Croatia will begin 2023 as the 7th ranked team in the world. During their 2022 World Cup run, they defeated #1 Brazil, #11 Morocco, #20 Japan; and drew #4 Belgium in the group stage finale.
In the past four years, Croatia have finished 2nd and 3rd at the World Cup, made Round of 16 at EURO 2020, beat #3 France in Nations League…but are ranked #7.
What are we missing here???
Of the teams currently in front of the Vatreni, Croatia (based purely on tournament results) should be above Brazil, Belgium, and the Dutch…hands down! Brazil won Copa America in 2019 but really haven’t done much outside of that. The last time they played in a World Cup semifinal was 2014, when they hosted the tournament. Belgium and the Dutch ranked above Croatia…HA!
Croatia: 2018 Word Cup Final, EURO 2020 Round of 16, 2022 World Cup semifinal
Brazil: 2018 World Cup quarterfinal, 2021 Copa America Final, 2022 World Cup quarterfinal
Belgium: 2018 World Cup semifinal, EURO 2020 quarterfinal, 2022 World Cup group stage
Netherlands: 2018 World Cup DID NOT QUALIFY, EURO 2020 Round of 16, 2022 World Cup quarterfinal
It’s clear as day to me based on pure tournament results. Clear as day! But whatever. FIFA uses a dumb points system to favor the big boys. Shocking, I know.
Here’s an article why the FIFA rankings are not a good indication of what is actually happening on the pitch: Bleacher Report
Link to how FIFA rankings actually work: FIFA Rankings
*Side note: FIFA rules state that a match that goes into penalties is given a draw to both sides, regardless of who wins the shootout. That’s dumb! It shouldn’t go down as a draw but it shouldn’t go down as a pure win/loss either. Give the team that progresses in penalties some kind of edge if they win and go through. I think that’s fair. Something along the lines of NHL overtimes. Both teams receive a point for making it to overtime but the team that wins receives one additional point.
*Side note #2: Upon completion of the World Cup, however a nation finishes, that is their new world ranking…end of story! In Ante’s world, Argentina is the new #1, France #2, Croatia #3….so on and so forth. We let everyone in the world qualify. Let the cards fall as they may! You lose in the quarters: you’ll finish 5-8. You finish third in group: you’ll be ranked 17-24. Something like that. Imagine two teams who have already been eliminated from the tournament having to play on the final group stage day. Winner gets a ranking in the high teens. Loser sits somewhere around #30. I’m all for that.
For God’s sake, Argentina just beat Brazil in 2021 for the Copa America crown and are now World Cup champions. How in the hell can Brazil be ranked higher than Argentina in that scenario? How???
The fact that you need an abacus, TI-83 calculator, and an accountant to figure out FIFA rankings is beyond me. Make it simple. Make it sexy. Make it so everyone can understand. This is wild that Croatia is 7th but finished 2 and 3 in the last two World Cups. Absolutely wild.
no more for stupid Dalic as our manager }
Agadmator will be fit for this position…
with abilities and decision-making skills…
Slavonac from Canada is a ghost all tournament and then after the dust settles shows up here spewing his bullshit. “I told you this, I told you that. You were all wrong, I said this and that, look how smart I am. I played beer league soccer in Canada so I’m a pro and you are all idiots”. Slavonac, why weren’t you here at all during the tournament giving your expert opinion but only after the fact? Stop being a kukavica and admit that you are nothing but a magarac please!
If you’ve been here a while you’d know what my thoughts have always been! I have always said what I said below.
Let it be said that truth was here all tournament making spot on predictions
I was largely mocked for calling our group the group of death
One month later and it seems like everyone is calling it with Morocco making the semi finals
I also pointed out the distinct advantage of middle eastern and African Teams and that seemed to play out
Sometimes just doing the work gets you to the right place
Oh Jared
Exactly truth. Gonna show us your tax returns? No?
IRS is deadly sometimes
I wanna see the truths tax returns from 2012-2022. That’s all. You don’t have nothing to hide truth do you?
I don’t understand the buik hype. Granted i don’t watch the hnl. But i look at the stats and it seems like his production is paltry. Given a weak pedigree and poor current production, why is this the hope of Croatian football?
Based on your grammar and the way you articulate yourself, is there hope for you to formulate logical sentences? You watch the Serbian League. The league that possess no talent and failed to make Champions league. Your chetnik goalkeeper failed Canada and was back on his tractor to his beloved garbage communist club Red Star Belgrade. Meanwhile, three players from Dinamo Zagreb were able to stop Morocco, Belgium, Japan and Brazil. Stop while your behind Partisan parasite.
I think truth/ziva has a point. Although we may have some players that could be decent wingers and provide some service to a that mythical striker we are searching for (Juranovic, Sosa), aside from an aging Perisic, we don’t have anyone that will go one on one and take on a defender. Rebic possibly could be that guy for us but he has no future for the repka unless Dalic leaves. I’m going to miss Perisic when he hangs them up – absolutely love his game top to bottom!
