Spain
TotalSport/ Rakitić (25) getting off to a hot start in Spain
Ivan Rakitić is fitting in nicely with new club Sevilla. Not only is he receiving a spot in the starting XI, but he is already marking his name on the scoresheet. Rakitić ripped home the game-winner in the 70′ for a 1-0 Sevilla win over Valencia on Sunday. Rakitić quickly cleaned up a deflected shot attempt with his left foot from 16 yards out. He has gone on record as saying that he wants to play Champions League football for Sevilla. Rakitić must first finish the season off strong to even gain a Europa League spot for next season. What other heroics can Rakitić come up with this season?
RAKITIĆ BLASTS HOME THE GAME-WINNER
Scotland
PA/ Jelavić basks in Scottish glory
Nikica Jelavić supplied plenty of drama Sunday as his Rangers side took on bitter rivals Celtic at Hampden Park in the Scottish League Cup final. With the game level at 1-1 in the 33′, Jelavić was booked for a dive inside the Celtic box. There was some confusion as referee Thomson appeared to immediately point to the spot but later gave a free kick to Celtic while pulling out a yellow for the Croatian striker.
It wasn’t until the 98′ of extra time when Jelavić would resurface. He received a perfect ball while on the run to slot home the ball off the right post, only to have the ball curve out and back inside the opposite post before Celtic defenders could make a stop. Jelavić showed great emotion on the play as his Rangers are crowned League Cup champions for the 2010-11 season.
JELAVIĆ CUP WINNER
Germany
Photo: REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer ; Mladen Petrić scores opening goal for Hamburg against Cologne
Hamburg ended a three-game winless streak on Saturday in style, smashing on cologne 6-2 in front of 52,000 at Imtech Arena. 30 year old Mladen Petrić put on a memorable performance for HSV, scoring a hat trick in the first 43 minutes and earning a penalty kick in the 58th minute of play. Slaven Bilić will now surely think twice about his starting lineup against Georgia on Saturday.
Photo: Bild; Mladen Petrić doing his signature bow and arrow celebration on Saturday
Mladen has now scored 11 goals in 18 appearances for Hamburg this season. Does Petrić deserve the start on Saturday?
Mladen Petrić hat trick, Jajalo goal
Croatian under 21 international Mato Jajalo started and played the full 90 minutes for Cologne in the loss. After 24 Bundesliga games, Mato put the ball in the back of the net for the first time this season. The 22 year old former Siena midfielder right footed a shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner.
Photo: AP Photo/Frank Augstein; Petar Slišković scores equalizing goal against Dortmund
Croatian U-21 international Petar Slišković was the hero of the night for Mainz on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund. The Sarajevo born striker was at the right place in the right time to score the equalizer in the 89th minute and keep Mainz on track for a place in the Europa League next season.
Petar Slišković equalizer!
Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Logan Bailly gifted Kroatienslautern with an own goal in the 61st minute of play to disappoint the 47,696 on hand at Borussia Park in a 1-0 loss to Kroatienslautern in Friday night’s Bundesliga relegation battle. Croatian international Ivo Iličević started and played 90 minutes for the visitors in the win. Srdjan Lakić came in off the bench for Kroatienslautern for the first time this season. Srdjan came close to scoring in the 79th minute after his shot from just inside the box was saved by the Logan Bailly. Stiven Rivić was left off the squad by Kaiserslautern. The Red Devils moved out of the relegation zone.
Photo: Bild; Danijel Pranjić(right) watches as Cissé equalizes for Freiburg
In front of a sell out crowd of 24,000 at Badenova Stadium, Franck Ribéry disappointed the hosts after scoring the game winner two minutes from time for Bayern Munich in a 2-1 win over Freiburg on Saturday. Danijel Pranjić started and played the full 90 minutes for Bayern Munich. Zvonko Pamić was left off the bench for Freiburg in the loss.
Hoffenheim continued to slip further down the Bundesliga table after getting shutout 2-0 at Hannover 96 on Saturday. German U-19 international Boris Vukčević started and played 65 minutes for Hoffenheim in the loss. 33 year old Josip Šimunić was left off the squad for Hoffenheim.
