Starting XI: Hrvatska: Subašić – Srna (kap.), Ćorluka, Vida, Pivarić – Modrić, Kovačić – Perišić, Rakitić, Pjaca – Kalinić
In case you didn’t catch the match, here’s what you missed (Cliff Notes version):
The match was played behind closed doors at Maksimir. It rained. Ivan Perišić scored inside two minutes. Ivan Rakitić scored off a nice give-n-go from Kalinić right before halftime.
Only two things happened in the second half. Kalinić scored late off a backdoor cross from Perišić. Čop was red carded in the 89th minute for a very light, yet unnecessary, cleat stomp on the achilles of Popov.
It was creepy when the camera panned to Šuker and Mamić in the empty stadium as they watched the match in silence. I got a very grey totalitarian vibe from it.
Anyways, Croatia did what they had to do. However, Italy and Norway also won on the day.
So what needs to happen for Croatia to qualify automatically for Euro 2016?
Croatia must defeat Malta on Tuesday AND Norway must not win in Italy. Otherwise, hello playoffs.
Possible playoff opponents: Bosnia, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Turkey, Slovenia.
Perišić goal
I think basically Bulgaria are rubbish and Norway are better than them, thats why we played better match. Dario Srna will still be exposed at right back. Nothing has really changed. Mandzo is better than Kalinic and actually played better than Kalinic did. Mandzo would have scored the chances Kalinic had.
My main issue in this team is with Dario Srna at right back and Ivica Olic. Its got to change. I can understand why Jelavic was angry Olic took his place in the team. Once you pass 34 that should be it with international football
So pleased to have found this site. Was feeling lonely as a croatia fan here in oxford. Difficult opinion about boycott. Rakitic is a striker by instinct, kalinic is quicker than mandzu, which has been croatian teams biggest problem in recent years, no pace in attack (or at the back), rakitic is slow, if mandzu plays then rakitic cannot play forward, kalinic (and pjaca who is also fast) allows rakitic to get forward because their pace creates space to use in between the lines. Pjaca/kalinic/perisic is a fast and mobile forward line that’s why we saw movement and space and chances against Bulgaria. It’s not rocket science, but it’s better than kovac managed, so thumbs up to cacic. Bok
Sorry but someone get IVICA OLIC off the fucking national team. This guy just made a statement saying he wanted to play at Euro 2016. This is not acceptable. I respect Olic for his career and is a good guy. But its horrible to take the place of a younger guy. Olic has had so many chances and was largely the culprit in some tournament. Definitely Euro 2004 he made some shocking misses. He’s WAY too old and its finally starting to show. All respect to him for his career and for the way he played for Wolfsburg but his performances for HSV show he’s finished!! I don’t want to see him on the pitch tonight.
As for Eduardo I think he and Croatia no longer need each other. Eduardo has no pace but he is basically just doing what Ivan Klasnic did in the Prem. If the ball comes anywhere in his direction in the penalty area it is hitting the net, but like Klasnic he cannot get around the pitch and thats not modern day football. Bravo Eduardo for how he plays with Shaktar and playing in weak Brazilian clearly improved his fitness but its not good enough for the national team.
Croatia needs to bring through the youngsters. Sorry but I watch this Croatia team and the missing component is the position currently occupied by Pjaca. I don’t think Pjaca just yet has that special something which Perisic has and it showed against Norway. I think its time for Halilovic. He’s got that special bit of something which is going to get defences scared and will instinctively make them play further back. Thats only to our benefit.
Dario Srna also should no longer take the place of Tin Jedvaj. He doesn’t look the Dario Srna of old. He cannot beat a man and his crossing is lathagic these days.
Fighting in Malta last night. Serbs involved too.
Celebrate as a team. We saw what happened last time when an individual went his own way……..i.e. Suspension Joey.
Lets see if we can back into the Euros today.
Pretty psyched for tomorrow.
It’s a “meaningful one.”
Marko,
I should have been a bit more clear…I too loved it when Bilic celebrated but in this past game in particular, I just feel like we can’t celebrate a goal at this point, until we get ourselves out of the mess we got ourselves into!
It’s kinda like a jinx…don’t get too happy until the work is completed!
Depends on the circumstance.
It’s one thing to celebrate scoring against germany in a euro or to be leading england 3-2 at wembley.. it’s another when you have just assumed the position and things are not as rosy. I mean, in Cacic’s particular circumstance, he is being humble and that’s a good thing.
If we start peforming awesomely at Euro and beating Spain and Italy etc, then by all means celebrate away. It’s just early days and i think it shows how humble he is that he didnt and that was nice.
But, as you point out, celebrating “as one” of the team is a fantastic sight too and that was great with Bilic
@Slavonac Why don’t you like when coaches celebrate goals? I fucking love it! Shows the coach is part of the team, and excites the players. You can’t say the players in 2008-2012 didn’t love playing for Bilic and his antics. He was their friend, and celebrated like he was just one of the guys… Hate that Kovač was too ‘big’ to celebrate w/ the team. Show some passion, and support the boys. Be happy they scored a goal, a securing you’re job status, cause you never know when they’ll stop scoring.
I would not want play ukraine….at all….Yarmolenko and konoplyanka are deadly
Cacic looks like a genius simply due to that first “pro” listed above.
Rakitic is our player of the year. Fucking use him. Kovac didn’t, and Cacic did.
Also, Rakitic not having to babysit Pranjic also helped a lot.
Pros:
– Pushing Rakitic up front in the attack with the wingers and forwards at ALL times, and not having to play DM at all.
– Not playing Pranjic, and going with the normally risky move of starting a newcomer in Pivaric (however, this move cannot be riskier than starting Pranjic at LB anyway)
-Having faith in Kalinic and starting him (despite Kalinic generally sucking, but Cacic likely would have gone with Mandzo if he was healthy).
Cons:
– Playing Duje Cop (complete waste of a substitution)
– Not benching Srna, or at least giving Vrsaljko at least some minutes at RB off the bench (continuing to start Srna against better opponents will hurt us).
– Calling up only two wingers and leaving behind arguably your most in-form one (Halilovic). When given the chance to correct his mistake with an injury replacement, he chose Duje Caleta-Car instead.
– Calling up Badelj over Pasalic (this move can be debated though as Fiorentina is doing well), but Badelj does not fit on our team and is completely invisible at all times.
Lika Joey…it wasn’t me but I remember that conversation…nicely said!
Well if he isant a fucking arsehole he’s prolly already a step up. Like i said he isnt being anal to the players and he isnt a huge egotistical twat so that has to benefit the team to some degree
he seems to be within himself, not over-inflated like stimac/kovac
Maybe if Cacic can shave his MO off that can become the coach of the team itself and figurehead of the repka ?
If the team win who cares who the coach is. Croatia draw to Azerbaijan, lose to Norway all of a sudden after starting 4W 2D Kovac sucks! Croatia beat Bulgaria 3-0 and now Cacic isn’t a good coach! Let me tell you guys something, coaching is overrated, tactics don’t win matches. If someone can tell me why Mourinho isn’t a good coach (tactician) this year, I’d love to hear it!
^
^
Iggy I agree!! But Cacic got rid of pranjic…he is better than Kovac already.
I mentioned yesterday my aunt had to pay 1000 euros to speed up heart surgery…Dr’s taking bribes
Guys, nobody here actually believes Cacic is a great coach.
I know when i say he’s a genius, i am taking the piss, as im sure are others.
But you know what, Cro football is a bit like the human predicament itself, what else can you do but joke at the absurdity of it and get joy where you can along the way. It’s simple really.
Cacic is clearly out of his depth, that’s obvious. But that being said, im his #1 fan and wish him all the best – how can you not support the cute lil’ mustache laden guy? He looks so cuddly !
Now ligthen up and support the team !
Slavonac,every thing in Cro is corrupt!! Mamic is a piece in a corruption puzzle..it was you I think that mentioned trying to give business to someone there…they asked you what was in it for you…everything is under the table bribery.
No, you guys have made me into a legend. When I went on a much needed sabbatical, guess what was the main topic????? What does Ziva Istina think about this?????
@split……what was I wrong about it?????? Examples people, examples.
