Photo: CroatianSports.com
It wasn’t the most glorious day for Croatian fans, but we should be proud of our boys the way they played against Spain, the world’s best. Here’s a look at what happened at Alpine Village in Torrance, CA.
Please send your own pictures to info@CroatianSports.com so we can post your game experience on the site and share it with the rest of the world. See you all for World Cup qualifying in September.
CroatianSports.com fly in a pršut for the Spain game
1996, 1998, 2008, and 2012. Ina ll of those years, Croatia got robbed of winning the Cups. In 1998, the game was a complete set-up, the refs and the Eurocup obviously made a deal for France to win and move on. In the game before the France and Croatia game, Croatia steamrolled Germany 3-0. Croatia had the best team in that WORLD Cup, but the refs were against them, and that’s how they lost. And now this year, in the Portugal and Spain game, after a Portugese player kicked the ball, the Spanish player slidetackled the Portugese player and hit him on the foot, yellow card for the Spanish player. In the CROATIA vs Spain game, After mandzukic kicks the ball, the Spanish player slidetackles him and hits him on the foot, and nothing is called. It was in the penalty box, but not even a foul? And another one, Corluka is going up for the header and is literally wrestled to the ground by a spanish player, in the penalty box, and yet no foul was called. What I’ve seen in those four years is injustice. Croatia is always going to be in this situation, and it fucking pisses me the fuck off!!! Why does soccer have to be played like this. Why do people want to join these teams and play in these professional teams if such injustice is showed?
When i was a kid, i used to play soccer, and it was really fun and joyful, even when i played in the middle school teams and the high school teams. But in the pro leagues, it has turned into a mafia of highly paid refs that do absolute complete shit!!!!! It’s a betting game nowadays. “may the richest and most popular teams win!” should be the slogan for the World Cup and the Eurocup. My “watching Croatia” days are over. I’m Croatian, but they are always going to be screwed like this, i don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel at all!
The Spanish fans lit up a few flairs at the game.. Lets see if they wil be fined
I think they have the best youth system in the region – former Yugo areas. But, I would not say the best in Europe. Plenty of other examples in France, holland and Portugal, not to even mention the kids who have come up from barca. But, totally agree on mamic.
@ vedran…..no worries.
@likejoey
Finally – a good article from a woman writer for SI.com defending us.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/georgina_turner/06/18/euro.wrap/index.html
Ziva,
By all accounts Dinamo has the best youth academy in Europe. The problem is once theyre older, Mamic pockets the money and sells them once they’re at their best. HNL is not even an amateur league anymore. I’m scared for our future.
I read Modric is wanted by PSG i hope he does not go to a french team.
I wanted to apologize to Ziva Istina. I got too personal with you and look forward to putting this little matter behind me and posting here more.
I am still depressed , and very angry with the refs . This is making me nuts
But I still find it funny that Croatia’s charge is formally a “racism” charge, whereas Germany’s charge for raising a neo-Nazi banner is called “improper conduct”. UEFA cracks me up.
Nevertheless, I’m happy that we don’t seem to be getting any points docks.
I think those German fans putting up that neo-Nazi banner during their game against Denmark may have helped us a bit in this racism charge ruling.
If it was solely Croatian fans that did these things, then I’m sure Platini would have no problem docking points…but now it gets complicated when a Western European leading country like Germany has fans that do similar acts.
Suddenly, countries can no longer be labelled as racist anymore and it become a European-wide issue.
@anonymous so far so good I hope that is it.
Man. I am in a good mood today. 80,000 Euro fine and no point deduction (so far).
Another poor Eastern European team screwed – what else is new? What an uproar it would have been if it were the other way around. Same as our game yesterday. UEFA-mafia. Makes me kinda feel like I’m watching the WWE.
Poor Ukraine. The shot before the goal was originally offside, but this shows how much the 5th referee is a joke. If a referee cannot see the ball go over the line quickly, then why doesn’t goal-line technology become adopted?
A better method must be adopted. But Ukraine was better than England throughout the game. Great job!
@ ziva . thanks for the info. always curious in how that process works
yea watching that ukraine goal not counting almost makes me feel better about the ref job against croatia…almost
All i have to say is that there is some terrible refereeing going on in this tournament! Ukraine clearly scored against England and they didn’t give it to them. I’m not even going to get into our game against Spain! TERRIBLE!
