Photo: Tino Juric/PIXSELL
Starting XI: Pletikosa – Srna, Maloča, Ćorluka, Pranjić – Rakitić, Badelj, Kranjčar – Mandžukić, Olić, Eduardo
It was a rough night in Split for the Vatreni as Igor Štimac’s debut as national coach did not go as planned. The Croatian defense, which featured first-time Hajduk defender Mario Maloča into the senior squad looked more like Swiss cheese than anything Switzerland had put on the field. The Croatians let the Swiss run at them all night long with plenty room to spare. In the 11th minute, goalie Stipe Pletikosa was unable to parry away a low shot from the right side and the following rebound found Xhaka who ripped it into the top of the net for a 1-0 Swiss lead. Eduardo would level the Vatreni nine minutes later as a Srna cross was deflected to Dudu, who in turn chipped it to himself and left-foot volleyed past the Swiss keeper for a beautiful strike.
However, the lead would not last as Barnetta would take in a rebound off the post to put the Swiss up 2-1 going into halftime. Changes were made at halftime by Štimac but it was not enough as Croatia would concede two more goals due to soft defense. Hajduk striker Ante Vukušić did however make his Croatia senior debut and nearly scored a goal when he stole a bad pass from the Swiss in the back and had his shot go off the crossbar. It would have been a great moment for him on his home ground. Eduardo would cut the deficit to 3-2 when Ivan Perišić beat his man on the left side and put a cross into the box which Dudu put into the back of the net. But it was Mario Gavranovic, a Bosnian-Croat born in Switzerland, who would score two second half goals to ensure Swiss victory.
At the end of the day, Štimac got in some new blood, Eduardo showed that he still has some goals left in the tank and the Croatian defense is still suspect. It’s not the way we would have liked to see things happen, but the boys should be ready for World Cup qualifier #1 vs. Macedonia on September 7th. Luka Modrić played only 30 minutes on the night and he is rumored to take a flight to Madrid after the match to finalize paper work with Real.
FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
ouch
Our strength is when we play for pride and country. Bilic knew this and that is why thompson songs were played. Sammir will ruin this team.
stimac will bring us down because of his narcsissim. the 2 teams in the final of the euros were in our group. we were right there. i was proud of our repka. stimac will bring us backward.
@ jelic
it was a similar situation last year. but modric played came back and led the spurs to a great start of the season. i think the spurs will probalby be much weaker this year, but in the end its just business. modric can come back and play just fine
I also expect a deal to still happen. I don’t see him going back to spurs though if it doesn’t happen.
It would take a lot for him to swallow his pride and slink back with his tail between his legs and certainly Villas Boa wouldn’t want a “bad influence” in the team. This is why I suspect ultimately Levy does capitulate and sell. They need cash to fund futher purchases.
I admire Levy’s moxy sucking as much as he can out of RM!
Then he goes back to Spurs and plays until the January transfer window. Spurs is not going to sit him and keep paying him not to play. And if they do sit him???? Big deal, Modric still gets paid.
When you have a special skill set you don’t get treated like the average worker (or in this case the average soccer player).
I still think the deal gets done before the end of the month.
And if the deal doesn’t happen by August 31st, then what?
I’m with Modric on this one. He wanted to go to Real and I still think he will end up with them. This is Luka’s life and who is anyone to say he should not have done this. BTW, I also think the way Spurs has handled this has bee n good as well. They are trying to maximize his value. Both sides needed to do what is in their best interest.
If you have an opportunity to go work at a “dream job,” wouldn’t you try everything in your power to make that happen. This type of stuff happens in the real world all of the time when trying to deal with no-compete clauses in contracts.
I say bravo to Modric. Playing for a team like Real Madrid is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Nothing wrong trying to realize that dream.
Luka’s own fault really! He painted himself in a corner wanting to go to just one team. No price tension means Levy has RM by the short and curlies……now what Luka?!?!
LOL! I’m so over this shit man!
http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/mourinho-pukao-luki-pred-potpis-propao-transfer-u-real-278039
Suddenly Bilic and Markovic don’t sound so bad
I doesn’t surprise me with this lot of crooked slime bags, but still i’m left feeling speechless……..??
Boze moj…
Pada u sranju je novi predmet.
Good lord at this news. This sport seriously depresses me, oh well still got to keep a positive mind but I agree putting your full emotion in a team run by clowns is stupid.
It wasn’t Boban. Suker and Stimac controlled that locker room.
You wanna talk puppets… apparently Ciro had absolutely no role in masterminding the ’98 World Cup achievement… all he did was wear his policeman’s hat and smoke while players like Boban told him what they were going to do.
I think Ciro would just ruin his image with this bunch of guys. If i were him I’d stay away unless he had full control.
I would take him over Igor. This team needs motivation.
I wouldn’t mind Ciro having some type of advisor role. Stimac needs all the help he can get. I’ve even offered up my services to him.
It looks like Ciro is trying to weasel his way back into the HNS somehow too.
http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/stimac-me-zvao-u-stozer-za-dvije-kvalifikacijske-utakmice-277961
Is this Sammir any good? From what I read he barely makes the NT. Fucken mafia shit heads. Is the goal to sell this guy in the Transfer window down the road?
FU Sammy you have no right to wear our colors. I will boo you until I turn blue. I have accepted Da Silva but thats it. No Sammir!!!
@ Ziva
I thought they would at least wait a bit lol literally a month and change into the regime and Sammir is getting a call-up already…
I feel the same way about the NT now. With these jerkoffs in chage, it won’t sting as much when we lose/don’t qualify. I’ll still root for the repka, watch games, but this whole merry band of criminals makes my stomach turn…
No shock in the Sammir news.
Going forward it will be tough to root for the repka knowing who we have as the coach (Stimac) and knowing who (Mamic) is leading who (Puppet Suker).
This time around I won’t be so down when we fail to qualify for the WC. Failing with Bilic was at least understandble as Bilic and his staff at least had some credibility and integrity, but not with these clowns.
Štimca muče Modrić i Kranjčar , za Makedoniju pozivnica ide – Sammiru!
http://sportske.jutarnji.hr/modric-i-kranjcar-muce-stimca–za–operaciju-makedonija–ide-pozivnica—sammiru-/1048136/
and let the shit storm officially begin….
@jaimejivi
Haven’t heard anything about it in a while, maybe with the new ownership now and new cashflow, I’m sure they’ll look at it again…
I love Some of the posts on here….classic stuff…. My 2 kune….
1) I wasn’t going to go to the game but ended up going last minute. I found MLS soccer more entertaining than what I watched yesterday….
2) there were about 10000 fans. Zapad was a 1/4 full, istok 1/2 and sjever minimal…. And those are approximate…. Remember the stadium only fits 35000 for uefa games….
3) most of the fans there were tourists and did boo suker and stimax
@Armada what happened with Rujevica, there is still a plan to build a new stadium in Rijeka?
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/3753/germany/2012/07/27/3269909/hamburg-close-in-on-dinamo-zagreb-midfielder-badelj
Hey Allen Steven have a read of “The Fix” by Declan Hill and you qill quickly find international soccer is just as crooked as club soccer.
Focus on the ’84 World Cup and a few African teams’ match fixing. Anywhere soccer players are not paid regularly or are paid sporadically there is opportunity for match fixing.
It happens all the time, everywhere!
