Luka Modrić and Ivano Balić were both in attendance as Croatia were victorious by a score of 24-20 over a resilient Egypt. Despite a few worrisome moments, Croatia never looked in doubt of losing as they led throughout the match for their fourth consecutive victory.
Both sides got off to a slow start, as the teams defended well and Mirko Alilović made some big saves early. 15 minutes in, the score was just 5-3, with Croatia leading. Alilović continued to shine as Croatia struggled to get goals. He ended the half with 11 saves out of Egypt’s 20 shots on target as Croatia led 11-9. Croatia looked very sloppy in the first half and surely received a stern talking to from coach Slavko Goluza as they turned the ball over 10 times and were wasteful on the counterattack.
The second half saw Croatia fix many of their mistakes and pull away from the African champions. The “Cowboys” scored the first four goals of the half to give them a six goal lead and never looked back. The counterattack began to regain its effectiveness as Manuel Štrlek and Zlatko Horvat scored a pair each to increase the deficit further. Egypt fought back against largely Croatian reserves to bring it within four with four minutes to go, but goals from Lovro Sprem and Stipe Mandalinić were enough for the Croats to see the game off.
Alilovic finished with a remarkable 50% save percentage of and picked up the man of the match award. Manuel Štrlek, Ivan Čupić, and Marko Kopljar scored four a piece to lead the Croats.
Quotes
Slavko Goluza: “It was tough as expected against a strong fighting Egyptian team. I am upset because we made life hard for us by our own doing in the first half, when we received two suspensions and due to this made mistakes in attack and could not extend the gap. I had planned to give playing time to our younger players after the break, but due to the close result I had to leave our experienced players on the court. But finally we won and we are on track. I hope my players can recover on Friday for the decisive match against Spain.”
Mirko Alilovic: “We are playing against Spain to secure the first spot, but in my opinion Spain is the favourite in this great derby. But we are on a mission…”
Croatia’s final group stage match will be a showdown between the top two teams of the group, both undefeated, both expecting to go home with a medal. Croatia will take on Spain on Saturday to determine if they go through the group stage in first or second. The result will have big implications as to who Croatia will play in the later stages. A win would see Croatia likely play Belarus, who are 1-3. A loss would see them face either Serbia or Poland, who are both 3-1. Perhaps more importantly, a loss would mean a potential quarterfinal matchup with medal contenders Denmark.
You do realize in the time of Jesus, there was an “established Church”, and Jesus was in uncompromising opposition to it. So what makes you think our current “established Church” is any different to what Jesus went up against? Because they use Jesus as a cover?
And make no mistake, you can go to church all you want, the religion that you adhere to the most devoutly is Political Correctness -it’s laws are the ones YOU are the most afraid and/or stupid to break.
Why Charlemagne become Pope? Because he graduated from some mommy professor theologic academey? The guy couldn’t even read, Charlemagne became Pope because he BASHED ANTI-WHITES’ FUCKING HEADS IN.
Every single generation of White people in White countries must fill up their living space OR “anti-racists” demand they be flooded with brown/3rd-worlders and FORCED to “assimilate” with all those non-Whites. This is not even asked let alone demanded of ANY (not ONE) non-White country EVER. Anti-racist is a code word for anti-White.
@UDBA, if Croatians are such devout Catholics, why aren’t they getting married and having children? Croatians birth rate is as paltry as all the other White-Catholic countries. And this is the same Church which encourages flooding White countries and ONLY White countries with brown/3rd-world Catholics and telling all the White people to “assimilate” with all these non-Whites. The leaders of the modern Catholic Church are implicit in the ongoing program of White GENOCIDE. Why doesn’t the Catholic church talk about increasing White birth rates in White Catholic countries? You going to bow to a black Pope?
And as far as “America has no culture”, define to me exactly what Croatian “culture” is, and I guarantee you I’ll match it and even exceed it with American comparisons. And by “American”, I mean the White people who made this country.
@Adame………..big deal. This is an internet message board. At times, nonsense flies around here. What’s wrong with making sarcastic comment that Luka should upgrade. Heck, he owes it to himself.
