SCOTLAND
Jelavić converts penalty for Rangers
Nikica Jelavić played the full 90 minutes for Rangers on Saturday and converted a 69th minute penalty kick against Aberdeen to give the Scottish giants the full three points on the day. Jelavić put a tough ball through the box as he slid across the penalty area which followed with a foul and a Rangers penalty. Jelavić stepped up to the spot and cooly shot the ball straight down the middle of the goal to put Rangers up 2-0. Aberdeen scored in the 82nd, but it was not enough of an impact to knock off Rangers. Rangers now hold a nine-point lead over second place Motherwell and an astounding 12-point lead over Scottish rivals Celtic.
UKRAINE
Kalinić scores vs. Karpaty
Nikola Kalinić scored for Dnipro in just the third minute of play Sunday in a 2-0 win over Karpaty. Kalinić was left wide open in front of the net to easily tap in a cross in ‘Ivica Olić’ fashion. With the win, Dnipro climb to fifth position on the Ukrainian table and should battle for a Europa League berth once again this season. Ivan Strinić was left off the squad and has been listed as unavailable for the two Turkey matches. Will Vedran Ćorluka play left defense come November?
Srna (R) gives a big hug to Willian after the win
Darijo Srna played the full 90 minutes for Shakhtar in their 3-2 win over Oleksandria on Saturday. With the win and a Dynamo draw, Shakhtar now find themselves one point behind leaders Dynamo Kyiv on the table halfway through the season. Eduardo remained on the bench as an unused substitute as he will surely be used this week in Champions League play when Shakhtar travel to Russia to take on Zenit St. Petersburg.
Ognjen Vukojević played the full 90 minutes in a heated 0-0 draw against Tavriya. The match consisted of 14 total yellow cards and two red cards for Dynamo. Current Ukrainian leaders, Dynamo, were fortunate to escape Tavriya with a point after their undisciplined performance.
ENGLAND
Luka Modrić (R) in action vs. QPR
Luka Modrić got the start for Tottenham and played the full 90 minutes for Spurs in a 3-1 win over QPR on Sunday. Modrić did not directly contribute to any of Tottenham’s goals but he was given an ‘8’ grade from SkySports.com for being a ‘joy to watch’. Modrić’s soft shot early in the first half found the feet of teammate Rafael van der Vaart, who couldn’t take advantage of the situation with his shot being blocked by the Queens Park goalie. Modrić has been in good form and should be ready for the Turkey encounter in two weeks. Tottenham have not been defeated in their last seven Premiership matches and currently sit tied for third place in the English table with Chelsea and Newcastle United.
Niko Kranjčar and Vedran Ćorluka were left off the squad due to injury. Kranjčar has been confirmed unavailable for the Turkey duel in November.
With Swansea City up 2-1 in the 76th minute on Saturday, Ivan Klasnić was substituted into the game for the Bolton Wanderers. Klasnić could not give Bolton the result they were looking for as he did not manage one shot on goal. Swansea eventually scored one more goal to make it a 3-1 victory. With the loss, Bolton remain in the relegation zone with only six points through the first 10 games of the season. Klasnić has cooled down after a hot start to the campaign.
Germany
Mario Mandžukić (right) came up short against Berlin
Wolfsburg came back from two deficits on Saturday, but failed to come back for a third time to fall 3-2 against Hertha Berlin on Saturday. Super Mario Mandžukić started and scored his seventh goal of the season, equalizing Berlin’s opening goal from Raffael in the 27th minute. Mario played a nice give and go with Ashkan Dejagah to pull out Hertha keeper Thomas Kraft and the former Dinamo Zagreb striker put the ball into the back of the empty net. Wolfsburg pushed forward in the last five minutes in search of a third equalizer, but ran out of time and registered their sixth Bundesliga loss of the season.
Andre Mijatović started and played the full 90 minutes for Hertha Berlin. The 31-year-old defender was happy to escape Wolfsburg with the three points.
“The key to our win was passion! We believed in us until the end and showed absolute determination. That was an emotional game, a great win for the spectators. Ultimately, we are super happy and go home satisfied.”
