CROATIA U-20 GOALIE MATEJ DELAČ SHOWED MORE EMOTION AFTER THE GUATEMALA LOSS THAN THE WHOLE TEAM DID DURING THE ENTIRE TOURNEMANT
First, Croatia lose to Saudi Arabia. Then they got crushed by a better Nigeria side. But losing 1-0 to Guatemala? It’s obvious the U-20 Croatia side was not mentally prepared for this tournament. They can blame not having their best players; and they can definitely blame the poor preparation, but in the end, nothing was left on the field- for the exception of goalie Matej Delač. The young Croatians only needed to beat a smaller Guatemala side to clinch a spot in the final 16. Even though they dominated possession, Croatia had no passing, chemistry or even more import: quality chances on goal.
GUATEMALA SCORE AFTER A LONG BALL AND A CROATIAN LAPSE ON DEFENSE
Varaždin’s Roberto Punčec completely fell asleep on defense in the 83′ and let Guatemala’s Ceballos cruise past him off a field-clearing kick to poke the ball past a defenseless Delač. Delač was extremely upset after giving up the game’s lone goal and played well on the night. He blanked a Guatemala attempt earlier in the second half to keep the game scoreless. Delač definitely gave the most heart for Croatia during this tournament, it’s just too bad that nobody else cared. Croatia leave Columbia after losing all three games.
CROATIA NEARLY SCORE OFF A SET PIECE MOMENTS AFTER GUATEMALA HIT THE POST
GUATEMALA HITS THE POST OFF A HEADER TO START THE SECOND HALF
Croatia has about 60% ball possession at the half with not one real chance on goal. Sure, they are superior in ball control, but what good is that when you can’t manage one shot on goal against a team that is much smaller than you. Croatia has been handed a gift out of the group stage- a win puts them in the knockout stages as a best third-place team. However, it looks as if this young crop of Hrvati are focused on their boarding time for a flight back to Croatia. No heart, no hustle, no nothing. This game is almost unbearable to watch.
Let’s see what they come up with in the second half.
Believe it or not, the Croatian U-20 squad will clinch a spot in the knockout stages of the 2011 World Cup in Columbia with a win over Guatemala tonight (9PM ET Kickoff). The best four third-placed teams make the Round of 16. The Mladi Hrvati have yet to impress at the tournament with 2-0 and 5-2 defeats at the hands of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, respectfully. Can the Croatians pull together a winning performance against a weak Guatemala side that are at a -11 goal difference in their first two games of the Cup.
What should we expect of the boys in this match? Surely Croatia can beat Guatemala, right?
Yes, we did "try to a degree", but not close to 100%. As far as the national team, the effort # is much closer to 100%. I have never complained about the national team not showing effort. Ziva is right about others complaining about the lack of effort when talking about the national team.
Great debate gentlemen!
Lets see how Bilic and the boys open up the new season in 14 hours.
We did bite back a bit against the Nigerians with the two goals, but it was unbearable to watch what happened against Guatemala.
I'd say that we did not try hard well enough but you're right, we did try to a degree.
No worries, I understand your point and reasoning.
It wasn't you that I attacked. What I don't like hearing is the constant "we didn't try" from the homers after any loss. Sometimes the other side is just better. We get these type of comments all the time about all levels of the national team, that they are not going 100% in a meaningful game (friendlies are a different story). I just think that is so hard to judge based on watching a match from a computer monitor.
While many of us have issues with Bilic as the head of the national team, I don't think there has ever been a time where the team did not compete. Outside of being named Spain, some days its just not your day.
@ Ante Kvartuc
I am not intending to belittle Ziva's media background. I am sure that he knows a lot in his department, and his efforts are outstanding.
But Croatia's peformance in this WC is not something that can be exclusively analyzed by Ziva himself. I am not blind to notice what happened.
I don't care about Croatia's past U-20 efforts (b/c I did not start watching prof. soccer until last year ago), but what I've noticed about this WC NOW is that Croatia was not just devoid of skill. Teamwork and determination played large parts as well.
