Euro 2016 is now four months away.
And although Croatians around the world always believe their beloved Vatreni can make another run; just as the team did in France in 1998, now the rest of the world believes more of the same.
The internet is starting to buzz about Croatia being “dark horses” at Euro 2016. And just like the improbable run in 1998, the Croatians are returning to France for the first time since grabbing third place at the World Cup.
Maybe it’s the majestic merlots France has to offer. Or the soft-ripened cheeses. The ’98 team looked quite comfortable 18 years ago. But hopefully 2016’s version of Croatian soccer can continue what Šuker and company started in France.
The Vatreni are eighth in line to win the whole thing. World Cup holders Germany are favorites with hosts France right behind them. Spain, Belgium, England, Italy and Portugal round out the top-7 before you get to Croatia as favorites to win Euro.
Now, we’ve had this conversation a million times. How can a team which consists of two Real Madrid players, one (and a half) Barcelona players (Halilović), the striker for Juventus (Mandžukić), a defender in the English Premiership (Lovren) and players across Serie A lighting it up on a weekly basis not get farther in tournaments?
Maybe the checkers are heavy. Maybe our players become mental midgets when they play together. But if this group of players are going to make a run at some silverware, this is the year.
This crop of players have the experience and talent to lift the cup, but let’s be honest, they’re not exactly spring chickens anymore. Modrić just turned 30 years old and Mandžukić will turn 30 in May. This will most definitely be Darijo Srna’s (33) and Ivica Olić’s (36) last tournament with the team. Ćorluka is 29 and the always loved Pranjić is 34.
The core group of players from the past decade are meshing well with the Kovačić’s, Perišić’s and Vrsaljko’s, as the next generation is ready to go. But as far as this team goes with the early-20s up and comers, we may not have to wait until Russia to see Croatia’s best team since 1998. That team is here. And the time is now.
Croatian dark horses at Euro 2016. Fact or fiction?
Sure…..the brokers should get their tickets in May
Any chance I could contact you once the dates get closer?
@Ante B…..yeah, I have two brokers I rely on. Both legit.
Spelling correction: meant to type conquer not concur..
Let’s hope so.. Every big competition we are labeled as the black horse, but we always fall short; even in ’98 we fell short; we accomplished a lot, BUT we fell short. Brazil was a joke because of the blatant cheating by the refs. It made our players lose their confidence…and psychology is key in my opinion… It’s time we place our fears and doubts aside and concur whatever obstacle is placed before us. We are STACKED with talent but often not given the credit and recognition that we deserve.. We should use everyone at our disposal and go full speed: Modric, Rakitic, Kalinic, Brozovic, Mandzukic, Kovacic, Lovren, Halilovic (YES we should play Halilovic – the kid has the type of confidence and drive that we often lack and need)….
@ Ante
1250…. Columbus to Paris, Paris to Dubrovnik…..Dubrovnik back to Columbus…..you might be able to get something a lot better than me considering you have an international hub….i always have to fly to Atlanta or somewhere first
Mixed Grill……are you ok?
Idemo,
How much is your flight? I’m looking for flights out of SFO and it’s not that bad.
Ziva,
Do you have a reliable broker?
We will win or lose on the quality of our back line which has been our weak point for too long. If you compare 98, Bilic and Stanic were key players that everyone forgets. They started the play and were leaders. We unfortunately don’t have players like that now and I dread seeing Modric circling back to start the offence (At least we won’t have to see Simunic throw his hand up in exasperation as he stumbles forward without a clue as to what to offensively).
As to having a foreign coach, we already had one. Kovac is born in Germany of Hercegovinan parents (Hercegovina is presently part of Bosnia and Hercegovina and not Croatia in case people need reminding) .
Yes, you will be positioned with others who purchased their tickets in the same manner you did. But, I’d be shocked if you end up in the middle. Those seats usually go to sponsors and partners first.
or am i wrong^^?
I saw a map that they would be sticking people applying through national portals through uefa in corners
The map in the FAQ is different than the one they show when u purchase
Category 1 doesn’t even give tickets at mid field
Anyone if their coming fedex/ups or regular mail
@idemo……….you won’t find out until you get the tickets. That is the point I was making yesterday. Those category 1 seats are wide-ranging. You could get lucky at get seats in the middle third of the field and hallway up the lower bowl or you may get seats closer to the corner flag all the way at the top of the upper bowl.
That is the reason I am going with a broker. I will pay more, but I control where I set.
We can’t put all our eggs in one basket with just trying to get service to Mandzo in the box. Defenses key in on this already. We need guys like Rakitic, Perisic, Brozovic, Kovacic and even the little Bozandzero if he sees the field to run at defenses, take some long range bombs, etc. and keep defenses honest. I’m interested to see what wrinkle Kalinic will add either by himself or maybe paired with Mandzo.