@Allen Steven
“With all the crooked BS in club soccer with RVP going to Man Utd which sickens me, I’m starting to really take national tournaments with even more serious and very fortunate for it. I’ve had just about enough with club soccer and being emotionally invested in it. Croatia is the only thing that truly matters so thats my little rant. Macedonia is the opener and I’m stoked for it.’
Nicely done and good to have you back!
Other than friendly, maybe a cameo against Scotland or Wales in a game were up by two or more goals in qualifiers but thats it. I don’t want to see him appear just yet.
With all the crooked BS in club soccer with RVP going to Man Utd which sickens me, I’m starting to really take national tournaments with even more serious and very fortunate for it. I’ve had just about enough with club soccer and being emotionally invested in it. Croatia is the only thing that truly matters so thats my little rant. Macedonia is the opener and I’m stoked for it.
Lets see what Kovacic does at Dinamo before we put him on the repka without deserving to be on it.
Kovacic is still young. He has been good, but has not stood out with Dinamo.
Would have liked to see Kovacic get out there with Modric and see how they link up with one another.
Not too worried about this game, it was lightly taken by some of our players on the pitch. Good to see new faces on the team and Eduardo always showing up. Vukusic needs more time, he’s going to do real well for us.
What we did at the Euros was in the role of an underdog. Nobody realistically expected us to get out of that group since it included Italy and Spain. I think we played with house money and it is always easier to play when less is expected out of you.
Different story this time around. Even though I consider Belgium (that talent they have has to turn up at some point) the favorite in our group, many fans and media members will consider Cro the favorite to win the group. So, a different set of expectations with this qualifying group.
Yesterday should be thrown out and not even looked at. It was a chance for Stimac to use a system he prefers. Now that he has seen it, he knows it wont work against decent teams.
First game is three weeks away. Modric is a question mark. As goes Modric, so go we.
@ Toni
We never received more than $100 for the original “Bring the Croatian national side to North America” plan. The was barely when Croatian soccer Report began. We’ve develpoed more realistic goals since then. We used the little cash that we received to print shirts etc id you were wondering.
@ anonymous,
There are time stamps under each comment with date and time.
@ the WC 2014 group
A lot of folks on here are talking about us not being the favorites in our group and battling it out for 2nd?
Yes, I haven’t gotten a chance to sit down and watch the replay from yesterday but from the highlights I saw and the articles and forums I’ve read, it wasn’t pretty. But like others have said, it was a bullshit friendly in August against a pretty decent Swiss side.
Usually when the repka has it’s back against the wall, we play like hell and usually produce results. Look at the last Euro. We destroyed ROI and played two great games against the winner and runner-up of the Euro. I think we gave Spain their toughest test in the Euro. We could of easily tied that game.
Now – if we showed up to play with a make shift backline and we held our own vs. the likes of Italy and Spain – you guys think we can’t do that vs. Wales, Scotland, Serbia, Belgium? LOL
Yes, Slaven was at the helm for the Euro and tactically he got his shit right for the tournament.
We have the quality and the players for the WC quals. I see good ‘bounce back’ years for Carli, Niko Kranjcar, Ivan Rakitic and I see guys like Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren and Nikica Jelavic only getting better.
The biggest wild card is Stimac. If he sticks to his guns (aka the types of squads Bilic used) and plays our most in-form players, in their natural positions and we play an attacking style of football with so-so defenders who’ll bust their asses, we should be fine. That’s a few ‘what if’s’ but I think as long as he doesn’t deviate from that and doesn’t start guys like Dario Knezevic, Vukusic, Maloca, Badelj, etc. we should be alright. We’ll drop some points of course, but I see us winning this group still.
C’MON MOMCI – A LITTLE POSITIVE THINKING NEVER HURT ANYONE 😉
I know we should not read too much into friendlies.
My biggest concern (major major red flag) is the 4-3-3 formation. Is Stimac tinkering or is this the formation that they’ll play going forward?
If this is the intended formation going forward I think we will struggle… 2nd in the group would be an achievement.
I think this is a reality check for most of you though for who wants to see the youth in friendlies. Bilic didn’t experiment here to much and these are the worst friendlies in August as nobody is in any form and anything is possible. It is a worry to allow 4 but these were a chance for brink players to prove their worth….only Dudu did!
Stimac needs a reality check as he think Spain are easily mocked team and I think he got this reality check today. We won’t see a midfield tandem of Rakitic, Kranjcar, and Badelj in any serious match. We won’t see Olic, Dudu, and Mandza up top and we wont see Maloca in any serious games.
We won’t have to worry to much about Stimac because he has to get into this side and his feet have to hit the ground running. He isn’t expected to win this group simply qualify for to WC. Its a long qualifying process and he has time. I didn’t think it would be easy for him or anyone replacing Bilic and this is a reality check for everyone.
In the end get it fixed and lets get through this. We may not have a France, Spain, or Italy in our group but we have a group where you can drop points to any single team in the group and we will drop points! But so will every other team…
@ Denis a suggestion:
Can you put something on the posts that numbers them or time stamps them. it becomes tough to figure out what you’ve read and what you havne’t when the number of posts like in this one gets so large. just a suggestion
“a balloon waving playground”
Man, that was a good one. I’m pissed I didn’t think of that one because I know what he means. Also don’t forget to call it “the place where we burn our chairs for the fuck of it”.
Poljud is more than a ballon-waving playground. It’s also a flag-waving playground, the greatest collection of urine decor on this side of Adriatic and the center for undercooked cevape and cheap, warm beer.
Lets drop this nonsense about where the games are played. If this was in Maksimir last night there would have been less than 10K in that stadium as well.
If the savez wanted to take this game seriously they would have played it on the road. Teams always take road game more serious. Playing this game in Split gave all of these guys a 3-day vacation and time to catch up with friends and family who visited them.
I sometime marvel at the disconnect with the people in Cro and the diaspora. It seemed that the majority of posts on the website were shocked at the low turnout yesterday. Do you guys follow the news in Cro? I don’t mean to be an ass, but it ‘s a serios question. If you did, you would know there was going to be a low turnout for the match. The public will support the repka when they need to, but the public doesn’t like the people who are leading the savez and the coach for the national team. People may not have liked Bilic as a coach, but that was based on his tactical decisions. Outside of the field, people liked Bilic and respected him. Stimac and Suker are a different story.
@Jelic
Interesting bit about mafia in Ljubuski…
My old man is from there, and I’ve been numerous times.
Makes me proud to be a Hercegovac! 🙂
@ante
“the poljud is just a balloon waving playground”
LOL – thanks for the laugh this morning!
The NT is still undefeated at the new ‘fortress’ aka STADION KANTRIDA 😀
the crowd always gets up for games, they’re always loud plus the views of the Jadransko More are breathtaking
jusssssssssstttttttttt sayyyyyyyin 😉
@Allen Steven
“That 3rd goal was hilarious, Malcocka just totally wiffed and fell on his ass. Good luck in your future national team endeavors.”
LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!! Fucking great!
Pranjic needs to get out as well. He’s always stunk as a left back and today showed it. Strinic had a great Euro Cup, where the hell was he? Strinic is miles better than Pranjic and its not even a debate. When do you see Strinic that out of place defensively.
Badelj seemed to enjoy his light jog out there. It amazes me the press that this guy gets when he half assed which doesn’t surprise me. That 3rd goal was hilarious, Malcocka just totally wiffed and fell on his ass. Good luck in your future national team endeavors.
