It is now official. Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj, who was slated to start against Greece, has been ruled out for both playoff games due to a thigh strain. With a midfield spot to fill, manager Zlatko Dalić should call up Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozović off the alternate list. Brozović returned to action last week for Inter after picking up a minor knock and has come off the bench two matches in a row.
Striker Mario Mandžukić has been cleared to play but has been put on an individual training schedule after a MRI came back negative on an unknown injury. Does Mandza deserve the start, healthy or not, for Croatia after slumping in checkers during 2017?
Croatia will also be without midfielder Mateo Kovačić and defender Vedran Ćorluka. Both have been out for over a month but it should not impact the team.
As for the Greeks; they have bigger problems.
Roma defender Kostas Manolas has been suspended for the first leg in Zagreb for deliberately picking up a yellow card in qualifying to reset his disciplinary record. The 26 year-old Manolas has been capped by Greece 32 times and is a vital part of the Greek defense. He will be eligible to play Sunday in Athens. Another starting Greek defender, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, is now doubtful for the Croatia playoff after an injury he picked up in the 42nd minute vs. Bayern Munich this past weekend. The 29 year-old Borussia Dortmund central back has 76 caps for Greece and will be missed if he cannot make a full recovery.
Pog well said.
Greece’s last 2 matches were against Cyprus and Gibralter, and now they’re without key players. They won’t be ready for what we’re bringing!
you guys need me
Fuck the gayreeks. Croatia for the win 3-1 on aggregate. Let the homos weep and be done. Russia, here we come!
ZDS
Greece is the best possible draw of all the teams in the play offs. Play offs are HORRIBLE….but we have talent all over the pitch…playing at home helps us…they can’t draw two games…they have to attack in Zagreb.
Mandzukic, is one of only three players to ever score in a champions league final while playing for different teams.
I’m not saying a strikers job isn’t to score lol…Greece can’t play defensive in Croatia…they will want an away goal…they have to open up. My comments about Mandzukic were in regards to him vs Dzeko…his physicality and defensive ability make him better. Mandzukic has scored goals in three of the best leauges in Europe.
good comment Dannyj!
What mandzo has is that ability to play physical which we do need against Greece They always have to watch him since while he isn’t scoring much he can and still score when given the chance his constant pestering is great If he can free up room for kramaric then that is a vital job IMO
There is a place for him but where when and how is up to dalic
It will be very interesting to see if they come out careful to see how it plays out or super aggressive and try to score a goal
Captain obvious says the longer it goes scoreless the more it favors them
As soon as they open up if we are playing with confidence expect us to stretch them out with some long and capable passers and speed on the wings
Besides the obvious everyone needs to do their job but we need perisic to do something creative from his side
They will be on us like honey on baklava but we have enough dangerous tools for them to handle
U know people always say we don’t have nuff game changers but if u think and look back a number of our starters have impacted big games in big ways
If the boys play to their capability it’s in the books but will they play motivated under dalic??? Seems so but time will tell
strikers job is to score, we all know that…but in order to score, you need service! I’m not saying Mandzukic is our answer to goals but I can say with confidence he can score…and hasn’t had much quality into the box from the wings. when you look at the complete picture of his contributions, he’s effective in pressing and drawing attention to himself, something our other striker do not necessarily do.
regardless of who we have up front, the fact is we need players like Perisic to play at his best….not half assed and even being at fault for not marking his man on a corner kick, this is something some of you don’t recognize! this is a team sport…in order for Mandzukic to be effective in scoring, he has to get service, so does Krama and Kalinic…so does any other striker!
^
Yeah when your Greece
If someone is getting by the the 10 guys behind ur striker ur striker ain’t gonna change shit
Ur striker job is to fookin score
Iggy, I guess you never played soccer. A striker is you first line of defense. What has Dzeko won?
Croatia is on another level talent wise…Croatia is a underachieving team…a more dangerous force than Belgium…Greece will bunker…they have zero quality in midfield…they best defender is out…if this Croatian team can’t beat this Greece team…we don’t deserve to go to Russia…our midfielders will get the Greek confidence in check really quickly.
Big problem we have is losing Badelj. Our creative midfielders do not have the bulldog now to give them freedom to play. Before Badelj we had Vukojevic, who certainly wasn’t popular but did a heck of a job defending so Modric/ Rakitic can help feed the offense. Anyone can say what they want but those two are not defending midfielders and we need a dedicated player to that position. On top of that, I hope we see Vida and Vrsaljko on the wings, please no more Pivaric and Strinic. Use Rebic, Rog, Pasalic as wild cards off of the bench, Kramaric up front and Mandzo behind him.
Here’s an excellent guide on how and when to watch the playoff matches around the World and some friendlies coming up
https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-novembers-decisive-world-cup-qualifiers-international-friendlies-183558556.html
Former European champions Greece had an excellent qualifying campaign which saw them lose only one of ten matches in Group H.
