Earlier in the week, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić named his squad for the October Euro 2020 qualifiers against Hungary and Wales. The Vatreni will host Hungary – who beat Croatia 2-1 earlier in the year – at Poljud in Split on October 10th. It will be the first game in Split since the swastika was found on the pitch against Italy in June of 2015. Croatia will then travel to Wales on October 13th to take on Gareth Bale and company.
Andrej Kramarić is still out with injury but Ivan Rakitić and Tin Jedvaj will be rejoining the Vatreni after their September omissions. Rakitić nearly left Barcelona in the summer and is now playing second fiddle on the bench for the reigning La Liga champions. Jedvaj has been playing full matches at Augsburg while on loan from Bayer Leverkusen for the past month.
With Nikola Vlašić playing so well at the moment – which includes the Croatian midfield – do you keep playing him or does and out-of-form Rakitić keep his name in the starting XI?
These will both two tough games. I’m more certain about winning against Hungary in Split. Our last game in the stadium was a draw against Italy. I predict we’ll get a 0-0 draw. Our record in Split isn’t the best. Only one win in twelve games playing there. If Slovakia beat Wales and we either draw or lose to Hungary then we’re in deep trouble. The best outcome is a win for Croatia and draw between Slovakia-Wales. I’d be satisfied with a draw in Split and win in Wales. If Wales lose to us and Slovakia then their guaranteed to be out of the race.
Vuki, Brillant
Love the effort.
Thank you
Maybe he’ll get better. He has a huge golden heart no doubt, just no golden placement with his head yet. Magical positioning ability to be at the right place at the right time, like Olic or Eduardo.
How about that sitter for Vida against Belgium
Hmmmmmmm. The North remembers!
Schildenfeld out of retirement to show em how it’s done!!
Ya Remember vida missing that header against Portugal
Tho maybe one can argue he fights to get those headers
Beograd goriiiiiii!
Vida over Lovren. All day every day.
Yeah that exchange between Mandzo and vida at the end of the wc said a lot
Mandzo would have thought after the embarrassing own goal is that vida should have been in there clearing that griezmann cross and then let’s another two soft goals in the second half and Suba gets the fuckin blame
No wonder those two retired who can blame
If that bonehead misses another sitter I’ll swear I’ll have aneurysm
rebic is an awesome player. he is just off his game. give him time
I think Vida is over-rated when it comes to playing on the offensive end of the field. He is endlessly stealing headers from people who would knock them in, if he only wasn’t in the way. He made Mario go nutty and retire I believe. Like Rebic, his highlight will be the russia header goal. With that said , if it weren’t for Vida, Croatia doesn’t go to the 2018 World finals. Yes I am grateful for you Vida, still…really, how open does the goal have to be for you?
Rebic is a human specimen, and pure raw athlete, but somehow it does not translate entirely in to making him an equally great player. I which he was better around the goal, barring the Argentina victory. That was an amazing shot.
Time for Rakitic to retire
Thanks for everything Ivan because anyone who puts their personal issues before Hrvatska raises question marks
Any why hold back the clear progress of Vlasic and Brekalo
especially in front of a Poljud crowd
Rebic for me is only a 15 to 25 minute player
AC has already identified this and Dalic has too especially if he watched the rerun of last years wc final when Rebic continously handed possession over to those French fuckers
Brekalo Vlasic is the future
Haillovic can only speak on the field now
You aren’t fit to shine Lukas boots at the moment
Let’s hope he shows everyone what’s up one day tho
Laknat probably depressed somewhere cause of the god
Can Sevilla buy back Rakitic?
Too expensive? Or would Ivan feel like he is going down?
It’s a matter of time
At least he would make his wife happy being in Spain and would come back and probably be their hero maybe make some more magic and retire on top
I agree with the truth on this one
Wish Rakitic would be a happy reserve. Maybe his ego can handle it but like you guys say maybe his wife’s can’t.
Where as I can see luka saying he can play 40 mins for us in the future
I would think tho with these kind of play making midfielders is limited time enough to get them into the game??
I can see a Rebic or brekalo who either bulldoze or in brekalo case grab the game by its balls in a short time but midfielders are different no?
I don’t see how u can’t play Vlasic. He is probably even more deserving of a spot then brekalo
But these guys are the future
God willing the old can mesh with the new for a potential great run at euro
Speaking of what’s going on with the playoff part Incase we poop the krevet??
Assuming England and Spain are doing well nuff to qualify
Who could be our potential matches?