Good thing I decided to work instead of watching the game. I’m just going to ignore this and go into next game with clear mind. It seemed like a rough scene and its becoming a ritual that Croatia plays like garbage in friendlies.
As long as Modric is ready September vs Belgium, I’ll be happy Ziva. Also Ziva’s comments were awesome, congrats bud your dry humor has me laughing pretty hard. Simunic and Olic need to go, it’s all about youth…except Malcocka.
@Ziva
Also, I am well aware of Toronto Croatia in the Canadian Pr league out there (although calling it a pro league may be too much of a word). I’ve heard that league is fixed, matches are rigged and Toronto Cro doesn’t have any type of fan base.
Bang on re all above. A few years back, there was a significant mafia interest in one of the newer CSL teams with a bunch of imports brought in, whose income was supplemented substantially game by game based on pre-determined results. It was hilarious as the biggest rooting interest was centred in Ljubuski (centre of the known universe) as betting on CSL games proved quite “lucrative” for more than a few locals!
Joke league.
P.S. Not paying players in the CSL actually makes it quite similiar to the HNS! LOL
Yes, Croatia plays to the level of their opponent. Look at how bad we play against lower teams. We had done this since the 2010 WC qualifiers when we couldn’t beat the UKR and could only score two goals against Andorra. People seem to be worried about Belgium but I say we beat them in a good game. I worry about losing to Scottland.
Ovaj poraz neće ubiti moj optimizam
http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=37&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=176692&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=34&cHash=e7445eb238
i guess what i don’t get is that this was a friendly for both teams. why does croatia have to come out as the one looking awful when the game was meaningless for both. are the players on croatia more big time than those of switzerland so that they simply cared less? are the croatians simply less willing to get up for a big game?
@Ante….. Fuck you typical Zagreb faggot.
Well it is clear that there was no hustle except for DaSilva. I think he wants to be in Brazil in 2014 as a starter. He can do it. The team just held back. However, Igor is not pleased.
http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Sports/2012-08-16/29014/New_Croatia_coach_starts_reign_with_loss_and_issues_warning_to_players
Call me crazy but I would have liked to have seen us try playing Vida as a CDM. He fairs well pushing forward at Dinamo and is naturally a defender. Would have been worth a try since Vukojevic isn’t very good.
@Ante……what are you 10-yrs old? You do realize that the people of Split/Dalmatia/all of Hrvatska hate Stimac.
@Toni…..Hrvatska gets nothing out of playing Canada. Yes, they could sell out a 20K stadium, but I’ not sure that covers the expenses. Only way Hrvatska will show up in NA is this way: By not being able to qualify for a euro or WC, so instead of playing warm up friendlies in Europe heading into a euro or WC, we would be able to play less meaningless friendlies in NA. This summer would have been that opportunity if we had not qualified for the euros. But, you would also have the bigger names bailing on the trip. Last thing some of the vets on the team want to do is fly across the globe for games that mean nothing.
Also, I am well aware of Toronto Croatia in the Canadian Pr league out there (although calling it a pro league may be too much of a word). I’ve heard that league is fixed, matches are rigged and Toronto Cro doesn’t have any type of fan base.
Dukic jebi se again, where were u , u pussie
Fuk Stimac and his hajduk split connections, tryn to turn the national team into some sort of Split Gang, Fukn Gypsies along with the shit poljud sstadium. Therees a reason why we are so good at maksimir and its because no one likes going there, Fuk modern colorful stadiums, maksimir is the birth of modern croatia and all you hajduk cunts will start on me now but the truth hurs, the bbb put their lives on the line at the ground so for that there is history, the poljud is just a balloon waving playground.
its easy that bbb gave an ass whooping when it was 20 against 5. hence again pussies.
@ ZIva
If Croatia played in Canada it would be in Toronto at BMO field which can hold a bit over 21,000 if I remember correctly. I can guarantee if the team showed up with most of their starters it would sell out.
Don’t underestimate the Canadian national team. They beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in a friendly today and for Canada that is a huge accomplishment considering they can never manage to beat the likes of Jamaica and Honduras, some of the middle tier CONCACAF teams. Also T & T have been in a WC a lot more recent than Canada (2006/1986 respectively). A Croatia v. Canada game would make a lot of sense, reward the Croatian community in Ontario for their strong support for Croatian soccer, hell we have a team in the Canadian Soccer League called, you guessed it, Toronto CROATIA and it will give the national some more exposure and credibility. There are many people here in Ontario from every walk of life that know of Croatian players like Olic and Modric and admire how the national team plays. To say its not worth it or there would be no interest is not true.
Btw I was at the Dinamo and Rangers match more than a few years ago and the turnout (20,000) was decent for a couple of small clubs on the international scene. I believe Dinamo fans outnumbered the Rangers fans.
I’m still waiting on a reply from the heads of CSR as to how their drive to channel funds to making an NA appearance is doing.
P.S. Hrvatska will beat Macedonia. How they will fare in Belgium against a stacked, hungry and well-coached Belgium team IN Belgium is not promising.
HNS, pederi, nogomet ste sjebali”, “Štimac turčine, napuši se kurčine” i “Jebo vas Mamić” bili su samo neki od povika koji su se jasno čuli s tribina. Split nije prijateljski dočekao Štimca.
Guys, Mamic/Stimac/Suker truly is a step backwards for Croatian Soccer.
One more thing……..Modric will not be ready for Sept. 7
Assuming he signs tomorrow with Real Madrid, how many games do you think he will get in before Sept. 7.
@Colin……the only smart people were the ones who did not go to the game. Well done. The people in Cro are not as stupid as we make them out to be, at least when it comes to sports (totally dumb when it comes economic and political matters). They see who runs this savez (mamic and suker) and they see who is the coach (stimac). They have no respect for them.
The public will show up for the games that matter, but in no way should the public show up for worthless games like this.
I was alluding to this type of turnout yesterday and I was proud with the lack of fans in the stands today.
The problem today were the holding MFers (Badelj and Rakitic). With the way we played with Srna and Pranjic pushing up the wings, Corluka and Maloca needed help from the CMF to cover for Srna and Pranjic. They did not get that. Maloca may be good one day, but he did nothing today that will warrant another call up.
This is my two cents and that just from watching the highlight video and reading minute by minute….Switzerland has a solid team, more solid than most people are used to seeing which in doubt is credit to the high number of first generation immigrants on their team…. obvious statement, solid bunch…I also think Stimac experimented a bit more than the Swiss coach did, so that pays some credit back to him
Obviously it has to be mentioned how embarrassing the defense was, I agree with Ante 100%, Maloca will get better, he’s still relatively young and has plenty of time to get better (especially if Stimac likes the player, who saw him getting called up while Bilic was coach?) so I’m not worried about him…obviously lovren and shildy being out didn’t help at all and that defense from the left side was f**ing embarrassing…I’ll chalk that up to it being a friendly or Rakitic feeling bad for his former countrymen cause he didnt cover worth a shit and made Switzerland look entirely too good in the process
Nothing has changed since pre-Euro Cup…we still have a lot of depth at forward and midfield (maybe even too much) and at defense we’re thin, but God willing, and Mary since it’s Velika Gospa today, our prime defenders will be healthy for September 7th (my birthday) and Croatia will do what they do best, get points when they have to
Only thing that surprised me is that Jelavic didn’t see the pitch, either he’s injured, carrying a slight knock, or he’s in the shit house…I remember reading something that Stimac didn’t favor him….anyone who’s played knows how it is to have a coach you’re out of favor with, no matter how well you play, you’re always in the shit house
What Stimac has to watch out for? Same shit Croatia has been having a problem with, who to play at holding midfield…if you’re going to play a system heavily reliant on outside defenders for crossing service or to give width to the attack, you’ll always be suspect to the counter and basically leaving wholes in the defense, now if you clog up the middle you can delay that long enough for everyone to get back, but if you have a holding defender (where Badelj played today) that is more offensively minded, you’re going to get f***ed very often, as we saw today…simple solution would be Vukojevic if he had any sort of skill passing or controlling play, since that isn’t the case, Stimac will have to be very clear with Badelj or whoever else he wants to try at stopper (effectively what the position is) to calm the hell down and hold back….we have Modric to create
Also, I blame the Split “fans” that didn’t show up on the loss. Friendly or not, big game, small game, blah blah blah. Fucking go. Go ahead. Crucify me for saying that.