Greece were given a tough task of hunting down a ruthless Belgian side, however, and were forced to settle for second place in the end. Michael Skibbe’s men suffered a worrying drop in form midway through the qualifying process having gone through four successive draws before slumping to a defeat at the hands of Belgium. Fortunately, Greeks mustered enough strength to get back to winning ways and pip Bosnia to second in the standings by two points, thanks to back-to-back triumphs against Cyprus and Gibraltar. Greece displayed strength in character as a nation looking for a redemption after three barren years. Head coach Skibbe will be hoping his team will be able to extend a fantastic away form which saw Greece win five and draw two of their last seven matches on the road.
Team News
Talisman striker Kostas Mitroglu is expected to lead the line in attack for Greece.
The visitors could have big problems in the back, however, knowing that AS Roma defender Kostas Manolas is suspended after breaching the fair play regulations against Cyprus.
Key Factors to Consider
Greece are unbeaten in their last 7 matches on the road
Croatia either won or dealt all of their last 5 home games
Kostas Mitroglu scored 6 matches for Greece thus far in the qualifiers
Croatia last beat Greece in 1997
Croatia managed only two clean sheets in last seven matches
Conclusion
Croatia are given a home-turf advantage but Greece are a force to be reckoned with and are coming to Zagreb high on confidence as they look to send a clear message that Euro 2014 champions have what it takes to go to Russia. We expect a tight match, however, with not too many goals on each end.
@Bobby V-Seriously?GTFOOH.
Ljupka wanna lick my jaje
Orthodox brothers and sisters unite! Russia Serbia Greece at the world cup!
@iggy. Relax. We gonna be ok. Too much power. If luka can break down Juve defense he certainly will break down those chumps defense. We should be good bro!
@ Iggy…. absolutely correct
For fucks sake, Ante Budimir (Crotone) has more goals (3) than Mandzukic (2)
Edin Dzeko, currently 5th in Serie A with 7 goals, is far and away a better finisher than Mandzukic You haven’t followed Dzeko’s career if you think otherwise.
https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/stats?competition=3&season=20170&category=standard&sort=3
Dzeko > Mandzukic
Im sorry but a striker’s job is not to be an extra defender. A striker’s job is to score goals. That’s that.
The Mandzu apologism from some of you is bloody annoying at this stage. Krama is already a million times better than Mandzu cos he can score goals. I don’t care how well Mario defends et al, doesn’t make a lick of diff, especially against a bunkering Greece.
and I also agree with everything regarding lineup
With anything…stupid phone
@ maminjo
handanovic=subasic
oblak>subasic
Fuck that yugo team! Dzeko over Mandzukic? People don’t understand Mandzukic….best first line of defense in world football. Bobby V….i like you! Your a good man. But I’m disgusted with the with anything Yugoslavian. Mandzukic is three times the player Dzeko is.
@soul
over krama and against Greece, I would not
whens the last time he scored a header? or even scored for us
his current best trait is his work back, something we don’t need against a traditional Greece…but I have no idea how Greece is coming out
Easy Traditional – no need to get your political panties in a bunch
you’re not gonna suggest that in a 2 game…winner takes all situation, we have someone that can clearly do a better job…or are you?
lets see…we have Rebic, Kalinic, Kramaric, Mandzukic…and? who am I missing?
Well, i didn’t want to have to do this so soon after my hernia OP but i guess if Hrvatska needs me, i can bring myself out of retirement for the checkers one last time! Then we’re a sure thing
😉
^
That team can go and get fucked.
An educated all-Yugo dream team: Top 45.
Jan Oblak (Slovenia – Atletico Madrid), Samir Handanovic (Inter – Slovenia), Asmir Begovic (Bournemouth – Bosnia), Daniel Subasic ( Monaco – Croatia)
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal – Bosnia), Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma – Serbia), Stefan Savic (Atletico Madrid – Montenegro),
Domogoj Vida (Dynamo Kyiv), Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit St.Petersburg), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow – Croatia), Matija Nastasic (Schalke 04 – Serbia), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid – Croatia), Nikola Maksimovic (Napoli – Serbia), Emir Spahic (free agent – Bosnia), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool – Croatia), Antonio Rukavina (Villareal – Serbia)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid – Croatia) Miralem Pjanic (Juventus – Bosnia) Nemanja Matic (Manchester United – Serbia), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona – Croatia), Andrija Zivkovic (Benfica – Serbia), Ivan Perisic (Inter – Croatia), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta – Slovenia), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid – Croatia), Dusan Tadic (Southampton – Serbia), Marko Pjaca ( Juventus – Croatia), Valter Birsa (Chievo – Slovenia), Zoran Tosic (Partizan – Serbia), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter – Croatia), Adem Ljajic (Torino – Serbia), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina – Croatia) Edin Visca (Istanbul Basaksehir – Bosnia), Muhamed Besic (Everton – Bosnia) Kevin Kampl (RB Leipzig – Slovenia) Senad Lulic (Lazio – Bosnia)
Edin Dzeko (Roma – Bosnia), Mario Mandzukic (Juventus – Croatia), Aleksander Mitrovic (Newcastle – Serbia), Ilija Nestorovski (Palermo – Macedonia), Nikola Kalinic (Milan – Croatia), Vedad Ibisevic (Hertha – Bosnia), Andrej Kramaric ( 1899 Hoffenheim – Croatia), Stevan Jovetic (Monaco – Montenegro), Lazar Markovic (Liverpool – Serbia), Mirko Vucinic (Al Jazira – Montenegro), Goran Pandev (Genoa – Macedonia) Darko Lazovic (Genoa – Serbia)
Startining line up : Oblak, – Kolarov, Savic, Kolasinac, Vida, – Modric, Pjanic, Rakitic, Matic, Perisic, – Dzeko
This is of course leaving out the Kosovo Albanians who play for Switzerland and players such as Ibrahimovic and Pulisic who could have decided.
