The Sweet 16 at the 2018 World Cup is set!
Although we’ve already known who Croatia will play in the Round of 16, Denmark, the rest of the road was unknown- until now.
The Vatreni not only steamrolled through Group D with convincing victories over Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland, but they have now been given a much more favorable road to the Final. Obviously, I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, but any football fan in the world would rather have their country on Croatia’s side of the draw rather than Brazil and friends. Only one team out of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Uruguay, Belgium, France, Japan can play in the Final. That side of the bracket is stacked.
If Croatia can handle Denmark and get past the Russia/Spain winner, the Vatreni would only have England/Sweden/Columbia/Switzerland in their way of a World Cup Final berth.
Guys, there’s still tons of work to be done. But if Croatia were to ever make a run at a World Cup title, the time is now. The road has been paved in their favor with Luka Modrić and company needing to continue their focus from group stage to achieve the game’s greatest goal: a World Cup title.
#TeamOfDestiny
“England will take care of Colombia.”
Will Croatia take care of Denmark?
Everyone was worried about France in the round of 16…people act like we have it easy…if we beat denmark, Spain waits for us.
England will take care of Colombia.
Iggy, I agree….there is so much more to go in this tournament.
I want Colombia in the SF, because if they beat us, I can handle them winning the world cup.
To be honest, I’m focusing on the QF and who we get there.
I’ve penciled us in for one of the QF spots already.
Yeah settle down. Ppl asking who we’d prefer in a semi final? Jesus fuck, just simmer down, we’re nowhere near that.
Some of you ppl are gonna be SO disappointed if we lose on Monday morning, sheesh.
Anyway, if we lose, i think obv Modric retires, i hope Rakitic plays on as captain till the end of next euros tbh. He often plays better without Luka on the field anyway lol
Perspective. What a wonderful thing. I appreciate it more and more. Probably because it’s so rarely seen, like a blue moon. Let’s try to use some right now, shall we? Every team left in the WC with the possible exception of Japan, believes theirs is the “team of destiny”. What a crock. Are we better than Denmark and the winner of Spain/Russia? Damn straight we are. After that – well – after that it’ll be time to re-evaluate. Don’t get me wrong. No one wants us to win more than I do. I’m not being negative. I’m being realistic.
Perspective. Try it sometime.
Boban we have lots of time to talk bout that later
I’m curious bout are general plan of attack for Sunday
Do u think we play possession at start and take it slow or try to blitz them try to take early lead and change the way Denmark plays
Gonna be a tough game but once again it’s ours to lose
We are overall better equipped
All we need is one or two of our guys to go beast mode and the rest just hold their own
Let’s hope mandzu perisic catch fire
How bout sticking with midfielders and brozo with a wunder goal!! One can hope
What happens if we lose? Is this generation finished ? Who goes who stays?
Just enjoying living in this moment, and appreciating what has been accomplished. Hvala bog.
I’ll be in Las Vegas for the game Sunday. Anyone on this board recommend a place to watch the game with fellow Hrvati?
@jb
I was impressed that Strinic was on that list. I thought he was done.
NONE YOU PREFER DENAMRK SUNDAY
I will be in cincinatti for the game, long shot but anyone there or recommend a spot?
What team do we prefer for Semi-finals ? England Columbia Sweden or Switzerland? Will will have ro face.one of these teams for rhe finals.
I cant believe I am reading sweeden spain all these teams we are not even playing. this is knock out this is one game at a time.
Denmark is our only opponent
Strinic LB selection on that list!
I think we are all happy with this
I agree with above
Even tho we haven’t seen kalinic so much
I feel more comfortable with him in the pipes
He handles the ball better when playing it to it seems
Would be a super bold move to put him in
Suba hasn’t let a goal in tho.
Ya he wasn’t terribly called upon but got the job done
Excited to see kalinic for next few years tho
We have also defeated Sweden in a friendly once before even Iceland in a two leg play off. Denmark can only defeat us if they get lucky. Like how Germany had 70 % possesion and lost 0:2 to South Korea.
The better team OFTEN does not win!
I hope our boys have learned their lesson. We were better than Turkey in 2008 and Mexico in 2014, yet they sent us home!
Half of Turkey’s starting lineup was injured or suspended.
https://www.tsn.ca/messi-missing-from-ap-s-group-stage-best-11-1.1126744
@Soul Champ- A few of us have been asking for Kalinic to start for awhile.
Not because I know he is better than Subasic, but because Subasic never comes up big. He never has to do anything in games we play well, but always shits the bed when we play poorly. Kalinic made more good saves vs Iceland than I remember Subasic making in a long time.
@all (i always leave svima for SC)-
Bad news:We clearly struggled with set pieces vs Iceland.