Everyone knows we like to control the middle, feed the flanks and cross into the box for Mandzuka. If we rely just on that… I don’t see us making it out of the group.
how do i find out what section/seat i got?
just saw a layout map if you got tickets through the federation/uefa portal even category 1 isn’t smack dab in the middle……….whaaaaaaaack
Northern california
@the beast I think our incessant attempts to give Mandzo service, were part of the reason we couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net as much as we should have.I love Mandzo, but we were too predictable-things are changing. I like what I am seeing.
Croatia has not proved it can get the ball in the net. If they could get some service to Mandzukic then they have a shot. Also the team has a difficult time scoring from far away.
where r u baba
@idemo Represent well. Sing your heart out, but please do not throw any flares, talk about mental midgetcy.
Damn, I don’t embrace any social media. Hard time giving my info out for ppl like Zuckerberg to profit. Would love to see it though. I might go $100 if I can get anything over 25:1 next time I am in Vegas.
as I did……crazy excited for this summer, I googled different views from different sections of the parc des princes hahaaaaaa
If you purchased your ticket on the UEFA site using the “follow Croatia” platform, you won’t be seated with opposing fans unless those fans purchase their tickets from someone else who got their tickets through the “follow Croatia” platform. You will be fine.
Well, how do you want me to post the bet slip? You can’t download images on this site. I’ll show it……my suggestion is to follow me on twitter, even I have yet to follow embrace it, and I can take a photo of it and you can see it.
@ante
thanks man, you should be fine tho, I booked my flight and room before I got tix so I was relying on the ease of finding a ticket outside the stadium as well…….only thing that worries me about that is getting stuck in a Turkish section/validity of the ticket
I’m kinda sick at the fact that we won’t known where we will be sitting until the tickets come in May……or can I check
160 euros…..better not be sitting in the top by the corner flag
Parc Des Princes is a big stadium but nothing like camp nou……holds 55k even some second level seats seem to be good
@baba zoviiiiii samo zoviiiiiiii
@nksusak
Tho I am not crazy abt Kalinic, I liked the spacing Mandzo & Kalinic made in the last friendly too ( albeit vs a depleted squad). It was fun to watch.
@idemo love it “post the bet slip”. You are good at poker brother! Come to my tuesday night game anytime. Notice every time you call a mental midget out-he or she will never respond.
@Ante B…..don’t worry about it. You will pay a bit more, but will have control over where you want to sit. The problem with the UEFA ticket lottery is that they don’t allow you to narrow down where you want to sit. You could get seats close to midfield that are 15 rows up or you could get the upper bowl, near the corner flag on the same side, but two rows from the top….and all of it for the same price. This is why you will be better off getting them from a broker or scalper. You can control where you want to sit.
Your suggestions puts Vrsaljko out position. When you play guys out of position you lessen their effectiveness.
We had Mandza, Corluka, Perisic, Vida against Mexico and guess who dominated in the air……I’ll fill you in, it wasn’t us.
i think an in form Mandzukic and Kalinic starting up top together would give opposing teams headaches just due to the size and aerial threat from both. That would hopefully soften opposing teams back lines and open things up for Perisic and Rakitic, who need to start ripping shots from outside the 16. We know Brozovic can occasionally crack one. Enough with the over passing and fancy shit. Let it rip, you wil create chances off of deflections that will lead to set pieces and corners. With Kalinic, Mandzo, Corluka, Perisic, and a wreckless Vida, no reason we shouldnt dominate set pieces. And if you want 5 in the midfield which people seem to want but never works, go 3 at the back with Vrsaljko in the midfield tracking back.
Moja prijava je bila neuspjesna. Jebem im milu majku sve redom. Congrats idemo and to the guys who got the tickets. Now I have to rely on scalpers
@Slavonac,
Good point, but the greeks still had luck. How many times did the opposing team hit the woodwork?
This week in jock sniffing continued…………
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2016/2/2/10893310/super-bowl-media-day-recap-madness-deion-sanders-panthers-broncos
So, we actually had people who paid money to attend Super Bowl media day. Not the Super Bowl. But, Super Ball media day. So, think about this……people actually paid money to sit in an arena to watch people ask and answer questions. And if you look at the photos, most of the people in the stands wore jerseys with another man’s name on the back other than their own. I’m willing to bet most of these jock sniffers are also flat-brimmers.
Remove the emotion out of the bet. That is what I do.
There are plenty of situations where I bet against teams/individuals I usually root for and bet on teams or athletes that I can’t stand.