People really don’t get it. Homer glasses on.
Some actually saying cacic is a good coach.
@Ziva
Actually I am very close to the situation and get it all.
Why would I want to listen to you???? Think about it
you are a 40 year old guy, without a Croatian wife, no kids and a failed business in Croatia. Yet you want to educate people on this site.
You my friend are a legend in your own mind.
I wish you the best and hope you find some peace in your life.
Bog I Hrvati.
Thia has to be repeated again on here and doktor prie summed it up very well
“ONLY YUGOSLAVS, SERBS and TRAITORS boycott the CROATIAN national team.\”
You see people like Ziva are never wrong because like a LikA Joey points out he is like the wind. He is always changing. lol
We have enough bs with jugos and serbs trying to take down anything croatian, add in the clowns that do stupid stuff in italy and split at the stadium. Not good for Croatia, Now you have clowns who want a boycott. INcredible the stupidity on this site,
i thought when you said prime misinterpreted it was some kind of clever pejorative nickname, lol
and, ziva, yes – video games are very important to many people ! Anything where i can represent Hrvatska online is always a plus ! I also would like you to know i race in Forza with a CroCar and a Cro flag beside my name – great, hey?
🙂
P.S. you would not be surprised how many yanks have no idea what nation the Hrvatska flag represents !
So he’s got more power than the prime minister and the president? There’s nobody that can investigate him? What you’re saying is that we are like Guatemala…a dysfunctional country!
Because it is more than that. He has taken control of the league. Two Dinamo teams in the league, control of referee assignments, bribes and money laundering…..he benefits because Croatia is a banana republic
Sometimes I wonder why people haven’t focused on why Mamic hasn’t been stopped? There are probably so many people at so many levels helping him!
We all get that Mamic has been allowed to capitalize, which is why I have always said the political and all other systems are corrupt! Why call out one when there are tons that can stop him but haven’t?
Are you really giving a run down on a video game?????!
The only good news i have regarding football video games is that Konami have bought the rights to Euro 2016. They will produce either a standalone game or DLC for pro evo ’16 which will feature all the european countries involved in qualifying, fully licensed.
This is different to now where pro evo has Hrvatska but they have idiotic names like mandzolic etc and the jersey is just a plain red ugly thing.
So, the good news is the Konami made a deal with UEFA and didnt have to deal with Suker persnoally or of course it would never happen ! So we have to wati fro the Euro 2016 video game but AT LEAST we will once again be able to oplay as Mighty Hrvatska, go online and school da n00bs !
Hoorah !
They are small fish compared to Mamic……….Sinovcic is scum but he is one of Bjezigrad’s finest.
The reason people have a legit issue with Mamic is because he has been able to capitalize on the repka and consolidate power through the cro league and savez…..these others have not. And because of that there is a lack of interest. I am willing to engage of these guys, but the interest level is not there from others.
Ziva…I commented on these guys
Zadar owned by Sinovcic, Split Zuzul, Sesvete, Zagreb…
My son is in my testicle and he is going out of control wondering why Croatia isn’t in Fifa
Blue jays baby!!!
Slavonac exactly…this mamic suker shit is getting old…Iggy my son is nine…going crazy for Cro on fifa.
@slavonac……nobody cares about the other monsters because they are not Croatian. This is a Croat website. Diapsora hrvati have enough trouble reading in Croatian about our shitheads, yet alone reading about other criminal elements outside of Cro.
@zt…….wrong. Plenty of opposition to Mamic in ZG. Do you not pay attention. People in ZG don’t go to Dinamo and national team games. They have to beg fans to attend and give them discounts. Dinamo played Arsenal in a half empty stadium. But, I am making shit up, huh????? It’s not a bad thing to admit you are wrong or don’t follow the situation in Cro. Fear not, that is why I am here to give you timely, much-needed updates on the current mess.
@Lika……first my condolnances on being from there…….but, let’s get to the the more important issue here. The fans are not going to back off Mamic. They want him gone. Some can tolerate him, but most want him gone. Not saying the alternative would be better, but he has worn out his welcome. And yes, Puppet Suker is tied with mobsters in Germany. Just follow the money trail and who he owes money to or services to. It was evident leading up to the World Cup how he fucked over Croatian fans, but I guess you are ok with that as long as you have your jock sniffing jersey. So, you are telli me ducking over jock sniffers like you is ok?
The troublemakers are shitheads for sure. When you are too _scared_ to play home games (i honestly fear when we have a home game with crowds allowed) there is a major problem.
Also, Ziva, you mentioned:
“Kind of like Puppet Suker preaching about having the fans best interest in my mind but then goes and gives away World Cup tickets that should have gone to the fans ”
But you forgot to mention the far more heinous display of shitheadedness from Suker – withholding the Hrvatska licence from FIFA and Pro Evo due to greed ! That is the biggest act of BASTARDY known to man. He should be tried at the internaional criminal court for that ! Fucker !
I mentioned the other monsters involved with other teams and nobody commented…so I guess we only care about the most successful crooks?
I’m not sure what kind of information you guys have on Modric but Cacic claims that he has a long term injury,I think Modric is becoming that player that gets injury prone a lot
http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/real-madrid/euro-2016/news/ante-cacic-calms-luka-modric-concerns_251932.html#$$nw4rkd&&BHVbfHE4EeWsnhKdzsiGHw$$
Ziva your a fucking baba!!! Mamic blah blah…mob contacts etc…Italy and split makes us look like neanderthals! Let’s hope we get some decent results and the fans back of mamic etc…because there is no getting rid of the prick.
It’s fine to boycott without being a trouble maker. I think it’s fine to boycott in the middle of ZG, it’s fine to come out with all sorts of facts and expose Mamic, Suker and the rest of them but let’s not sabotage the team and country…I think most people don’t like what they saw in Italy or Split!
This has nothing to do with Mamic. If you notice it is your typical hajdukovac who wants to boycott. Go boycott Hajduk games or their management. Where did the money go? Once you clean up that mess let us know.
Btw online yesterday were fans in split stepping on the Croatian flag. Really classy. Yeah no trouble makers there.
Can’t believe there’s even a debate on whether Halilovic and Pasalic deserve to be on the team, not when Pjaca gets to be a regular starter. On that basis why not include Kis on the bench, Croatia needs more strikers and the Belgiums seem impressed with him. Wrong agency? Out of favor with Mamic? That’s now an important factor in how the NT currently functions.
What if someone supports the boycott, but is not a trouble maker, just someone who wants the shit stains of Mamic and Puppet Suker removed.
As I’ve said before, I don’t believe in boycotts. It is an individual choice.
Also, Cacic isn’t going to say anything negative. He owes a lot to Mamic. Not exactly getting a honest perspective from him. Kind of like Puppet Suker preaching about having the fans best interest in my mind but then goes and gives away World Cup tickets that should have gone to the fans , instead they go to his mobs contacts in Germany.
@slavonac
No need to feel sorry if the comment from Cacic offends anyone. He is correct. Frankly anyone who supports a boycott is a clown.
And I can watch the 1980 Grand Final, a game I don’t even remember. In comparison to me Iggy, when it comes to AFL, you don’t know what suffering is.
Back to Big Footy! Catch you all later!
i can always go back to watching replays of ’01, ’02 and ’03 i guess ! 😉
Had a look at ukraine playing at home v spain this morning. The environment looked pretty tough and i wouldnt really want to face them in a playoff
Thanks for the reminder Jurgen, that’s mighty nice of you. It is trade period and I feel Richmond have something up their sleeve!
I feel for ya Iggy being a Lions fan, looks like no one wants to play their! I want Joshua Green from Bisbane!
all he has to do is continue playing and he will get the call up. As i said, you earn the call. You are not entitled to it.
Liberals believe in entitlement. Conservatives believe in a hard work ethic (and defense contracts).
hahaha….Soul Champ, I am actually totally fine with Halilovic getting some time, I think he’s definitely going in the right direction in these past 4 games. I was just being a bit of an asshole to those that were basically saying he has to be there…no, he has just become a fringe call-up, where now more than ever before his quality is starting to really show where even 3-4 months ago, he wasn’t proving to be ready yet.