"Funny how everyone can't wait to jump on Ziva after one little slip up… we're all croatian here with different perspectives" It wasn't funny when I started commenting on this blogging website about last week ago. I commented on the performance against Nigeria and vividly described Croatia's movement as "chickens without heads" (my 2nd comment overall). Ziva quickly jumped at this "little slip-up", and said, to paraphrase, "WTH are you talking about…" It made sense… I gave my own persepective about Croatia's peformance, and it can't be honored? Besides, what I caught wasn't just a "slip-up".
"I don't think he's arrogant" Though I would believe that in RL, my first observations prove otherwise: "Raptore…..touch a nerve did I?" and "You might not like what I write, but what I write is logical, coherent and most importantly – correct." People who usually say that are incorrect. J/s. Though I believe in Ziva's reasoning, I don't like a self-exiling comment.
I'm done with the little pickings.
Croatia played horrible, Ziva knows it and knew it before many of us, but he has to be wrong when he said that Croatia played with 100% effort and did all they can. THAT was the part I was picking on, and Ziva acted as if it was "normal" for Croatia to be playing like mutants. After seeing my first U-20 WC, I couldn't disagree more with what happened on the field. No heart.
Throwing that aside, Ziva was right on many things, including:
(1) Early predictions on Croatia's horrible performances
(2) Croatia's players and staff
(3) Croatia DID horrible.
(4) Croatia had no skill or talent
Now to say this, EVERYONE knew Croatia's performance (except #1). As I watched the game, I noticed many instances where Croatia did not play the best they could. As far as that's concerned, Ziva should stop defending Croats with that erroneous comment: "100% effort". And that's not a little slip-up.
We all know now that the U-20 team is a disaster, and we need something new to spice up the team.
@ Ziva
I hope you don't mean me.
Emotion is a part of sport and affects it, especially soccer. (If you mean analyzing this match, there was not much emotion in what I said either) If you exclude what I said about "heart" and "soul", the only emotion-comment I made was "We're Croats, for Pete's sake!"
Regardless, I appreciate what you do here.
Ante, thanks for the comments. I don't mind people ganging up on me. Some of these guys have trouble separating being a fan and being objective. You have to remove the emotion when discussing sports teams that you root for if you want to have an honest discussion. The people that attack do so because they don't like hearing truthful comments because they are homers. Take the emotion out of it and it is much easier to understand the game and what you are watching.
As for Gautemala…after losing the first two games in the manner that we did, i had no expectations in the last match. I thought it would probably end in a tie or one of the teams would get by on a lucky/fluke goal. I thought we had a slightly better team than Gautemala, but I did not think we would be mentally prepared for that game knowing the savez had already fired the coach before the tourney. They created a bad atmosphere within the team and it contributed to their play.
Funny how everyone can't wait to jump on Ziva after one little slip up. Relax guys…we're all croatian here with different perspectives. Ziva did call it from the beginning, however, did you (ziva istina) really believe we were going to lose to Guatemala? Be honest.
Also, yes we bitch at each other on an everyday basis, but nothing was better than last week when a few Brits jumped on CSR after the Stoke win. It's funny how Croatians drop everything they're doing and forget their little battles with each other when an outsider comes in to try to shake things up.
Croatians can be so powerful when they act as one unit, but we always let little petty shit get in the way of the bigger picture goal.
Do we have some of the top fans at any given tournament? Yes.
However, one little Hajduk-Dinamo scuffle can break that apart for example.
Ziva is spot on on 98% of what he writes. The man knows his stuff. Bottomline. Many of you choose to fight him, but why? I don;t think he's arrogant. I think he knows his shit and we kinda are lucky for him to share it with us. Fact: He's been around the sports media seen. Fact: He makes things fun around here.
However….
Ziva, did you honestly think we would lose to Guatemala? Just answer me that?
of course….croatia had the wrong mix of everything….lack of talent, guys who are not leaders, mental weaknesses, the problems caused by the savez and more.