@jm…..somebody else can add more to this, but generally the kids are training with a local club for an U-9 or U-10 team. As they increase in age, kids from other clubs will get a try out with the bigger clubs (dinamo, hajduk, osijek, etcc) based on performance, recomendations, connections or word of mouth. It really starts getting serios at the pioniri, kadeti and junior levels. I can’t vouch for Dinamo, but at hajduk the youth program has been a joke for a long time. The last 18 months or so has been better.
@ ziva istina. thanks for the color. in general what is the standard practice for player development in croatia. some kid looks good in the school yard and gets a tryout with a club who then takes him in and trains him?
No, Asanovic and Jurcevic will be going to Moscow with Bilic. It was a packaged deal.
@Denis congrats that was cool -U-
are Asanovic and Jurcevic still going to be part of the coaching staff?
Good stuff Denis….
@jm……no uproar of the Stimac selection (or what will be the Stimac selection) because we all know who runs the show in Croatian soccer. Mamic wanted to keep power. He got Suker the president’s seats and in an effort to keep the status quo they decided to join forces with Stimac. Remember, the govt. is now looking into the savez and asking for transperancy in all activity. So, instead of Stimac and Mamic going at each other, they decided its better to team up and protect themselves from the govt.
In a perfect world Suker will find religion and begin to bring changes to youth development and the HNL. Its amazing we are able to produce enough talent (with a healthy assist from the diaspora) to challange the likes of Italy, England, Spain, Germany in international competition. Just imagine if some of it was run correctly.
Denis….listening now. Awesome man!
@ ziva. I’m actually kind of surprised there hasn’t been more uproar over the hiring of stimac. A coach with virtually no experience? seems kind of risky and arguably undeserved to me (although I guess Bilic only had 2 years of juniors coaching). i’m not totally sure what the history is of coaches with experience vs those without, but i hope there isn’t too much learning to be done on the job . i think bilic even commented in the paper that he was surprised the tv analysts couldn’t recognize croatia changed formation in the second half vs italy (cough stimac cough cough)
Great effort from Croatia…thought they wouldn’t be competitive after the qualifying. Its a shame about the loss…but have to finish the chances you got….Modric at Barca? Real? Man U? Please not Chelsea or Man City.
Corluka…….hmm, seems like he may be able to hold out and get a deal with a better, bigger club. But, Russia pays well and it is a very good league. I want to wait and see on this one, because rumors in the summer are always all over the place.
@CroatHrvat……thanks for the comments. When I post, I usaually try to keep the emotions away from the topic. Yeah, I was hoping for a Hrvatska win, but I was expecting a 2-0 loss.
As for Stimac…..he really has no coaching pedigree. Which can work for him, but you usually dont hire a coach with basically no experience. Stimac has been caretaker coach at Hajduk and Cibalia; and spent most of the season at NK Zagreb. He three jobs have equaled to less than two years of coaching experience. Less than two years of coaching experience in the HNL. That is not something I think warrants a job as a national team coach. I wont even get into his personal dealings where he ripped off Hajduk.
Guys, check me out on world football daily.
They will have a live show from 10-11am (PST)(Los angeles time)… I will be on the show at 10:30am live..
click on the “on air” button
http://worldfootballdaily.com/
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I thought corluka is being linked to barcelona too…
His playing style is similar to pique…maybe barce wan him as backup to inconsistent pique ?
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/353444/20120618/tottenham-transfer-news-corluka-barcelona-modric-madrid.htm
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=CORLUKA+FOULED+VS+SPAIN&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=963&bih=982&tbm=isch&tbnid=7n2x0NybaC_qGM:&imgrefurl=http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php%3Ft%3D212093%26page%3D30&docid=h5bHHI9wJiro0M&imgurl=http://as01.epimg.net/futbol/imagenes/2012/06/18/eurocopa/1340047906_736726_1340052857_noticia_normal.jpg&w=280&h=280&ei=hp7gT7ynDKbC0AGmpZXADg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=310&vpy=138&dur=3422&hovh=224&hovw=224&tx=162&ty=167&sig=103494540922431390295&page=1&tbnh=146&tbnw=148&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:78
Here’s a link to the photo of the bodyslam on Corluka. Maybe he’s going to Russia to get away from German refs
Corluka going to Russia? WHAT THE HELL! What in god’s name are you doing there in the prime of your career. This is very unpleasant news.
HNS zbog “šupaka” kažnjen s 80 tisuća eura!
http://tinyurl.com/7z8ua32
Also, Ziva Istina, I haven’t been a fan of your various comments throughout the tournament for example, “when we go 2-0 down…” like it was a formality, you seem to have forgotten who Croatia are and what they stand for and you appear to always be backing the safe bet which is fine, but not particularly interesting to read. But what I can’t argue is with the facts you present, you seem to know your stuff, so may I ask you what you know about Stimac and his previous coaching experiences and what the future of Croatian football may look like under Igor?