~Andre Mijatović
The Croatian dynamic duo of Ivo Iličević and Mladen Petrić was missing on Sunday in Hamburg as HSV squeaked out a 1-1 draw against Kaiserslautern. Mladen will be out three to four weeks with a thigh injury and will be forced to miss Croatia’s two legged playoff tie against Turkey. “We were in a three-on-three scenario [in training], when he felt a twinge in the calf,” said Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink. Hamburg forward Ivo Iličević will also be sidelined three weeks after tearing a thigh muscle in practice. However, German media has reported that Ivo might be fit in time for Croatia’s showdown with Turkey.
Mato Jajalo(right) scores against TSG Hoffenheim in DFB-Pokal action
Köln redeemed themselves after a disappointing DFB Pokal exit to Hoffenheim on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Augsburg on Sunday. Mato Jajalo was looking for a Bundesliga goal to add to his DFB Pokal goal against Hoffenheim. The 23-year-old midfielder started and played 73 minutes for Köln, but failed to get on the scorers sheet. Has Mato done enough to start for Croatia against Turkey?
Ivica Olić(left) celebrates Takashi Usami’s goal in DFB Pokal
Business as usual for Bayern Munich this week as they strolled to a 6-0 DFB Pokal win over Ingolstadt on Wednesday and a 4-0 Bundesliga win over Nürnberg on Saturday. Ivica Olić came off the bench at the hour mark on Wednesday to assist on Usami’s goal in the 90th minute. With the score at 4-0, Ivica came on in the 76th minute of play on Saturday and finished the game without a shot on goal.
Ivica is slowly starting to get back in to the flow at Bayern Munich. However, with the Bavarian Giants star power, it looks like Ivica would have to settle for a bench role if he were to stay until the end of the season. Ivica chose his words wisely after being asked about a possible winter transfer:
“I appreciate every minute I play. After a long-term injury, match practice is important. I cannot speak about anything else, I must be careful with what I say.”
Bayern Munich appear ready to sell Croatian defensive midfielder Danijel Pranjić in the winter transfer window. The 29-year-old, former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder has yet to see the pitch for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this season. Bayern manager, Jupp Heynckes, has allowed Danijel to look for a new club for a possible winter transfer.
“Normally I’d only let a player leave in January over my dead body. If Danijel wishes to leave, though, he can.”
~Bayern manager, Jupp Heynckes
Ivan Perišić(left) watches as Mario Götze goes airborne for Dortmund against Stuttgart
Borussia Dortmund missed their chances and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Stuttgart in front of 60,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz-Arena on Saturday. Ivan Perišić started and played 76 minutes for the reigning champions. The former Hajduk Split midfielder had a couple of half chances on goal in the early stages of the game, but nothing to rattle Stuttgart keeper Sven Ulreich. With the draw, Borussia Dortmund slipped to third in the Bundesliga.
France
PHOTO: AFP/Jean-Philippe Ksiazek
Dejan Lovren challenging Loris Nery in Coupe de la Ligue
Olympique Lyon redeemed themselves from last week’s disaster in Lille with back to back wins over Saint-Étienne this week. On Wednesday, Lyon put on a convincing performance in Coupe de la Ligue, beating Saint-Étienne 2-1 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Dejan Lovren started and played the full 90 minutes for Lyon in the win. The former Dinamo Zagreb defender was at fault for the lone goal after failing to get in front of a Saint-Étienne cross that found Pierre Aubameyang unmarked on the far right side.
(2:11 Lovren at fault for 88th minute goal)
Dejan Lovren(#5) celebrating Yoann Gourcuff goal
On Saturday, Dejan Lovren and Lyon overcame a Mouhamadou Dabo red card in the 52nd minute and scored twice in the final ten minutes to shutout Saint-Étienne at Stade de Gerland. Dejan started and played solid for 90 minutes in the shutout. Olympique Lyon picked up two points on Lille in the fight for the final Champions League spot.