Rest assured, not many of these guys will be counted on to do much for the senior side in the future.
i know you need a mix "determination" but that usually happens ith fluke results. like last year's euros. Their determination, desire, etc was able to help get over their lack of talent and somehow make it to the semis. Last year's result was the fluke, this year's results was back to reality.
@ Denis Svircic
I'm writing from New Jersey, USA. I was born in Zagreb, though.
This website is great; I like how many nogometni news are updated on the spot. Keep it up!
@ Ziva Istina
Forgot to mention something, but it's something to quickly add.
You are correct about skill being a major factor in soccer. But skill is only the physical part, the ying, of the game.
The other part, which I have mentioned, is determination, or the mental part, the yang, of the game. Determination gives a soul-like vibe to the game. It explains why some of the games do not have the expected results. Upsets and lucky wins usually occur in this department, all because of bravery and determination.
Croatia had neither, that's why they lost.
The Croatian Under 16 Basketball team won the European Championship, so all is not lost at the youth level 🙂
@Raptore,
You make an excellent point about Ziva Istina. With Vrsaljko and Vukusic both out, chances are Croatia were "3 and out".
However, no excuse for that loss in game 3. The players clearly gave up after game 2. They must have:
1) ran out of Aguardiente.
2) Put up some $$$ for a draw at SuperSport Kladionica.
@Ziva Istina,
I disagree with you on the "effort" by Croatia especially in game 3. These guys gave up way before the opening whistle. Sure the talent wasn;t there like you said, especially without Pamic for the third game, however, the effort wasnt there. There is no excuse for 10 players standing and watching, hoping that the ball doesnt come their way and when it does, long ball. "these guys gave it their all" you are off by a mile.
I dont know if this is correct:
"They blew their load last year at the euros with their fluke performance."
because I didn't catch any of the games. Going by results, Croatia lost to Spain 2-1 and beat Portugal 5-0. I dont think 5-0 is a fluke.
Tell me that you honestly thought that Croatia would lose/tie to Guatemala before kickoff i skidam ti kapu. 🙂
@Matko,
You hit it on the nail buddy:
"This team did not have BALLS."
They looked disinterested in all three games.
Free kick taker was Pamic, he missed out on the third game.
Where are you writing us from?
@JerseyCro,
I think Grnja deserved to take shots at the players. He took a shot at Dinamo and Hajduk for not releasing Vukusic and Vrsaljko, but you cant blame Hajduk and Dinamo as that is there bread and butter. Mamic would shit himself if Vrsaljko breaks a leg playing for the U20 side.
No one said that the Croatian team had skill, just great potential.
Croatia did not try their best, not just in skill, but in unity, field presence, hope, and bravery to shoot. This was a bit of a wuss team, no matter how weak they were.
Some players amazed me, especially the free-kicker during the Nigeria match (forgot his name at the moment).
If skill is not everything, the it can't be a defining factor. If it was, no surprises would be made during matches. In fact, skill is only a "dominant" factor, one that is physically shown during an actual match. Another dominant factor is determination, which includes hope, luck, and eagerness to excel. Luck and hope don't influence skill, but they go hand-in-hand. You don't train for that. The Spain v. Switzerland 2010 WC match showed that, as well as the female WC USA v. Japan match.
If Greece won the Euros in a lucky manner, then can you say that is "definitive" skill? You said they were lucky (which they were), but luck is not skill. Of course, Greece was skilled, but determination helped them defeat Portugal twice. Back to U-20 Croatia, they did not show any determination, let alone skill. You can't say Croatia tried its best because they gave up easily, and their passing and shooting manner showed and deteriorated.
They did beat Portugal in that tournament 5:0…something must have went right, but in the two matches from that tourmament I watched it was pretty much the same, created very little but they were so much better defensively.
