FINAL: Wales beat Croatia 2-1 in Cardiff to take control of 2nd place in group. If Wales win out (matches vs. Armenia and Turkey) Croatia will have to qualify for Euro 2024 through a Nations League playoff.
77′: Beljo nearly equalizes but his header in the box from a tight angle goes wide. Croatia finally playing with urgency. Will they find the equalizer?
75′: PAŠALIĆ SCORES TO GIVE LIFE TO CROATIA! Pašalić heads home a flicked ball in the box following a corner. 2-1 Wales.
60′: Wilson flicks on a sharp cross into the box for his second goal. Nothing Livi could do. As of now, Croatia sit 3rd place in group and out of a Euro 2024 berth.
47′: Wales score. The Welsh keeper plays a long ball from his own box and Broz takes an awful touch on the ball. The pass is lobbed over Vida’s head and he can’t keep up with Wilson who touches the ball past Livaković. 1-0 Wales.
46′: Dalić is listening and subs are on the way! Pašalić in for Brekalo. Beljo in for Musa. Stanišić in for Juranović at right-back.
HT: Another atrocious half of football from the Vatreni. No pace. Not one real chance on goal. It looks like these guys have never played together and would be happy leaving Wales with a draw. No service to Musa. The wings look dead. More passes going backwards than forward. Livaković Croatia’s best player so far with two big saves. First change needs to be Beljo in for Musa. Beljo is more technical on the ground and Musa isn’t getting service in the box anyways.
40′: Another game with zero service to Musa. Little action from Brekalo/Majer up the wings. Need to sub out Musa for Beljo at halftime. That’s the first change Dalić needs to make.
30′: Williams takes a low, powerful shot on the Croatian goal. It’s on frame but Livaković makes a nice diving save. Still 0-0.
30′: Not the start we were looking for from Croatia. No pace. No urgency. More balls going backwards than forward.
23′: The Welsh free kick curls over the wall and looked to be heading for the post. Livaković gets a hand on the ball to force a corner. Nice save.
21′: Wales hit Croatia with a fast counter-attack and Vida is forced to foul just outside the box. Yellow card for Vida but it could have been a Welsh goal otherwise.
18′: Juranović crosses the ball in the box and Musa gets a decent header on it but it goes over the bar. Need more of this kind of service for Musa. He can catch some air in the box against the Welsh defense.
15′: Not much going on. Croatia can’t break the Welsh blockade. Lots of passes to the wings and then back towards Vida/Gvardiol in defense.
3′: Wales already look to be playing long balls over the top into the Croatian box. They re pressing and taking a page from Turkey’s playbook Thursday.
Dalic has had he’s day in the sun unfortunately needs to go …….croatia need to bring in some young blood
DALIC OUT- can’t coach young players and losing to Turkey and Wales – it’s a disgrace. Change is coming
why are we 3rd? same points as wales(10) and better goal diff
Head to head is the first tiebreaker.
ok thanks
Let’s stop blaming today bc of injuries and out of form
They were missing Brennan Johnson (by far their best offensive player – and one of the quickest / direct in the PL – would make Harry Wilson who scored twice look like a snail) and Aaron Ramsey – plus a couple other injuries
Rob Wilson said in post-game interview – that 7 out of 11 starters for Wales aren’t starting for their club teams (most of which are Championship i.e. 2nd tier in England, not even PL)
How many starters have to be unavailable for you not to factor in injuries?
Like if Croatia loses 9 starting players for the Latvia game, nobody’s allowed to talk about that b/c Croatia’s subs are rated higher than Latvia’s starters?
I am not trying to start a fight and I respect the injury comment. But there should always be a plan to have players available to stand in for the dependable starters at any point. That’s including substitutions.
Substitutions for the national team have only been made in desperation moments. Dalic is to blame for that, to blame for not utilizing younger or available talent, and not not changing formations or strategies. When was the last time Modern if was subbed? Euro 2022 at the very end, and he was sitting on the bench hold his head in his hands (please check me on this substitution).
You can’t evolve with never letting others play those positions. Even with national teams like San Marino or Malta, and no disrespect to those nations’ players, but the same starters weren’t substituted. I think during games of the Nations League group stage we had some new upcomers starting, and the team won those games and finished first in the group.
You have substitutes and upcoming players of other national teams who can just jump in and either keep their weight of the veteran they just replaced, or can win a game being a starter.
We don’t have that. But as a said previously in a comment, you can’t score if you’re not delivering service into the box for your striker.
Injuries do carry weight. They carry weight for our team. Hopefully things can get figured out.
I know we have injuries, but Dalic has stuffed up with the team selections and tactics. Never a big fan of Musa, however the guy was alone on his own against four defenders in the first half as was the case against Turkey. We should have changed formation from the start and played 4-4-2 as Miki on this site suggested, with Beljo and Musa up front. To score goals and create chances you need more than one player in the penalty box, especially now that we are missing so many regular forwards with injuries.