SkySports reported on Thursday that Dejan Lovren would be sold by Lyon for the right price. Lyon are going through some tough times financially and could be forced to sell the former Dinamo Zagreb defender. Lovren’s agent, Nikky Vuksan, revealed on Thursday that several Italian and Spanish clubs have expressed interest in his services. Liverpool have shown interest in the past with Daniel Agger’s injury problems a constant concern and Jamie Carragher’s career coming to an end. Lovren is signed for Lyon through June 2014.
“I know that many European clubs, including a few Italian and Spanish teams, have made enquiries about the player but so far none of them has made concrete steps or submitted bids. Lyon are going through a difficult time from a financial point, but we’re also talking about renewal. I think that if we were to get a good offer, then the club would evaluate it.”
~Dejan Lovren’s agent, Nikky Vuksan
Russia
Stipe Pletikosa
With Stipe Pletikosa out, Rostov drew at Kazan 1-1 on Friday. They sit in 10th with one game remaining before the playoff phase. Stipe is still expected to be back in time for the Euro 2012 playoffs. Rostov play last placed Tom Tomsk at home next Saturday.
Spain
Ivan Rakitić
Ivan Rakitić came on in the 74th minute in Sevilla’s midweek draw against Racing Santader. His cross was found by Manu in the 92nd minute to equalize and extend their unbeaten run. Sevilla plays at home against last place Granada on Monday. Despite being one of two undefeated teams in La Liga, a win would only leave them in 5th.
Rakitić assist @ 2:50
Mate Bilić has taken advantage of limited playing time at Sporting Gijon, and has 2 goals in his last 2 appearances. On Wednesday, he came on after halftime against Mallorca with the team down 1-0 and helped them comeback in the 49th minute when he headed in Alberto Lora’s cross at the far post. They would score on an own goal in the 65th minute and win 2-1.
(Goal at 1:45, shot at 3:15)
With Sporting trailing 1-0 on Sunday to Athletic Bilbao, Mate was called on again to save the day. He was subbed on in the 65th minute, and would equalize 6 minutes later. His shot from 30 yards took a deflection off of David Barral’s calf and found it’s way around the keeper.
Next Matches:
Tuesday, 11/1
Olympiakos Piraeus at Borussia Dortmund(Champions League), Shakhtar Donetsk at Zenit(Champions League)
Wednesday, 11/2
Napoli at Bayern München(Champions League), Real Madrid at Olympique Lyon(Champions League), Dinamo Zagreb at Ajax(Champions League)
Thursday, 11/3
Tottenham Hotspur at Rubin Kazan'(Europa League), Dynamo Kyiv at Beşiktaş(Europa League)
Saturday, 11/5
Wolfsburg at Borussia Dortmund, Borussia M’gla at Hertha BSC, Köln at Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV at Bayer Leverkusen, Sevilla at Mallorca, Tom’ Tomsk at Rostov, Spartak Moskva at Dinamo Moskva, Dundee United at Rangers, Arsenal Kyiv at Dnipro
Sunday, 11/6
Tottenham Hotspur at Fulham, Stoke City at Bolton, Bayern München at Augsburg, Olympique Lyon at Sochaux, Dynamo Kyiv at Metalist, Shakhtar Donetsk at Obolon’
~Ante Kvartuč and Denis Svirčić reporting from sunny Southern California, Zach Gilfix reporting from Minneapolis, MN
If this was golf and the objective was to have the lowest score possible, Dinamo would be world champs. However, this isn’t true because in order to win in golf, you have to get the ball into the hole and Dinamo cannot do that.
@TheGoldenChild
“Pranjic is licking his chops. He’ll get to play if Lovren isn’t fit.”
For sure! Hopefully Dejan is going to be ok!
@Mihovil
Pranjic is licking his chops. He’ll get to play if Lovren isn’t fit.
I posted that on the cro cop article cause there’s no friggen dinamo report. Anyone know the seriousness of the injury?
Lovren just went off with a leg injury. This is not good!
JURCICU ODLAZI! Picka od trenera, kaj ce im onaj dalmos u napadu sam?! Ma grozno, grozno, grozno. IGRAJTE PICKICE!
If anybody is watching the Dinamo Zagreb game, it’s sad to see how much smarter Ajax tactics are. We get a free kick 10 yards outside the box, and instead of spraying it in the box we bring Ibanez up.