On a lighter note, USA just beat Mexico IN Mexico City. Friendly or not, that is big.
We got thrashed like a ciganka in a cro brothel! On another note the stream on the site was fucking awesome. Keep em coming.
Sounds like the BBB put yet another beating on the Torcida. It’s just too bad it had to be at a repka game, so fucking stupid.
Everyone needs to relax…
Just a friendly and players who would usually never play, did. Give Maloca a break, it was his first cap in front of his home fans. He’s probably still digging the shit out of his shorts from today.
Croatians are very extreme people. If we win today, Croatian media are saying that Stimac is a king and will get us to Brazil. We lost to the Swiss and now he’s hiding from HRT after the game. Ridiculous.
I just spoke to a Sportske Novosti writer in Zagreb and he says the media has to report that way to sell papers. There is no grey. Only black or white.
The Germans lost today. You think they’re panicking about the World Cup? Nope. Same with Italy.
It’s all mentality and every time we lose, we’re the worst team in the world. If we win, we’re the best. It’s ridiculous.
We lost a friendly. A practice game. Yes you read that right.
We just better not lost to Macedonia…because that’s a whole other sh** storm there.
highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzj0yp-KOpI&feature=g-all-u
Full match: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV9vBxLde14&feature=channel&list=UL
Štimac nakon poraza nije izašao pred kamere HTV-a!
http://sportski.net.hr/nogomet/reprezentacija/izbornik-igor-stimac-nije-se-pojavio-pred-kamerama-nakon-poraza-od-svicarske
Then what is Vuko? And do you really think we should play 2 attacking mids in the center?
Vukojevic a ball winning midfielder? hahahahaha
Funniest line of the day
And that included all the useless sh*t Ziva posted today!
The guys were as excited as a kid getting his teeth checked at the dentist today. You could see Stimac willing them to do something, but they are all about to start the season.
They’re probably all wiping the sand off their face from the summer break and the only guy that doesn’t get much playing time for either club or country scored both of our goals today.
Sucks to lose, but I’m not too worried yet.
good, I hope Macedonia win in September…the sooner the goons leave the bettr (Suker-Mamic-Stimac)
When you throw in Lovren or Schildenfeld + Strinic and a ball winning mid (Vuko) then I think were gonna be alright
– Bilo je dobro, spektakularno. Hvala Splitu, hvala Poljudu i vidimo se – uz osmijeh je rekao Šuker
What he really means: He is fucking pissed and will be scheduling games here as little as possible.
bbb starting trouble in split. pussies.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. Stimac is a hot-head and will start to divide the players….then there will be some who will come out and say they will not play for the repka until he is gone.
No doubt about it. Back to the typical Balkan mentality days with him and Suker.
I think Croatian fans and media can be too much at times.
I would rather see Cro lose and play the way they did today then to win and play the way they did in many of Slaven Bilic’s friendlies (not that I’m against Bilic).
Any team that goes down a few goals, loses momentum and becomes a little discouraged while the opponents are on a high.
I agree with someone above who said you can’t always tell a game by the score.
For example, I know two Italian soccer fans who were very impressed with Italy’s performance when they lost 3-0 to Russia in a freindly just before the Euros. Ironically, this game gave them great hope that Italy was going to do well in the Euro’s, which they did.
If Stimac can stay cool headed, I like what I see so far!
This is what stimac thought of the game
http://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Nogomet/tabid/84/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/184322/Default.aspx
@Ante B.
You got it Brate!
Just let me know!
I like to see Badelj as a defensive mid. He may not be able to defend and break up the oppositions midfield as well as Vukojevic, but he’s got tallent. He can move the ball around, creat chances, and score from outside the penalty area.
I also like seeing Vida as a central D.
I don’t think the game was as bad as most people think.
Remember, the Swiss are a young, talented team that beat Germany 5-3 just before the Euros. Supposedly they dominated the whole game. They may become a force in the near future, if not already. I’m glad they are not in Cro’s group.
Also, Cro was playing a lot of their subs. I’m sure the score would have been different had they started all their best players.
My biggest concern from the very beginig has been Stimac’s personallity. I’ve always been concerned that he’s going to become a coach that the players hate. I hope he didn’t come down too hard on the players, who did not play all that bad, except for some defensive blundersl. At some points in the game they looked great.
I don’t think Maloca was that bad. Okay, Schildenfield and Lovren are better but the main problem was the lack of defensive power. When you play a 4-3-3, you need the backs Srna and Pranjic to think about the defense first. You also need players in the midfield who think about the defense too and you need strikers(Olic and Eduardo) who come and help the defense. I like a 4-3-3 system but at this point, the players aren’t ready. Badelj and Rakitic are both great players but they they actually playmakers. I know people don’t like him too much, but Vukojevic is needed in the midfield. Niko Krancjar is at this point not good enough anymore while Mandzukic and Jelavic are still way better than Vukusic. The player who ran the most, was Pranjic. He didn’t play great but at least he gave himself for the full 100%.
Stimac has coached before. he has coached at such powerhouses as Hajduk, Cibalia and Zagreb.
That right there are resume builders that can lead any man to coach a national team.
And the two firms were at it again lol
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/veliki-okrsaj-u-splitu-demoliran-kafic-pomlatili-se-torcida-i-bad-blue-boysi/631629.aspx
Poglavnice,
If I ever come up there, we still on for drinks? I know you have some rakija somewhere in your basement.
Gavranovic has done nothing is his career so far that warranted a call up from Hrvatska.
The game meant nothing. Hell, Germany lost to Argentina today 3-1.
I think we are fighting for 2nd place in our group.
can someone remind again if stimac has ever coached before?
The ghost of Bilic still casting its shadow … maybe he should’ve given Gavranovic a looksee 🙂
Good on Stimac for giving the young guys some PT, result doesn’t matter here, and they’ll be much better come qualifying. If nothing else this’ll ramp up the build-up to the first qualifiers. Nice to see Dudu show he’s still got it, too bad Bilic didn’t give him a shot at euros.
Boy when Mandzo looks bad he really looks awful!
Man those 4 goals brings back bad memories from 2010.
Srna and Eduardo are the best
Vote Jobbik!!!
Any news on Dejan?
Some kind of way, this is all the fault of Daniel Levy.
This is not a good start
this 0-6-4 formation aint gonna take us too far. Belgium just took a 3-2 lead on holland but it could easily be 5-2. theyve been better all game and uf we play like this in brussels theyll spank us 8-0
stimac is disgusting, he wasted a friendly, you either try things and put on younger players and try new things or you go all out full strength squad and see what you can do with your best ability. he did neither, instead got humiliated at home. SRAMOTA! and a waste
Malaka is young give him time.