@ Slavonac
Progression :
Stimac – terrible
Kovac – baseline/boneheaded
Cacic – half a Brain
Brate I would like Jurgen Klop and Carlo Ancelloti too.
I also would like to fly direct from NYC to Zagreb on Lufthansa.
At present I am happy with a LB Pivaric playing LB, not an over the hill LW Sranjic.
I appreciate your insight into the game and I also need to appreciate the reality of where we are as national set up.
Also count me in for the HOMERS for HALILOVIC !
The kid is ready to light up the right wing for us.
sorry to those of you that find this comment offensive but I agree with what is said here:
“Kada mi netko spomene bojkot i Hrvatsku, to ne ide u istu rečenicu. Brecnem se. Ima pojedinaca koje ne zadovoljava stanje i to iskazuju na neprikladan način. Spominjati takve ljude u kontekstu navijača je uvreda za navijače. Meni kad se nešto ne sviđa, ne idem na događaj. Neću otići i raditi nerede. Te se ljude gura u prvi plan, a toga nisu vrijedni, zbog njih puno gubimo Zbog njih Hrvatska nema gledatelja. Igrači su dokazali koliko im znači Hrvatska, a koliko su kazni Dinamo i Hajduk platili zbog navijača?”, pita se Čačić.
Of course they would…….that is what homers do.
can you imagine if Halilovic played this weekend and scored…Holy catfish….people would be saying “see, I told you he deserved to play”!!!
Judging Pivaric against an opponent that was on vacation and looked disinterested from the start doesn’t tell us anything about him. Is he competent? I think so. But, will that help us against better sides. Wait and I see I guess.
Ultimately, for the Euros…..assuming we get there and we should……I don’t want a MF where Modric or Rakitic drops back as the CDM. Here is where I am hoping Pasalic continues to develop at Monaco and he assumes that role. I think he is better technically and is more physical than Badelj. I think Pasalic can play the destroyer role, but I also think he is skilled enough where you don’t lose any skill by having him out there. Previouslly we had guys like Vukojevic in that role and what you gained in his physicality who lost in his lack of technical ability. I think Pasalic brings both. With him in that role, you finally free up Modric, Raktic and Kovacic. Assuming the bosandzero is ready to go for the Euros, then you have something to get excited about.
Therer are concerns going with that type of line up. Is Halilovic smart enough and does he have the tactical awareness to not get caught up to high and get back to help Srna on the right side.
Anonymous
whatever Pranjic had that worked in his favor before, it worked because all around he had great lungs, was very quick and he over-lapped and recovered well…this is far from the case anymore and he has been a dog for quite some time. I’d start Ante Kvartuc at left back over him (kidding).
I need more time to really see what Pivaric is made of…one game like this means nothing…especially when they won 3-0 and his defensive responsibilities were barely challenged.
Soul Champ…yeah, you’re right when you say we need more of a tactical approach…but coaches that are really good can tweak and identify certain parts of the game that help his team expose weaknesses or adjust on their own weaknesses.
Ziva…you said “Then again, when you look at Cacic’s resume there is no place for arrogance based on him work.”
that didn’t stop Kovac…remember his comments before we played Mexico…or him blaming players recently!
arrogance is something some people have regardless of their achievements, some people are just wired that way, others aren’t!
@ Denis
Said it then and I’ll say it now.
It is challenging draw for sure BUT exactly what we need to get ready.
I am personally tired of showing up to tournaments and playing one good game, so so game and shit show game.
Good news with our WCQ group is if we make it through we will be battle tested.
Also the other teams will beat each other up for points as well.
Kako ja volim nasa representacija .
U boj …
@Slavonac
Yea, I watched Pivaric closely too.
Technically, he’s not a natural. But he’s clever and still managed to pull off some moves. When given a chance, he’s also not scared to unload one on net either.
I think Pranjic is technically a better dribbler than Pivaric, but that’s it. Everything else, Pivaric is better than him at.
He’s no superstar, but he’s the stop gap we need until someone else comes in and takes that place from him.
Strinic is currently being benched at Napoli, so it looks like Pivaric will be our starter moving forward. The onl other options are going with Jedvaj or Vrsaljko out of position (which Pivaric hasn’t given Cacic a reason to do yet).
@ Slavonac
Ofcourse you need a coach at this level.
The point is when you have the talent that we finally have, you need more of tactician then a personality.
I saw more tactical nous and less ego from Cacic.
The players looked great.
Bulgaria or not I saw some signature Croatian flow in attack.
Ultimately players need to be successful on the pitch for a team to win. Seems simple but is often over looked.
Cacic may have more tactical awareness and less ability to coach, which may serve a national side with elite talent.
I fear no side in Europe if we choose the best available talent.
Well, that is true. Then again, when you look at Cacic’s resume there is no place for arrogance based on him work. Tough to be arrogant when you spent a majority of your time coaching in the second division and now you are coaching players from Barca, Real, Inter, Juve, etc….
I’m sure the players have discussed this among themselves and probably shrugged their shoulders when they found out it would be him as the coach.
“…and if I had to find a positive in having Mimiceva Caca on the bench for our team, at the very least we didn’t see him go nuts celebrating goals as if he just won the World Cup, he stood there quite emotionless…I’m sure he realizes the goals were expected and that he’s on the chopping block the first time he blunders.”
I saw an interview with him downplaying his importance and ego too and giving credit to the players. At the very least, the players may see his down to earth approach as appealing compared to the egotistical high and mighty personalities they have had coaching them in recent years. Arrogant, Mucho Cacic is not, and that’s a good thing.
I think we can all agree arrogance was something in wayyyyy too high a supply for both stimac and kovac.
And, yes, Denis, it is a hard group for sure, it won’t be easy to make the WC
Remember months ago how everyone thought that we received an easy draw for WC2018?
Iceland (only 1 loss in Euro qualifying)(Holland, Turkey, Czech)
Ukraine( 2 losses Euro qualifying)(Spain, Slovakia)
Turkey(2 losses in euro qualifying)(Holland, Iceland, Czech)
Finland( lost only once by more than a goal in Euro qualys)
At a high level you need a coach who can prepare a team, react and make adjustments in the middle of the game, especially in soccer. Nothing in his career path suggests Cacic is that guy. It doesn’t mean he can’t do it, but nothing suggests that he can.
That said, this is sports and anything can happen. My problem with the selection of Cacic is that it was done by a guy who has no right selecting a coach. His previous hires were garbage (Strucnjak Stimac and Kum Kovac). So, what makes anyone think Mamic got it right hiring this guy who has coached more games in the Croatian 2nd division than first division.
Do we have talented players? Yes.
Can they make up for a lack of coaching? Sure
But, do we position our mental midgets in the best possible way to succeed? I don’t even think the biggest of jock sniffers can yes to that.
That is my problem with this whole thing. Just like how Mamic runs the Cro league, he does everything with the Cro league and the federation to place his incompetent friends in positions of power and leadership. And then when the same shit repeats itself (must win games in the third group game), we shit ourselves. When was the last time Cro won a must win game in the final group stage game? The answer is never. In 96 and 98 we had already qualified, so the third game meant nothing. Same with 08. But, when the pressure was there in a do-and-die game, we have failed.
You position yourself to succeed when you have qualified people coaching. Right now, we don’t The main coach and the assistants are not qualified to coach a high level international team. What the hell can Suspension Joey do as a coach right?????? Turn on the ipod speakers in the locker room with his bluetooth so the team can listen to Machine Gun Thompson or some Mate Bulic.
At some point we will get to a place where we will be undone due to poor tactical arrangements or not being experienced for the position.
Soul Champ…coaches have to know his teams strengths and weaknesses, he has to know the other teams strengths and weaknesses as well. it goes much further than “lets get out there and play”. so much of today’s soccer has to do with formations, plan of attack and defend…strategy…
somebody the other day mentioned Scotland and how they tend to have a lot of stoppages during their games….its their way to break up as much flow of the game by having stoppages…they are better physically than they are technically, they are also a strategic team that tries to play to their advantages…fast and long…quick recoveries, pressure…
coaching matters!