As for Livakovic, I was one who would slam him and for good reason! He’s always been a good shot stopper with good reflexes, but he STILL isn’t commanding in his box. It was great to see him gain some confidence in this run and I truly hope he can continue this
form and develop (with a good transfer). I’m hoping his can get more aggressive and challenge more. The Morocco goal was a prime example of that yet again. The ball was in the air long enough for him to go out and punch that ball out. Modric didn’t call him
out on that FIFA captain’s documentary for no reason.
Honestly, I’m still not sold. He’s had a great run and I’d love nothing more to find our goalie but we will have to see.
I like Grbic’s size and am hoping he
can get some time.
@ maminjo
To answer your question regarding wingers and width…I’m not too concerned about the width that delivers crosses. I think sosa and juranovic can do that
I’m concerned about the width that bends and disorients defenses. Players that can go one on one with speed.
Perisic was that guy and still can be a bit. No one else really is. And you see it over and over again that we play into advantage and our players can’t take that edge and push it further. Instead the defense catches up and re settles
You don’t need a classic winger for that.
Stipe Biuk has this skill though, so we’ll see how he pans out.
Vlašić (when he was at his peak form) was able to bully his way into the box. Oršić has us covered for the next few years, so we have some time to figure things out.
Wow, there’s a lot of revisionist history going on here:
1) Livakovic was never in a “slump”. He finally matured when he regained the starting job at the time of the Nations League games. He finally made saves a big time keeper is supposed to make. Prior to this, he was an average keeper (at best). What an incredible turnaround…I’ve never seen anything like it.
On the negative side, he still is not aggressive at coming out of the goal area. If he comes out a half second earlier, maybe the PK against Argentina doesn’t happen. Also, the goal in the 3rd place game vs Morocco should have been an easy grab but he didn’t come out aggressively on the cross and was caught in nowhere land.
2) For the Rebic fans out there, can you tell me what he did in the Spain match for Euro 2021 (his last appearance). Did you conveniently forget?
He spent the entire 1st half walking. Heck, even Petkovic and Budimir are capable of doing that. Once we trailed 3-1, do you REALLY think it was a coincidence we tied the match and sent to to ET once he was subbed? Come on enablers…try hard to explain that one.
Luka ripped into him at halftime of the game over the shoe swapping issue where he cost us a goal just before halftime. If Modric wanted him back and thought he could help us, you don’t think Rebic would have been back my now my friends???
Common sense folks…
I agree with this although I do think Rebic can play but he has some mental issues he needs to work out! I’m pretty sure he knows it too!
“2) For the Rebic fans out there, can you tell me what he did in the Spain match for Euro 2021 (his last appearance). Did you conveniently forget?
He spent the entire 1st half walking. Heck, even Petkovic and Budimir are capable of doing that. Once we trailed 3-1, do you REALLY think it was a coincidence we tied the match and sent to to ET once he was subbed? Come on enablers…try hard to explain that one.
Luka ripped into him at halftime of the game over the shoe swapping issue where he cost us a goal just before halftime. If Modric wanted him back and thought he could help us, you don’t think Rebic would have been back my now my friends???
Common sense folks…”
I am not a fan, my comment earlier was merely to mention the lack of speed we have up front. I don’t like Rebic as a player he is awful with his ball control, and for the reasons you have mentioned when he is needed to to defensive duties.
But I have to admit his speed on the press is always there. Not saying he is a good choice merely stating what we are lacking. That’s all. He is one of the fastest we have on the press really, a shitty as he is.
Look I have bashed him relentlessly on previous posts but we did not have speed in the box any person could see that including the commentators on television. To be fair, you cannot compare the other two Rebic is way faster with his pressing capacity. It’s the fact that he cannot retain possession for me that is concerning. If he could improve that along with his attitude I would be sold.
We wouln’t have been able to dominate and maintain possession with Rebic in there.
We would have thoroughly lost to Brazil in the quarters, but very likely lost to Belgium in the first round before that.
We dominated possession in that game for the first hour, but with Rebic there, Belgium would have managed more possession and got more chances earlier. Who know what would have happened.
He would have been very useful against Japan though.
There is no question that he is fast (when he wants to be).
However, we only saw that in the 2018 WC. I know we’re all frustrated at the lack of options upfront but we saw this guy implode last summer and doesn’t feel he’s at fault.
If he reached out to Modric and asked what it would take to be on the team, he probably already would have done so. Rebic doesn’t feel he’s done anything wrong and is not the brightest bulb.
If Luka doesn’t want you, I think that speaks volumes.
Franjo you nailed it PROPS !
Livakovic was shit for two years straight.
“Slump for a while?”
God bless the kid as he falls under never right off a nogometaš before 29!!
He stepped up this tournament and has caused a breakthrough.
@ Slavonac
Not sure about the sanctimony of your comment?
We are here to share perspectives.
You think Olić was better than Boksic.
I respectfully disagree.
We exchange and keep it moving.
