played him, Stimac didnt. Get him in a game and then bring him back where he belongs, its not complicated but it gets complicated when we keep him on the bench to appease him but never play him!
I find it really hard to believe that Bayern would splash 20 mil on this kid. They usually make very smart buys, and 20 mil for Halilovic does not seem like the best buy.
Cesc leaving was club issue, not a country issue. my only issue with Halilovic is how the savez put him on the senior side and he didn’t deserve the call up. He put there to increase his value, nothing more. Now, we all know the savez has done this in the past, but with other people you can make an argument they merited the call up on some level. This kid has not.
I disagree dude, kids nowadays aren’t as under control as they were 30 years ago, Cesc Fabregas left Spain because he couldn’t play there at a young age, so he went to Arsenal…its not as uncommon as you think! We here don’t know the real tempo of whats happening there, or the politics of the game, I can tell you that if this was Boban or Prosinecki in this era, we might be seeing the very same thing!
Incorrect………Has nothing to do with him being half muslim. I have had no issues with Srna, Kozniku, Zuti, Ademi, Balaban, Serb Subasic or Miladin Prso….all those guys were half or 100% other than a hrvat. My issues is putting him on the repka when he doesn’t deserve it yet. Are they really afraid he would pick BiH? Then let him pick BiH. If that is the case, we will never see the best of him with the repka because he wouldn’t bleed and fight for the shirt if he is really torn between BiH and Cro.
Halilovic will be a player, even Gudelj said it in an interview I read yesterday. The kid has respect issues but he’s a great player and will get better in time and with the proper guidance!
Ziva – you put far to much emphasis on the fact Halilovic may be not ready yet, we all know that but you miss the point completely and I truly think you feel this away about him for one reason….because he’s a half muzzy! All Nations are smart to protect their interest, this isnt about principle here, he can seriously help the team in a few years and you’ve got a hard on for this topic because he isnt full blood line Croatian, I think you’re offside on this!
@Ivica……..Jedvaj didn’t trun Spurs down. He was never going to get a work permit to play for Spurs. The issue with Spurs and Halilovic has nothing to do with the Modric situation. Halilovic’s dad doesn’t want him in England at this age right now.
Did you guys read the news about the death of Dolores Lambasa this morning. She was in a car accident and died. Only reason I bring this up is because I think she and Corluka dated for a bit. I wonder if her car accident had anything to do with the STDs she picked up from Corluka during their time together and influenced how she drove……
@Ziva Istina
I missed when you brought it up, i’ve always assumed it was a contractual issue. Contrary to what you might be thinking i am not here just to bust your balls as i said in my first statement about you, you have often been correct, my only gripe with you is your anti Croatian behaviour veiled with im a veliki Hrvat statement, so i stand by what i have said. We have had our fill of anti Croat flag kissing people since independence(all those lying thieving pieces of shit that ruined our country, while kissing the flag and screaming about being Veliki Hrvati) Obviously not putting you in that category as their sins are far greater. I’d only suggest that you stop shitting on our players, i get that you are just busting chops but the constant STD, big mac etc etc just gets boring. End of the day if Carli wants to nail anything with legs or Kranjcar wants to unwind with a big mac, boli me kurac
Back to the issue at hand, over a year ago stimac and mamic who were once enemies shacked up, since then certain moves have been made in our NT in order to profit and Halilovic’s call up is one of them and sammir obviously. He didnt gain anything from either call up, the kid will move to another club regardless of NT time, so my question is if the offers exist why wouldnt mamic take the money and run while he still can? Surely his greed isnt that great that he stands to lose lets say 20 mil to gain another 3-4 which is an inflated sum on a prospective player with evident deficiencies.
It has been evident for a long time that Cro football needs a clean out beginning at the top and the sooner the better
How true are these Bayern rumours?
I think Halilović wants to avoid playing at Spurs, and that’s why they keep declining offers and making unrealistic demands, all the while hoping for another team to swoop on.
Looks like Levy backing down on that gentleman’s agreement with Luka blacklisted him a bit with this generation of Croatian youth. First Jedvaj turns Spurs down, now Halilović.
@Dalmo Ante…….I brought up this issue over a month ago. I heard his contract was only valid until this summer, although Mamic says otherwise. This would explain why he is being forced on the repka while he doesn’t deserve to be on it. I have no clue, because I have heard conflicting stories from people within the savez back in Cro who I trust and have been correct before.
@T.O. CRO if you’re referring to Halilovic getting a bigger salary i agree the club would rather give him a bigger annual and not a pay a fee to dinamo, i meant i dont know why Mamic wouldn’t deal now while he still stands to make money. I am assuming it has to do with clauses in the kids contract not suiting mamic’s future income, the contracts signed under mamic are filthy business so im not surprised the kid (his dad) are refusing
Go Chelsea!!!!
Dalmo Ante,
He would collect more money for himself, seeing that the club doesn’t have to shell out cash for the transfer…
Halilović to Bayern?
for all those who will ask why doesnt he just agree to an offer now while he (or the club if you will) will get a transfer fee, i have no idea, to know what mamic is thinking i’d need to loosen some screws in my head. It’s possible that the contract Halilovic has with him/dinamo doesn’t have clauses that assure him of future proceeds from the player, why else would he be knocking back apparent 20 mil deals from levy fc?
http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/hnl/sprema-li-se-u-dinamu-novi-sok-halilovic-odlazi-besplatno—308127.html
This does make sense as to why Mamic isn’t giving the kid game time at gnk mamic, maybe goes a bit of a way to explain the selfish play for the u17 NT trying to show off his skill set. Wrong way to go about it should just play a team orientated game and take his opportunities where he can, he is the captain and the other players look to him to set an example and if the see selfish play they too will play selfishly and nothing good comes of that. How much truth there is in this article i wont pretend to know but it does make sense that a guy like mamic would starve him of opportunity in order to get him to sign a new deal to guarantee a transfer fee.
Don’t care about clubs or results put hope our guys play well ! : )