If people only bet on teams they root for then they will never win. The key is finding a bet where the data and background you have match. if so, bet on it, regardless if that is the team you like or don’t like.
Anyone into betting based on cycles, I read the other day that since 1970 Italy has made the WC final every 12 years and in 2018 it’ll be 12 years since their last.
The hardest part for me would be supporting Italy with a bet!
Have a friend in Macedonia that says that dude is a major asshole and that they were just looking for a reason to beat his ass
This week in jock sniffers gone crazy……………………
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/makedonski-rukometni-reprezentativac-pretucen-jer-se-nije-zelio-fotografirati/872651.aspx
Imagine that, people beating up someone because that person refused to take photos with people he doesn’t know.
There is plenty of criticism for Italy’s style over the years, but they have the results to back it up.
Ziva, my point is we played well enough, we were never once totally overwhelmed (we were under a lot of pressure vs Germany) and we did well to counter-attack when we had the opportunity. we forced the Germans to make that decision, thats how anyone should see it…they had a choice to let Suker go or commit that brutal foul.
Denis, as much as the Greeks were lucky and play anti-soccer, they got the results they were looking for. Throughout the years, Italy have been well known to play anti-soccer as well, nobody attacks them for their style!
@Slavonac from Canada,
I agree. In the end, even a great side needs luck.
How lucky were the Greeks to win Euro 2004?
How unlucky was everyone that faced the Greeks that year?
@Croatianperson85,
Most of the Euro 2016 teams are separated by inches not feet. No chance I put any $$$ down
Croatia can beat the Turks 3-0, then lose to the Czechs. Anything can happen.
@Bobby V,
Even though his passing skills are questionable, I’m all for Vida starting at CB. I agree.
Here is how I would line them up…
Vrsaljko-Corluka-Vida-Strinic….
I really like Jedvaj, however, I’m not sure how he would do on the left side for Strinic and he’s just coming off injury.
Schifo? I always liked him. I’m not sure what type of form hes in right now.
Lovren? Hit or miss. Dude can have a great defensive game and score a goal. The next game he can pick up a red card and give up two goals.
Read that there won’t be huge sections of fans together, they are mixing supporters
Agreed on Stanic. Unsung hero on that team. Dude could play half the positions on the field, if needed.
Very true, France had the luck. But, and this is a big but, two of our staples and guys you could depend on all of the time had a severe case of mental midget disease. Jarni and Boban were both taken off the ball that allowed Thuram to score both goals. We saw mental midgetcy creep its ugly head on that day.
post the bet slip
Croatianperson85 – the ’98 team had more grit it the positions they needed to have it…ie…centre def mid, centre backs and even Stanic was gritty…true borci…guys that won the ball and gave it off.
who does that for us today?
nobody is lucky to win 3-0.
imagine the luck the French had when Lilian Thuram scored 2 goals in the same game? Thuram never scored an international goal prior to or after that game…who had LUCK?
@Croatianperson85……..I already put $700 on Cro winning the whole thing. I don’t think they will, but I liked the odds when I saw them right after the draw. I got them at 31-1.
Subasic; vrsaljko, corluka, Vida, strinic; kovacic, modric; halilovic, rakitic, perisic; kalinic 4231. Or. Subasic, vrsaljko, corluka, Vida, strinic; brozovic, modric, kovacic, perisic; mandzukic, kalinic. 442. Or whatever, so many good options….
@everyone
Agreed our D isn’t the greatest
What do you think our back line will look like this tournament?
Formations you guys think Cro should use this tournament?
Which player for Cro do you guys think will have a break out tournament?
If I had a dollar every time Ziva gets attacked on this website I’d be a zillionaire.
Sure, sometimes I can see where people may think Ziva’s comments are negative but then again I also think sometimes they are realistic when I read some of these blind pro Croatian comments. (He was making reference to the 98 group because the article is making reference to it)
Cro 98 team was mentally stronger. They were out to show the world who Croatia was, they had something to prove aside from soccer. It seems like that fighting spirit isn’t as strong anymore. Say what you will about their soccer (many people will call their tactics dirty) but Uruguay has 3 million people and every player will pull your eyes out of your head before they lose. I feel like every player on our NT would be a terrific babysitter. We don’t have the Asanovic elbow mentality anymore. They are soft.
Cro 98 also got a little lucky. Let’s not take away that they did play well through out the tournament but luck always helps.
Jamaica’s first tournament (if you’re going to tell me Jamaica was great than you’re crazy) Japan will always make you work – the run all game but Japan in 98 is not Japan today. Romania was no pushover but we were a better team hands down. They did us a favour by beating England. It should have been Cro vs Eng and Arg vs Rom. Germany got a red card. Yes they played well but we also had a little luck on our side.