Brekalo has a skill set we can use if he can get himself going again.
I am not writing him off before 29.
Vlašić played his role and added to the cause.
Most folks here have been taking a crap on Kovačić for years and clearly he was dynamic throughout and a must starter and compliment to Modrić.
I watch our boys play and offer my perspective, just like you.
Let’s not play big time with each other.
Soul Champ…what you smoking bro?
“You think Olić was better than Boksic.”????
Has anyone rewatched the Argentina loss? I never rewatch losses. What the heck happened?
Josko got exposed by Messi and wasn’t aggressive enough, no urgency on runs, passed on the corner kicks instead of placing the ball in the 12 yard box. Didn’t take any chances or get within goal range. Brozovic caused the second goal after his shot was blocked and our defenders got caught. Sosa coughed up the ball. Lovren didn’t play well and didn’t cover Alvarez on that Messi run and pass. The penalty killed our spirits and we gave up after that in my mind. We had no threatening chances. Argentina’s backline were on point. We also started Kramaric who should’ve been benched. Orsic was the man to start right at the get go. Only registering 2 shots on goal also doesn’t increase our chances.
Josko had his heel injected before the Argentina game. Our boys played every game with heart and class. I never believed in Dalic. I do now. Please remove the first part of your name
Pardon me? Remove Argy oh hell no. Can I still call the French Frogs? Listen I have no sympathy for that colony of Italians and Castillians. What do you think they say about us? Argy Bargy !
So Livakovic was in a slump for a while and he pulled himself out. I remember coming here and vigorously defending him and yet the same guys that are now on the Liva bandwagon were the ones praying to God he pulled an injury. Apparently he couldn’t use his feet and he was a nightmare on crosses. His passing stats at this World Cup are very very good.
Let’s talk about Brekalo. Once again I kept mentioning how irrelevant he has been and yet many have been saying he belonged…🤣…that’s some funny shit!
What about Vlasic…our rugby player? Talk about being able to make a good cross or dribble a defender…he was pretty below average if you ask me!
Rinse and repeat! That’s what Soo many of you do here. You say the same things over and over, as if you’ve never watched these guys play. You keep repeating what someone else tells you. I encourage you to start paying attention to the players and their performances and stop believing someone else, most of the time that someone else is mentally blocked!
Alright, I’ll bite 😉
Livakovic did not pull himself out of a slump. He’s always had good reflexes on the line, and most of his detractors here gave him that credit even during his worst days.
This entire World Cup, he was faced with difficult shots (and penalties) that he did very well to save. But this is his area of strength. He was always comfortable in his six yard box.
His struggles are still there. He avoids contact and is troubled by high balls in his 18-yard box. You saw that in this tournament too. He was the goalkeeper of the tournament, but he still needs to work on these other areas.
My worry is when he gets bought by some bigger club and gets exposed in this weak area of his. You don’t want him losing his starting spot at his club (and falling out of form) heading into our next tournament.
Re: Brekalo….
He was very good for us as a youth player, and had a resurgence in his career at Torino just a few months ago. Ask any Serie A fan about him, and they’ll tell you good things.
He definitely is worth a callup (if that’s what you mean by ‘belonging’) and I expect him to have another resurgence after he gets out of Wolfsburg.
His lack of speed and his slender build will cap his ceiling for us, but he’s still very technically elite and has a powerful and accurate long range shot (both in live and deadball plays).
He’s worth being a part of the team as a depth player with potential to grow, especially since we are lacking in wingers due to Rebic’s departure and possibly Perisic’s departure too.
I don’t think anyone here was calling for him to start for us over Perisic or even Orsic (most people here are huge on both those guys), so I don’t really understand this ‘this you so’ moment.
Re: Vlasic…
He’s not a winger, but he had a good tournament. I liked what our bench players provided for us (Majer, Orsic, Vlasic, Pasalic, etc). They were all pretty good, and Vlasic was a BOSS in taking those penalties. He’s not a typical Croatian midfielder (neither is Pasalic), but he still brought something to the table for us this tournament.
He’s still young and is having a great club career at Torino so far. Absolutely worth calling up now and in the future and will continue to (at least) be a good depth player for us.
Maminjo, thanks for biting!!
…”My worry is when he gets bought by some bigger club and gets exposed in this weak area of his.”
Tell me if we’d feel any differently if Majer went to a big club and that happened to him….or…Orsic, Gvardiol, Sutalo. It’s already happened to Vlasic and yet you still have hope for him.
This is part of being a professional. Why do you act as if its different for Livakovic?
Vlasic having a great year at Torino? says who? His goals against the teams dropping out, he’s playing barely above average…you need to watch the games to comment. I’d have taken Rebic over him any day.
Livakovic has done well for Dinamo in the HNL and in Europe, I’m not overly concerned. He will either swim or sink…but he’s never been as shitty as you and a few other have described him to be.