You guys are horrible to be talking about luka and his wife life that. Budalo.
@T.O. Cro…….if so, perfect time to leave her. He should go the Tiki Barber route and get rid of her very deep into the pregnancy. (for some of you, the sarcasm button is on)
UDBA = Idiot
Luka’s wife is pregnant, so she may seem more robust than usual…
@Ante B,
Ok, I’ll think before commenting wise one. If divorce rates are on the rise, does that mean we follow the trend and be part of the problem? Or do we hold onto a culture and do whats right?
Homesexuality is on the rise too, you better take some of your own advice and find a nice man as Catholicism is declining. Luckily for me, i stick to my morals and beliefs and not trends / statistics. I’d have different concerns about your elementary schools right now.
@Ziva
Fair enough, everyone should take that step when they’re ready, youre entitled to your opinion. I dont think there is a right age at all. Different events shape peoples lives. If modric doesnt marry, his life turns out different perhaps? My bet, he is happy with the outcome abd wouldnt trade his wife and son for a root
Another point…..I dont think any male, yet alone a pro athlete, should get married before the age of 30. God bless the guys who do because I don’t know too many who are willing to do so at a young age.
@Ziva
That little Muppet looking Modric has done alright for himself!
If only he was single when he came to Madrid he could’ve ended up with a nice jock-sniffing senorita like Rakitic did!
You have me a bit confused. Truce for what???? I got no issues with you. You are one of the better posters here.
@ Ziva:
As a Catholic I am willing to turn the other cheek and move on.
Truce?
Who would start a Twitter feed with a pseudonym and a logo? People that do that are ballsuckers with daddy issues. They just want to be validated because of some personal flaw.
UDBA talking about Croatians and Catholicism is like getting marriage advice from an elementary school student. The divorce rate in Croatia is rising and there are now 200,000 less Catholics. Think before you comment and don’t comment just for the sake of commenting.
Or someone just like you. Always offering a nasty comment about anyone other than yourself.
How is your Twitter coming? Have you fully embraced it yet?
Cool, I always wanted to have a fact checker.
@ Ziva:
Ubda has a point. You lecture about religion and than suggest divorce because the mother of his CHILDREN has aged a bit.
I know you were trying to be funny, but now I will point out every hypocritical statement you make.
UDBA…….blah, blah, blah…….look at the ever increasing divorce rate in Cro. I agree with you about the troubles in the USA…..but, those troubles don’t happen in my house.
@UBDA
I hear the divorce rate in Split is pretty high.
@UDBA
why the name “UDBA” ? Any connection?
@Ziva
Spoken like a true American.
Croatians are Catholic and believe in the sanctity of marriage before the eyes of God, i understand that Americans marry for commercial, economic, status and they divorce for “upgrades”, but thats because you people have no culture, and your youth a shooting up schools from broken families and no morals.
@ Ante kranjcar is a traitor but he did that just to stick it to mamic he just saw that mamic is a scum bag and wanted nothing to do with him kranjcar seems like a more educated guy and sees bad politics in croatia,
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/WlnYjfeDKni/Luka+Modric+Signs+Real+Madrid/6Dr4mi3oKV3
From this image, it is clear that he wants his kid to be a celebrity.
Colin, you the nail on the head. I’ve talked to Luka before when he came out to San Jose and he’s very socially awkward and afraid of crowds. He won’t look you in the eye too long and he’s just a little pipsqueak. Kranjcar is really, really cool despite being a traitor.
Luka is a maestro on the pitch and all…
…but if the poor dude wasn’t a well known player and you just throw him in some random bar back home, dude is going home solo 9 nights out of 10
Haha. Modric looks miserable. He seems to be a very socially awkward person from all the interviews I’ve seen with him.
Ziva – And upgrade the wife? Have you seen him? She’s already out of his league. Maybe if you’re going by his wallet’s standards he could do better, but I think he’s done pretty well for himself with her.
Idemo momci best and most sucsessful croatian sport I momci bar Bronzu!
Man, Modric needs to upgrade the wife.