Modric at 38 was still one of our better players which is a concern. Brozovic and Kovacic hugely disappointing in both matches. Majer needs to play in the midfield and not on the RW where he is ineffective. Juranovic has a calf injury and should have not started. Vida should have retired after the WC. Barisic and Brekalo disaster going forward on the left side.
Dalic is slow in calling up our U21 players. No idea why he is not calling up Roko Simic who is in good form at the moment for both club and our U21. He is 20 and is a much better option and prospect than Musa at 26. Simic is a robust and aggressive type of player and is quicker than Musa. He needs to be called up for matches in November.
How things change, 4 weeks ago we were talking of what we need to be in Pot 1
for the Euro draw. Now we are not even certain that we will be in the main draw with the playoffs looming large.
This reminds me of qualification for 2010 World Cup when we needed England not to lose to Ukraine in Kiev on the last match day. I remember listening to the match on BBC Radio, and England already qualified and with all their mega stars lost 1 – 0 and we came in third. That is what happens often when you rely on other teams to do you a favor. Let’s hope that Armenia and Turkey can help us this time around.
Armenia can still qualify, and Turkey should be playing to win and end up in the highest pot possible.
Dear Mart, Türkiye will do her best to beat Wales in November. We Turks (most of us) want Croatia to qualify.
I am still holding onto the idea that Majer has to become a key player for us. This is his season to prove it, and I hope he follows through at Wolfsburg.
I think it’s time to call upon Vidovic, Sucic, Simic, Ljubicic, Baturina type players in the years to come. These players need to begin to stand out and provide what’s needed, veteran players may not have it in them anymore as time progresses and may need to be substitutes in the games to come.
Hopefully Vuskovic ends up being a star at Tottenham, we could use another skilled defender seeing as Barisic, Stanisic, and even Sutalo were questionable here.
Now with Petko injured and Livaja calling it quits the forward position should be an open position to the players who is most in form this season. Simic may be the one, or possibly Ljubicic if he can step up. I like what I saw out of Ljubicic in his first season at LASK, hopefully he can do that again and soon.
I think Erlic and Sosa were both benched way to long or not played at all to the detriment of Dalic and the squad. Poor choices on his part unfortunately, and I am still not sure why Sosa and Erlic are both in the doghouse with Dalic.
But I wonder here, if the talent is gone, the team just didn’t seem to have that sense of urgency they usually have. That first half especially was abysmal…what was it 3 or 4 shots none on target again, maybe 5 to 1 by the end of it. That cannot happen again, it’s unacceptable for team that came of the last two tournaments the way they did. Look if they lost, but played their best, it would suck but I would be okay with it as the better team would win, even I fit was Wales. Like this, however, you may as well not even show up.
The silver lining is that the dropoff in our play from last three months (where we almost won the Nations League and had a commanding position in our qualifying group) to these past few days is so significant there has to be a logical explanation for it.
So why the sudden change?
The form of a few key starters dropped off (specifically Kovačić)…and we were missing the MAJORITY of our most offensively gifted players.
It’s easy to blow our loads here with the doom and gloom over the future of this team…but the reality is that we lost a significant amount of players, and of the ones we did have…many were just out of form.
A couple of poor coaching decisions and a goalkeeping blunder…and you end up with zero points.
Not an excuse, but it’s also not a reason to assume that this is now the new Croatia and that there is no way to get back to where we were just four weeks ago.
Turkey still has a shot at pot 1, but ceratainly pot 2 if they win in the last game vs Wales. However, a tie or a loss could put them in pot 3 or 4, so they still have something to play for.
I wouldn’t want for us to go to the playoffs, but if we go through that way, once again we will be considered a dark horse.
Perfect storm of injuries and players out of form.
Kovacic, Vida, Barisic were brutal.
Can’t wait to get Ivanusec, Petkovic and Kramaric back.
Majer should start ahead of Kovacic moving forward. Slot Juranovic at RW, and Stanisic at RB to make it happen.
Sosa is our LB (not this Barisic nonsense).
Vida needs to be retired.
Yes to all the above.
Again, I have to ask who then Vida in that slot? Are we going to put in a fragile Sutalo or a unknown in Erlic?
I still think it wouldn’t have mattered as we lacked midfield possession in huge numbers. Midfield is where we get em
Vida’s lack of pace was partially responsible for the first goal. Granted he did get in front of a very good chance earlier.
Sutalo and his situation with Ajax has affected him and as we know he wasn’t himself in the Turkey game.
For me, Erlic might would have made more sense. TBH I haven’t watched him play this year but he has been playing regularly.
Our midfield was generally poor. Kova was terrible. Modric actually was good in the second half today. Brozo had a bad few games but is still the best we have.