Now we have to deal with all those asshole swiss blowing their car horns and waving their flags in our faces all the way back home.
“Somewhere right now Joe Simunic is jerking off watching this game.”
LOL!
Deservedly so. He is not the only one. Wow Maloca was bad! Friendly or not……
Can’t wait for the qualifiers! Not sad about the game at all. Now, Stimac has to switch up some things, and the players will be more fit because of incoming league games.
Fire Stimac 😉
Well, someone had to say it first.
Forget today’s game. I still think Belgium is the favorite in our group. At some point all that young talent they have has to come together, no???/
As for us….remember this, we wont have Maloca in the back for games that actually matter, so that is a step in the right direction. Somewhere right now Joe Simunic is jerking off watching this game.
After watching all of the Euro 2012 matches, I have forgotten how slow these friendlies usually are. Frankly, I had more fun watching the women in the Olympics.
@Ante B
Vancouver, BC, so probably not…
the best of today game?????????
Getting to read the headline and articles later today and tomorrow regarding Stimac. Again, one bad game should not be used as a barometer in measuring Stimac and this team, but it sure will be entertaining to read knowing the overreaction tendancies our media and fans.
This is going to be fun.
I’ll take Sifo over Maloca any damn day. I hope it’s his first and last game for the repka and that he calls up Sifo again.
@ Maury Povich
We also let in three goals from the Swedes. It’s just a friendly, nothing less. What’s more important is how the team works together than how many goals we concede in this experiment.
You see we no good. How we gonna beat Belgium?
Poglavnice,
Where on the West Coast are you? Do I know you? SJ or LA?
I know this is a friendly by letting four goals in by the swiss is a disgrace.
How bad is Joe Simunic??????/
So bad, he can’t even get called up to play on a team featuring this defense that we are showing today.
I think we could have won today with Gavranovic.
No offense to Gavranovic, but he actually had a chance to dribble through without anyone trying to intercept him and actually had a chance to look up (probably could have waved to the fans too) and shoot. I would have scored on that play.
Can’t wait for the first comments as to why gavranovic is not on our repka?????
Waiting for the overreaction in 3,2,1….
What a goal from Gavranovic!
Wow, great effort guys. Show up next month please.
@Ziva
Ok thanks that was always a mystery as to what they did to him.
Rakitic’s family was not threatened or deported. His old man owns a business in Switz and had some minor issues like contracts being pulled.
@Maury
Any pro goalkeeper would have saved Rakitic’s header…..especially when it’s right at them.
As bad as Maloca has been today (and he has been bad) Rakitic is even worse with his defending. His defensive effort is terrible and many of the problems faced by our defenders is a result of poor marking by Rakitic and Badelj (first half)
I havent see any on Drmic of late. Maybe the Swiss threatened his family like they did to Rakitic. BTW does anyone know how they were threatened. I mean were they to be deported or was it physical?
Bravo Eduardo.
The best thing to come of it is Dudu showing he isn’t ready to be forgotten and that he is here and in form. He is the joker in the pack and if he can return to a steady form for us he is still our best striker. Its nice to see the likes of Mandza, Jelavic, and co. coming good because that was a big issue a few years back but now if Dudu can play like this it will be amazing options up top.
Drmic will play for cro one day. The reason he has not gotten a call is because he is not ready for the repka. If he waits, he will get the call when he deserves it based on his play and not based on his whining that he wants to play for Cro.
@Ziva
Hrvati on the left coast are not cheap.
Stupid, maybe. Cheap, no.
We pay $20 a game to watch at the Hrvatski Centar and its packed for every friendly or meaningful game.
Rakitic header was a good one. Spain Goalie made a great play.
quesiton. anyone know what the word is on that swiss born croat drmic? from what i remember reading, he is a pretty talented player, believe he scored the winning goal against the croat u-21 team last time they played the swiss and he wants toplay for coratia but has’nt gotten a call he said
Mr. Eduardo Da Silva WRECKING THE SHOW SAYING FUCK YOU BILIC!
Maybe Srna is praying? ~~~~~Wa Wa WAAAA
If there are some positives it’s that Eduardo is showing glimpses of his “old” self and Vukusic showing some flashes.
By the way, did you guys see who was behing the Brazilian-born Hrvat on that header….none other than Rakitic. I think we all know where his header would have ended up.
Nice work by perisic and the Brazilian-born Hrvat.
Who else!!!!
And there we go….Srna is rolling around on the ground. You couldn’t have a game with the repka without Srna rolling around. Now, i can sleep better.
Wow! That was close!
Gavraniovic is a croat born in Switzerland that HNS showed not much interest in
Joe Simunic thinks Maloca is over-the-hill and washed up.
@Ziva Istina
Why ask why?
Gavranovic is cro.
also, Igor Tudor is definetly leaving his imprint on this defense. I change my mind, I think the Igor Stimac era will be fun to watch.
And to some of you wondering why the stands are empty. The public is smart. They knew this was going to the type of effort put forward today. Why would they want to waste time and money on a game that doesn’t count.
“word of advice to some you…….don’t form your opinion on Stimac or this team based on this game. this is not the first time we have seen national teams sleepwalk through a game.”
Than why say?
This is awesome. Maloca is doing his best to make sure Stimac never calls him up again.
We cannot do anything on here… Wow! Just watch the game.
The fans look bored out of their minds when they zoom in….they look like Amerikanci at a baseball game with that spaced-out look and talking on their cell phones (not that I can blame them).
What is Gavranovic
OMG awful. well it was fun.
word of advice to some you…….don’t form your opinion on Stimac or this team based on this game. this is not the first time we have seen national teams sleepwalk through a game.
remember, these games are meaningless and are treated as such.
Maloca is done…..
LOL!
This is awesome. Maloca is doing his best to make sure Stimac never calls him up again.
I have a feeling that this Stimac era won’t go so well.
disgusting
@homo…..stadium would be still be empty even if it was not Gospa.
That was pretty cool at halftime, showing Croatia back in 1940 in their first game also playing against Switzerland.
its Velika Gospa today, people are with families and celebrating one of the biggest days of the year in Croatia, stadiums empty because of that reason,
I wouldn’t say they are tanking it, instead they are just going through the motions. I think we will see a better 2nd half with the subs.
I never understood why FIFA has this date on their calendar. It makes no sense. Almost all of the leagues around the world have just started or about to start (La Liga, EPL and Bundesliga this weekend) and the players are more invested into the start of their club season.
Awesome goal by Eduardo, wish he got more time to play in the EUROs. Great to see Stimac likewise giving him the chance to play.
Gee why bother? Most of the guys are tanking it. Well if they need to tank let them tank here but now I have to worry about the real games next month.
@Tudjman…..calling people cheap is not the answer. Some people just don’t care. I would go, but I would not call out someone for being too cheap. Some people prefer to watch at home and not deal going to a game and having to encounter traffic and drunk fans.
The hrvati in Chicago would go to serb or bosnia game instead. The hrvati on the left coast…. I wonder if they even know where hrvatska is on a map.
I miss Bilic. 🙁
The defenders are just standing around watching the game.
I love how any game without Modric the offensive strategy is: play ball wide right to Srna, cross into box.
The defending by the two defensive MFers (Badelj and Rakitic) has been terrible. Way too much open space given; not much Corluka and Maloca can do.