On paper Cro should progress out of the group
If we finish 1st in our group we play – 3rd place team from group B/E/F
If we finish 2nd we play the winner of Group E – Italy/Belgium most likely
If we finish 3rd we play – winner of Group A – most likely France
Predictions on where we finish in the group/who we’ll end up playing if we progress?
PS. A few months ago 500 on Cro winning the tournament got you 14K not it’s 13K (I think that’s in euro’s need to check again)
@Ziva any early bets?
Just checked mine!! Successful!!!!!
@denis
Any update when u log into uefa?
Only problem is LB…..
Good to be realistic without being negative. Playing for the national team is different from club football. Some players are world stars with their clubs but never perform as well for their country, with others they really shine for the national team. Tournament football is only 7 games max in a row, doesn’t need a whole season of consistency to be a star. All of players have the ability to turn it on if the spirit and balance of the team is right. Then a bit of luck. Also, the thing about the squad now, which is better than we’ve ever had, including 98, not only do we have many many good players, we have players with speed who are direct. Often we have dominated possession without penetration. Now we have players who are great in 1 vs 1 situations, both in defence eg vrsaljko and in attack eg halilovic, perisic, pjaca. Best position for rakitic for sure behind the striker. That’s where he has really shone for Sevilla. He lacks pace, but if the others are running eg perisic, kalinic, halilovic it’s no problem. As for false 9 I think pjaca will eventually become a central forward, he has the right attributes, but he’s not ready yet. Maybe at the World Cup, if we get there, he will be our main striker. Kramaric maybe. We can do it. Can’t wait to see the boys in action. Compare this team to the others we’ve had since 98. come on it’s much much better….
@ Bobby V
Actually … Vrsaljko gets subbed out and Mexico attacks us like no tomorrow.
We need SPEED.
We have some speed that NEED to start and play.
Ofcourse we have some technical gifted players but without some speed around them we are toothless.
Messi – speed/technical
Neymar – speed/technical
Suarez – hungry/technical
The arrogance of HNS is like they know something the rest of the soccer world doesn’t ? budala.
Play your horses in the right courses.
Every average fan knows who to play and where.
Life is TOO simple for complicated minds.
Ahh … But it takes some vision and balls to play for championships.
Mali po sranci mindset will not get it done.
Time for Croatian Kings to RISE!
@ Denis –
Never thought I’d be saying this back a few years ago, but, thank God for Domagoj Vida.
He already covers for Corluka – it’s totally unfair on him to have Srna and Pranjic on the backline at the same time with him as well.
He cannot cover for all three. Vida should have played against Mexico in 2014. Take a look at who did:
Vrsaljko – Lovren – Corluka – Pranjic – Srna …against one of the fastest sides in the tournament. No wonder we eventually broke down, could you imagine them starting together again in France? Poor Sime would be dying by half-time.
An in-form Strinic would help.
@Bobby,
I agree with your comparison. Im concerned with our defense.
Jedvaj just returned from injury and doesnt have enough experience for the big stage. However, I wouldn”t mind if he started.
Corluka will get burned on the counter.
Srna…. dont get me started..
Vrsaljko… I dont see him starting… however, if we lose against Turkey and Srna leaves with egg on his face… I can see Sime get the start.. Kind of like 2002 when Suker started and looked like a 40-year-old out there, then looked on from the bench the rest of the tournament.
Pranjic? god help me.
Strinic… will he get a call?
@ Denis –
“Croatia struggles in world cups because they don’t have an answer to different styles of football.”
Totally agree.
This is lining up, however, to be something similar to 1998.
Same country (France), an old man for coach (maybe we can find Cacic a gendarme hat like the one Blazevic had),
one of the best midfields in Europe, and the fact that we are considered dark horses.
Back in 1998, true soccer fans, who knew our players in Europe, predicted we would do well.
How about some similarities in playing styles (and in a few cases, talent) between the players of the 1998 team and the current 2016 team?
Perisic – Stanic, Modric – Asanovic, Rakitic – Boban, Corluka – Bilic, Kovacic – Maric, Brozovic – Soldo, and even Subasic – Ladic
We haven’t really come close to having a Suker or Boksic again – Mandzukic is something different up front.
If Vrsaljko and Halilovic are not going to start, (in my opinion, they should) they need to, at least, get plenty of minutes.
@ Poglavnik – “I’ll still be one of those morons telling my friends we’re going all the way this year.”
…haha, I’ll be the second!