The combo of horrible form from so many players and the numerous injuries just killed us.
Vida was also responsible for one hundred horizontal passes to Gvardiol, and maybe only one or two passes to Juranović on his right side.
Vida is not comfortable making long forward passes, so he kept playing it safe and as a result, Juranović was barely involved.
Who is comfortable? It’s Noone.
How is Erlic unknown lol, whenever he’s played for Croatia he’s played well and he’s also starting in the Italian league for Sassuolo but somehow can’t be ahead of Vida in the pecking order and won’t be after the performance Vida put on for us against Wales because of Dalic favouritism.
It also would’ve made sense to play Erlic he’s tall, physical, a composed player and reasonably mobile. We could’ve gotten him going toe to toe against Moore so we could’ve actually be winning some headers and not getting dominated in that area.
We 100% are in the play-offs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2024_qualifying#Groups
See “X”
“Team is assured at least a play-off spot based on Nations League ranking, but may still qualify directly”
Most of other teams who currently making playoffs (see those highlighted in blue) are mid/crap (except for Netherlands)
Not over yet folks
Time for a tactical foreign coach who will pick the best players. This is not the case with Dalic. He’s done tremendously but it’s now time to move on. Croatia actually needs to win something coming 2nd, 3rd is not good enough if we consider to be European elite. Time for rebuild is here.
From the other Franjo:
As much as I would like to have a first place win for Croatia in a major tournament, I am proud of what we have accomplished. Terrible results these past two games, but with so many injuries, it isn’t a complete surprise.
As for rebuilding, youth that prove themselves, certainly desrve a shot- looking at Šimić now.
The best thing for goodness sake
—> We are not qualified for Euro 2024
I am getting tired of this kind of bullshit -0
We need to kick Dalic out for a bright future!!
Please make a thread guys showing the run down on the points and how we qualify
There’s a lot of confusing stuff below. And we need our finest brains on this
I think we win it out and
Should make 2nd no?!
Bottom line – Wales need to drop points vs Armenia or Turkey. If Wales win both games, we are no better than third no matter what. Best scenario is Armenia tie or beat Wales, Wales beat Turkey and Croatia win both – Croatia win the group.
Spot on Mile.
There is only one scenario where we can finish first, but it’s unlikely.
Wales would have to lose points in Armenia (with a loss or draw), but they would also have to win against Turkey in Cardiff.
This keeps Turkey at 16 points (but behind us on head-to-head)
This also keeps Wales with less than 16 points
We win our final two games, we get 16 points and top the group over Turkey on head-to-head.
Mile is right though. In every scenario we need Wales to drop points. So, our fate is not entirely in our hands anymore.
If Wales win both their games, then we finish third no matter what and we go into a playoff with Poland, Czech, Netherlands or Ukraine.
From what I can gather the best 4 teams of League A that haven’t qualified directly are in a playoff. Of there aren’t 4 teams from group A they fill the spot(s) with teams from group D.
We are actually hoping all the League A teams go through. We want Greece to lose to the Dutch. I didn’t realize Wales was actually a League A team.
Not at all. We win both we end up top 2 regardless of other results. Wales beat Turkey we get second at best with better head to head against the Turks. Wales drop a point or lose against Armenia and the beat Turkey we top the group. All this is predicated on Croatia winning both games.
Have fun now trolls. Won’t last long
There is a way for Croatia to still win the group. If Wales drop points against Armenia, and then beat Turkey, and Croatia win their last two games, Croatia win the group with the tiebreaker over Turkey. Not impossible since Armenia is playing at home and Wales hosts Turkey, and Turkey has already clinch a spot.
Do we really have zero attack? Zero?? This is a cruel joke
You’d be correct
Talent wise we are not a top 10 European side.Don’t even try to argue this point.
What does one truly expect when this side plays with no heart or passion.
Well…we DID have an insane amount of players missing due to injury, and several more who are out of form.
So, no, they are not a top 10 Euro side if they are relying on a bunch of newcomers like and the corpse of Domagoj Vida to start games for them.
Hopefully, we get everyone back in November and close things out.
Does anymore recall when was the last time we lost back to back games?
After the 2018 World Cup? We started Nations League poorly.
Fuck off Dave
If you only count WC and Euro qualifying, Croatia have only lost back to back games once, in October 2013 vs Belgium at home and at Scotland, for 2014 WC qualification. These were the last two games of qualifying, and the loss to Scotland, though a bad loss, didn’t mean much, as Croatia were going to the Euro playoff anyway. These two losses this week are much worse, and this was arguably the worst week in Croatian soccer history.
And the second loss to Scotland was October 15, 2013, 10 years ago to the day.
Turkey will play Wales fairly, regardless of already qualifying. They will want to be group winners to secure a higher pot. With that in mind, we should be ok.