@ Hammer who cares about footy season it’s over Richmond is 0-3 in it’s last 3 finals games, Richmond 2081 AFL Grand Final Winner lol. We wouldn’t want to play Turkey in the playoffs they have improved and and are playing some good football.
@ Slavonac
No need for a big ego at coach.
We have big players.
Just need a guy who has half an idea of setting up the horses for the courses.
As a basketball player I played on some championship teams on different levels. We NEVER relied on the coach.
My man was in lock down and I was ready to rock.
Less coaching more ass kicking !
…and if I had to find a positive in having Mimiceva Caca on the bench for our team, at the very least we didn’t see him go nuts celebrating goals as if he just won the World Cup, he stood there quite emotionless…I’m sure he realizes the goals were expected and that he’s on the chopping block the first time he blunders.
maybe we should all get behind this guy…you just never know, he may be able to build a decent relationship with his team and pull off some unexpected results. we’ve complained about Stimac and Kovac, this guy is pretty much unfamiliar to most people in the world of soccer…maybe this can work in our favor?
well, the one thing he did well was to include Pivaric into the line-up. I watched some of the game this morning on-line and noticed that he is 100 times better at positioning than Pranjic is, hopefully we saw the last of Pranjic on the team. with that said, Pivaric wasn’t stellar, he didn’t have a lot of work but what I noticed he did do was he was very conscious to get back into his position after he over-lapped, something that Pranjic was terrible and used to jog back. also, Pivaric is lively, he may not be the strongest or dangerous…but he’s a step up from Pranjic.
my only worry will be how he holds up against better attackers?!?!
@ Allen
I would take that attacking three any day of the week and twice on Sunday!
^^^^
And you sound like a bitter jugo with your boycott
Damn the people in here make cacic seem like a strategic mastermind..
A lot of puppets in this picture.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12106769_715365685234999_582813633967682981_n.jpg?oh=3f71119b2fae229298b6c766c9b2f331&oe=5684BF26
For those interested in scenarios for the final draw and what pot teams would be in, here’s a link. This confirms that Italy’s game has some relevance. If they win tomorrow and Belgium doesn’t, Italy would be a #1 seed for the final draw. Also, if Turkey beats out Netherlands for third in their group and Croatia qualify, Croatia is in pot 2. Although there really is not much difference between quality of opponents in pots 2 and 3.
http://www.footballseeding.com/national-ranking-uefa/ranking-2015/scenarios/
The problem with supporting any boycott is the slippery slope it creates….so if they were to get rid of Mamic/Suker banditos then what? What would stop them from them from tiring of the next guys, or deciding to boycott if they didn’t like the latest kit, or songs played at the stadium….
Ziva Istina is the Matt Harvey of the Croatian Soccer nation.
Yes Ziva any coach would have that style against any shit opponent?? Just like Kovac had that style against azerbaijan and Norway…Kovac even used Rakitic as a holding midfielder…Cacic benched Pranjic he got my respect.
@Soul champ
Good rules you set. Cacic did well by not playing Pranjic. He realizes some of the old guard has to go. As for Srna he is 34 next year and his skill is declining. I think he will be next in line and doubt he has a staring role for euro 2016. At times it is painfully watching him take a corner kick or free kick. As soon as Jedvaj is healthy get him in.
Tuesday game will be good.
@ Svima
An in shape Kalinic who is in the form of his career could add a whole new dimension for these next two tournaments.
Now that we have a stable of talent, there should be a rules on the repka if you are over 30:
1 – you must be world class to keep your spot.
2 – you play a role that we have no obvious younger player to fill.
3 – you provide field leadership.
As much as I respect the service of Srna to the repka, he is 0 for 3 for the potential new rule structure.
I hope we play even better against Malta.
It is nice to see the boys play for each other in roles that suit them.
Tuesday afternoon should be fun!
as someone else said, at least kalinic’s tap in was a flykick
he could easily have headed that ball but he made a conscious decision to go for a kung fu flykick
bravo, nikola
Yeah.. that’s the croatian way.. strikers that are tap in specialists, lol
We don’t need Eduardo.
Kalinic will be our in form tapper-inner.
MelbCro: Nope. I did see it in the Croatian Catholic Church newsletter tho
I thought desilva quit /retired due to difficulties with manic? Does anyone know if kovac leaving would change things regarding Eduardo ever returning?
Iggy did you go to the cro tourney last week?
Mamic is no Catholic.
Hammer i ddint know you were a fan of AFL haha
I have a friend who is a mod or something at that bigfooty site i think. Lions fan here – so you can imagine my suffering this past year – shitloads worse than being a fan of the repka, that’s for sure ! lol
I made a point before on Mamic that he is more or less the perfect capitalist. That fits in with what is being said about Mamic and avarice.
To me, i put him in the same category as Septic Bladder or all those FIFA guys, bankers, medical insurance CEOs – CEOs of just about every company. Most of those cunts are greedy shitheads who will do whatever they can get away with in terms of fucking over others for their personal gain. Mamic is just very effective at it. As i said, perfect capitalist, like any other mobster, mafioso etc. The world is full of shitcunts like that, sadly.
Thanks IvicA
This tells me a lot about the Mamic haters! I’d like to think they hate the sin not the man. Sadly I don’t think this is the case with most of them. There’s a defect with these Mamic haters as well! Very interesting!
Now I’m going to the Richmond forum on Big Footy! Hopefully we got someone!
@Like Joey
“You have said short term gain for long term pain!!! Now your against a boycott?? Fuck you!!! You blow like the fucking wind!!”
LMFAO, great line.
Mamic is catholic and no commie.
It would be nice if Mamic was never mentioned on this site again. Catholics know that avarice is the root of all evil, and Mamic is a greedy man, I wonder how many of you guys are avaricious! I would guess many of you are, but not to Mamic’s extant, so I guess that makes you guys alright. Anyone of guys know if Mamic is Catholic, I’m curious?
attacking style??????? based on what????? yesterday. Any coach would have had the same style against a shit opponent. Only way we will be able to judge this journeyman is what he does at the Euros. I’m not expecting much from a guy who has coached more games in the Croatian second division than the croatian first division.
Mucho Cacic…I don’t have a clue about the guy…but his attacking style is a nice change…love the nickname.
Iggy your awesome brother!!
I do sometimes wonder if in my lifetime Hrvatska will ever appoint a coach who is actually qualified to have the job. It’s a serious point of ponderance.
But, that being side, Mucho Cacic and the boys have my full support. Yes, Mamic is a cunt but that isn’t their personal fault and i wish them all the best.
I have said I get the coach argument! But the players need to step up and do more!!! We need a real captain and on the field leadership…fucking mental midgets one day…Warriors the other….need a balance some how.
Ziva the entire fucking country is corrupt!!! Do you have family there?? Have you been? My aunt had to pay 1000 euros to rush heart surgery…lol…mamic goes another corrupt prick will take over..the entire nation has so much potential…but Lord they need a new system…across the board.
Who cares what the Italians think or your friends…….main thing is getting there and we will.
But, we will do what we always do at the event……asking why we couldn’t do more.
At a bar thanksgiving weekend…hammered…just want to log in to see what is happening with modric…with a bunch of fucking Italians and will be crushed if we don’t go to euro…this is pride for me!!!! Sicccckkkkk that they won the group.
And because we are known throughout the world for sports that makes it ok for shit like Mamic and Puppet Suker to be the face of the federation. Man, we have low standards in Cro….and then you guys wonder why the repka underachieves when it really matters. Come on, raise your hands…….how many of you thought Cro would get out of the group stage at the WC…….you don’t think having more qualified people leading the federation would have placed a better coach who in return would have done a better job of ensuring our guys were in position to succeed??????
Yeah, but Mamic is ok because he produces talent…….newsflash people, we have always produced talent going back to the 1950s…..and always will until the population really begins to die down in 30 years.
Hear
Soccer isn’t just a sport!!! It’s the way most of the world views Croatia…I travel abroad for work…people still talk about 98…suker etc…even Boban when yugo won the under 20 world cup in Chile. ..people know he is a hrvat…Croatia abroad is known for sports…b ball…water polo..skiing…soccer…mma…tennis etc…tiny nation major athletes.
Lol……..
Yes, short term pain for long term gain were questions that I have posed, asked or statements.