Vedran Corluka signs with Lokomotiv
Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka will sign an agreement with Lokomotiv Moscow immediately upon returning from the European Championships, the Daily Mail.
Am I correct in assuming the 80,000 Euro fine doesn’t come with any type of point deduction? The case is now finished is it, or do they still have time to impose a point deduction?
Jebiga, nothing to be ashamed of – Best team in the tournament and unfortunately we’re out – the fact that a player like Xavi (arguably top 3 in the world) was non-existent, invisible for the whole game goes to show how good we played – Modric was on another level yesterday and for that matter the whole tournament – Unfortunately it’s hard to move on in any tourny if you don’t score – Rakitic scores that goal 9 times out of 10 – a ref calls at least one of those 2 missed penaties in any other game – we’ve got a solid team here, I’ve never seen a team run that much consistently – lots to be proud of and lots to look forward to!
Srce tuce za Hrvatsku!
Bog i Hrvati
The ref may have not seen it, but that official who is lined up along the goal line should have seen it.
Well I went to watch to re-watch the Mandzukic and Corluka fouls. I think the Mandzukic foul is questonable. I can see why they wouldn’t call it. It was a reckless challenge by ramos but it does look like he hits the ball . But the corluka foul was something else! He had position. The ball was about to land on his head. And he was 2 feet from the goal. It would’ve been a goal if not for a blatant body slam. Bottom line: It was poor refereeing. I can understand why a ref wouldnt have called it. Imagine having to bear that weight. A penalty would’ve arguably given croatia the game wtih only 3 minutes left. It would’ve knocked Spain out of the tournament with their first competitive loss in 4 years. The ref would’ve undoubtedly been in the media spotlight like none other for driving that result even if it was the right call. I can understand why a ref would get whistle shy in that situation, but ultimately a good ref who calls what he sees makes that call. I guess the other question is with all the melee going on in front of the goal, could the ref have seen it confidently enough to call it.
@Allen same thing with me bro! I’m still in shock!!
Oh, and stared down the defending Euro and World Champions and gave them everything they could possibly handle. Be proud, Hrvati!
Honestly, I’m especially stunned at how well we defended all tourney, the Ireland goal aside (Shildenfeld was a freaking BEAST yesterday). Yesterday was a gem of a performance that you can’t even be upset over – we played with passion, we looked to attack, and rather than settle for a scoreless draw, we went balls out for the win. This is the proudest I’ve been of our squad in a long time.
Nothing but good words from ESPN for Hrvatska…
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/334205?campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5901
I’ve watched the game twice now and I’m still sick when I see Pranjic and Vida losing the ball over and over. I was pissed off when they were selected, and I’m even more certain Bilic blew it by picking a new team. Sure we held them out, but who we would have even if Srna had been right back. And Pranjic did zero all day. Terrible. Imagine if Jelavic had been on the end of that header, where he should have been. I am pissed off we didn’t put our best 11 out there, and go for the win from the start. We could have won this match
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/06/18/spain-1-0-croatia-navas-snatches-late-winner/
Good thing I didn’t watch the game with you fellas. I actually had a tear coming out of my eye. I love this team too much to see them get dumped from the tournament this early.
That goal was a joke! I’m starting to get a sense that UEFA really doesn’t like Croatia….we ALWAYS get stuck with stupid refs who ignore the fact that Jelavic and Mandzukic both had obvious fouls thrown their way in the flippin penalty box ( Italy and Spain game) yet nothing was done bout it! Frankly, I’m sick the f**k tired of Cro being screwed over for these supposed powerhouse teams. If I was a Spaniard…I wouldn’t be celebrating but rather hanging my head in shame for that undeserved, ugly ass goal. We had the better chances, btw! Just sayin’!
Kinesio Tape
The blue tape is like a heat strip to keep there muscles loose and warm and supposedly it helps your muscles not get fatigued. A lot of athletes use it. One of the companies is rock tape i think.
Yea , what was the tape on there necks? Looked like 3m blue painters tape .wtf ?
what’s up with those blue band-aids that Perisic had on his neck?
Srna was wearing them too.
@Josip, you and I are in agreement.