Too late to bring Livaja back?
Dalic wasting his time in the build up to these games with his stupid restaurant instead of healing divisions in the locker room.
Livaja doesn’t deserve to play for the National team. A headcase!!!
We need to win out.
If we win out and Turkey loses to Wales we are in as our goal differential vs Turkey was better.
If we win out and Turkey and Wales tie/and or Turkey wins we finish 2nd.
Trouble is that our ‘home’ game vs Armenia might be behind closed doors as there apparently looks to be another infraction.
Away game vs Latvia will be tricky the way we are playing. Hopefully we can have Krama, Ivanusec and Petkovic back by then.
NO. There are fools on here.
Turkey has already qualified.
I should have said provided Wales drops points to Armenia. If we are tied with Turkey and Wales finishes 3rd we do win the group. See #2 below.
WHAT ARE THE TIEBREAKERS FOR EURO 2024 QUALIFYING?
Here are the tiebreakers for Euro 2024 qualifying.
1. Highest number of points obtained in the games between the tied teams
2. Highest goal difference obtained in the games between the tied teams
3. Highest number of goals scored in the games between the tied teams
4. Reapplying criteria 1-3 if there were more than two teams tied and criteria 1-3 left some teams still tied.
5. Highest goal difference in all group matches
6. Highest number of goals scored in all group matches
7. Highest number of away goals scored in all group matches.
8. Highest number of wins in all group matches.
9. Highest number of away wins in all group matches
10. Fair play conduct in all group matches
11. Position in the Nations League overall rankings
Petko & Krama are two of a bunch of players a lot of people on this site (at one time or another) wanted not just benched, but off the team.
Folks some confusion on here, Turkey has already qualified for EURO.
We can only come second in the group on the proviso that Wales drops points against Armenia and or Turkey. If they win both we are in the play offs, irrelevant if we win both of our matches.
How did you calculate that?
See my post below in reply to Ante.
Got it – so it assumes Wales wins their other match and beats Turkey…
math.
Yes its true because of three way head to head…we’d be behind Turkey for points in the three way tie…they’d have 6….Wales would have 7….we’d be at four..
All we needed is to not give up that last second goal vs Wales at home….or draw either of these two games….and now we its out of our control.
Turkey has noting to play for away in Wales whose crowd will be rocking…..
We are in the playoffs…and it could be vs Italy and Holland…..Holland without Persisic we have no shot.
Phuck me.
An easy as you like group with Wales and Turkey…and we finish third.
I never seen us sink so low in quality and performance since almost missing the World Cup in 2018. That’s when we needed that win away against Ukraine with Dalić as our coach for the first time. I believe it’s time to shuffle the coaching staff. Fire Dalić and fire the cheerleaders like Olic, Mandzukic, Corluka. They offer no quality and contribute fucking nothing. Bring in an international coach and experienced guys that have been actual managers. Vida and Barisic must be excluded from the squad next month. Both are useless and slow. I don’t know who is more out to lunch. Both are ineffective and can’t keep up with the pace. Stanisic isn’t confident in my mind. It looked like Gvardiol is the only defender we have as of now who is consistent. We cross the ball blindly into the 18 yard box and hope someone picks it up. No threats upfront. We went from third at the World Cup to this in a week. We can say goodbye to first place. I’m assuming we beat Latvia next game which I’m still worried. Even if we do..Armenia can pull an upset against Wales at home hopefully or get a draw. Turkey play Wales at home in the last game. If Turkey wins or draws..won’t matter how many goals we score or if we the last two. I don’t want to see us at Euros if this is the way we play. I say we don’t make it for top two. I’m extremely worried about the future for this team. Perisic and Kramaric are 99% of our offence. Everyone else is useless. Call up Simic, Budimir, anyone. We have no striker..nobody. Everyone else is horseshit. Once Modric leaves..we are so fucked for leadership. Goodnight from Canada and hopefully we don’t have to play in March. Get your shit together. Something drastic has to happen to this squad next month..coach, call ups, running suicide for these pitiful performances.
“Something drastic has to happen to this squad next month”
Like Croatia’s entire front line of Ivanusec, Petkovic & Kramaric returning?
I am hearing we have to move on from the older players. For me, one of the real concerns (and surprises) in these two games has in fact come from two key younger players.
Two months ago, I had Sutalo as a dead lock playing to the right of Gvardiol on the back line. And Stanisic had played really well last year at right back when he got the opportunity to play for Bayern, for example shutting down Mbappe and so forth. I really saw him as solid.
As I looked at our defence, I dare say it looked to have the potential to be as good a defence as any in the world over the next ten years. We had every reason to be confident of a world class defence….suddenly that looks just a little wobbly.
These two guys look to have taken a step backward.