I think someone mentioned it’s a one game playoff
Assuming we would get home field advantage being group A
Dont Jerko My Leko says:
The God of Halilovic has spoken!
Yeah other than their stature, that is pretty where the similiarity stops.
Raquel is the Wanda to Rakitic’s Icardi
I said before and i will say again. I think Rakitic’s wife is the issue. She doesn’t want him to leave Spain but he might have to. I can tell from his facial espressions. He’s got Byrd trouble.
Also, I updated the stats spreadsheet earlier today if anyone is interested in seeing how some of the players have been doing.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SoccerCRO/comments/csikns/youngnot_established_croatian_footballers/
Here is the weekly post from CroatiaU14 and I. The best performers of our younger players from the past 7 days. Again, scroll down to the current week or use the outline on the left of the page.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SoccerCRO/comments/cxqsge/croatian_young_player_of_the_week_thread/
Agreed. As predicted brekalo looking like the real deal. Line I’ve said, the rakitic thing is going to cause problems.
We can only have one old horse in the midfield. We’re better in 9 months with a rising vlasic or e.even. Improving kovacic over an older and not playing rakitic
That being said, rakitic as a reserve would be awesome
I fear though the guy likes Spain, Instagram, going to fairs with his wife too much to accept giving up his weekends and risking his aging body every two months for the repka to possibly never see the field
Yes, but Brekalo has been killing it despite both coaches (club and country) doing everything in their power to bench him.
He’s had such an impact for both Wolfsburg AND the Reprezentacija, DESPITE the poor coaching decisions to keep him on the bench or play him in experimental roles.
The kid is a star already. Play him 90 minutes and get out of his way.
Rakitic or Vlasic? Rakitic or Brozo? Rebic or Brekalo?
It doesn’t matter, vs teams such as these.
Jedvaj or Bartolec? Brekalo or Bartolec? Now, those are easy ones.
Dalic threw Rebic under the bus vs Azerbeijan, so I think he might go Brekalo. Not the right call vs good opponents, but against these teams, it probably won’t matter.
Everyone giving Rebic a hard time about not starting at a new club (Ac Milan) after 2 games, while Brekalo hasn’t been starting for his old club (Wolfsburg) that often in the past year.
The God of Halilovic has spoken!
https://www.football-italia.net/144640/halilovic-can-be-modric
I bet Everton put some clause in the contract that says that they will get about 30% of any sale funds that CSKA might get in case they sell him. Correct me if i’m wrong, but I think it’s common practice for these types of situations.
Vlasic is the leading scorer and best player of the 2nd best team in the Russian League (CSKA Moscow) who are just a point out of first place.
The Russian league is ranked higher than the Portuguese league, which is 6th in the UEFA league rankings…just behind the Liga Petica leagues.
We have a 22 year old who is the star player on a top team in an ‘almost’ Liga Petica league. If that’s not justification for starting him, I dunno what is.
Everton are such idiots for selling him.
Thanks guys. Missed the Jedvaj loan move.
I’d play Brozovic over Rakitic
Why is there so much support for him what the fuck has he done
I meant to say “both Vlašić and Brekalo are hot right now”
I like having this luxury of depth, but both Vlašić and Rebić are red hot right now.
I can see Dalić sitting Brozović, and going with both Rakitić and Modrić behind Vlašić.
It wouldn’t be the right call, as Brozović is in full form, but whatever.
Rebic will never be more than an impact player his goal against Argentina will always be his highlight
Rakitic should retire and give the young hungry players a chance
Ya I can’t see dalic not starting Rakitic
Hopefully it’s not our downfall
But maybe he will play with a point to prove
But totally agree how do u not start Vlasic and brekalo those kids got skills and take the ball forward
U know it’s a long road still for them but screw a rebuild when you have those hungry kids in the lineup
I’d put Brekalo and Vlašić in the starting eleven.
It will be tough for Dalić to bench Rakitić and Rebić. He has only ever started those two when they were available.
I don’t think he’s ever played either of them off the bench.
Jedvaj needs to start at RB. He’s not perfect, but I don’t like Bartolec. Waste of a spot.
Jedvaj has started at CB the last four games with Augsburg and played all 90.
I think at this point, you start Vlasic; 10 starts playing all 90 min with 4 goals and 1 assist in the Russian league so far. It’s not even worth comparing Rakitic’s current season stats. Form is what counts.
You can’t drop Vlasic for Rakitic
Rakitic has made it clear as to what’s more important
Isn’t Jedvaj at Augsburg
Can’t wait for the Poljud game
Going to be a ludnica