@Bobby V,
Croatia has always done well against European sides. Only England and France have been difficult match ups for us.
Croatia struggles in world cups because they don’t have an answer to different styles of football.
I don’t know what to expect from Croatia. We can finish with 9 points from this group or bow out in the first round.
@Idemo,
I just checked my account and I was charged $229 and $474 by UEFA. So I was either approved for 2 tickets to 2 Croatia games or 2 tickets to 3 games. I applied for all three games.
Excluding 1998, Croatia has played much better soccer at the European Championships than World Cups.
The quality of our play in 1996, 2008 and 2012 was fantastic.
It is for this reason, the fact that we should get to the round of 16 without much trouble, and the fact that Modric, Rakitic, Perisic and Mandzukic know this will be the last chance at the Euros that we have for awhile (because of the lack of talent between the ages of 21-25), that I believe we reach at least the semi-finals.
– but only if we don’t meet up against France before then, who, in my opinion are overwhelming favorites.
Ukrainian fans have already had the money pulled from their accounts
nothing from mine yet
@tr12 nah, you’re the idiot and lack any deductive skill or reasoning , I understand that you don’t understand, but I will not educate you
There’s always scalpers around, mind you we paid €300-400 in 2008. I don’t know if the demand will be the same from our fans this time around with all the BS surrounding the team the last few years & mixed results. 2008 there was a pretty big high around the team. Don’t think there is anything like that now.
We have some glaring weaknesses and a few question marks in the squad. I think on paper we should still be good enough for a quarterfinal birth and anything after that would be a bonus.
Realistically though we’ve had decent teams on paper totally shit the bed in recent years though so I’m not expecting that much from this particular group and I’ll try to avoid the usual pre tournament hype / bs / were contenders / dark horses etc
Has anybody who’s actually going to Euro’s heard back yet? My Palm Pilot hasn’t returned sranje. Ziva, I’m going your route and just showing up hoping a scalper will have tickets for the Croatian section.
If they do fail and they show mental midgetcy again, the only good thing about that is this website will enjoy more traffic than it does when we win.
I’m expecting us to be knocked out in the group stage but hoping for us to get past the group stage. It’s possible we could lose to both Turkey and the Czech Republic as well as defeating them.
I don’t necessarily agree with the foreign coach thing
But I would say a foreign coach or domestic one without influence from the corruption could increase chances by being willing to sit a srna for an in form vrsaljko for instance…
We know the formula at World Cup didn’t work
I don’t mind taking some chances with more proven guys and also a guy like halilovic can make that excitement
U don’t think others are worried about marking mandzukoc up front and worry about our midfield
I think that is a reason we saw perisic excel last time
Freeing up space
Again I don’t know dick all about soccer but in other sports when a stud is out there being double manned space opens up
Sometimes I have to wonder about the idiots on this site making a comment like this.
“we’d win the world cup with a foreign coach”
You have to shake your head at this.
once again slavonac wins the debate
once again slavonac wins the debate
FACTS!!!!
We have an elite core in their prime.
We have an elite core reaching their prime.
We have an elite core of young studs.
We NEED to cut a mediocre core from the program.
The key is to fill the squad with young hungry players who want to use the Euro platform to launch careers to a new level.
With our current depth there is zero need for old scrubs.
We will know from our squad selection if we mean business.
Uvijek vjerni.
Only way I would go with a false 9 option is if our opponent is playing tow center backs who are slow.
The reasoning…….in theory, the obvious answer when defending a team using a false 9 is to push up the center back to tightly mark the false 9. When doing that you leave three in back, with two fullbacks playing more narrow than usual and the remaining center back as a sweeper.
The false 9 would need to play deeper with the hope the trailing center back pushes up (or down the field from his standpoint) and then the space opens up.
to play the false 9, we need a player that is more of a play maker and can score to be in the middle of the field, I’m not really sure who fits that role for Croatia?
That’s a tough position to fulfill. you need someone that is a goalscorer to play there and can create and draw defenders towards them…the only goalscorer I can think of that could possibly play that is and has been in a scoring drought for over a year…Kramaric.
With our “abundance” of midfield talent and lack of goal creating striker (Mandzukic is a target man in my book), what are thoughts on playing a false 9?
I know it is close to impossible but I think it would be interesting because it would allow our dynamic players to play in a dynamic style rather than attempting to spread the ball wide for crosses to Mandzukic.
Obviously I don’t think any of our players have played in a system that uses a false 9 – but do any of them have the requisite skillset? Rakitic perhaps?
about this team going to the Euro’s in the summer.