Temporary? Yeah, probably……two games are just two games, I get it…..but still a concern. They both had a surprisingly bad 72 hours, Sutalo doesn’t even get the start in game two. I found that a surprise, wouldn’t have predicted it…..Ajax has been a gong show, but still….
…….anyone have any thoughts on those two guys?
Other takeaways: (1) Kovacic should be in his prime, but the recovery from that injury looks to have set him back (is that all it is?) and (2) Kramaric has probably been underrated by some of us on this board. He has a nose for the net, that is what has made him a legend at Hoffenheim….he is a goal scorer, and we missed that….
Only thing worse than seeing Croatia lose today is seeing Poland elect a left-wing Eurocrat government. Say goodbye to Warsaw. Couple million migrants on the way crime rape and jihad.
leave everything that was on the field -> on the field!
nobody wants to lose, I understand …
The purpose of the game, I’m sure, is not just to determine the winner. The goal of the game is to unite! … our goal in this game is not to quarrel!
Yes, someone is stronger, someone is weaker, but that’s how games go. Next year, if there’s no game, you will be asking to have it. So play here, enjoy it!
How I miss seeing those crosses from Sosa… they are perfect for our tall strikers and Pasalic. Wanna see Beljo play more as he always looks dangerous. Dalic should probably call up Simic next month too as he will bring a lot of energy to our game. Btw, I believe Pasalic’s goal came off a directly taken corner and not that useless short corner, isn’t it?
So I’m on the record countless times saying that Dalic is not a tactical coach, but a motivational coach. He is now failing in both. Time for a change? I think so……
Which other players on Croatia would you like to see get injured so Dalic can’t choose them?
Our LB Backpassašić.
Your reply indicates you are one of the morons I’m talking about. Your name fits you well.
Some humour during the game at least: English commentator while showing the replay of the first goal mistaken called Vida …. Dida.
Looks like play offs in March next year. Wrong team selections by Dalic.
First half performance shocking like against Turkey. The way we are playing at the moment we’ll struggle to beat Latvia away. The fact is, it is out of our hands and Wales will beat Armenia away and it will come down to Wales v Turkey match in Cardiff.
Dalic has achieved a lot with the team, but we have broken some negative records with him in charge. Some things that come to mind are:
Biggest defeat in history 6 – 0 to Spain.
First time defeats to Hungary, Austria and Wales.
No. Turkey still has to play Wales in their last match. Points will be dropped by one of those sides in that game. So if Croatia win out and beat Armenia/Lativa, we are in automatically.
Ante, I thought this, but why did Fabrizo Romano say Turkey qualified? Mistake?
We still can do it then….
Ante, Turkey has already qualified because of the head to head record between us, Turkey and Wales in case we all end up on 16 points.
Head to head points: Turkey 6, Wales 4 and Croatia 4
However because Wales has beaten us in Cardiff and drew in Split they are ahead of us.
so we are screwed….Turkey won’t care about the away game in Wales…
Only hope is Armenia now beating/drawing Wales…
Agreed Ante. And if we can’t we don’t deserve it!
So many of you are always wanting to get rid of certain Croatians players, actually wishing injuries on them so Dalic can’t choose them, as though the small nation of Croatia has better replacements – if they were better, Dalic would just choose them. If Dalic is incapable of choosing the best team, he should have never been the coach. So how did the depleted depth you morons keep wishing for work out this month?
The flaw in your logic lies in your assumption that Dalić always chooses the best team. The past doesn’t support this claim, as there have been several instances where questionable choices have been made. Blindly supporting every decision made by a coach without question isn’t how sports discussions work. Constructive criticism and feedback can lead to improvements. So, your assertion that criticizing Dalić is moronic overlooks the need for accountability and discussion in sports, as we’ll probably see him questioned in the media. No one is wishing for depleted depth, just selecting the best team and employing good tactics. Try again, moron.
If Wales beats Turkey…Croatia is most likely in if we beat Armenia and Latvia…goal differential
If Wales doesn’t beat Turkey – Croatia could get in with even less than the 2 wins
in 1st scenario- definitely in on goal diff…big late goal could be
Where are all the geniuses saying we must be in Pot 1, lol
For Wales and Turkey – they played like this was a final to them (like we played vs Brazil @ the WC) – we underestimated their approach to wanting to beat us
btw: all three goals (Turkey plus 2 today Wales) are identical to playing leading up to the Alvarez penalty @ the WC (where Messi scored) – long ball up the middle through defender(s) – I guess their scouting report is “let’s do that play over and over again till we score”) – and we didn’t figure out how to defend (we probably should have been playing a further back line as we couldn’t compete w/ their pass (Baris and Harry Wilson (who has scored 2 goals in last 32 for Fulham))
Romano says Turkey have qualified?
Is that true, how? They have a loss and draw and head to head we would beat them if they lost to Wales?