Re: Livakovic…
I am more worried about Livakovic transferring to a big club than others because he’s not a complete goalkeeper and, if he transfers to a big money club, they won’t be afraid to bench him if he has even one bad game.
My worry about him is that he hasn’t shown any progress whatsoever in overcoming his fear of challenging for balls outside of his six-yard box. He may never overcome it, and we just have to accept him for who he is.
As great as he’s been for us, I still can’t shake that image of Gvardiol shielding Lukaku and yelling at Livakovic (during the Belgium game) where Livakovic was scared to run out and grab the bouncing ball (that Lukaku almost caught up to). It’s tough seeing our 20 year-old CB yelling at our 27-year old goalkeeper for being such a pussy.
Livakovic may get away with this in a 7-game tournament, but over a 40-game season with a club team, this weakness will become too apparent.
Dinamo is committed to him (through his good and bad spells) and this allowed him to remain a first team goalkeeper and remain in form for us. But I question other teams’ commitment to him.
I do want him to get a transfer to a better league, but I would prefer he end up with a team that cannot afford to bench him if he’s going through a rough spell.
I don’t like hearing names like Bayern and Juventus, because teams at this level are merciless and will bench him…and (unlike players like Majer or Vlasic) this is an position where we lack depth and we can’t afford to have yet another National Team goalkeeper riding the pine.
Maminjo you summed it up perfectly.
Livakovic is a baby lamb ready to be fed to the wolves if he transfers to one of the big boys.
His cowardice at not attacking the ball in his box is his greatest flaw and we all know it.
He could actually be a great keeper in my eyes if he grew a pair and was aggressive but there is nobody around to sprinkle fertilizer on his Kita unfortunately.
@ CC
I like your vision.
Next 18 months we focus on UEFA.
It’s time we take over the continent.
I am willing to fly to Milan right now and facilitate a restoration between Rebić and Dalic.
No doubt we need some pace and power in the final third.
Hvala brate. We aren’t considered minnows anymore by any standard in Europe. Those days are behind us.
Bhaha..Rebic is still on the gvono list as far as I’m concerned. Rebic would have to put up 20 plus goals this season to get a spot on the national team.
As good as Rebic is doing with A.C Milan, they don’t necessarily need him. Giroud and Leao are better. He’s a substitute on a top club and I guarantee you he won’t start more than 20 games. The guy will not start in Champions League in March.
How backwards is it that we’ll see a 34 Ivan Perisic start in the game and not a prime Rebic at 28. Mindboggling when you think about it.
Still hearing american sports media guys who don’t know their asses from their elbows using the excuse “our best athletes don’t play soccer”. 360,000,000 people and the vast amount of resources from a country w/ the largest white population on earth and they’re complaining about lack of talent! LOL!
And this SILLY SILLY notion that you can take a guy built like a Rugby player who is handed or thrown an oval ball which he runs past, around and over people with can just be put on a soccer pitch and have the technical skills to just not get red carded every game let alone actually have any effectiveness whatsoever is BONKERS SILLY. Or some beanstalk basketball player could do any better. < THESE are the "athletes" the media is talking about right? They're aren't talking about Hockey, Baseball or Lacrosse players, etc, right?
REAL football is not tackleball, you can't just take a guy who's never played the sport at 19 years old and have him become a hall of fame tight end or safety, same thing in basketball guys who started playing at 18 or so become hall of famers. You start learning soccer at 17,18, you'll be lucky to be able to hang in a bear league. If you have to dribble the ball with your feet, you can't run full speed with your feet, it is the ultimate game of SKILLZ combined with athleticism but the former is the absolute prerequisite before the latter could even matter; tackleball is the opposite.
Livakovic is being eyed by Juventus. I doubt Man U would sign him. They’ll sign Martinez. Bayern is a maybe with Neuer out for long term. Bayern has plenty of injuries at the back; Hernandez, Pavard, Mazraoui, Sarr. Perhaps if Stanisic plays well they’ll give him a starting position in March against PSG.
I always neglect how good the central Euro nations have great goalies; Szczensy, Pavlenka, Dubravka, Gulacsi and Rodak.
imagine Livakovic goes to Bayern and wins champions league
I firmly believe we can replicate the Germany national team story. We go to two semi finals twice in a row and then a final once. We can be lethal from 2023-2026 if we play our cards right. I can’t fathom how that German 02-10 generation never won a major trophy after making a 02 final, 06 third place, 08 final, 2010 third place and 2012 third place.
We are capable of accomplishing this:
-Defeat either Spain, Netherlands and Italy in NL semis and finals.
-Perfect qualifying campaign (Turkey and Wales are the only teams that could cause difficulty. Even then, Wales had one point in the tournament and Turkey hasn’t won one major tournament match in the last 12 years)
-Win Euro Under-21 tournament. Spain is always tough challenge and were playing them in the group stage. Get first in that group and we can win it all.
-Perhaps play higher quality teams in friendlies. No more Saudi Arabia, Slovenia or any weaklings. Give us top notch competition. We got challenged and had difficulty playing Morocco, Japan and Argentina. Play some African nations; Tunisia, Senegal. Maybe South Korea or Australia?