I read many comments on this site, people mention several names, they list their favorite line-ups and formations, they talk about Halilovic, Perisic, Jedvaj, Kovacic and yet, we are really struggling with form in many areas. I’m not worried yet, but I’m not yet banking on players that have just recently returned (Jedvaj) or players that rarely see the field (Kovacic) or players that play in glimpses (although I’d probably like to see Halilovic play).
I don’t wan’t to watch guys that are ‘possibly” going to make a difference, there is rhyme and reason to why a players form is important, we aren’t in form in many positions as of right now.
I used to follow soccer more back then than I do today, I watched Argentina, Italy, Germany, Croatia and read a lot.
even back then, soccer had began to change. weaker teams weren’t necessarily pushovers, especially not from Asia.
regardless, you don’t tend to see things from the all around perspective and more times than not, you tend to minimize the ’98 team and their achievement…and that too bad man, they were a great team that should have been in the finals!
I never downplayed what Suker did on the field. Never said otherwise. I am just pointing out the headcase he was in the locker room.
If you want to give Japan credit, then go ahead. They lost all three games they played, so to me they were not a good team. But, I get your point. Back then all they did was run around; they had very little technical skill and only reason they were in the game against us was due to their better physical conditioning on what I recall being a very hot and humid day.
Maminjo, Chile went through with 3 ties!
whatever Suker is today has nothing to do with him as a player back then Ziva…I don’t like him either, but Suker was a good goalscorer back then.
I take offense to anyone trying to take away the good they did in that tournament, they lost 1-0 to a good Argentinian side, we hit the crossbar that game and exchanged chances with a top 5 team in the world (they had better chances)…lets not forget they had Ortega and Batistuta…Veron, Simeone, Zanetti…
don’t mix the savez today with that team and the tournament back then, you are trying to make a point that isn’t legit.
if you hate Suker, hate him…if you think he’s a douche-bag, most will agree with you but why try to minimize the ’98 team and their achievement? they played all good teams except for Jamaica…Japan, at that time, was in the top 20 and were fast, disciplined and not taken lightly by anyone, why would you call them easy?
the ’98 World Cup was legit, even if you want to be-little the accomplishment…they lost to 2 great teams and beat many…not sure why you can’t admit that?
Armada I agree brother…on paper we are lethal on the field we blow like the wind…one week incredible one week horrible…the last norway game is still haunting me…I hope I’m wrong but we don’t have the mental toughness or discipline to succeed…we need a leader on the field and locker room…Srna certainly isn’t it!
@Ziva
That ’98 group wasn’t easy.
Yes, there were three newcomers in the group…but Croatia wasn’t really a newcomer, as they were in past tournaments under Yugoslavia…and considering their previous appearance where they went to the Quarters and lost on penalties (against eventual finalist Argentina) you can’t just dismiss all that and assume Croatia being in the 1998 World Cup is on par with a team making their first ever tournament.
Also, having a World Cup favorite in the group like Argentina automatically raises the value of that group. Yes, Japan and Jamaica were newbies, but Japan was very underrated and good. They mailed it in against Jamaica in their final game that meant nothing, but they really gave both Cro and Argentina a brutal time (narrowly losing 1-0 in both games, both goals being messy ones). And as Slavonac said, Japan continued to qualify for and succeed in future tournaments (unlike the Moroccos and the Saudi Arabias of that same ’98 World Cup)
You say that this is potentially the worst WC group of all time? …It wasn’t even the worst group in the ’98 tournament.
If it was the worst group, the top two teams (Argentina & Cro) would not have advanced beyond the Round of 16 (which they both did). Also, wasn’t there a group where the 2nd placed team didn’t even win a game, and somehow advanced because they drew all three games, with both teams below them also not winning any? So we had a Round of 16 team with no wins? What a circus.
I never said Romania was easy. I said the group was easy. I call it without a biased or homer point of eye……right down the middle
That was a dive by Asanovic. Same as the Brazilian player took a dive at Word Cup on Lovren. Cro fans can’t sit here and cry over the Brazilan PK call and then not admit Asanovic dove as well. That is my only point. The dive helped us win.
Why do we focus on Puppet Suker? Because he is a hrvat and last I checked this site was about discussing Cro sports – the good and bad. Are there other assholes? Sure, but that is a discussion for another website. Perhaps I should start a page on Xtratime.