See, here is what is wrong with you. You are probably a homer, heck you might be an adult who wears the name of another person on your back, and when homers here comments they don’t like they right away think someone is a hater or anti or a commie or a left wing blogger. I am none of that. I am as big of a “domoljub” as one can be without being an annoying disparate hrvat.
I simply comment and am asked to comment. Now, it is your call if you agree or disagree.
@Ziva
That’s what you’re asked to do, correct me if I’m wrong but that sounds puppetish!
Because Ziva mentioned he was on the QEW it is now thought he is from Toronto? Dude could have been in town on vacation, who knows and really, who cares where he is from.
Btw, no way Italy loses, they are unbeaten in something like 48 consecutive Euro qualifiers. The Norweigans will do well to walk away with a single point.
If our guys cannot topple Malta, they don’t deserve the automatic route to the Euro’s.
My point is….if he leaves someone just like him will come into power…I don’t care about the prick…but he runs a tight ship…Academy is strong….produces top talent…Hrvatska is a corrupt nation from top to bottom…sad but true!! My family has property there…my aunt had to pay a Dr just to rush her heart surgery…everything is corrupt!
What is Mamic savez bullshit?????? So, you are ok with him at the helm??? You think I have made anything up on any of this????
Boycotting is an individual choice. If someone is fed up with this whole, that is on them. If not, that is cool too.
This is sports. Most people don’t care about sports. If someone wants to ignore the repka, let them. It’s not like the budale in charge have done anything to make the average person feel better about the repka. Hell, our own savez president screwed over his own fans at the Wordl Cup last year by having to pay off his bookie in Germany and give him tickets intended for cro fans…..
I will continue to watch and comment because that is what I am asked to do.
I’m convinced ziva is really Aleksandr Holiga..
The players need to make a point and play well…everything will work out…if they make a deep run in euro…the extreme fans will back off for a minute.
You have said short term gain for long term pain!!! Now your against a boycott?? Fuck you!!! You blow like the fucking wind!!
Ziva your a fucking baba!!! You and your mamic savez bullshit…I was pissed also…but if suker goes…who’s next in line Stimac? Boycotting your own team is stupid…let’s enjoy Tuesday and the repka…we have the best team since 98…I get PISSED and think about turning away…but my heart won’t let me…any player who walks away is a bitch…they should make there point on the pitch!
zivas all quiet since he outed himself as being from toronto. now were gonna find out where he lives and beat him up. hahaah jsut kidding man. we love you.
I don’t believe in the boycott, but everyone is free to make their own choice. I will say this, if you decide to boycott the repka it doesn’t make you any less of a hrvat. Just like a jock sniffing diaspora hrvat who can’t speak the language and only follows the repka is not anymore of a hrvat.
@ Hammer
Lose your mind and gain your SOUL!
@ Maminjo
Bring any of them!
Unfortunately our buddy Živa has a point of us not making it out of pool play since 2008.
I want to see us put together all the attacking talent and become battle tested in a playoff.
Tell you this, if we bring our A team and simply play our B game we beat all those crews.
May Svi Hrvati enjoy the ride.
Bog i Hrvatska
Croatia will beat Malta in my opinion. I agree with Soul Champ we just gotta put the horses in the right courses and let them play, really what more do we need to do to beat Malta. I just hope we get second, I couldn’t handle playoffs, I reckon I’ll lose my mind!
Yeah i must admit im not 100% confident we will win away against Malta.. although i suppose in Cacic we can all trust.
As long as the players are allowed to play FIFA and/or Pro Evo ’16, this will add to their technical understanding and allow them to win. This is the main thing any coach can do for a team – allow them to play video games.
Always been a fan of Dudu.. given our somewhat slim striking options you would think he would be as good a bet as anyone but seems to be out of favour. Too bad.
Whoever said there is no room for Halilovic and Pasalic I do not understand. We have players like Olic who does not play for HSV regularly enough and is 36 who should not be in the squad. He should be forced into retirement. Eduardo at present is playing much better than Olic and is only 32 yet we do not call him as he is TOO old yet Olic is allowed to play. This should not happen.
Halilovic has showed some special class this season for Gijon. I think as a substitute he has a lot to offer Croatia right now. We have players like Duje Cop who are only capable of being red carded right now. This player is 25 – was relegated last season in Serie A and will not be a success at Malaga. I do not believe he deserves a call. I know Duje Cop he is a former Dinamo player. My club. But he is only at best a strong Belgian league player.
Mario Pasalic is also very strong player, but unlike Halilovic he is much the same as players we already have in the national team. In the future he can play but right now he is no better than Badelj, Kovacic so is unlikely to play.
How confident is everyone of a win in Malta? We’ve beaten them 4-1, 3-1 and tied 0-0 in Malta. Odds are in our favour although a Duje Cop like tackle can change the game immediately. Thoughts?
@vatrena cast
Do you support Hajduk?
When I say I didn’t like going to Croatian events, I mean church organized lunches and parties where all people do is drink and end up getting in a fight in front of church. I’m down for a good time with good people at concerts, weddings, dinners, birthdays, etc.
@maminjo
I am boycotting because of my love for our country. I never enjoyed going to Croatian events in San Jose, but I love hanging out with my Croatian family friends. Trust me no one sings more, eats more, or lives the lifestyle as much as I do. Now I’m not calling myself a bigger Croat than anyone but my parents always taught me to be comfortable with myself. Even when we were refugees in Germany I was as proud as I can be. And then we moved back to Croatia and I was as proud as can be. I loved it all! Now that I’ve moved to the states I still love my country and I used to take great pride in the football, but goddamn it’s hard to take pride in it now with all the crap going on. The national team to me isn’t a symbol of loving your country, it’s a great accomplishment for our country of 4.5 mil. But I am boycotting because I know it’s bullshit about how it’s run. I am boycotting because it’s wrong and they’re not getting any of my money, I am boycotting because I know Croatia can be so much greater than that. The hns is just a micro example of the macro issue going on.
Now if people want to question my croatianess have at it. I want to know how you can support such a corruptly run organization, and I know you say “we support the players” but now you are giving money to the hns by watching. It’s basic sports management.
I love my country and I expect a lot more from it than what is going on in it. It is a reason I am getting a college degree in sociology, and my master will be in international communications because you mark my words I will make a difference eventually.
I choose to not blindly follow but rather stand up for what I believe is right.
Turkey, Sweden, Slovenia or Ireland.
Who would you guys want in the playoff?
White Croatia,
Not true. Even if Ukraine loses, we won’t be best third.
Hungary will be best third. They only have 16 points while we would have 20(if we beat Malta), BUT the points which you’ve taken against number 6 in the group won’t count (since some groups only have 5 teams). So our points against Malta don’t count (6 points): we would end up with 14 points.
Number 6 in Hungary’s group was Greece; Hungary only took one point in their two games, so they will lose only one point which makes that they end up with 15 points, one point more than Croatia.
It seems like the one point deduction makes a difference after all.
I just Poland beat Ireland. Lewandowski is a beast. He scored once and I think the Irish defenders were forced to take four yellow cards to stop him. I’m glad we won’t meet him in our possible playoffs.
By the way, I still don’t think that Norway will win in Italy but I’m not convinced we will win against Malta.
awesome post maminjo
So true
@Maminjo-I love the fact that Croats all over the world have grown up with a fear of propuh,after all ,it is the single biggest killer of Croatians. 🙂
Modric has an minor abductor injury…out for Malta game.
“Croatia must defeat Malta on Tuesday AND Norway must not win in Italy. Otherwise, hello playoffs.”
Not true, if Ukraine draw or lose to Spain in Ukraine on Monday, Croatia auto-qualifies with a win over Malta via being the best 3rd place team.
Maminjo well said brother! Albania 3rd best team? We need to finish 2nd ?
Maminjo, I applaud you…bravo!
Vatrena Cast,
A word of advice….Don’t let a few bad apples spoil the whole damn bunch.
The reason I say this, is that I’ve grown up with a LOT of diaspora Croats who were fed up with some of the bad apples in in Croatia or the Croat Community here.