If we can’t manage to achieve at least 2/3 of those tasks, then what threat do we present to France, England, Spain Netherlands or Portugal in the next tournament? That’s if we make a deep run in 2024.
I hope we do well in the u21 Euro because then we can qualify for the Olympics. I think getting to the semi finals would qualify us. Cro has never qualified for it. The olympic teams are U23 with a choice of 3 senior/older players
Plenty of Cro love here:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/4834723/world-cup-2022-best-xis-who-makes-our-team-of-the-tournament
Interesting to see how experts were able to be 50/50 on the best goalkeeper of the tournament debate.
For me the top 5 were
1.Livakovic
2.Martinez
3.Bouncou
4.Lloris
5.Courtios
Honorable mention to Szczensy and Tunrer.
I know everyone thinks that Livakovic is all of a sudden the best keeper in the world. I disagree by a country mile. He has amazing reflexes and perhaps would make a fantastic hockey goalie, but until he owns his box, he will always be a timid little baby to me. If he overcomes this fear and goes after the ball like a man, then I will change my opinion but until then, he is not a great goalie!
Yeah. He’s elite in one area, and below average in other areas.
Like oil and water. No in between.
I’m worried that a big club will sign him, then relegate him to the bench (after a few gaffes) prior to the next Euros (ruining his form and forcing us to try and replace him).
I do want him to develop further and maybe a change to another league is good…but I don’t think being in a high expectation team like Juventus and Bayern is a good situation for our timid goalkeeper.
probably now or never for him tbh – and, with the confidence of the shootouts and great performance, reach for the stars
@Martin He kept two clean sheets.. against Belgium and Morocco. He saved four penalties in the shootouts. I understand what your saying but like everyone knows, you can’t grow playing with Dinamo. He struggled in the Euros but has proven himself worthy to be a starter for a top club after the last month. Besides the penalty awarded to Argentina after the Alvarez collision, what goal was his fault?
Grbic isn’t getting any minutes with Oblak still playing. Pandur is actually preforming well in the Dutch league despite being on a dreadful club. Semper is stuck in Serie B and he’ll be 25 next month. I guess nothing ever came good of Kotarski with playing in the development league of Ajax? Hence why he’s stuck in the Greek league.
Goalkeeper noticeability is what were lacking.
Dropped balls for croatia
1) Dani Olmo: It’s a shame Olmo blossomed so quickly and so early. If he was more middling, there would’ve been a fair chance for Croatia to sign him up and he sure would’ve filled a lot of those winger holes.
2) Ante Rebic: you look at physical beasts like Mbappe, Bale, Haaland… guys that can really bend the defense with speed and you realize Croatia has none of those athlete types. The only potential was Ante rebic. Granted he never had the skills of those other guys to put it together
3) The fallen wings.. Remember once upon a time it looked like Croatia was overflowing with wing prospects. Halilovic, Pjaca, Brekalo , Rebic…. now we’re down to a 29 year old Orsic
1. Olmo (like Majer or Pašalić) is better suited in central midfield anyway.
2. Lots of our prospects rely on their work rate and/or speed like Musa, Ljubičić, Roko, Biuk, Beljo, etc. We still have the speedy Oršić for another tournament (maybe two) and you’re ignoring guys like Gvardiol and Šutalo who are athletic beasts that will thrive offensively (depending on the formation we play).
3. I assume the point of your wings argument is that you’re concerned about width creation.
Well you ignored our young wingbacks, specifically Sosa (who should get better). Juranović is proven, and probably good for three more tournaments.
We can also make in-game adjustments by shuffling Gvardiol there (since we have a glut of young CBs). Mind you, this all assumes that none of our youth players pan out and none of our current younger players off the bench pan out either. We still have Gvardiol, Sosa, Juranović, Oršić, and Brekalo (despite all that).
We’ll be fine.
I agree- it’s one of the issues of a small country- your bench isn’t able to be full of great players- we have a few but with the exodus out of Croatia by many families – it’s going to be even harder.
It is a shame that we don’t have any super fast or super powerful athletes. Gabriel Rukavina is the only prospect I can think of that has blistering speed and genuinely has potential to be a NT player. Hopefully he makes a career of himself.
Yeah, hopefully he works out better than our previous athletically gifted Rukavina prospect. I remember pinning a lot of hopes on Ante Rukavina.
https://www.croatiaweek.com/luka-modric-confirms-he-wont-be-retiring-for-croatia/
The legend ushering in yet another generation.
All in on UNL trophy.
Two games 4 Hrvatska!!
FIFA rankings are meaningless
Wouldnt say meaningless, they help you in fifa and uefa tournament draws.
Perišić is such a big time player and athlete.
We need to honor his skill set as a play maker.
Could we just play him as the second striker?
Put Musa or Ljubičić up top.
Gvardiol as LB.
Erlic and Šutalo as CB.
JJ at RB.