Ajax comes back, attacks that side where a tired Ibanez is running back. Their back line gets shredded and so does Kelava.
@ Ziva Istina – Come on, give me the scoop! What happened between Tudor and Robert Kovac. You cant give me the popcorn and no butter, bro.
@Ziva Istina
“by 06 tudor was done. He never came back from the injuries. Probably should not have be in the line up, but the replacements were not much either.”
It was his bad attitude more so though that did him in. I realize he was somewhat damaged goods at that point but it was his attitude and mental game that I found really disturbing. Watch the start of the Cro Brazil game in 06. He makes a major head case error. He has the ball just in front of the net and he is facing Pleti and he does a not looking nonchalant backward pass right to a Brazilian player. Robert Kovac had to jump in to save the play. The camera than zooms in on Robert who is pissed beyond belief.
He was a great talent. No question about it. All the potential in the world.
Even when he was healthy his attitude let him down. He was horrible against the Chetniks in 99, and if it was not for Dado Pršo saving his ass against Slovenia in 2003, he would have been remembered for that bone head red card maneuver against Slovenia.
I will end on a positive note. That face slap he gave Totti is priceless! 🙂
by 06 tudor was done. He never came back from the injuries. Probably should not have be in the line up, but the replacements were not much either.
@Denis
“Thanks for the link. But do you really think Modric is the best player in the EPL? I like Modric, but he just might make my top 10. I would have to make a list.”
As of right now I think he makes the top ten list. Top five I am not sure, but top ten for certain. He is slowly turning into the Xavi of the EPL. Than again, I could be biased. 🙂 He should get out of the EPL as quick as he can, but this will not happen. He should leave Tottenham as well. As soon as the Euro 2012 tournament is over for England, Harry Redknapp will be announced as their new manager. He has wanted that job his entire life, and it will be offered and I am quite certain he will not turn it down. Tottenham will slowly unravel thereafter.
@Ziva Istina
“Tudor was a stud as a player. Played meaningful games for juve until injuries killed his career. But, and this is a big but, he was a fricken headcase that is typical of so many splicani. The kovac brothers wanted to kill him at times on the national team and things blew up with Tudor at the 06 world cup. If any of you guys ever run into Robert kovac over a few beers, ask him about tudor. No love lost between them two.”
He was absolutely horrible @ World Cup 2006! Just pathetic. Robert Kovac cannot stand Igor. That is a fact! I will never forget when the ball came to him during the closing seconds of the Australia match and he was one on one with Kalac and Igor did not even get a shot off. He was our worst player of that WC.
@Andrej
“But i watched Lyon a couple of times this season and the guy gets to every ball in the air. They are looking for him on corners too. You need someone like that to defend against corners, long balls and crosses. Plus, he’s still young and has a lot of potential. ”
I wish the same rang true for the national team. The guy doesn’t really do that well in the air on other side of the ball for the NT yet.
One of the last goals in the Greece game came off a corner kick that stemmed from one of his bad clearances. He was standing just inside the box and whipped the ball out of bounds, with absolutely nobody around him. When the corner came in, a small Greek defender towered over him and won the header.
The only reason he scored with his head against Malta was because he was wide open, and Badelj put in a good cross. Yes, Bilic also throws him up on corners, but he hasn’t been effective for a couple of reasons: 1) Most of the crosses coming in don’t give any of our players a chance. 2) He can’t get that high in the air.
I know he’s young and has talent, but somebody needs to tell him to stay awake for 90 minutes. Our defense itself is like a shanty waiting to fall. I’m scared when we actually start playing good things that are going to find the continuous gaps. The problem is no communication and no general to keep that back line stable. Lovren isn’t the only reason, even though he makes a lot of mistakes. Our guys need to figure out how to push players offside together, instead of them staggering and letting other teams through.
Tudor was a stud as a player. Played meaningful games for juve until injuries killed his career. But, and this is a big but, he was a fricken headcase that is typical of so many splicani. The kovac brothers wanted to kill him at times on the national team and things blew up with Tudor at the 06 world cup. If any of you guys ever run into Robert kovac over a few beers, ask him about tudor. No love lost between them two.