As they grew older, they distanced themselves from community events and, eventually, even from going to Croatia on a regular basis. Anytime I would ask if they’re coming to a community event or if they’re going to Cro in the summer, they’d give me that ‘ahhh, nah man’. The way you sound right now, is just like they did when we were all in College.
Now that I am a lot older, I almost never see these guys, but when I do they are ecastatic to see me. Asking me if I went to Cro, and other Cro-related questions. They seem deprived. They all married people who are not Croatian (which is fine) but their kids are not connected to that community at all. They never go to Cro, they don’t speak it, they don’t really know the culture….it’s kind of sad.
These friends of mine are still die-hard Croats, and are only NOW trying to bring it back into their family after realizing the mistake they made, and one even booked a trip just recently for him and his entire family…but it’s literally impossible to try and incorporate this culture into his family life now. I’ll see their kids wearing a Croatia jersey now, but that’s pretty weak. They should have been growing up playing soccer, swearing to other kids in Croatian, eating PRSUT for lunch every day at school (while other kids are eating their peanut butter and jelly), roasting lamb and pig on Gospa, and grow up with an inherent fear of propuh!
They essentially allowed a few individuals in Croatia or in the Croat Community dictate which path their lives went!
Ridiculous!
Just ignore these few fools and continue to enjoy your rich Croat culture and heritage. You can boycott the national team, fine, but don’t throw away loving Croatian soccer just because our mafijaši are more annoying and visible than all the other mafijaši in other countries’ football federations.
And absolutely do not make the stupid move of this somehow carrying over into a pseudo-boycott of other things Croatian for you. Only YOU will suffer for it. Nobody else.
@ Ziva
Agreed that a playoff would be an ideal opportunity to gel this new invigorated attack.
Having said stated above, Italy is the master of producing a draw at home. Plus Norway needs to win and will open up to the counter.
All the kids coming off the bench will be an advantage for Italy. You can catch Italy sleeping in the beginning of a qualifying campaign but not at the end with young legs fighting for PT.
Italy 2 – 1 Norway.
Croatia 2 – 0 Malta.
@ Hammer
Funny how when a footballer is in top physical condition they always play better. Kalinic ran all night on that pitch. He always had some game and now his physique matches.
@ Svima
We have so much talent that even a Cacic can coach a result.
Less coaching more talent is my motto.
Just put the right horses in the right courses and let them play.
In one way, the Norway game is important for Italy. Right now they are ranked #5 in the UEFA coefficient. Since the Euro tournament will now have 6 groups, the top seeds will be hosts France and then the top 5 ranked teams in the coefficient. If they lose to Norway, they would likely drop to #6 or lower and then be a pot 2 seed for the final draw. I know some people don’t care or look at these things, but I’ll bet the Italians know this. They would avoid a group with either France, Germany, Spain, Portugal or Belgium.
As for Croatia, they were ranked #14 before the Bulgaria game, but after beating Bulgaria and then if they beat Malta, they would at least pass the Czechs and then be at worst #13. If Netherlands doesn’t qualify, Croatia would be a pot 2 team since Netherlands is ranked #8.
There’s a history of government officials that have become extremely wealthy and have without any real clear picture of how, they’ve somehow gained a ton of land.
I remember before Croatia entered the EU, it was a topic on a article I read. So many people prospered and very few have been investigated and prosecuted. The entire political body have had the liberty to rape the public…some never want this to change…so we see crook after crook in all walks of life prosper.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I did just a little bit of research and within an hour I found that there are more criminals in Croatian soccer:
Zadar owned by Sinovcic, Split Zuzul, Sesvete, Zagreb, all owned by mobsters.
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
The very notion of wanting to go the Playoff route is ABSURD! It’s CRAZY TALK!
Come to think of it, we tried that already. We went to the Play offs in the ’12 and ’14 qualifying campaigns, and we still didn’t make it outta the group stage. So it doesn’t help.
Can’t we Friggin’ just get it over with already.. and qualify???? I for one wanna put this Bitch to rest on Tuesday. That’s where it ends. PERIOD. Besides, I wanna have full head of hair for the holiday season.
vatrena cast is doing the index.hr bojkot,,
bojkot the team, but still follow the team and post on these board every day hahaha
if your bojkoting then do a proper bojkot and get lost.
Ziva. Stop responding to me with fake posts.
You’re from Toronto. But on the West Side, likely Mississauga.
Nah guys he’s from Cleveland.
Ziva. I swear you sound like someone i know. Do you live on the West side (Mississauga/Oakville/Brampton)?
you made it seem like you were American with your comments.
Here’s some food for thought on the supporting vs boycotting of the team. Do what you think is right. I thought this applied perfectly and it’s from the Constitution.
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
@majstore
I would throw in jutarnji list and Milanovic.
@jurgen
That is further to my point about no to playoffs. We can’t take a chance. We are on thin ice with Fifa after a small group of clowns in Italy and split caused a point deduction and fine against us.
@majstore. Lol. Agree.
I’m boycotting the boycotters. Especially the criminals from
Torcida, BBB, Matija Babić & index.yu
Our fans in Malta when we had a 1:1 away draw with them formed a human swastika in 2006.
bravo slavonac, well said
I’ve tried explaining this before and while I say this, I know I will be attacked.
In the case of choosing to support vs boycott, I chose to support because I love the game, I love Croatia and I try to focus on the sport more than I do the politics….there are thousands of reasons to be against Mamic and Suker, I agree…but I think we have far greater issues to correct that would fix the issues with the savez!
Croatia is corrupt, in many many ways. Until they make changes, it will always be possible for criminals to prosper and exist. So many officials at so many levels are corrupt and feed into the fucked system that allows people like Mamic and Suker to not only exist, but to thrive!
If they are replaced, there’s always going to be another Mamic…until they make and enforce laws that prevent people from joining the corruption!
Apparently a government official is being investigated for assisting Mamic in tax fraud…if this is true, how much more shit is there that we will never learn about?
How many Hajduk officials have been caught, how many from HDZ, how many will be caught from SDP…the list goes on and on….
After all the garbage and shit that goes on, I just want to see my team do well! Other countries have their issues as well but I can’t recall when we see a boycott on the savez???
Oh I support the hell out of our players at their clubs. The national team is a different animal. Support is money in the pocket for hns, I don’t blame the players.
I haven’t been to Croatia since 2011, hard on a college student budget. Plus when I go I go to see my family and the people I grew up with. With that being said my family isn’t off the greatest over there so I do support them.
Vatrena cast, do you say the same about the government?
Will you boycott visiting Croatia until they change things there, create a better living environment and stop the corruption?
This argument is never gonna end and very much like what Perisic said, if you thunk they play for someone other than the country, their family and friends…don’t show up and support…it’s as simple as that!
Called it didn’t I ziva? One win and everyone is crazy about cacic… Pathetic.
You guys just keep trying to justify your croatianism by support of the national team, I on the other hand am not insecure with my croatianism and I don’t support bullshit. Once they get the savez cleaned up I will be a great fan again, win or lose.
Until than bojkot.
On the next post Doktor Prie posted the following and it is 100 percent true.
“ONLY YUGOSLAVS, SERBS and TRAITORS boycott the CROATIAN national team.
^^^^^
Take your bojkot and shove it.
Bojkot.
Pivaric better than Pranjic……that is for sure. However, we need to get better at that spot. Pivaric not the answer against better teams.
I really liked Pivaric’s game yesterday….not only did he get up occasionally and support the offensive thrusts but he was also always back to cover his defensive responsibilities….so much more confidence in him after only one game than I ever had in the tattooed wonder Pranjic.
Playoff route? Screw that. Take care of business in Malta Tuesday and hopefully Italy is professional and takes at least a draw. Given they are at home and want first place I honestly don’t think this is a big ask. Let’s see.
wouldn’t the playoff home game also be behind closed doors?
Even if it wasn’t , i think the savez would go the way of playing it with no fans. They wouldn’t risk it with the negative vibe by our fans towards the repka.
”Ako netko misli da igramo za nekog drugog, ne mora doći. Ja igram za svoju obitelj, prijatelje, sebe i Hrvatsku. Nije dobro da je takva atmosfera oko reprezentacije.”
Above another good quote from Perisic.