And if they did, they have nothing to play for vs Wales who then would finish ahead of us….
So many of you are always wanting to get rid of certain Croatians players, actually wishing injuries on them so Dalic can’t choose them, as though the small nation of Croatia has better replacements – if they were better, Dalic would just choose them. If Dalic is incapable of choosing the best team, he should have never been the coach. So how did the depleted depth you guys keep wishing for work out this month morons?
Ancelotti is behind this
Disgusting display…getting toyed with by some hacks from Wales….
From WC third and NL final…to looking like s.hit vs two dog s.hit teams in Turkey and Wales….
Kovacic and Brozovic were bad again….
We could play for days and we can’t get shots….
Livakovic lobbed in both games…..
Without Perisic literally we can’t do anything….
Wales holds head to head….if they win both last two (including home vs Turkey) they are ahead of us…
Our only hope is Armenia helps us out at home and takes points from Wales….and then we don’t chock last two games….
Then Wales has to beat/draw Turkey who would have to avoid loss or we jump them…
Actually, we just need to win both or games and we are in….
Wales could win both including over Turkey, then we are ahead of Turkey head to head…
Wales/Turkey tie, we are ahead of Wales then….
ALL assuming we win both our games…but even winning away in Latvia might not happen how s.hit we look now and are toothless.
How many times have we looked like shit with backs up against the wall only to pull out the crucial win.
Bingo
It really was the perfect storm. Playing teams that had to win while
We were decimated upfront. That combined with so many players out of form and that’s what you get…two terrible games and the possibility of NOT making the Euros now. Who would have thought.
Dalic hasn’t integrated our youth enough. Playing Barisic & Vida? Isuse. Seniority rules for him but it’s
coming back to finally bite him in the guza.
Kovacic was horrendous the last two games. Brozo was on cruise control until we went down…Modric always gives his all but his age looks like it’s finally catching up this year….
Yep, this sums it up for me. Wales with pretty much the same strategy as Turkey and we played the exact same way. You could see it coming from a mile away.
Disgraceful performance by many of our players. Though some of them should never be playing to begin with (Vida, Barišić). I’m questioning our ability to win the next two games. Something has to change.
Exactly. Long balls killed us and our toothless attack and meaningless ball control was what happened. I think by getting back our entire front line we’ll be much better. Integrating our youth is key as well. We were so lethargic it really was painful to watch.
This whole Euro Qualifying Campaign went into COMPLETE nosedive. Dalic needs to resign. There is no excuse for losing 2 games in a row.
Oh, how that wales draw at home is haunting Dalic now….
Bad loss, but at least it reveals some things:
Sosa just showed why he should start for the repka no matter how small and light he is. That display of footwork and crosses was tremendous. He should have started both matches, even though they were rough matches.
Barisic does not lose the ball or get beaten, but he doesn’t offer much to help the team score. He should be a defensive substitute.
Majer has to start on the right wing and put in crosses.
Beljo knows how to get open in the box more effectively than Musa, but is either of these guys actually an upgrade from Ante Budimir?
Younger players who will take risks and play a physical game are needed. The tikitaka, walking football game does not work against young, scrappy, fast, aggressive teams.
Don’t agree.
Which coach would have done better?
Sutalo without cofedence since playing for Ajax, Broz playing in Saudi Arabia, Modric 38, Perisic injured, Vlasic out of form. Petko out, krama out.
We had to rely on a player from Augsburg to make the diffrence.
Dalic should have started Sosa over Barisic but that’s his only fault.
Which Croatian player who didn’t play tonight, would you have played?
Which coach woulda done better? Ok, not winning two games in a row..that you can attribute to injuries/lack of firepower.
But LOSING 2 games in a row, that’s on the Coach. His preparations were shit, like someone said he’s a motivational coach not a tactician.
No excuse to lose 2 games in a row. Turkey and Wales nothing to write home about…heck! They are a far cry from Netherlands and Spain.
Why was Vida playing ahead of Erlic? Pongrancic is one of the best CB’s in Serie A, when the hell will he get a call up?
Scoring is the issue, not pongracic and erlic etc. Ffs we can’t score
💯
Flashscore.com ratings:
•
Majer 7.0
Musa 6.6
Brekalo 6.0
Modric 7.3
Brozo 6.7
Kovacic 6.4
Juranovic 6.7
Vida 6.3
Gvardiol 6.5
Barisic 6.2
Livakovic 6.8
———–
Beljo 5.7
Passaic 7.2
Stanzaic 6.4
Sosa 6.7
This generation gave it all! Has no more. We’re not as deep as I thought. Just a horrible 72 hours or so
We need turkey to beat wales
Turkey will have clinched. We need Wales to lose or tie in Armenia. Armenia is still technically alive.