Ya Tudor played mainly in front the defense and was solid on the ball. Great passer and overall football IQ. Huge blow when he got injured in the Champions League final against Milan. Corluka kinda reminds me of him and thats why I always say that I would love for him to play as our DMF than anyone else.
@Petar Radman,
I agree with you regarding Igor Tudor. One of my favorite players on Croatia. He would make some stupid mistakes here and there, but that kid was a tank.
@Ivica,
We should have tried out Mijatovic a looooooooong time ago.
@Andrej L,
I agree, Lovren is great in the air, but he gets beat on the ground all the time. For some reason I think Lyon are bluffing to raise his stock for a winter transfer. Even though he has started almost every game at Lyon, I dont think they are super happy with him.
@jm
Thanks for the link. But do you really think Modric is the best player in the EPL? I like Modric, but he just might make my top 10. I would have to make a list.
@Armada &AZ
I have been covering Lovren every week in the low scoring Ligue 1. Yes, it does seem like he is at fault for almost every goal against Lyon. I dont see what all the hype is about.
Also, there hasnt been any offers for Lovren as of right now. I think a few times are just inquiring about his services.
The only time Lovren looked good was against Dinamo Zagreb haha. However, Dinamo’s strikers couldn’t score with their own wives.
@ IvicA – Perhaps you should try and look up some quotes or interviews Marcello Lippi gave with regards to Tudor. Lippi LOVED Tudor! Played him all along the back 4, central midfield. Gave him authority to roam. I would never compare Lovren to Tudor.
Best Tudor moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDFERs2oYoI
Lovren is Igor Tudor redux.
He’s talented, but until he has the required discipline, I am weary about giving him the automatic start. Makes me wish we tried out Andre Mijatovic these past couple of months. Something tells me he would’ve been a hit for us and a great stop-gap Centerback until guys like Lovren and Vida are ready to start.
Andre Mijatovic has been very impressive this season. I wonder how things would have worked out for him and possibly the National Team had he not broken his leg while playing for Rijeka those many years ago.
I agree with Lovren lapses on covering away from the ball. And every defender gets beat here and there. But i watched Lyon a couple of times this season and the guy gets to every ball in the air. They are looking for him on corners too. You need someone like that to defend against corners, long balls and crosses. Plus, he’s still young and has a lot of potential.
There’s one guy you guys are all forgetting about and that’s Mate Bilic. Furthermore, Mate Bilic should get a call up.
I don’t want to hear any “Mate Bilic should get a call up”
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/10/30/2735493/qpr-midfielder-joey-barton-tottenhams-luka-modric-is-the
nice praise for modric. joey barton says he’s the best player in the premier league by a mile. nice to see some solid recognition for luka’s contribution even though he doesn’t fill up the stat sheet with goals and assists.
i dont understand why lovren is so high rated and is having rumours linking him to top serie a clubs and liverpool, even barce and real as well…
He is prone to lapse of concentration, although he defend well most of the time, hence at fault for many goals i guess
and what’s up with Ivan Rakitic? Did he really color is hair? lol
Nice to see most of the boys (that are healthy) in form.
The one thing I don’t get is all the hype and promise surrounding Lovren. I know the dude is young still and probably has a long career ahead of him. But it seems like no matter what report I read on him, whether its for the NT or Lyon, it always seems like he’s at fault for a goal. I’ve only seen clips at him playing for Lyon, but with the NT, he seems shaky in most games. Even with Lyon now, I feel like I read more reports that say “Dejan was at fault for a goal” rather than “Lovren had a solid game”. Like I said, I know he’s 22 but when is he going to start becoming a consistent performer? I know with the NT, our defense is a mess and other players can attribute to him looking bad at times. What’s going on at Lyon though? Is he just still growing and maturing? Or is it something else?
not specially for croatian in europa club .
even though he can best performence ,
the result not put them into a hero for his club .
the loyal performence, << I just can tell that/
if he can not produce for his club, just say "You are for sale"
Every couple of days a new injury emerges from the national squad..
It seems like croatian players are made of glass, when come important matches..?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vdT0GbN3DM