In ‘23, we need to get all of our best players on the field.
Dare I say Rebić gets an olive branch?
He has got 3-4 years of prime in him.
No need to yell .. I am sold on Oršić.
But we can use both of them.
I agree on Rebic, can we bring him back? But I doubt Dalic will make amends with him, that bridge is burned.
You’ve already lost me on Gvardiol at LB ahahahaha, there’s no way anyone would put a generational talent like Gvardiol out of position. He was one of the best centre backs of the World Cup arguably and you want to put him at left-back for what?
There is one huge thing that is so easily forgettable about football because there is so much to love about football that there is something lerking in the background like a huge poisonous 🐍 snake.
FIFA IS SUPER CORRUPT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is by far the most corrupt sports organization in the world ever and one of the most corrupt organizations of any kind ever.
FIFA IS A BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS full of payoffs bribes kickbacks etc
Forget about the calls that went against us for a second in 2018/2022 WC that’s really minor in comparison to the overall corruption…what we accomplished was huge because of the forces of corruption around us. We aren’t ever going to be given any advantage or fair rankings or calls in our favor but the opposite as you have all seen. That’s why what we’ve done in the WC is BIG TIME!
EVERYTIME Something odd happens in soccer or something doesn’t make sense in soccer or you can’t believe that call etc
The answer is simple. FIFA is corrupt beyond your imagination. THE Qatar fifagate is a perfect example of criminal corruption fraud bribes even torture kidnappings slavery and murder if you can believe what I just said.
It has been well documented that:
Qatar having won the venue makes no sense at all (corruption)
They have Zero football infrastructure and your local park high school team is Better than their national team.
So…
Qatar basically tricked and lied to thousands of construction workers/slaves to come over and build the stadiums from third world countries
Where the overall conditions were criminal SLAVE CAMPS:
Take passport can’t leave (kidnapping)
Don’t pay you what was promised and agreed upon
Disgusting and unsanitary living and sleeping conditions basically worse than third world jails. (Sickness and disease)
Horrendous working conditions
20 hour work days 7 days a week 120degree heat- hard slave labor.
The list goes on and on.
Workers dropped like flies
FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON END WORKERS DIED EVERYDAY?? Think how crazy that is. The sad thing is that Qatar has nothing but money and could have easily facilitated professional construction companies/workers/conditions all the through??? Why they didn’t is beyond me!
This was exposed and nothing happened
It was exposed that Qatar bribed and cheated to host the WC NOTHING happened!! fifa?
My point is that there is a lot of ugly truths about fifa who is in control of everything football to the point where it has taken the love and fun out of football where watching your kid play for fun is a way more enjoyable and pure form of football than any fifa sanctioned game of any sorts.
Football is such an awesome sport that all that is overlooked and forgotten.
SO MUCH MONEY INVOLVED IT IS UNBELIEVABLE!!
Anyways the rankings are a funny thing!
The best way to look at the rankings is that CROATIA BEAT AND EJECTED FROM THE WORLD CUP THE #1 TEAM in THE WORLD (Brazil)
And Croatia only lost to #2 in the world
Who went on to win the WC (Argentina)
Not a bad day at the office considering the looming forces of corruption against and around us. We were right there AGAIN!
MOVING FORWARD I JUST TRY TO REMEMBER
Like fifa always says “FAIR PLAY”
right..
😂
FIFA budgets. I have no idea if these self-published figures are accurate or not.
https://publications.fifa.com/en/annual-report-2020/2020-financials-and-2022-budget/2022-budget/
Also this
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/11/20/fifa-revenue-hits-7-5b-for-current-world-cup-period
I actually feel that the UNL is the reason for our consistent level at the World Cup.
Yes we got bum rushed after 2018 and all of the veteran retirement’s. Mandžukić has still not been replaced.
But there was no hiding for us which was a good thing.
Now we have a UNL title in our sights.
Opportunity to play top European competition who will all be hungry for results.
Modrić can lead us to our first international trophy.
Younger generation has the opportunity to be in a mini international tournament.
Spain needs to be next on our scalp list.
You know in June WE traditionally suck with worn out veterans from a long club season and now a 7 match World Cup.
Young hungry attacking legs please. Kid like Ljubičić could secure a money transfer just on March and June performances with Croatia.
UNL ‘23 and Euro ‘24 are exactly what’s next for us to take the next step on our path to becoming a footballing super power.
Euro ‘24 will be in Germany. This is like a home tournament for us.
Perišić and Modrić will still add to proceedings with an elite core in support.
Pray some of our young attackers can breakthrough like other countries seem to facilitate.
Samo napred !!
We need to stay consistent this time. I truly believe that we can build one of the best teams in the world with our younger players. Sutalo needs to replace Lovren, Stanisic and Juranovic make solid RB’s, Sucic should get more playing time and Ljubicic should be set as our main striker.