The guy is now head of the federation………unqualified for the position……..brought up Platini’s name as someone who can vouch for him (that says it all)……..takes orders from one man……..has the education of a 6th grader
Personally, I’m fine with him as the federation because it gives us something to discuss. Puppet Suker being a great player and helping put Cro on the sports map is not something that has unlimited powers or a lifetime voucher.
you always talk bad about that team in that tournament…all I’ve ever seen you write is about how lucky they were because they got an easy path, you and I argued this…you said Romania was an easy team while in those days, they were really really good and were highly seeded, beat a pretty good England team that had some very big named players
the game vs Germany, where I said Germany fucked themselves, you focused on the pressure they put on us…but what you failed to acknowledge was we didn’t just beat them, we BURIED them…one man down never equals 3-0 vs Germany…and they were undisciplined. I have seen it a million times in my life, no surprise…one team attacks and doesn’t score BUT they also don’t respect their opponents, they then have one moment where they get caught and they lose concentration….that was a typical Italian style of play and yet, their fans NEVER ever say they were lucky!
every team has assholes, you’re overplaying that asshole role by Suker! there are assholes on every team I’ve played on, I have them at work, at the doctor’s office, in the bank, on the phone….not sure why Suker deserves so much extra attention over it, Balotelli is far worse, look at the Dutch who have mostly had better teams than we did, look at some of the arrogant German players, look at Carlos Tevez, Joey Barton, Van Bommel…the list goes on and on and on and all you talk about is Suker, back when he did more to put Croatia’s name on the map than almost anyone else in sport.
you can say Romania was easy, you obviously don’t value the team they had or you just don’t know their quality…they were top 10 in the world around that time, you can say Japan was shit and yet Japan has been to the round of 16 twice since ’98.
you say “we needed an Asanovic dive”…dude, you really hate the fact we got that foul, don’t you? watch the replay again, Gica Popescu definitely, 100%, had his arms around Asanovic…that was an intelligent play by Asanovic to drop…every single player in his position could and should do the same if an opposing player has his arms around you, something we see daily but according to you, it was some shameful?
man…I watch soccer all the time and know that when someone is giving you the opportunity to get the advantage, take it…its part of the game and always has been.
Well, wasn’t the 98 team brought up as the example. So, all I did was point out that we overcame issues in the locker room with THAT team. Is that a common occurrence in pro sports. Sure, nobody here is going to say it is not. It is common in the business world as well. I’m just pointing out that a cancer in the locker room can hurt a team. We had enough leaders on that team that could overcome the likes of a Suker and Stimac. And trust me, Suker was an asshole. I don’t know what he was like at the club level and don’t care. He may have been a dick at Sevilla, but at Real there were bigger personalities than him. All I am talking about is the 98 team and there is a reason not too many of his 98 teammates have anything nice to say about him – ever. If I asked you to name four/five quality characters from that 98 team I would go with Boban, Bilic, Asanovic, Stanic and Simic….none of those guys have anything pleasant to say about Suker. And they are not the only ones.
You said I say negative things about the 98 team…..No I don’t, I am just pointing out a few facts. Suker was hated on that team. He was great on the field and that goes to his credit. But, the dude was a major asshole. Shit, before each game his major concern was how much money he was able to get his friends to sell his extra tickets to scalpers.
Now, did the 98 team have an easy path at the WC. They did and they took advantage of it. Maybe the easiest group in WC history with Argentina and three newcomers in Cro, Japan and Jamaica. Then, we needed as Asanovic dive in the knockout round to get a PK against Romania. then against Germany we needed Ladic’s finest 30 minutes of his career to avoid a stomping by the Germans in the first half and then took advantage of a red card (deserved, but Suker did embellish his fall) that changes the entire game. Sometimes you need breaks, but have to take advantage of them
Ziva, this TMZ comment is funny:
“The 98 team was mentally strong. They were able to put aside their own feelings and play as a team when it mattered. ”
if you’ve played the game, you don’t always like those around you but while you’re at practices and games, you fight for them, its called being a professional.
the ’98 team had some good characters, some level headed guys, a mixture of toughness and skill…thats why it worked.
why you always try to make drama out of that team is really beyond any comprehension? haven’t you played on the same team as an idiot? we all have, so what? once you’re on the field, you value them for their contribution to the team…if Suker was the asshole to the level you try and make him back then, we would heard about in his club teams as well, just like we did about Tudor.
Asanovic, Bilic, Boban, Stimac were all strong characters and hard workers…borci…Stanic was tough too…there were soo many good things about that team but all you ever say about them is they had an easy path, they had issues…blah blah blah…
once in a while you should realize every team has issues, not just Croatians!
guys, look at the personnel objectively and then make your comments based on them, the lineups, the form of our players (which will change by the time the tournament arises) and then the leadership/chemistry.
we are weak at left back, we need a consistent goal-scorer, we have to solve the issues with Rakitic playing in behind the forwards vs playing right beside Modric, we have to identify who will play on the right side (attacker) as we currently know Perisic has been great on the left.
these aren’t small issues…they’re big challenges we have to address, not just plug a hole and hope for the best.
when we went to the world cup, we weren’t as strong as we thought we were…same thing here. we can beat anyone on any given day, but we need consistency.
we’d win the world cup with a foreign coach
Free of influence??????