Delac to me is a good player, he just needs Chelsea to loan him out somewhere where he will play, the Vitesse move didn't work. Kelic is ok, nothing special but will probably be a NT player. Pamic is good on set pieces and he will play more this season albeit in the 2. Bundesliga. To me the biggest disappointment was Ozobic, he showed little and Lendric looked awful despite being BiH leagues top scorer, which shows you don't need too much talent to score many goals in these leagues. I have to say, even if the team had Vrsaljko & Vukusic not much would have changed results wise
Of course skill is not everything, but it is the defining factor. There are other influencers: team unity, health, coaching, etc…
This Croatia squad had no skill. You can analyze this all day, but there was not much talent on that field from the forwards on down to the GK.
They were in way over their heads in this event and it showed. For them, they exceeded all expecations last year with the finish at the euros. At that event they played above their heads and got lucky (when i say lucky, i mean greece winning the euros type of lucky). They won 1 game in 4 matches last year.
skill has alot to do with winning, theres no douting that fact. But its not the only thing you need to win. Desire and belief are probably more important qualities to have, to increase your chances of winning. My point is this, i mean look at spain, its only in recent times have they managed to get skill,hunger and belief insync and its paid dividends for them. But before their recent success, they were the perennial underachivers, where decade after decade would pass without them tasteing the ultimate success on the world stage. I mean even croatia on their first attempt at the world cup, got deeper into the tournement, than spain could muster for 70 years. And it was never a question of shortage of skill that held spain back for all those years, you cant deny that. Whether it was its lack of desire, belief or internal problems or all of the above we will never know. But a side with such skill deficiency as greece manages to pull off the biggest upset in football history by winning the euro cup purely on belief and desire and a bit of luck, just shows that skill is not every thing.
Of course, "talent wins [most of the time]". Croatia may not have the biggest talent, but where's their determination to score? Because they did not have BALLS, they did not try their best. You can't say that the Croatian team "tried their best". You don't know. Only the players themselves know (unless you're God and can get inside their head). If a player has a negative mentality, he won't be able to do well over a person who had a positive mentality. So, the negative player can't try his best. Then, plenty of mistakes occur on the performances. You're only thinking that a horrible team, if it does horrible, tried their best. Haha.
"And what does height have to do with soccer????" HAHAHAHA. Read carefully. I never called for any "defining trait" but for helping attributes. If Croats are tall, they would do well in corner kicks, free kicks, and headers where height is involved. As for running through defenses, a shorter person (like Messi) would accomplish this easily with great speed. Messi's great dribbling and ability to take down about 3 defenders at once shows this. I have never compared favorably these traits to one another, but I have said that Croatia should have used their height to their advantage. I also mentioned strength and eyesight coordination. Japan didn't defeat USA because of small height anyway; they won because Japan tried harder. Where USA won in the skill and aggressiveness area, Japan won in the never-give-up area. The shoe was on the other foot for the Americans.
"face the facts, this team was no good" I didn't say "no" to that. I am disagreeing with your call that "Croatia tried their best" when obviously they didn't do that. If Croatia won because of a flukey goal, it would show that they TRIED. They DARED. If the game Croatia vs. Guatemala had Croatian 5 shots on target and 10 shots off target (but close to the goal) with a 0-0 or 1-0 result, I would've been happy. This Croatian team were not in synch, and they played weakly as a team. They didn't try their best because I saw that they could've done better; they scored 2 against Nigeria, so why not try similar attempts against Guatemala or Saudi Arabia? They weree lazy.
I never said Croatia is unstoppable, but if you intend to use shady stats to us against Croatia, you're definitely going to expect comments that would explicitly suggest otherwise. I'm guessing that the "Croatian Soccer Report" has an inkling towards predicting Croatia's victory. I love to do that too.
Soccer is not predetermined. Like the 2010 WC match b/w Spain and Switzerland, nothing is predetermined. It's balls, guts, and hope, as well as skill. Not just skill.
typical reaction from the players and coaches. Happens all the time when a team falls apart in any sport in Cro. Especially when the players have parents and agents that have immediate access with the media. No surprise in any of this.