Fucking Štimac.
wow the defending is just awful. No effort
I’m more interested in the formation than lineup. Look very disorganized.
Regarding the earlier discussion of the National team coming to the States, it’s not happening any time soon. If they played at Red Bull Arena in NJ, they might not sell out. I can’t speak for the Croats in Chicago and California, but the New Jersey and New York Croats are too cheap to pay $60 and parking to see their team play (unless it’s against a top team).
Regarding the “boycott”, I understand it, but if you’re going to the game, don’t take it out on the players (who admitted that the eerie quiet threw them off). A real boycott is not showing up at all and speaking with your wallet. What Ante is saying is correct…..why should a Croat spend their hard earned money on a friendly at this time of year in the summer?
that is the line up. Don’t read anyhting into it, Stimac plans to play everyone today.
these are meaningless friendles, this is what you do.
couple questions since i have no feed:
1) Is this really the starting line up?
Pletikosa – Srna, Čorluka, Maloča, Pranjić – Badelj, Kranjčar – Mandžukić, Rakitić, Dudu, Olić
2) Olic is still on the team? i thought he retired from international comp
What’s up with the formation today?
4-3-3?
I have played on fields in better shape than this 🙁
Who would win a 100m race: Niko Kranjcar or 80-yr baba
To all you Eduardo haters out there, IN YOUR FACE!
You have a better chance of the repka going to Australia than coming to NA.
man, nice goal by the Brazilian-born Hrvat
Holy Shit! What a strike from Eduardo!
WHAT A GOAL!!!!
Nice goal DUDU!!!!!
You’re right and that one also didn’t come close to selling out if I recall. They got high 20,000 to attend when the place holds 50,000.
The reality is that these promoters know their audiences pretty well. If there was a burning demand, it woudl have been filled.
Btw, 1-0 Swiss in a near empty Poljud.
Is there a worse field than Poljud???? The field looks terrible.
@Ziva
Yeah me too.
Sorry Dude!
I mistook that one comment of yours…
@Jelic it doesn’t have to be vs Canada. Serbs v Italy was played at the Rogers centre a few years back.
@nije bitno……….The bosnaci in the US are today what the hrvati in NA were in the mid-90s. Full of pride, passion and willing to go anywhere to have their voices heard.
If this was 1998, yeah we could fill up a large stadium. Not the case today. The level of interest in having hrvati from other cities across NA travel for a worthless friendly is not that high. In Chicago, based on what i saw on TV, the bosanci outnumbered the mexicans 3 to 1.
I agree with Ziva, logisitcally it would be a real challenge.
From a pure soccer standpoint, what would the CRO repka gain in playing the crappy Canadian national team anyway, unless a BIG money appearance fee were the drawing card?
P.S. The CSA doesn’t have that kind of coin. USA yes, Canada not a hope in hell.
P.S.S. Poglavnik, my relatives too were U but can we not look forward? You know what they say about that part of the world, it has too much history. Let’s move on.
Pffft. What an ass start. Thanks for the stream guys!
#StimacOut
My guess is a lot of Mexicans in the area showed up……..
@ ziva – how the hell did the bosanci pack the big stadiums when the played against mexico twice? In atlanta and chicago?
Why are the ranks empty?
so few spectators
@poglavnik……..what are you talking about. I had family members who were U.
@Toni……..National team coming to N. America would not be a sellout unless you played in a small stadium. I recall Dinamo was in Toronto a few years ago against Rangers at the Rogers Centre and drew around 20,000, maybe less.
Plus, it really makes no sense for them to come to N. America. Only time they could do it is for the June spot in FIFA’s calendar when the club season is done. No chance you are going to get a european team to come to the US or Canada during the club season.
Pletikosa; Srna, Corluka, Maloca, Pranjic; Kranjcar, Badelj, Rakitic; Olic, Eduardo, Mario
interesting, not sure what formation they’ll play but Croatia usually looks lost without a ball winner in midfield
@Ziva
If u can’t respect what The Ustasa did for Hrvatska then you should never call yourself a Hrvat.
That goes for everyone!
Eh folks at CSR, what the hell happened to the link for donations in an effort to bring the NT to North America? There are over 110,000 Croats in the greater Toronto area, if they played in Toronto it would be a sell out; do you have any news regarding your effort here on CSR to make this happen? Did you collect any funds to make a Hrvatska NT North American visit a reality? It’s a joke that we in the diaspora follow the NT fantically and in 20+ years of independence we have yet to see the team play in NA.
If i were Stimac I would not play Modric tonight. And If I were Modric I would ask not to be in the lineup tonight.
Until it is posted on the spurs website, it is just another rumour…..
http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/svjetski_nogomet/je-li-konacno-gotovo-modric-sutra-odlazi-u-madrid.html
@Ziva Istina
“He may be an ustase apologist (many of us are), but that does not qualify Puppet Suker to run a soccer federation.”
If you say so.
Puppet Legend is a good name for him.
He may be an ustase apologist (many of us are), but that does not qualify Puppet Suker to run a soccer federation.
I’m sure we are all sick of hearing this but it looks like after tonight’s game Modric is flying to Madrid to get his medical exam done and to sign with Real Madrid.
http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/sky-sports-luka-sutra-putuje-u-madrid-na-potpis-s-realom-277808
http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/goalcom-modric-nakon-svicarske-leti-u-madrid/631624.aspx
U guys can call Suker a puppet all you like, but I’ll always call him a legend. That picture of him at Pavelic’s grave sight only cements his status!
@ Ante B – Oh no we cant have an Ustasa lover run HNS! lol
I’m sure we will have additional items to discuss after today’s game and maybe some of the booing that will take place.
@ Ziva – “Puppet Suker didn’t open up any soccer academies. Those were camps run by others where he allowed his name to be used so he can make some cash. It was nothing more than a money grab where he makes a cameo apperance.”
I don’t see any bad business decision in that? He’s getting funds out of it right? In what past businesses has he failed in? You say that Suker doesn’t run the Savez but Mamic does (i agree with you on that) I think all businesses, firms, unions, the damn Hague have “puppets” at the top but those “puppets” don’t actually run them but others do like Mamic, Mafia, Governments etc….. It’s the way the world turns buddy but don’t sit there and say Suker is a bad business man when hes getting paid buddy. Lets just hope the NT plays well and the HNL gets a bit better (competitive) cause at the end of the day that’s all we care about.
@Ante Kvartuč
Excellent post Ante! Just excellent!
Sorry, meant FIFA and not FIDA….oprostite.
My last comment on Suker is this.
If you were to ask yourself what kind of qualifications you would want in a top-notch Soccer Federation president, what would they be?
– knows the game having been involved at a high level in the management side?
– has had business dealings in the past demonstrating a knowledge and affinity for branding, licensing, contract negotiations?
– has demonstrated a previous ability for consensus building, forming relationships and bridging disparate viewpoints?
– knows multiple languages?
– has excellent contacts within the Savez, UEFA and FIDA?
– has a track record in terms of transparency in previous dealings?
How many of the above can Suker tick off?
Here’s to hoping he is better than Markovic as you guys suggest, but I’m not betting on it.
Re: Cro/Swiss at Poljud
I just got back from Croatia and was in Split for a few days. I talked to a bunch of hardcore soccer guys over there…live and die for Croatia and Hajduk.
