As Croatians from all over North America come to Los Angeles this weekend for Independence Day festivities, which includes the 2nd Annual Croatian Small Goals Tournament in San Pedro, our national team will be hosting a friendly in Rijeka on Saturday at 11:30AM (ET) to Moldova.
With only 2 weeks left before Euro 2008 kicks off, (and no disrespect towards Moldova) we shouldn’t be playing a team of Moldova’s caliber. The friendlies versus Netherlands and Scotland were perfect in gearing up for the competition but to go up against Moldova this Saturday and another lackluster Hungary team next week in Budapest just shouldn’t happen. If I had it my way with the tournament so close, I would schedule friendlies against teams drawn in Euro 2008 Groups C and D since we can’t play them until the Euro Finals anyways . Games versus Romania, Greece and Sweden can tell us exactly where we’re at.
I understand friendlies aren’t played for the ‘W’, but I just think your players should be challenged a bit harder when there isn’t any pressure to win.
The game will not be televised live anywhere in North America, but the full squad, score and recap will be here on CroatianSoccerReport.com after the game.
ok….all im saying is a bit more competitive…at least a team where we can name one of there players without looking it up online…
Its a perfect chance to give some of the other forwards/midfielders/defenders a go before the tournament.
If we were playing another top european side we would not be able to give rakitic, budan etc a go because we would most probably get beaten by a lot.
Bilic made around 10 subs in the match against moldova(finished 1-0 to cro by the way)so he is obviously looking to finalise positions
Voice of BACF couldn’t have said it any better.
Here are some of the other friendlies going on:
Sweden-Slovenia
Netherlands-Ukraine
Macedonia-Poland
Germany-Belarus
Czech-Lithuania
France-Ecuador
Russia-Serbia
England-USA(typo England didnt qualify)
Portugal-Georgia
Romania-Montenegro
Italy-Belgium
I don’t see any “full blooded smashfest” here…
Bilic knows what he’s doing.. Croatian fans are way too demanding…. want to face Brazil two weeks before the EURO
Come on guys. It’s a friendly two weeks before the tourney. The last thing we want is a full blooded smashfest against one of the other qualifiers.
This is nothing more than a training game. A chance for Bilic to see how his ideas are coming across and how we’re progressing with the Eduardo challenge.
You also have to make sure the player’s stay fit. If we do make it to the final (which I fully expect!) that’s going to be 5 games in 18 days.
I don’t see anything wrong with this friendly. COME ON THE LADS!
Look at Mike Tyson’s sparring partner….. I could beat his ass… maybe
you gotta spar with someone your own size though…
Quick note….
Ivan Rakitic and Igor Budan will start against Moldova
Mladen, I see what you are saying, and I felt the same way a few months back when the HNS announced the friendly. However, with the EURO just a few weeks away, the squad is set, starters are confirmed, and the last thing they need is an injury.
Petric and Olic both won’t play, making me assume that Bilic will give four or so strikers one last chance to show who is ready to come off the bench.
Lastly, Hungary and Moldova are like sparring partners for Croatia. We don’t want to win 5-0, all we want is a warm up.
Keep posting Mladen, hope you will continue to be a regular on our site.
Also, I will be in Austria for Croatia-Austria and Poland-Croatia.
Ante and I will work together to bring you pictures and video before the match, inside the stadium, post match and (if Croatia wins) the after parties.
Reason I say, “if Croatia wins” is because at world cup 2006, Croatia didn’t win and most parties were canceled or dead.
~ Denis—>>> will be in Vienna for Austria-Croatia
This Friendly is nothing more than a big mistake, I mean MOLDOVA? honestly? are they serious? I mean no disrespect towards Moldova but Croatia should be playing against top notch non qualified teams, maybe another friendly against England, Ireland, Belgium, Israel, Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Norway & Ukraine are all good friendly opponents, this moldova friendly is basically a kick around, kind of like Brazil v Portugal in the simpsons.