So know some of you think the team had no BALLS…….LOL. They could have had the biggest balls in the world. Talent wins out most of the time.
And what does height have to do with soccer???? That is not the defining trait for a soccer team. Look at the Messi. By your logic he would struggle because of his lack of height.
Even in the women's game people who have no clue about soccer refer to height, but i saw a undersized Japan team beat the taller US team o set pieces.
face the facts, this team was no good. They blew their load last year at the euros with their fluke performance. They won only 1 game of the four they played at the euros. It was a fluke and this result was more like them.
Things are getting ugly in the media…Grnja is taking shots at the players (wellll..you DID pick them) and some of the players taking shots at Grnja. Obviously the atmopshere in Colombia was horrible and maybe some of the guys just wanted to go home…wonder how that 13 hour plane ride back to Europe is lol
i agree with matko, that this croatia side showed no balls or intent to score. They may not have been the most talented side in the tournement, but what you lack in talent, you make up in grit and determanation. And none of that was shown. You cant tell me that a side that lost 6-0, 5-0 in succession was more capable of beating croatia. Croatia should have been licking their lips with anticipation of the opportunity put before them. But instead they chose to sit back adventureless, and watch someone else take the proverbial candy from their hands.
Raptore, your statement that the team should be greeted with a pelting of rotten eggs on their return to croatia, is hilarious, but accurate. If the team made the effort to qualify for the tournement, dont let that effort be undone by lack of interest and gutlessness. Show the world that you deserve to be there, and not just making up the numbers.
@ Ziva Istina
"I told you they would struggle throughout the whole tourney." What a politician-like answer. Of course, good teams also struggle in the World Cup. Where's the fun and excitement in not struggling?
"Why would you pelt these guys with eggs…" Because after watching the Croatian national teams (all levels), I was awestruck at a special quality these teams had unlike many others: BALLS. Croatia became my favorite team not just because it's my home country, but because it's unpredictable and somehow able to take down the big names as a small country. After watching this U-20 team, I was bitterly disappointed, for this is not a true Croatian team. This team did not have BALLS. I have high expectations for them (as much as many other Croats), win or lose, but when they play like that, it's time to chuck some eggs. We have world-class capability, not degenerating players. We're Croats, for Pete's sake!
"these guys played at 100%…" "The EFFORT they put forth never lacked…" "…these guys gave it their all." You're confusing 100% "Effort" with talent. In any sport, that statement cannot be made, except for the involved player. Effort is when a player gives it his all in order to succeed/accomplish a given task/goal. Croatia is horrible, but where's the effort card coming in here? I'll tell you what's effort: JerseyCro predicted a 1-0 win for Croatia by a flukey goal. Had that "flukey goal" happened, THAT would've been effort. Courage and curiosity is important, but I have not seen that as well. If Croatia could not break through Saudi's or Guatemala's defense, why not try a long-distance shot for luck? That would've been effort and BALLS, despite their skills being horrible. The players' mentality is also a sign of effort; don't care? Have fun scoring, if you can. Croatia's defense was sleeping way too often, and Delac was very unfortunate, so "effort…never lacked" when talking about defenders is laughable. Croatia's tall, so they should use that to their advantage; we're physically stronger, so try that. We have eyes, so use that. None of this happened, so these guys did not try their best.
I'm not sure if Denis Svircic himself said, "Croatia just didn't care" or the world, but either way, both are correct. We did not care. There's no effort in that. Regardless, I'm always rooting for Croatia, and if we do not give it our all, I'll say it's an embarrasment, for we are Croats and not zombies; either way, I'll still root for them because something unexpected might happen if they try their best.
Raptore……touch a nerve, did I????
What's the point of making a scoreline prediction. I told you they would struggle throughout the whole tourney and I was 100% correct. The guys I rely on for my info back in Cro (insiders) told me this team had no talent and they told me about the level of preparations by the savez.