I say no to the playoff route. You take a chance these clowns in Italy or Split attempt to do something again to penalize this team. Saying this I would love to see them play more games but not worth it.
In the you can’t make this up category…………Our savez has asked the Malta savez to not sell any tickets to Croatians for Tuesday’s game. You have to love a savez that is afraid of its own fans.
Never change HNS, never change. And, never change Mamic apologists. Without you clowns I don’t think I would have any material.
As for on the field……..I think i would actually prefer for these guys to go the playoff route so they can play in pressure game with something on the line. Maybe a playoff is what we need. We have a new coach and its time for these guys to gel if you want something at the Euros. Our mental midgets now have a coach who will allow them to plays cards and watch porn while in the hotel room, so they now have someone they respect.
Iggy, yes Croatia can still finish as best third place, see my post above from yesterday. Not a great chance, but not far fetched either. We’ll know if that chance is gone in about 6 hours.
is that true? that’s a grrat effort
well i doubt that streak will end at home v norway then, good news
Thought Kovacic looked good.
Rakitic still seems to go unnoticed for too long. Doesn’t impose himself enough.
Nice seeing Big Joe Simunic on the bench too!
Another nice stat:
Italy have gone unbeaten in 49 straight qualifiers.
Fact!
News about Modric:
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/modric-withdrawn-croatia-game-due-injury#:dMRo73GjTDDqEA
Remember the HNL days when it was Mandzukic’s Dinamo Zagreb vs Nikola Kalinic’s Hajduk Split.
Is that true that we can still finsih best 3rd place team?
An argument can be made that it’s a Mexican home game.
USA playing at home, yet with all the Mexico fans it’s like an away match…that’s worse than playing behind closed doors!
Holy Krava! USA back in it!
You asked, I answer if I can.
Hammer,
You are obviously the brains of the operation. Nothing gets by you.
I think it’s safe to say Kalinic IN! Mandzukic OUT! Kalinic with a sweet back-heel to set up Rakitic, plus he crashed the goal with a flying Kung fu kick to put the icing on the cake!
I also think Kalinic is a lot better with the ball at his feet than Mandzukic. He’s gotta better dribble ya know.
That was a handball by that American puto! Mexicans call themselves puto when greeting each other, “how ya goin puto!”
It’s not racial. To answer your question on how they can scream out puto everytime there’s a goal kick, they open their mouths in unison and yell puto!
@Soul CHamp……I agree with you…….A playoff would be better for this team and could use that pressure to start something. Winning on Tuesday and backing into the Euros means no game until June. Time for these guys to show something when it matters.
I thought Croatia was out of contention for the best third place team but they are not. If all of the outcomes below happen, Croatia qualifies as the best third place team:
Romania ties or loses at the Faroe Islands
Hungary wins at Greece
Spain ties or wins at Ukraine
Croatia’s game against Malta would be meaningless, but not the Ziva definition of meaningless.
Watching USA vs Mexico. How can Mexico fans scream out Puto! everytime there’s a goal kick and not be punished?
Stay classy Mexico.
Love this line from Perisic.
Perišić: Tko ne želi navijati za nas, ne mora doći
Now we are on to the Catholic derby versus Malta we need the win to get 2nd position.
I just checked…
Perišić has 9 goals in his last 15 national team games
He’s more potent than our strikers
Mexico versus the Filth this will be good!!!
Apologies to the mustached mascot Cacic but he doesn’t make the player selections that’s “Professor” Jozak’s job. Cacic has a free hand in deciding who gets to play? He’s got Joe Simunic sitting next to him on the bench, what do they have in common? Yeah right, Captain Srna…
@Poglavnik
Re: that Perišić stat….
I’ll bet most (if not all) of his goals came in the latter half of those caps.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed!
Pure speculation, but I saw Modric begin to grab his upper leg several minutes before the half. He had that look on his face like “sub me off” but not the total look of misery he had when he injured it last year in Italy. He was forced to run at close to full speed a short time later and he looked okay. If I had to guess he will be out against Malta and maybe miss 1-2 weeks with Madrid. Fingers crossed but it didn’t look serious. We should be fine without him. It would be nice if they could bring in Halilovic as a replacement, but I’m guessing that’s not an option at this stage.
@soul champ
You said it. Nothing better in nogomet then watching our boys compete and play well.
A good game, with a must needed win! Tuesday is going to be interesting.
You gotta admit Soul Champ that Kalinic flouridated something to the team today! Please give me some of that positivity for Kalinic! I love your work!
Italy 2 – 1 Norway
The kids coming on are hungry to show out. It is a real challenge to break into the Azzurri set up. Conte will play the young studs.
Norway sucks !
We looked like shit against them in Oslo, anyone could of beaten us on that day.
I actually STILL would welcome a play-off as we seem to need to work on our winning formula.
Say what you will but there is nothing better in nogomet then watching our boys compete and play well.
I am all in for u17 chile as well.
ZDS
Pound for pound this is a better stat!
Luka Modric
10 goals in 86 caps
Canadian Croatians, next Saturday @ 11pm TSN4 is showing the U-17 Chile (host nation)/Croatia match.
Iggy……..come on, your soccer IQ is lacking. You are better off defending Vekic and her whore-ish ways than discussing soccer.
Nice stat:
Ivan Perisic
10 goals in 41 caps.
iggy your awesome brother!
YEah ziva must be feeling a little down now.. he can’t really abuse our players or the team so he prolly feels a bit empty
and okies but if we somehow manage to overcome to powerhouse that is the maltese team, then im calling it – mucho cacic 100% confirm messiah to lead us to the promised land
Mmmmmmm, Maltesers…
^ ^
You need to let the legend grow a little.
Let’s see what he does against Mighty Malta before we officially crown him.
Ziva is pissed Croatia looked good!
yep, too soon.
great coaching by mucho cacic
is it too soon to get a shirt with his image screenprinted on it and to grow a mo ??
I believe Italy will draw.
They know they can secure first in the group with 1 point.
Jurgen Kopp had a great quote about Italian football when Dortmund played Juve last year.
He said “We are facing the greatest challenge there is in football: to play an Italian team that only needs a draw.”
Good passing by the team and love no Pranjic on field.
Damn ipad
Not sure about Modric. Announcer said something to that effect when he was subbed. I am just trying to verify was it serious or was Cacic just playing it safe.
Good padding by the team and love ghost no Pranjic was on the field.
Hello! Modric got injured, please tell me more!
Kalinic fan right here.
head to head i think
but yes we would go thru thanks to the 5-1 win over them
goal diff we are +14 and they are only +4, as i said, they are not a dangeorus attacking team, which is hwy i d ont think they will win in italy
well england and ukraine, england were playing away iirc, different situation to italy plaiyng at home
I like that, “expect the worst and hope for the best,” that’s what I’m gonna do.
Good win, I still see us taking 2nd place.
Kalinic played well. Hopefully nothing serious with Modric injury.
If Norway and Italy draw and we beat Malta, we go through on tie breaker better goal differential, correct?
If anyones havin trouble viewing these games sign up to the balkan tv app and watch it there on hrt2. Ive been doin that
Poglavnik you have a point
Samo naprid.
Losing at home and giving up first in the group are both something to play for.
Expect the worst and hope for the best!
Remember Ukraine and England?
yeah but it matters not because 1 and 2 both go thru and they can’t be caught for second.. so italy won’t care much if norway overtake them
Have some of you even looked at the table?!
Italy has plenty to play for.
They’ve only got a 2 point lead on Norway.
Norway’s on a roll, 5 clean sheets in a row and three wins in a row. If Italy rest players like some of you guys think, Norway has a chance of beating Italy.
italy will play with less urgency, es, but it’s not like they are going to go out to try lose or want to lose at home. And i think even their B team is good enough to avoid defeat at home so fingers crossed they do us a faovur
https://youtu.be/P7vte1epVpE
I think we’re gonna make it!!!
Finally they played as a team ! Thank God !! Bog , Hrvati , HAJDUK , i HNS !!!
Italy has Norway’s number. Norway can never seem to win against them.
Italy will for sure rest some of their key starters, but a WIN takes a lot more than a DRAW.