Exactly. We shouldn’t even be talking we needs. We’re too good or at least I thought that. Injuries killed us. Not the defense.
Don’t need anything other than win the last two games. That gets them 2nd place and pot 3 in the Euro draw.
Let’s face it. This generation had its chances to win but did not accomplish. It’s time for a rebuild from coach to players. Bring in the youngsters and rest the old guard. I think we were expecting too much from this team now. Time for reality.
I agree 100%
If only mandzo Olic and corluka came on for the last ten….
So what, we have to win out and maybe get 2nd?
I think it boils down to this..and someone correct me if I am wrong…as I am desperately hoping we still have a shot…
We win both, and we are in.
Because then Wales/Turkey play and someone or both drops points.
Wales win both their last two games, they win the group.
Wales doesn’t win both games, and we do, we are in also.
Someone, anyone, please confirm above.
We drop any points though, and we are done.
Turkey have qualified regardless of what happens in the final game away to Wales. If Wales and Croatia both win their last 2 games, then Turkey, Wales and Croatia finish on 16 points. So if that happens, the following rule will break the tie…..
Head to head games for all the teams concerned so should Wales beat Turkey, the points on the head to head games would then be……
Wales on 7 points
Turkey on 6 points
Croatia on 4 points
So Croatia would finish 3rd
I swear if we had started with Sosa instead of Barisic…
Bring Back Stimac
Did anyone just see stanisic trip over the ball and lose possession in one of the sloppiest give aways I’ve even seen
He was trying to do too much, just get rid of the ball
We will be tied with wales at the end of all matches. We have a better differential. But will they have us on head to head is that the first tie breaker?
Yes
Come on Croatia Give them hell!!
Bit of luck with that Pasalic goal, Beljo was offside prior to the corner.
Beljo with a game-tying goal shortly? 🤔
That was almost it in the 77th minute, but his header goes wide.
They need the final whistle and soon.
We are seeing the future here. The future without Modric and Perisic, the future with an aging Brozovic, a declining Kovacic. No one to strep up to these roles.
I will not give up hope, but a reboot is needed now.
A sad and heartbreaking way to go out. But this day was coming. A really tough one to take. Hopefully the rebuild can happen sooner rather than later. All these decades. All this hope. And then witnessing a total collapse because a few starting aged players are out and there is no youth to take their places and there is absolutely no backup in the additional roster.
Are we the next Italy
Brozović may have money on that being the case.
One of the worst performances I’ve seen since 96 and just about ready to throw in the towel on wasting my time watching this garbage…enjoyed the great over achieving results we’ve had since independence but we’re more then likely gonna go into a decline for the foreseeable future. Just not worth getting my heart rate up watching this frustration of not being able to string 2 passes together and getting easily embarrassed by Wales tonite seems to be it for me
oh lord i went tot he bathroom and now it’s 2-0.. sigh.. disappointing
Dalic only relies on luck and seniority, Vida literally has no pace and is being outrun by Wilson, yet he chooses to keep him in…. Such bs
I agree
Playoffs here we come!
It’s just ya it’s not like we are just slumping. It feels like we are gonna be thin for a while
Let’s hope I’m wrong
The Perisic injury really dealt us that final blow for another potential deep run
It’s either soul champ or Slavonac that says it. We go as Perisic goes
Dalic needs to be fired this starts from him and his lucky 🐇 foot has run out of luck
2-0 now
and i’m done.
Defense isn’t the problem. 160 minutes without a tally poses a much bigger problem than vida or barisic, gvardiol and whomever.
Modric holding the team back at this point. Time to retire and pull the bandaid off. Younger kids are being held back and frankly Modric looks slow (and passing is off). It’s been a good run.
Get Vida out of there before he puts us a man down tho that might be advantage for us and wtf is barisic still doing in
How we can make three changes and Barišić isn’t one of them makes zero sense.
Barisic and Vida should never get a callup again. Brozovic is playing like he gets his club minutes in Saudi. Unfotunately so is Kovacic.
We deserve to lose the way we’ve played. Listless and zero attack. For those saying qualifying was a slam dunk never say never. Looks like a back door qualification and pot 3.
Vida! Bravo Vida. Why we have Vida in is ridiculous!
Franjo, I noticed you posted last game also- I have been using that name for at least 2-3 years. Perhaps you can add an initial so that other people know that we are different people?
Well, this is going from bad to worse..
I am going to break my TV before this game ends.
So bad this is when you dont know how to coach. You are handicaped and dont have alternatives to kramaric petkovic Perišić. The trio in middle terrible.
Gvardiol pushing foward is going to cost us. Vida is old and not for modern Football.
What to do i can say 4 4 2 play the diamond send long balls to beljo musa we dont have wingers cant play 4 3 3
Beljo needs to start the 2nd half.
Replace Brekalo with Pašalić.
Thank you Zlatko.