And what common sense predictions are you referring to??? I went against the common perception before this began. People were saying this was an easy group before this began. I however, never said that. In actuality this was an easy group because Guatemala and Croatia were two of the weakest teams, maybe the weakest.
Why would you pelt these guys with eggs…..this is the best our country had to offer and these guys played at 100% of their ability at this given time. I applaud them on their effort. The effort they put forth never lacked. Simply put, they are not a talented team and that was reflected in the results. Don't tell me you are one of these uninformed fans who thinks a big loss equals not being motivated or giving full effort. Not the case here, these guys gave it their all.
You might not like what I write, but what I write is logical, coherent and most importantly – correct.
Isn't it funny how ziva never makes match scoreline predictions & only pre tournament predictions, it's easy to say pre tournament their not going to get no where, when no body expected much from this squad to begin with, doing it this way ziva can be his usual self after the game & brag about common sense predictions, why dont you make scoreline predictions from now on ziva..
Come on people, let's not kid our selves, this squad is very ordinary to say the least, but they should have won this game quite comfortably, 2-0 at least, the Saudis could do it blindfolded, let's be honest , guatamala was possibly the weakest & most inexperienced team here, to loose in this fashion is an absolute disgrace, I think the under 17s would have made more of this game then these losers did, they should be pelted with rotten eggs apon their arrival back to Croatia, overall a disgracefull performance, dont deserve to be representing our nation with that sort of negative mindset..
Time to bring out the AX; the most embarrasing thing is the lack of preparation. People are going to pay a price for this debacle, right?
This is the first Croatian soccer team at any level I've watched that had NO technical ability – apart from Pamic. Of all the young players we have, only Jelavic, Perisic, Badelj and Mateo Kovacic show promise. I know we were without some of our better U-20's, but, we look to be on a down cycle – which is to be expected from a small nation.
@Croat,
I like to check the odds for games sometime because Vegas knows. 9 times out of 10, the line is right on the dot.
Vegas had guatemala at +2.5 goals for this game. Meaning if you were to take Croatia at even money, you have to win by at least three goals. I was unable to find the money line, but my guess was that if you bet on Guatemala for any type of win, for every dollar you get ten.
@jerseyCro,
You make a great point about Croatian teams struggling out of their confederation. This game reminded me a little of Ecuador-Croatia WC 2002. Croatia has always struggled against quick, small teams. Mexico, Ecuador, Japan… list goes on and on.
What were you doing on a gambling site Denis? LOL
Like JerseyCro said if the youth plays poorly and doesn't care at all about the matches then thats how these young players will probaly play when they make it to the higher spot of the National Team. Mabye it was the coach? mabye they need someone to light fire up their butts. Im not sure
I spotted this just right now just to see how the rest of the world viewed this match.
Guatemala are terrible.
Croatia just didnt care. Not until they were down 1-0 did they show any sense of urgency.
@Ziva,
Yes, you did call 3 games and out.
Question for you…
what was your prediction for this game?
From a gambling site…
"After 2 rather poor displays against Saudi Arabia and Nigeria Croatia found themselves still with a chance to progress to the last 16 of this Fifa u20 World Cup. With a win tonight against the poorest team in this competition they would qualify as one of the best 3rd placed teams. There's no doubt where lies the quality in this match and it's only matter of how many goals we are going to see in the net of Guatemala side after their 5 and 6-0 losses in the opening 2 games. In my opinion it's a good thing that the bookies are basing hcp odds by the previous losses of Croatia and that's probably why we get such a 'low' hcp on them.
Although Croatians are without some of their best players in this competition, they still posses enough quality to finish this game in similar fashion like both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia did.
Croatians will be eager to improve the negative picture that surrounds them after 2 opening losses and will not be satisfied here with some marginal win. My guess that they are capable at least to cover this 2.5 hcp line and that's my bet here."
When is the last time Croatia at any level beat a non-UEFA opponent? We haven't beaten one at a World Cup since 1998. I know they beat Argentina in a friendly prior to WC 2006 but we certainly struggle against non-UEFA sides, I remember us even drawing Iran in Osijek.
