The Champions League looked a bit clearer after Tuesday night’s games. Both Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić played the full 90 minutes in the Real Madrid midfield in their 2-1 victory away to Sporting Lisbon. This is the second consecutive match Madrid has fielded the Croatian duo which can only build Kovačić’ confidence moving forward. The victory keeps Real Madrid two points behind Group F leaders Borussia Dortmund, who Real Madrid will host on the last match of group play on December 7th. Real Madrid can only top the group with three points from this game but they have already booked a berth into the knockout round.
Danijel Subašić and Monaco defeated Tottenham 2-1 for a second time this Champions League campaign to lock up top spot in Group E. Subašić only conceded a penalty to Harry Kane in the second half and will now take his talents to the knockout stage this spring. Monaco’s last match in the group stage versus Bayer Leverkusen will have no bearing on the group standings.
Dinamo Zagreb were shut out for a fifth straight time this Champions League campaign; this time 1-0 at home to Lyon. Dinamo has yet to earn a point or a score a goal this year in group play and currently sit at a -18 goal differential. They have already been eliminated from the tournament and will finish in Italy as Juventus host them on December 7th. Although it’s nice to see a Croatian team play in Champions League; Europa League is a better suit for the Croatian champions.
We have a decent shot at taking that tourney in China. Should be interesting to see who Cacic calls up. The squad will prolly consist of players from the HNL. And some veteran fringe players not in the the Repka set up, someone like Jelavic who is already in China. I don’t think Eduardo or Srna would go as they retired from Repka and want to focus on their club careers until they stop playing.
Duje Cop missed pen
My lineup for China!
-kalinic-
-srna-milovic-mitrovic-pivaric
-pavicic-coric-vlasic
-sammir-
-jelavic-eduardo-
….
How bout that for a lineup 😀
Kenjac is a must watch
Let’s Go Croatia Tonite!
Croatia 1-1 in final of Davis Cup.. doubles later tonight gonna be a huge factor in who wins fellas
How many Inter coaches are going to test their luck by benching Perisic, & then go on to lose a big game.
Perisic brought on as a sub in Inter’s europa league loss. (Feel kinda like the NY times writing this.)
http://www.total-croatia-news.com/sport/14945-croatian-national-team-to-participate-in-first-ever-china-cup
For those that don’t speak English.
“Naravno, u Kini će Hrvatska biti bez glavnih zvijezda, a očekuje se veća minutaža za nogometaše iz HNL-a, budući da je tada u hrvatskom prvenstvu pauza.”
For those that don’t speak Croatian
“Although of course, in China, Croatia will be without many of their major stars, and are expected to bring up footballers from HNL as the Croatian championship break takes place then.”
Mostar, hadn’t seen that yet. Wonder if we will be sending our A team, B team, or the B+ team like @ NIreland.
That said, it is strange we might play Iceland in what amounts to a friendly? If we do, no starters should play, cause Iceland’s best chance at topping our group would be if some of our stars got injured.
Not sure if it was mentioned yet but Croatia have a friendly tournament in China coming up.
http://hns-cff.hr/news/15473/hrvatska-u-sijecnju-na-turniru-u-kini/
stipe hanging with Serbs on vukovar remembrance….sheeeeesh…..did pulusic make any kind of statement?
Oh yeah, and a guy named Mandzukic scored for Juventus in their 3-1 win over Sevilla.
Tin Jedvaj played the entire game for Leverkusen against CSKA Moskou (1-1). Tin was not at fault for the goal.
With this point, Leverkusen will go to the knockout stage.