Vida needs to come out. He is prone to get a second yellow. Need to switch things up front for second half. Painful to watch. Zero attack. Wales looks much better. Livi saved us twice. I guess he’s making up for the Turkey blunder. Dalic needs to make subs ASAP before it’s too late.
And put in who? Sutalo? Yikes
Erlic
Erlic won’t help this mess
Erlic is still being benched not sure why??
As I’ve been saying for the last 2 years, Brekalo is like a mosquito…very useless! If I see Blasic get subbed in I’m turning off the tv…we don’t need more useless players on the field…we need someone that can change the game by himself!
**Vlasic
You’ll be watching at least until the 65-70th minute because that’s when Dalić thinks the earliest sub can be made.
Vlasic Pašalić classic subs he wont sub he has caught the ante Čačić syndrome doesnt make changes for me kovacic brekalo barisic lockeroom half time
Very little positive so far. Majer looks ok, he’s a least trying to link up with Musa. Brekalo should be taken off, as should Kovacic.
Did Wales actually counter that quickly at 44’ right after the Brekalo attempt at 43’? Apologies because I can only follow on ESPN Gamecast.
Why isnt Sutalo playing
When a kid sees Barisic play he quits football.
Terrible play only livi is playing.
Exactly my thoughts…he’s a gimp
Yet somehow Dalic thinks he is better than Sosa?! Explain that one to me.
Brekalo is an embarrassment. He shouldn’t be playing.
We know. There’s a reason he didn’t make the World Cup team.
One of the worst halves I’ve seen in a while…losing every 50/50
Ball …all useless possession …wales look more fluid on the ball
I know I’m right about Brekalo because even Modric just yelled at him for not making a run 🤣
Apparently, a few minutes into the match, a Croatian fan threw themselves off the raised section head first to the ground, police and paramedics have been down there for a while.
After watching the last 2 games, I can totally relate to him.
When Livakovic is our best player for the first 30 minutes, you know we’re playing terribly. The fact that Vida, Barisic, and Brekalo are in the starting 11 is wild.
We’re making the Welsh look like Brazil lol are we really this bad without perisic kramaric…vida and barisic should not be playing
Don’t have a good feeling 20 minutes in…
Same start as Turkey. Slow. No pace up the wings. Just kicking the ball back. I hate starts like this.
I don’t even care what happens later, Brekalo stinks. 4 touches, 4 giveaways.
6 mins in and we looks horrible
Giving the ball away, lackluster offense, playing sluggish
Barisic and Vida… Daliban at his finest
PLEASE share link
https://www.soccerstreams.football/
Anyone have a valid link to sream? I exhausted my fubo free trail
https://www.soccerstreams.football/
Hvala!
Hladno pivo. AJMO !
Whatever happens
Remember it could always be worse
Italy sent home a couple players right b4 a key qualifier vs England
I guess it couldn’t wait until after the match
Nevermind potential 3 yrs ban reported
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/24404921/aston-villa-nicolo-zaniolo-newcastle-sandro-tonali/
HRVATSKA (4-3-3):
Livaković – Juranović Vida, Gvardiol, Barišić – Modrić, Brozović, Kovačić – Majer, Musa, Brekalo
I was hoping to see Sosa in!
Very annoying. Dalić loves Barišić, even though he had a pretty bad game Thursday. It took forever for him to switch to Sosa, and since Sosa had a bad WC and hasn’t been as good for club, it appears that Barišić is back to being his top choice LB.
Barisic is useless, sigh
Glad to see Vida back there – his experience / calmness will work well vs. Wales and next to Gvardiol – Satulo wasn’t as sharp as previously last game (if it weren’t for Gvardiol – we’re blessed to have him – anticipating / breaking up many plays before they got near Satulo – Turkey would have had at least 5 more chances on goal)
Majer deserves the start after what he showed last game – hopefully he can fling in a few crosses to Musa
Musa – all they need to do is show him the tape of his movement where Brekalo had to pass cross field to Modric b4 the interception – Musa was meandering forward – but no clear run / wasn’t running into open space pulling a defender over – the run was terrible – so Brekalo had to choice but try 4 Modric – think about it – there was no offside calls last game bc of a Musa run – he needs to make some runs BEHIND the defenders this game to stretch their backline (even if he ends offside – who cares – will open more space for our mid as their defence gets pushed back)
Brekalo was v good last game – if u watch it again – he made a lot of runs (including defensively) – sure the end product at times wasn’t great – but he tried to be direct – don’t forget he had Barisic as outlet for overlap / underlap runs (if he had a proper offensive left-back to work w/ I’m sure he’d look better to us)
Overall – when u watch the game back – we weren’t that bad – Turkey was very good at stifling us though – hopefully Dalic can tweak the tactics to account for this (as Wales will probably try to copy this)