@Denis….agreed. Playing Guatemala should increased the confidence, at least on paper.
But, you won't get any 20/20 hindsight bashing from me, because I called this two weeks ago. Others will come on now and say we suck, blah, blah, blah. The same people who were thinking we had an "easy" group. I was very confident in my assessment before this began that they would struggle to do anything. I called this one from day one.
A lot of people want to bash the coach, and that may be fair, but is this not the same coach who got them into this tourney by getting to the semis of the euros last year. In hindsight, last year's squad probably over achieved by even getting to this point.
you can see the poor arrogant character in all of the Croatian players. Don't know what that Portuguese team is thinking taking the one Croatian forward, he cannot even trap the ball. Its one thing if this team was just not talented and recognized it, the body language of every single player displayed absolute arrogance. They should all fine their own way home from Columbia. Complete embarrassment
I actually expected a flukey 1:0 win…WRONG
I actually knew Guatemala were going to win by the 60th minute, they looked more hungry, they actually looked technically better than us incredibly. We can have all the possession in the world but whats the point when most of it is at the feets of defenders? This looked like Croatia – Georgia, not enough urgency. Maybe its better they go home now, and questions needs to be asked, I know the people in Croatia don't care about youth soccer, but they better realize these performances will eventually creep into the "A" selection.
A poor HNL + mostly poor youth teams (don't forget our U21s lost to Georgia at home about a month ago) will eventually result in a poor NT. Look at what has happened to Hungary, Czech, Romania, Bulgaria, it can easily happen to us with his laziness
rant over
@anonymous,
Croatia scored twice against an arguably best team in the tournament Nigeria. Guatemala couldn't score on themselves. It took two defensive blunders on the same possession for Guatemala to score their only goal of the tournament.
Easy to come out after the game and bash the team. "cant believe any of you actually thought the Croatian team would score a single goal."
"Lapse on Defense" lol, more like that defender needs to go back to soccer summer camp. Ugly, ugly, ugly. And our team was horrible, no chemistry, barely any combinations, losing in the air to a team half our size.
would have been better off if we staying home.
Guatemala go through with a -10 goal difference. I never seen anything close to this. good luck against Portugal.
@Ziva,
Yes, I was thinking with my heart. I figured Croatia would show up against the worst team in the tournament.
Cannot believe any of you actually thought the Croatian team would score a single goal. Their performance was an absolute disgrace from the first minute of the first game. Just take one look at the coach, he's a joke and the HNS for appointing him. Every singe player on that team was horrible.
I expected a tie. Nope.
I hope that the future U-20 Croatian team gets better from here on. I just wished that Croatia could've added a goal to eliminate those last-5 minute actors.
How pathetic. Good luck to Guatemala.
just when it couldnt get any worse…….
Ziva, it's Guatemala…we make them look like midgets.
And to answer your earlier statements…yes, we are that bad. It's going to end 0-0. No one goes through.
3-0 and 4-1!!!!!
Come on guys, you are hoping with your heart instead of thinking with your head. Don't know what you have seen to make you think this team can blow anyone out.
hows matej delac doing goal…i havnt watched any of the touranemt…based on the previous scorelines…i guess not to good?
Croatia continues to show no matter what level they play like garbage and can't beat any team outside of UEFA. Still a half to go but the first half was far from promising. No excuses in this match
Is Bilic coaching this team? Passing backwards 95% of the time then a long diagnal ball
4 of the starting 11 for Guatemala are named "Jose"… This should be interesting.
4-1 Cro. They haven't scored a goal yet, but I'm sure they will manage one against us. Silly foul in the box for a PK.
All depends where we finish. There isn't a locked spot. But we'll most likely get pawned against anyone in the Round of 16.
3-0 Croatia
This is an interesting game. If Croatia win, they are through. If Guatemala win, they are through despite a -100 goal difference. If they tie, both are out.
If we win, who would we end up playing in the Round of 16?