I asked them if they would be going to the Swiss friendly. They laughed and say F*** NO! Why? They feel like it’s a slap in the face. It took the Savez 14 years to get a real game there and now the Splicani believe that the Savez think they can hold over Split with a mere friendly. The fans are smarter than that.
They want the real thing, which equates to 2-3 qualifiers per campaign. The only way you can pack Poljud now with a friendly is if you bring in a top-15 team. The Swiss are not a sexy opponent.
I tried to get interviews but everyone over there is scared of the camera when around their group of friends.
——
This is another Diaspora v Domovina culture gap. Of course we, the Diaspora, would go to this game in Split. We don’t have access to the team. But it’s the equivalent of a hardcore football or basketball fan coming from Europe for a preseason game. Kobe and the LAkers may be playing LEbron and the Heat in a preseason game but us American fans know that is nothing special….when the guy from Europe, who doesnt have regular access to the league would go crazy for the game.
That’s where we stand. Along with the Savez not having regualr games at Poljud, that’s why I say it will be less than full…
@Ziva Istina
“Puppet Suker will get a position within UEFA based on his name. Big deal; it wont benefit Hrvatska, it will benefit him.”
Big deal…. LOL!
Who exalted Boban in a previous post? The same Boban who took a some gold in a sack and literally gave the WC 98 semi final away to Thuram and France? The same Boban who publicly stated that Croatian soccer was lost at sea when Bilic was appointed head of the NT only to have his criticism silenced when Bilic brought success early and often? have no clue what the guy is up to these days but I find it odd that he’s stayed away from any role (as far as I know) with the NT since retiring from nogomet.
Great player and did tons for Croatia and Croatian soccer but I stll think something stank about his play in that fateful semi against France.
I guess you guys dont follow the croatian soccer scene that much.
Mamic controlled Markovic and decided when it was time for Markovic to leave.
Now, Mamic has brought in Puppet Suker and controls him.
Puppet Suker will get a position within UEFA based on his name. Big deal; it wont benefit Hrvatska, it will benefit him.
Hell, Puppet Suker even refers to himself as “brand” Suker.
Nije Bitno,
People also don’t like Suker because he has had tied with the ZG underground way before Mamic and because he took a picture next to Pavelic’s grave which de facto makes him an Ustasa
@Jelic….well said that “people need to stop equating the public persona of athletes with their underlying capabilities in other areas.”
This is where I think a majority of fans treat athletes as “God-like” figures and become jock sniffers around them (wanting to get a picture, autograph or wearing their jersey) and apologetic homers for them. They think just because they played the game at a high level that makes them qualified for anythign they do. Which, we all know, is not the case.
@Ante……there is a very small soccer stadium in Vukovar. It does not come close to meeting international standards; no way Hrvatska could ever play a game in it. NK Vukovar 91′ plays in it.
@nije bitno……..Puppet Suker didn’t open up any soccer academies. Those were camps run by others where he allowed his name to be used so he can make some cash. It was nothing more than a money grab where he makes a cameo apperance.
He failed in past businesses. Don’t be fooled. Puppet Suker does not run the savez, the savez is run by Mamic.
@ Ziva lol you call that a bad business deal? Donald Trump Filed for bankruptcy 4 times due to bad business decisions but at the end of the day he’s rich and we all look at him as a successful man not a man that went bankrupt 4 times. Im not saying Suker will be successful but im not saying he wont either, all Im saying is that he hasn’t made any major business deals/decisions that have gone bad yet to give him this bad rep.
Sukers bad rep is overblown. This job is a stepping stone for a UEFA position and baring health issues it will happen. Either way it is a big improvement over Markovic. I would take “almost” anyone over Marković. But that is just me. Either way this is an improvement.
@Ziva Istina
If you say so. Take it easy my friend; your heart is going to explode.
🙂
@Jelic
If you are questioning whether Suker is a better option than Markovic than I am sorry as this is where I get off the bus. No offense my friend.
@nije bitno
Excellent post as usual!
nije bitno je kralj!
I don’t get what Suker has done post playing career to get such a bad rep? He opened up a youth soccer academy in multiple cities and now he’s the president of HNS. Is it because he’s paired up with Mamic? Lesson to all who have not yet learned in life. First stride to success is not what you know it’s who you know that will lead you to what you want in life. Second is what you know. I don’t like Mamic at all but he has pull in Cro jebiga. I’m not knocking Suker until he gives me something to knock on him about.
Does anybody know if there’s a small stadium in Vukovar? I didn’t see one when I was there
I also don’t buy the argument he has to be better than Markovic. Why? He could end up being worse and notwithstanding his playing career, nothing in his post-retirement life suggests he has the necessary tools to be a rain-maker. In fact, quite the opposite as Ziva suggests.
People need to stop equating the public persona of athletes and movie stars with their underlying capabilities in other areas.
damn ipad………..I meant Puppet Suker. He is to be known as Puppet Suker from here on out.
His heart in the right place????????????? I guess you are drinking the cool aid of Pupper Suker. He can’t be any worse than Markovic because you cant get any lower than that. Pupper Suker has not been prepped for anything. He is a walking idiot.
He is respected for his past playing abilities, not for his leadership abilities. Who cares what he did as a player; that has no bearing on how he can lead as a federation president. I will judge him on his failed business dealings since he retired. That is a better judge of what he will or will not bring to the savez.
Was his heart in the right place when he tried to sabotage a transfer deal for an Osijek player (Maglica) to go to Hajduk. Forget about the Dinamo-Hajduk rivalry nonsesne. The head of a country’s soccer federation should not be playing favorites and using strong arm techniques to get what he wants. At the end he even failed in that, which makes me only wonder what the hell he will do as president of the savez.
I can gaurentee all of you one thing; all of us who post on this website have a higher IQ and business acumen than Pupper Suker.
Ivanisevic*
This whole debacle really soured my view on Suker.
At one point you could of mentioned him in the same breathe as Ivanesevic, Petrovic, Boban, Kostelic, etc.
He’s definitely worth of being our Golden Jubilee player, due to his exploits on the field, but post playing career – his rep has gone down the shitter
@Jelic
Suker has been prepped for this job for seven years and he cannot be any worse than Markovic. He has started well by indicating we are no longer going to have our training facility in Slovenia. (It’s about time!) Suker is highly respected in the football community/world and his heart is in the right place. Not worried about him taking over as Prez.
All I know is he is a better option than Markovic and that is the point I am trying to make. What happens going forward we shall see.
Davor Šuker je kralj!
He is a king to you because of his exploits on the field for club and country as a player, full stop.
What in his background suggests he has the experience and skills to take the Savez through say the next 10 years?
@Ziva Istina
“Puppet Suker is a dumb human being whose intellect level borders that of a 10-year old. He does not deserve to be the president of the savez. He is a failed businessman and nothing more than a puppet.”
He is a better option than Vlatko Marković. Not that it is hard to be a better option than Marković, but he is still the better option.
Davor Šuker je kralj!
Ziva, you say pomodor and I say paradajs! I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on what constitutes hypocritical.
All I know is that the Swiss are currrently ranked 23rd in the world (hardly garbage) and managing to attract top 5 ranked teams to friendlies is anything other than routine.
Seems to me both Brazil and Holland matches were played at Poljud.
Pack the place tonight and you show HNS you want more.
@Jelic……it is not hypocritical. This is the equivalent of giving a city scraps or garbage. The public will show up for a game that matters, not for garbage like today. Heck, getting 20K to show up today is an accomplishment. I can’t wait for the booing to begin. Then again, I’m not sure if there will be much booing today because I think you will have plenty of tourists at the game today.