If Norway needed draw, they would get it for sure. But it won’t be easy to outright win in Italy.
I think Norway has a 1 in 3 chance of pulling it off (which is still not bad in terms of chances). Norway will work hard for direct qualification, as I don’t think they are good enough to win in a two legged playoff against most of these teams.
mr black im concerned about italy and norway…italy is in already…they will play with less urgency against norway.
I wouldnt mind smashing the poles since i could rub that in to a few polish friends, heh
Croatia are qualified directly if Croatia beats Malta and Norway doesn’t win in Italy.
If we end up as third team. We’ll be in the playoffs.
Normaly these will be the other eight team:
Hungary (will probably go through as best third).
Bosnia, Turkey, Denmark (or Albania), Ireland (or Poland), Sweden, Slovenia, Ukraine.
With the current fifa standing, we’ll end up in two pots.
Pot A (with the best team)
Croatia (if we finish third)
Ukraine
Denmark
Bosnia
Pot B (one of these 4 opponents we would have to play if we finish third)
Sweden
Turkey
Slovenia
Ireland (or Poland)
But to be honest, I don’t see Norway beat Italy at home.
I think Cacic still needs to do work with this team and develop us if we are to be better than just a team which can qualify for tournaments. The side played well but Bulgaria were poor and allowed us to play our game.
I don’t believe Ivica Olic should play again for Croatia. Something that should be obvious. I’d still speak to Jelavic if I was Croatia coach and get him to change his mind if he can show something at West Ham.
Its nice to see Kalinic play such a strong game. If he can keep up his current form he should offer us something. Kramaric is also fine as support to Mandzo however I do not believe Duje Cop deserves another call until he shows something at club level. I do not believe he is good enough and we need to find another striker.
Pjaca played better tonight. Rakitic showed that when he plays further forward he is better. Defensively he is not at his strongest. Good decision to also remove Marcelo Brozovic.
Dario Srna is still a weak link against good opposition and we need Tin Jedvaj back fit.
If I was Croatia manager I would use every friendly should we qualify to find a midfield which can perform defensively and combine. We have all the ingrediants. 3 quality playmakers, a fast wideman in Perisic and two Serie A goalscorers. It should work. It purely requires practice. I liked Pivaric in the national team, but I am biased.
ask ziva..hes from toronto…actually hes from a suburb just outside toronto.
@Lika…..yep and I put a shitload of money on that game trusting our mental midgets. Boy was I wrong.
Any one in toronto having problems with the galaxy s6 on the telus network in toronto?
I thought we decided Ziva was either Bosko Balaban or Tomi Sokota ?
😉
ziva i remember you agreeing with me that we had to much quality to loose to mexico. You even said i hope they are stupid enough to play the old Marquez!! they did and we paid for Corlukas lazy defending.Yes our coaching has been average at best but the players need to step up and take accountability!
It was refreshing to watch a game with no Olić and Pranjić.
Nop, Im not Holiga……I believe in and live the “za dom…spremni” lifestyle.
As I said a while back, we will qualify and then do what we always do…..shit ourselves.
And why do we shit ourselves, because the braintrust of mamic and Puppet Suker don’t position us to succeed.
i wonder if ziva istina is really aleksandr holiga! we lost to an inferior opponent??? 3 weeks ago we would of lost to bulgaria..not saying cacic is cappello…but this was a great result under the circumstances…3rd place…no crowd support etc…
Back-in my ass!
We had a blip in September but otherwise it was a good cycle if you consider all the bullshit surrounding his team.
If the results go as they should in the last round of games and Croatia gets second, there will not be a note next to their standing stating…Note: Croatia has backed into Euro ’16.
Yep, the campaign was average at best but at the end of the day if you get in, that’s all that matters and that was the goal at the start of qualifying.
Would winning the final two games of qualifying in decisive fashion be considered backing in? Or is it because we need to rely on the Italians to lend us a hand mean it’s a back door way to get in?
Bravo Cacic
Turkey won again meaning holland is still in 4th place ! they might miss out, let’s hope
I just wonder if Srna, Pletikosa and the Stimac brothers will soon have to answer question from the police.
The malta game is we will beat them with ease.
Plus, we have a chance the back door our way into Euros.
Playing a legitmate team and failing is nothing to be ashamed of.
These Bulgaria and Malta games are the types of matches where we need to consistantly kick ass and when we do it shouldn’t be laughed at it should be applauded!
It’s called sarcasm. Ever heard of it?
“I guess we will find out on Tuesday if we can back our way into the Euros.”
Ziva on you on drugs today?!
So are Tuesdays Norway/Italy, Malta/Hrvatska games meaningless too?
It’s Bulgaria….las in said last week, we will look good until we play legit opponents and then our coaching weaknesses will show.. Anyone remember the Mexico game…
Cacic is a genius? Yes I can see he has fielded Cop brilliant move! No room for a Pasalic or Halilovic in this squad.
Cacic doesn’t have to be a genius he just needs his players to play for him and the team.
1 game under Cacic and it does look like they’re investing themselves a bit more.
Cacic is genius! 🙂
Well, at least we still have a shot at a direct route to the Euro’s providing the Italians can do no worse than a draw with Norway and our guys grab the win in Malta.
Kalinic missed plenty, can’t see him doing well against stronger opponents.
http://dalmatinskiportal.hr/sport/uzivo-kafic–mali-gusar–u-omisu-casti-sve-koji-su-dosli-ne-gledati-utakmicu/7676
And Kalinic with a tap in…….very nice
http://dalmatinskiportal.hr/sport/torcida–je-li-vas-sram-igrati-za-reprezentaciju-koja-je-nekada-predstavljala-sve-hrvate–a-danas-osobne-interese-jednog-covjeka–/7672
Bojkot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
great job, Kalinic gets the goal to round out a nice and easy 3-0 win
We thought Azeris were inferior too remember
it’s the “inferior” opponents we’re having problems with so this is an exceelent result and performance and it is due to Cacic allowingthe players to relax and play video games.
This is why we are winning. The players need to be able to play video games before and after a game. Very important. Bravo, Cacic, our legendary super genius technician !
I guess we will find out on Tuesday if we can back our way into the Euros.
Can’t wait for the Cacic is genius comments.
Let’s remember we played an inferior opponent.
I wanna see Kramarić in the last ten minutes.
He would do well with this support.
yeah he could’ve had a goal by now for sure
i wonder if mandzu wouldve scored with that header
Pivarić with a very nice cross to Kalinić.
Kalinić should have scored that header. Right in front of the net too.
looks like you were right about modric being rested.. badelj on in his place
Vrsaljko should be our LB
Let’s see who Cacic puts as LB against Malta.
Well im gonna call it
CACIC is the messiah
100 % confirm change in form is due to him and nothing else. Well done, HNS, on an excellent appointment !
😉
Kalinic has always been sharp.
Norway better lose the next game or two.
The start of the campaign without the losses really got to Kovac’s and maybe even the whole team’s heads.
that site doesnt have any links for our game when i click it
i am watching here
http://firstrows.org/soccer/croatia-bulgaria-frs11bcff
m glad all those boycotters are missing a very positive Croatia. Best game so far. Lifes too short to worry about politics. U cant do anything about. So just enjoy the game. Fukn stupid if u ask me. The coach and players have got a thumbs up from me !
http://atdhe.to
Good site to watch the game
I’m going to have to apologize for always hating on Kalinic. He deserves credit for that smart pass to Rakitic. I like Mandzo a lot more, but Mandzo wouldn’t have done that.
Evo ga.
You play Raketa up front, and good things happen.
BEAUTIFUL goal Raketa !!
Nah. He’s been okay.
Starting him outright in an important qualifier is a big risk. Would’ve been better if new players are phased in off the bench, but whatever, anything’s better than starting Pranja there.
pivaric stinks
We just need Norway not to beat Italy
joey… ask ziva for a stream. hes from toronto.
@nk susak
Yup. Nice to see Rakitic play near the forward, and not playing as a sweeper for us (due to Pranjic).
Stream? Espn3..won’t let me access in toronto.
Dam i woke up too late and missed the opening goal
oh well
More offensive creativity in the first 20 minutes than ive seen in all of kovac’s tenure