Here’s the video I uploaded from the match. You might even say that Ineista’s catch was a handball. What do you think?
https://vimeo.com/44286934
all You can say that Croatia got robbed two Euros in a row first in 2008 for the unblown whistle that sent us to penalties with a team that we shoulda beat easily, well that’s the past. Today the Reffere Wolfsburg made the worst calls since The Josip Simmince and Therney Hennry calls that ruined the game for each team, but hey we can understand two different Reffres making one mistake, but that wasnt the incident today oh no what Wolfsburg did today was the worst job I’d ever seen a reffree ever do. Twp penalties that shoulda gone Croatias way, but no, the time wasting that the Spanish did in the last 2 Minutes which easily took up 30-45 seconds on the counter attack for Croatia, and finally the Goal
Ineista might of appeared off side, but no he wasn’t I’m fine with that, but Jeus was he was a good half a metter from the Croatian defender and I know the rule dose say if he isnt in the play it self it’s not offside, BUT THE GUY SCORED THE GOAL HE IN MY OPPOIN MADE THE PLAY SINCE HE RAN FOR THE BALL WHILE IT WAS ON INEISTAS CHEST.
In my personal Oppion you might not agree with me Wolfsburg should go thought re training for the way he completely through the game away for a Croatian side that played as goods as Any 1998 team ever could.
TY CroatianSports.com
Halafiax, Nova Scoatia
Zadar, Croatia
The refs already fined us today with their decisions. They kicked us out.
FYI regarding this offside deal, never mind the two fouls in the box.
I have read the rule. Iniesta was onside. Navas was passive offside. Which means as long as Iniesta shot directly, nothing was illegal. But once Iniesta plays the ball across to Navas, EVEN IF HE IS BEHIND BALL ON PASS,, he’s still taken an advantage from being offside, so he is now active. That’s how the passive/active onside rule works. That’s how the examples are specifically drawn up in the Laws of the Game. It was a textbook passive-to-active offside call. The refs screwed us and since they represent UEFA, UEFA screwed us.
What more do they want, the entire country at the Hague? Do we have to accept 50 million Africans and Muslims to show we’re not “wacist”. UEFA and FIFA are a joke, they remind me of Elmer Fudd.
If they fine us, we should sue them for travel expenses etc. There is no accountability to the judges. I want their heads on a stake. 🙂
@LikaJoey
Good question. I have heard both scenarios but I am not sure.
if we get points docked will it be for the next euro or world cup qualifying?
@IvicA
I am with you 100 per cent!
However, they are going to dock us points, I hope I am wrong but they are going to try and make an example out of us which is BS!
As you mentioned before we are going to need to appeal.
Looks like we’ll be made examples for the racism thing. Fuck those “fans” seriously.
That Buzz Killington comment above was me.
I swear if they dock points, I’ll lose my mind. We have one of the toughest WC qualifying groups and the Serbs (of all teams) are in it too.
This “Croatia is the only racist team” picture that Platini is trying to sell, ruined the Euros for me. After the Italy game, I lost focus of the tournament and was just livid reading all the nonsensical articles about it.
We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Hopefully it’s just a fine and a home game behind closed doors. It’s a shame we didn’t throw a molotov cocktail (like the Greeks did) instead of the banana. Attempted murder is a lesser crime nowadays than racism.
Tomorrow will be even sadder when we find out what UEFA is going to do with the “racism” example they want to set.
Was the fix ever in with this game. Where to begin here.
16 fouls for Croatia 6 yellow cards. 16 fouls for Spain 0 cards. 2 obvious fouls in the box no PKs. Busquets practically ripped Corlukas shirt off. Why is there a ref behind the net for if an obvious call like that isnt made.
Finally the offside goal. Iniesta handballs the ball to bring it under control, then plays it to Navas who was a kilometer offside. The commentators trying to cover up the obvious blown call claim he wasn’t interfearing with the play. He just put it into an empty net how is that not gaining an advantage? The refs were not about to risk Uefalona Spain getting koed by small Croatia hence no calls.
Why do I get the vibe if we were wearing an England shirt today the result would have been different. We were completely robbed. In the Champions league I saw AC Milan get a PK called against them for a slight shirt tug against Uefalona. Busquets had 2 handfuls of jersey and nothing…what a joke!
Ante and Denis,
Great job on this site.
I just wanted to take the time to thank you guys for the hard work you do for all of us!
I think I picked the wrong day to quit drinking.
🙂
This was a tough group and we had no brakes. At least I did not see any and we will be back stronger and better to see what we can do in Brazil for WC 2014!
A message to everyone to please keep their head up. We have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Sure this is tough one but I would rather be here playing than not playing and we showed the world what we can do!
Hrvatska broj jedan! Zauvijek!
Today is a very,very, Sad day !!! 🙁