More Bad news: Danes are big scandinavians also. Set pieces is an advantage for them in mist cases.
Good News: Our A team will be on the field, and Mandzukic & co. defend set pieces like Adriatic Vikings.
More good news: I doubt we will concede as many corners as we did to Iceland. Our defense with A team is much better.
After we destroy our 2nd viking team, we will prove the “Viking Clap” is nothing more than a STD.
Guys, all of the Scandanavian teams are tough to play. Croatia has lost qualifying matches to Denmark, Norway and Iceland. They even tied Finland last year at home. They lost once to Sweden in a friendly. This won’t be a cakewalk. Croatia will have to be patient. I think it will look like the Nigeria game. Not many chances, and we need a break or two. And I’m not counting on VAR to bail out Croatia if there a ref issues. There were some reviews that didn’t make sense in group play.
In the last 20 years:
Crashed out of pool play and even missed the whole thing in 2010!
So yes we are playing from a position of success.
Our bracket sets up for a run to the final and we can beat anyone on our day from the other bracket. We earned this path by way of dominating the group of D eath that has given us LIFE.
Denmark is a worthy opponent with they own world class #10 in Ericksen.
Dalić has formed us into formidable attacking crew.
We are now able to compete for 120+ minutes with anyone!
U boj ..
@ Svima
Is Kalinic better than Subasic?
He looks like a monster in goal.
Pretty agile for a man of 2 meters and seems to have more of commanding presence.
Dalić needs to maximize every ounce of talent for the Vatreni to lift the cup.
VAR allows Croatia to win the World Cup.
I pray Lovren understands that “clever” hand play in the box will lead to more penalties!
Back in ’98 it was such a battle against Romania. It could have gone either way and when Suker had to retake the penalty I was sure he’d miss!
This next game will be similar. I think the score will be a nail biting 1-0 — hopefully for Croatia, but it could go either way. They will have to fight so hard. Hopefully they are ready for this mentally.
Some are of the belief that Ziva Istina is already on the Panel show.
That would be huge ratings, whether you like Ziva or didn’t, everyone would tune in!
He shout get Ziva on 😉
I’m really enjoying the panel show, my favourite episode was the 2nd show. It was a great lineup of Frank, Peter, Ante K and Ante Z.
Peter was a great foil for Ante K who struggles a bit as the sole host (yells too much and often repeats himself), but boy was I impressed with Ante K’s acceptance of a lesser role on the panel, the guy will do what it takes to make the team better.
Imagine Croatians around Europe accompanied by an episode of the panel show! That would be the Real Deal!
Maybe one day bring Denis back if Peter can’t continue in the role. That episode would surely be a ratings bonanza.
Fiorentina on the verge of getting both Marko Pjaca and Mario Pasalic. Milan Badelj will be allowed to seek a new club.
I think Argentina are gonna make a run now; now that they made it, i think they’ll be a diff team.
I think we can match anyone, except Brazil. I really, really dislike playing them and roll my eyes whenever we draw them cos 99% of the time it’s a loss. Pretty much everyone else is at least an even bet for us though.
No doubt the draw looks great, and there’s potential for us to go to the final; but, like we were saying this exact same thing 2 years ago. Remember when 90% of the ppl on this board were saying “im so glad we drew portugal”
“if u want to be the best u gotta BEAT the best”
“we have to play them all sooner or later”
lol god there were some fuckwits spouting nonsense at that time. There is no doubt u are far better off playing the least nbr of top teams u have to; it just increases your odds of winning. Our odds are good of winning versus Den but i have a bad feeling, i feel like we’re all gonna be disappointed again just like Euro : (
Portugal should go through because Ronaldo is a big name same as is Messi Argentina should go through. Russia might do a South Korea 2002 World Cup finished 4th.
Real Madrid want Ericksen so Modric has to play well.
2006 Italy wins World Cup
2010 Italy out in Group Stage
2010 Spain wins World Cup
2014 Spain out in Group Stage
2014 Germany wins World Cup
2018 Germany out in Group Stage
2018 Croatia wins World Cup
2022 Boli mi kurac, Sta bude
Denmark will be the last team we face that will bunker against us.
One game at a time. Denmark will be a battle. What we did in the group is old news.
I believe it’s now time for ante to write an article about how the players should walk off the field vs denmark to protest the hns
That will show davor!
I’m also pretty sure svircic has ended his boycott and has been following the nt
I gotta say…. It’s a bit fair weather… Croatia loses a qualifier and it’s protest the team and demand a walk out
A world cup win or two and everyone back on the bandwagon
I guess that’s the difference between me and many in the diaspora
#uvijek-vjerni
Where the fuck is my comment?
Look at the Argentina win against Nigeria, with the expectations of a whole nation weighing on their shoulders they come out and win.