@ Maminjo
Isti KURAC … drugi dan.
We can no longer EVER play Brozovic- Modrić – Rakitic together in the middle.
Too slow and too similar.
Then we blame Rakitic for not being great for us.
@ Idemo
If Mandžukić is healthy you don’t start him up top to own the aerial attack ?
He is a big game performer and we actually need him to defend their set pieces.
45 minutes and evaluate him.
Death to Fascism long live Tito and Bernie
@Yugo
Yeah right.
Subotic’s career is done, and Jovetic is a benchwarmer for Monaco (after bouncing around three teams the past couple years). Although he’s a good keeper, even Handanovic would struggle to start over Subasic.
If there ever was a Yugoslavian National Team again, 8 out of the 11 starting players would be Croatian (as it always was in history).
I miss my best buddy Denis 🙁
@idemo
Your question mark in defence should be Mitrovic.
However, Mandzo just seems like the type of guy that needs to be out there against a Greek defence.
I think starting Mandzo up top, and putting Kramaric where Rebic is, would be better to see if guys like Perisic, Strinic, Kramaric, and Vrsaljko can find Mandzo the ball.
If he’s largely invisible in that first half, then I would probably bring in Rebic and throw Kramaric further forward. But this substitution would have to come at halftime. Can’t wait too late.
Rog is also interesting. Hopefully he can run all game and provide Modric that freedom like Badelj does. The other option would be Brozovic forming a midfield trio with Modric and Rakitic..but I don’t really care. I’m all for whatever frees up Modric offensively. I could care less who plays with him.
Hopefully Lovren and Pivaric don’t see the field.
Ha!
I disagree Ante. You know know exactly what you’re doing with your “peta kolona” spreading of crap
Hi I’m Ante, and i have no idea what i’m talking about
Dream lineup
Handanovic
Vrsaljko Subotic Vida Kolarov
Modric Matic
Perisic Rakitic Jovetic
Dzeko
The line should be
Kramaric
Perisic Rakitic Rebic
Modric rog
Strinic ? Vida Vrsaljko
Subasic
MANdzukic to start up top and battle in the air and dominate.
When he tires bring in Kalinic as second wave.
Kramaric starts because he his a special finisher.
I see Ante “ready” Rebić as winger for us v Greece. Width and beast mode running.
Rakitic is an ideal CDM for Zagreb match.
Rog to finish off last 20 minutes with energy.
Brozovic in the wings to see how the game is going?
T – minus 2 days.
U boj .. U boj
Za narod svoj
ZD
SPREMNI
Mandzo, Kalinic, and Rebic may all end up being useless against a bunkered Greek team.
None of they can dance in a crowd like Kramaric or an extra midfielder can.
If you’re not going to send in crosses to Mandzo, and if there is no open field for a guy like Rebic to run in, then they may not be effective.
Almost better to throw in an extra midfielder like Brozo, and have him throw a few on net from distance.
However, ideally, we would have Mandzo park in front and send in crosses to him all day. Doesn’t matter if he’s marked, the dude always gets his head on them.
…so the question Kvartuc asks is: “Does Mandza deserve the start, healthy or not, for Croatia after slumping in checkers during 2017?”
yeah, I’m a Slavonac but that has nothing to do with me defending Mandzukic. I have a question to Kvartuc…why ask that question when at this point of the season, do we have a better option? you’re not gonna suggest that in a 2 game…winner takes all situation, we have someone that can clearly do a better job…or are you?
lets see…we have Rebic, Kalinic, Kramaric, Mandzukic…and? who am I missing?
lets assume all our attackers are healthy, I would start kramaric cause he can score…would you start Rebic or Kalinic over Mandzukic? if so, why?
A must win for Hrvatska! The first game in Zagreb is
vital.
Kevin Spacey grabbed my cock
Have a bet with my fat Greek wife that the loser doesn’t shave their mustache for a month.
Now I don’t know who I want to win.
IM SCARED!!
Here we go Rog, let’s see it @slavonac
Greece will win
Please God don’t let these gurks beat us first game.A Macedonian I worked with once told me count your fingers after shaking a girks hand..they better not steal these games off us.
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