If Stimac and Puppet Suker prove to be successfull it will not change my opinion of either man. Puppet Suker is a dumb human being whose intellect level borders that of a 10-year old. He does not deserve to be the president of the savez. He is a failed businessman and nothing more than a puppet.
Stimac, well we all know about him. Not much to add.
I hope it does work because they are leading the repka, but they don’t deserve to be in their current roles.
@ Armada…..it goes beyond the stadium classification. Also depends on the number of 4-star level hotel rooms in the city. Either way, no chance of a new stadium being built. Dinamo sure as hell wont pay for it and ZG and Croatia have no money to build a big stadium.
Also, what’s the latest news about the proposed Stadion Kajzerica?
Maksimir is a dump and I can see why people aren’t fans about having NT games there. What’s the status of Kajzerica? Is it dead in the water?
That volcano looking stadium they’re proposing would be bad ass. Plus, I’m sure it would be a UEFA 4 Star stadium probably, so we could host a Europa League/Champions LEague final, which would be cool.
It’s the Croatian way to complain. Sad but true.
@ Jelic
Good point Jelic. Like what do you Dalmatinci/Split fans expect? Zagreb is the capital, has the biggest stadium (for better or worse) and like most European NT’s, plays a big chunk of it’s NT games in Zagreb. This is the norm in most European NT’s.
Hell, Kantrida and Aldo Drosina have been sellouts for their last few qualifiers/friendlies. I think folks up there realize they aren’t going to get some big NT qualifer or friendly, but they still come out to games and usually sing, chant, etc. loudly through-out the game.
Good points but the fact remains don’t complain the repka never plays there and then when they do, you don’t show up. Hypocritical.
Go to church in the morning, slavlje in the afternoon, game in the evening. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Clealry though, no will.
What will all the naysayers do if the Stimac/Suker regime prove successful? I say, give them a chance.
Game should definitely be in Aldo Drosina or Kantrida, hell even Gradski Vrt or probably the best option – Andelko Herjavec in Varazdin. Cause let’s face it, when is the next time they’re are gonna see a meaningful football game in that stadium.
I’m all for big matches in Zagreb, with Split getting one here and there and has games vs. ‘mid table’ type NT’s. Rijeka/Osijek/Pula should have quals vs. garbage sides and host meaningless friendlies like this one.
Here is why the stadium will be half filled. The soccer fans in Split, and for that matter Zagreb, don’t care about friendlies and exhibition matches unless you are bringing in a top-tier side. The public has no interest in watching the repka play the Swiss. There is no appeal. This game would sell out in smaller city that does not get to see the repka.
I don’t know what they are charging for this game, but there are other things to do on the coast at this time of year than go watch a meaningless soccer game. If this was an actual qualifier or they brought in Brazil or the Dutch again, then yes it would be a sell out. I’ve been to enough national team games to know not to waste my time at a friendly that will feature 20-some players by each team.
Plus, its Velika Gospa today. Everyone should be attending chruch today and then celebrating in their selo.
Plus, the other reason why there is a lack of interest. The team is coached by Stimac and the savez president is Puppet Suker.
@jerseycro
your crazy man. give them a chance! everyone doubted bilic at the start to
Define a Croat. 🙂
jERSEY cRO we have the results here in this envelope and sir you are NOT a Croat!!!!!!
@JerseycRO INSANE COMMENT.
I can’t really support this Stimac/Suker administration. If failing to qualify for the World Cup means the end of them I won’t mind
BTW Bosnia is a failed state. I welcome the day when Herzegovina is merged with Croatia.
Here we go again, -U-
Its ok to get mad over things but the only issue that should cause a boycott is if there are to many non-Croats on the team.
I find the mentality funny. There is a boycott of 14 minutes in response to the snub by the NT, and then when the team does play there no-one potentially shows up as it is a non-event?
Either you care about the NT and want to support them, or you don’t.
I too see Maksimir as a dump, but it is our dump! Until a proper stadium is built (don’t hold your breath) it is what it is.
LOOK AT WHAT CROATIA IS BECOMING.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2188405/Anderson-Cooper-escapes-heartache-boyfriends-betrayal-trip-Croatia.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Hey guys did you miss this one?
http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Sports/2012-08-15/28994/American_Croatian_Boston_Red_Sox_Legend_Dies
Who know he was one of us? Any chance on a write up?
Man it will be weird not seeing Bilic there 🙁
@Ziva why wouldn’t you go if you were in town there. You are nuts. For you who do not give a shit don’t watch. I mean what a bunch of Yugos.
Not sure why all the pessimism about the game being in Split…? Or for that matter that you wouldn’t go to see it if the tickets were free… ?
Any chance to see the NT is basically a chance to see nogomet at its highest level… this alone should be enough… Sure its a friendly, but its still amongst the best nogomet that you can see live. Duje, Marjan, Fjaka, and the Riva will still be there after the game, they aren’t going anywhere.
maksimir is probably the ugliest stadium in the world. and thats not cause its dinamo’s. its just cause it is. its so embarrassing. so commie looking. build build build. that thing needs to be nuked.
hopefully no fans show up in poljud for tomorrrow. Jebes repku SAMO HAJDUK
They should play in Vukovar or Gospic one day. I agree this should’ve been at a smaller venue. As long as Maksimir is the national stadium where the most important of games are played, I’m good.
sa one strane marjana!
You can catch the match here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV9vBxLde14&feature=plcp
Slightly more meaningful as its Stimacs first game in charge… I’m interested and hopefully will catch it
na poljudu!!!
oh i see! 18,000 thousand isn’t a bad turnout for an exhibition!
@Ante…..If they get anything close to 20K at tomorrow’s game I will be very surprised. Just makes no sense to play this in Split or even ZG….should be in a smaller city.
I wouldn’t go this game either even if I had free tickets. Typical meaningless friendly.
@ ziva,
My cousin in Split, sits with Torcida every game, said no one in Split gives a shit about this game. I’m predicting only 18,000 people.
@hrvat,
The fans boycotted for 14 minutes because the HNS didn’t play a qualifier in Split for 14 years.
great report ante! i feel dumb not knowing this, but what was the boycott about?
I have no idea why this game is in Split. Should be in Rijeka.
We are three weeks away from the first qualifier and Modric has not played in almost two months. Even if he were to go to Real Madrid by the end of the week, he is still weeks away from playing a full 90.
I’m curious to see how this will play out when the qualifiers start because Modric will not be ready.
Here are the goals from Kranjcar. I know video is long but by the 9th minute of the video, both goals are scored. They were well taken and its great to see Niko scoring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W61oRWW_y4A
Its been a while since I’ve posted but I’m happy soccer is back. Outraged is long gone, I’m at peace with national team. I will be working sadly tomorrow, does anyone know a website where I can catch the full game replay. I remember someone showing me a Croatian site that does but I lost the link. If someone can hook me up, that will be great!
Not sure what to expect from Switzerland but with qualifiers just around the corner, it will be interesting to see who steps up. I’m interested to see how Lovern responds after seeing how Schifo and Corluka were excellent in the Euros. Then again I’m not even sure if he’s been called up or not. I’m at the loop ugh, anyway hope to see a fun performance not the usual dudfest.
Stimac has told the press that Modric is going to Madrid.
Great report Ante and looking forward to this!
Are we looking at a packed house tomorrow? Just curious…..