Well, in a perfect world. Our last three coaches have been hired by one man and one man only and that was done for one reason or another.
Just imagine how good we could really be if we had credible and transparent leadership within the savez. We have the God-given talent; no doubt there. Just too bad our leadership is shitty.
Age doesn’t mean anything, in my humble opinion, the best players at the time of selection with the best chemistry to progress the team in the tournament should go forward, period. Who makes this choice for the Vatreni needs to be smart and free of influence.
The 98 team was mentally strong. They were able to put aside their own feelings and play as a team when it mattered. The 98 squad was not a close knit team and filled with personality issues/egos that would divide most locker rooms, but that was before the social media era and nobody knew about it at that time. Ciro was no tactician but he was able to prevent most of the team from killing Suker and somehow it worked.
As for this group…………..I’m always optimistic, but I also believe in reality. They have to show me they can do it and do it again before I can be a true believer.
We came close in 08 but mental midget disease entered the pitch during the final 90 seconds of extra time and not knowing how to kill a game. We saw it again at the WC with Lovren PK (he had to know not to place his hands on the backside of the guy; easy PK call after the dive) and the disaster of the Mexico game.
Also, lets remember this………..the tourney this year is watered down. 4 of the top 3rd place finishers will make it into the round of 16. So, getting out of the group phase is not a great achievement. All depends on how we play.
Will metal midgetcy disease come into play again?
plus as others have mentioned, that ’98 generation just had a different mentality.
i think our current guys have a lot of pride in putting on our sacred dres, but those ’98 guys really played for the zastava and really went out there with something to prove.
No.
Hate to say it, but while the talent is there, this generation will always be ‘paper champs’.
Bla, bla, bla, this player is at Barca, this player is at RM, this player is at Juve, etc. Means dick in my book. Since ’98, we just have an uncanny ability to shit the bed in big spots. Turkey, Mexico, Ecuador, etc. I mean, even Italy during the last qualifying cycle.. we win that game in Milan and the group was ours.
I hate to quote him, but I think with this generation, its really a mental thing. The ability is there. I’m just haven’t seen a scenario in recent years where our backs were against the wall and we took care of business.
I think we’ll make it out of our group, but lose in our QF match.
Also, the reason why Bilic had a lot of success in Euro 2008 qualifying and tournament is that he decided to move forward with the younger players who were in an upswing in their careers (Eduardo, Modric, Rakitic, Petric, Corluka) regardless of their age or experience level in tournaments.
He cut out a lot of that “veteran” garbage in Stjepan Tomas, Jerko Leko, Marko Babic…and Bilic was also lucky that a few of the key older veterans like Dado Prso, Igor Tudor, and Dario Simic all retired when they should have.
Most coaches would have been too scared to remove some of these regulars, but if they played during our Euro 2008 campaign, we never would have eliminated England like we did, nor topped our group at the tournament.
It’s a travesty that a player like Vrsaljko is being benched behind Srna. And up until recently, it was mind boggling that an out-of-form Olic and Pranjic were being played out of position (solely due to their past experience in previous years) over younger players who are hungrier and more in form.
Some of these problems have been corrected in these past couple of qualifying games, but unfortunately, they should have done all this at the beginning of qualifying to build some chemistry and see what works and what doesn’t.
The only experienced veterans above that actually mean anything to this team are Modric and Mandzukic, and to a lesser extent Corluka.
The remaining guys mentioned (Srna, Olic, Pranjic) are liabilities to this team and will be the reason why we don’t go further than we should.
It’s just a shame that the final prime years of two of our better core players in Modric and Mandzo will be negated by the three above who (for some reason) refuse to retire.
i hope so… i just think 98 was just so difference.. one would think playing for the grb back then was just a bit more special
everyone was proud… the guys were proud, the fans, the country. commies weren’t trying to sabotage… less money involved in the sport . less pressure… much to gain nothing to lose
this time lots of pressure.. everyone knows us now… they know our players(as they should). but im with poglavnik… im always hopeful… if they play like they did at last euros its a different story. a lucky break and or call will be very much welcome… it seems like thats all it takes some times to turn the tournament to ones
but if first game roles around and pranjic is playing i swear i will boycott:)
Crazy to think Modric will be 31 and Mandzukic 30 this year. They’ve really only got one Euro and WC in them before they’ll be out of their primes.
I’ll still be one of those morons telling my friends we’re going all the way this year.