I only admit the true form of Croatia during the WC 2022
when we played for 3rd place … need to be acknowledged
minus 1 forward | we played like 10 men | but still the best
with such idiocy of Dalic, no wonder Holland and Belgium
better in rank than us… Holland tied Argentine 2-2 and …
Belgium could annihilate us 3-0 } because of Lovren~
so after all .. our journey was a matter of luck _o)!!
but we have the best midfielder in this tournament
that also contribute to this journey >
for the next – tournament {without Dalic for sure}
there is no more Lovren and we have quality strikers
we will conquer the Europe and the world {}
You are spot on about how well we perform when we played more aggressive in the third place match. Hopefully we get some quality attacking options soon. Musa, Ljubicic and Simic look promising.
You are Morocco perorino stop pretending Croatia is your team.
Our world cup group had 3 teams from the top 11 in the world. Pretty impressive tournament when you look at it that way
Worth mentioning that by coming third we also collected 27 million dollars.
In the past this was split 50/50 between the federation and the players, coaching and support staff.
On top of this we are guaranteed minimum 7 million by making the final four of the UEFA NL. I have a feeling that Dalic will get a pay rise.
Our club teams collected a few million too because several Dinamo, Hajduk, Istra and Osijek developed players were on World Cup squads.
FIFA pays $10,000 per player (per day) to any club they were recently a part of.
Dinamo has five players in this World Cup (including the Iranian dude), so they made 50,000 for every day these guys were in Qatar. It ended up being like 2 million because Croatia (who had Oršić, Petković, Livaković and Majer) went the full duration of the tournament.
Yes, this is big money for all our clubs especially Hajduk, Istra and Osijek.
New footage of the PK awarded to Argentina:
https://fb.watch/hwVjUyLUul/?mibextid=6aamW6
The video clearly shows what happened in the game between Argentina and Croatia!
LOL
I think there’s still an argument for the Dutch to be a bottom of the top 10 team, but the window for Belgium’s golden generation has been slammed shut rudely. I didn’t rate them in 2018 either, but that was a far more dangerous side because Hazard still had some legs left, DeBruyne was entering his prime, and streaky Lukaku was more on than off. That’s over.
Can we take a moment to pray for Germany though? Under the USA after they both had a relatively awful tournament? Ouch.
No problem with the ranking, 7 is a good spot.
I’d imagine Japan & Morocco were not #11 & #20 when we beat the former on penalties, and drew and beat the latter.
When Morocco beat Belgium I think they were #2 (they’re now #4), and let’s not kid ourselves by saying Belgium don’t belong up there when they were stiff not to beat us.
I think the problem here is winning by Pk’s is still scored a draw not a win. Pk’s just being a “tie breaker”. So Croatia finished the World Cup with 2 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. Its the points system they use. I think.
I agree with you that they should “reset” the rankings every four years with the World Cup deciding where everyone begins.
THAT being said, and considering that the FIFA ranking is cumulative, then we are ranked #7 for good reason.
Here’s a refresher…
Since the 2018 World Cup (where our FIFA ranking was set at #4 in the World), we …
…were humiliated 6-0 by Spain in Nations League
…lost 2-1 to England in Nations League
…lost 2-1 to Hungary in our opening Euro qualifying match and drew Azerbaijan 1-1
…were humiliated 4-1 by Portugal in Nations League
…were humiliated 4-2 (again) by France in Nations League
…lost to Portugal and France (again) a couple months after that
…lost to Sweden 2-1 in that same week
…lost 1-0 to Slovenia in our opening World Cup qualifying match
…drew a bunch of games that we couldn’t put away (Slovakia, Wales, Russia, etc.) and narrowly won against bad teams like Cyprus
…and we even couldn’t even win friendlies (losing to teams like Tunisia)
We were embarassed at Euro2020, struggling to string together more than two passes in a row while randomly capping players for the first time in their careers (Gvardiol, Juranovic, Ivanusec, etc.) and trying different things to see what shit sticks.
We easily lost to England…
…struggled to draw lowly Czech
…won against a garbage Scotland side (which required late second half winners),
and were easily manhandled by Spain (until the last 15 minutes where we went full hail Mary)
We started the nations league the same way with probably our most embarassing home loss in history (3-0 against Austria)…and things finally clicked in that second half in Denmark where we had them 0-0 and decided to sub in our key starters and go for the win.
We ruined our reputation with the worst stretch in our country’s history.
We ruined our home record, compiling more home losses in the past three years than in the previous 37 years before that (and that includes the two Stimac losses).
We went from being a top-seeded (Pot A) caliber team, to almost becoming a third-tier (Pot C) caliber team in record time.
I’ve never experienced such a losing stretch in my life for any team that I follow. It’s remarkable that Dalic wasn’t fired, and he’s somehow managed to recover in the most unlikeliest way.
We did well this World Cup, and the World Cup will always outweigh everything…so justifiably, we are ranked where we belong.
Under normal circumstances, we would be ranked 3rd in the World in the FIFA ranking, but after such a shit show over these past couple of years…I am happy with #7.