These are character building wins, it’s wins like that that give fans belief that their team can overcome adversity.
This is where we don’t trust the Croats, we’re great down hill skiers, but as soon as it turns into a bit of an uphill battle we’ve been found wanting.
Is Croatia the Real Deal? We gonna find out.
This match should be billed as Modric vs Eriksen.
Topping this group of Death, and this Round of 16 matchup are two separate things.
We exceeded expectations and won all three games, with an excellent goal differential, despite playing the third game with our B squad.
Losing to Denmark would be a disappointment.
The resulting feeling would be the same as this past Euro 2016 tournament. Just one big “what if” feeling.
What if the Real Deal Holyfield had of lost to Tyson, was he playing with house money?
What about when the undefeated Patriots finally lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl, were they playing with house money?
No excuses for Croatia this time, win or get fucked!
“As far as I am concerned we are playing with house money.”
Exactly, no one can take from us what we did in the group even if we lose to Denmark. Lol, what an idiot!
Even if we lose with our “world class” talent against Eriksen we don’t lose any credibility, all that happens is that Eriksen’s stock will rise.
Think about it, Modric has a way better supporting cast than Eriksen and Eriksen is going to have to do something special to beat Modric & co.
Again, if Croatia lose they can go and get fucked.
It is our time to prove that we are an elite soccer nation.
Uruguay/Portugal is gonna be a war!
Two chippy teams that know how to get results.
I’m leaning towards Uruguay. They seem to be getting better whereas Portugal looked their best in game 1.
It could resemble the Battle of Nuremberg (2006 Portugal/Holland 4 reds, 16 yellows).
@Soul Champ – good point on what’s been working for us.
Please for the love of God to everyone on this site, one game at a time and respect all opponents. Sampaoli didn’t shake our hands nor did he Nigeria’s If I am not mistaken which is highly unprofessional and disrespectful at that level.
Part of me feels like Croatia got here aside from good play, fortune and good coaching but by being humble. We never chirp and when we do it doesn’t end well like Brazil. The world fell asleep on Croatia which is exactly how we should want it. Play a fool to catch a fool. I hope everyone continues to underestimate us.
And someone please tell Lovren not to talk until the tournament is over because I feel he’s going to star shooting off soon about Croatia being the greatest team in the tournament or something dumb.
Very happy right now but one game at a time. Denmark is the next test.
Mexico and Argentina are lucky to have squeezed into the Round of 16. They relied on others to bail them out.
I don’t consider them as part of any ‘stacked’ bracket. They will be disposed of by France and Brazil.
I do think there are only five teams capable of winning this World Cup :
France, Brazil, Belgium, Croatia and Spain.
It’s nice to see three of them on that side, but also a shame we meet Spain in the quarters and not the semis.
The winner of Spain vs Croatia is going to the Finals.
@ Ante
Go ahead and express your enthusiasm.
The path is clear for us to take this thing.
@ Svima
You are smokin crack if you want to mess with Brazil, Belgium, France and a rejuvenated Argentina. Not to mention a solid Portugal and dangerous Uruguay.
As far as I am concerned we are playing with house money.
We won the group in consistent and improving fashion.
Keys to winning World Cup:
In form world class players.
Team spirit.
Capable coach.
Luck.
4 for 4
Go out there and enjoy the ride.
Bog i Hrvati
@bobby v. I would go badelj. Just a hunch. I dunno. Hope Uruguay crushes Portugal.
if you look at it level by level and from a 3rd person point of view, I’d say our side is just as scary.
Uruguay/Portugal Switzer/Sweden…Brazil best team
Belgium/Japan = England/Columbia…tie
The only question about the starting lineup is that if is going to be Badelj or Brozovic.
I agree with you. This team is pumping on all cylinders and Perisic, Mandzukic haven’t even started.
Kvartuc, I think with our high pressing, high tempo and very good concentration, we can compete with anyone. I’d hate ti jinx us but I’m really not afraid of anyone, as long as we stay focused.
If Perisic kicks it into high gear…we will be successful!
How about Belgium?
They have played Tunisia, Panama, England’s B team and now Japan.
Their quarterfinal match up might hit them in the face.
We don’t play well against South American teams…oh wait. Nevermind.
Yeah I agree we’d want to avoid both teams although I honestly believe we would do well against Brasil!
Brazil and Belgium were my two strongest teams of the tournament. I’m happy not to see them on our side.
Interesting that Croatia could potentially play Spain and England – the two countries in our upcoming League of Nations group.
I’m not going to be deceived about which bracket is stronger. There are four first place group winners on each side.
Argentina and Mexico both lost games they needed by three goals. Portugal does not have a supporting cast and Japan has overachieved.
there is no road “paved” for anyone. so many variable involved, let’s just take this one game at a time!