I agree with some of the statements you made. But the 6-0 loss to Espana has happened to other nations; Belgium lost 5-2 to Switzerland in 2018 and England just got demoted from Nations League. Besides, we have 6 wins at the nations league and England has 5 wins over the course of the last three NL tournaments and we have two more games left. Losing to Hungary may I remind you isn’t a result to be embarrassed of. Hungary were able to hold France and Germany to draws the last Euro not long after that performace. Not to mention they beat Germany, England twice and drew Italy recently. Those performances against Portugal and France won’t occur again. It was a with a less skilled squad, inexperienced and against the defending World Cup and Euro Cup Champs. Drawing to Czech Republic wasn’t “lowly”. You must not watch Czech Republic. Czech Republic made the quarter finals and knocked out the Dutch.
I fully agree though from 2018 immediately after the world cup to the end of 2021, that was a horrific phase for us. The Netherlands experienced it after making the final in 2010 and the next world cup after by finishing 3rd in 2014. They didn’t register a win in a major tournament until 2021 after that 2014 run. England are suffering after the 2021 Euro Cup final. They drew to Hungary and Poland in qualifying, crashed out of nations league and didn’t make the final four this tournament.
But you make very solid points. The issue was after the 2018 World Cup, we had a new goalkeeper who never had national team experience, lost our starting striker, center back and goalkeeper. Then Dalic decides to use recycled players and not bring up the youth. Players like Jedvaj, Mitrovic, Pivaric, Milic, Livaja, Santini, Petkovic and others were all included which certainly didn’t come in handy. None of those players could ever keep up with France or Argentina. As far as I’m concerned, they belong in the MLS or will stay in HNL.
I agree with people saying that we struggle from winning a match in 90 minutes. We’ve played eight games in knockout stage games out of fourteen. That’s horrendous. I think it’s fine to go to extra time once a tournament or once in awhile but not the last four consecutive tournaments. Ex: Euro 2016 to World Cup 2022 for us. Then do it twice in a row at World Cup’s in RD16/QF. If it were spaced out like when Germany beat Algeria in ET in the RD16 and then Argentina in the finals. That’s fine. Every winning nation from 06 (besides France) have played at least one extra time game and/or penalties.
The uncomfortable truth
Says the guy who screams “take you meds” at anyone who’s got the balls to tell the most meaningful truths – i.e. exercise real free speech.
Rumors of Dion Drena Belja to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Seems like it would be a good move for him and he’d get some playing time if they sell Thuram.
Would love to see Belja work his way into our senior squad so Sosa can have a chance to aim crosses at the 6’-5” Belja.
*Beljo
Speaking of BS:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10059163-bleacher-reports-2022-world-cup-best-xi
I would have taken:
Brozovic
Modrić
Perišić – @ LB
That is 5 of the 11.
We need to spring board from this starting in March into UNL in June.
Unleash the young studs up top.
3-5-2
Allows Perišić to play LWB.
JJ at RWB.
It’s not that bad. Any list that doesn’t have Livaković and Gvardiol is bullshit. I may be in the minority, but I don’t think Modrić deserved the Bronze ball. He was good but not top 3 excellent.
He was good.
I really enjoyed Kovacic’s tournament!
We always said screw the rankings
Of course they are important cause of pots, but being in 7th we are a top pot and hopefully keep it that way with strong euro campaign and Maybe nations league can propel us into top 5
Other then the pots, us talking about it is like when Canadian pundits and fans were going on about how they weren’t much lower then us on ranking blah blah blah
It’s bullshit, we all know
In other words
I just want to comment. Watched some video of Dalic heading home and he was so greatful and you could see whether he enjoyed it or not Truly he was super accommodating for photos and shaking hands and hugs
Maybe he isn’t the perfect coach, but really right now with his experience overall and connection to players and country, we else is gonna come in
He will stay till euro with Luka is my guess
I think if we get ahead of the euro campaign he will really try some youth
Also, if we win nations league. We auto qualify correct??
Auto qualifying would be amazing and to have some free games during euro qualifying left if that’s a possibility
Auto qualify for WHAT? there is no Auto qualifying for anything.
Way back winners of the WC had automatic qualification for the next World Cup.
Ya sorry I thought Winning nations league got you in the next tourney
Rankings are a popularity contest. They don’t reflect a teams performance. If they did, Italy should be 40th for missing two consecutive world cups. Japan should be way higher. Many of these South American teams should be knocked down way lower. Tell me how Uruguay is above the Polaks?
The rankings are based on results over the last four years, meaning that the results from 2018 WC do not count anymore. This WC we had 2 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss. We had some awful results in 2019 and 2020.
Belgium is way overated in the past 10 years.
why is Belgium so highly rated?
I think Croatia should be 4th or 5th here. Definitely above Belgium & Dutch – debatable vs England
100% agree. Dutch and Belgium are laughable. Both should be outside the top-10.
England has a WC semi, Euro Final, and WC quarters under their belt. Basically on par with us.