PHOTO: European cy; Domagoj Vida(left) walks away from Villarreal celebration on Thursday in Europa League
Bayer Leverkusen bowed out of the Europa League after falling 2-1 in front of 19,779 at Camp El Madrigal on Thursday. Domagoj Vida started and played 61 minutes for Bayer Leverkusen in the loss. The 21 year old, former Osijek defender got called up by Slaven Bilić for the upcoming European Cup qualifier against Georgia on Saturday and a friendly against France three days later. Domagoj will be looking for his first cap. Josef Heynckes left Vida on the bench for Bayer in a 2-0 win over Schalke on Sunday.
Felix Magath made his debut behind the bench for Wolfsburg against bottom dwellers Stuttgart on Sunday. Stuttgart failed to register a fourth consecutive victory and instead settled for a 1-1 draw. Mario Mandžukić was left on the bench for Wolfsburg in the draw. Wolfsburg remain in the relegation zone, two points back of Stuttgart.
France
Photo: RCLens; Vedran Runje(center) making one of his seven saves against Montpellier
RC Lens scored three goals in the first 35 minutes to blow out Montpellier 4-1 and register their first away win in 8 matches. 35 year old Vedran Runje started for Lens and made seven saves in the win. Lens remain in the Ligue 1 relegation zone, four points back of Auxerre.
5:30 Was Vedran Runje at fault for Monpellier goal?
(AP Photo/Andres Kudacki); Real Madrid’s Marcelo(left), dribbling Lyon’s Dejan Lovren(right) to score his goal during a Round of 16, 2nd leg Champions league soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Wednesday March 16.
Dejan Lovren and Lyon failed to qualify for the Champions League quarterfinals after going down 3-0 to Real Madrid on Wednesday. Dejan and Lyon didn’t have an answer for the mighty Spanish Giants and struck out swinging at the Santiago Bernabeu.
L’Equipe gave Lovren and six other Lyon players a grade of 3. “In the first 30 minutes of the match Dejan Lovren played well, but after that he was terrible. Lovren played a part in all three Real Madrid goals.”
Former French international and now French commentator, Bixente Lizarazu, also had harsh words for Lyon and Lovren in particular:
“Big players have to show in the big games that they are great, and the French striker Gourcuff was disappointing against Real Madrid. Lyon fullbacks Dejan Lovren and Cris were bad. They were slow compared to the players at Real Madrid. It is obvious that they are not at the same level as big clubs in Champions League.”
Lovren and Lyon were in action against Stade Rennes on Saturday in hopes of moving up to second in the Ligue 1 standings. Bafetimbi Gomes put Lyon ahead in the 36th minute of play and were a man up when Victor Hugo Montaño was sent off in the 65th minute after a dangerous kick on Dejan Lovren. However, the joke was on Lyon as Kevin Theophile Catherine equalized five minutes from time to stay one point up on Lyon in the fight for the third and final Champions League spot next season. Dejan played the full 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in the 65th minute of play.
Lyon give up silly goal in the end to split the points
Ukraine
Ivan Strinić (above) is playing miracle-worker at new club Dnipro. After scoring a first-class goal in his debut two weeks ago, Strinić scored the lone goal of the match Sunday in a 1-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv. Strinić received the start for Dnipro and flew in down the right flank in the 51′ where he volleyed home a cross to beat the Dynamo defense. He was subbed out in the 51′. The former Hajduk defender is slowly becoming a star in Ukraine. Will he bring these same talents to Georgia on Saturday?
STRINIĆ GAME-WINNER
UEFA/ Srna all smiles as Shakhtar head to CL quarters
Darijo Srna is leading Shakhtar Donetsk into their greatest test to date: a quarterfinal Champions League meeting with arguably the best club team on the planet, Barcelona. The first leg kicks off in Spain on April 6th. Before the epic encounter for the Ukrainian club, Shakhtar has some house cleaning to do before securing another domestic title. On Sunday, Srna played the entire game in an easy 4-0 victory over Volyn. Eduardo was left off the squad for this match as he nurses an unknown injury. He is questionable for the Georgia match on Saturday.
UEFA/ Vukojević (L) shutting down Man City
Ognjen Vukojević and Dynamo Kyiv are through to the Europa League quarterfinals after holding Manchester City to a 1-0 victory on Thursday in their second leg tie. Dynamo’s 2-0 first leg victory gets them through to the ‘Elite 8’ where they will meet Portuguese club Braga; who just defeated Liverpool over two legs.
Vukojević played the full match in Manchester on Thursday and 90 again on Sunday in a 1-0 loss to Dnipro. It looked like Dynamo had a Europa League hangover even though they are set up for a second place finish in Ukraine. Shakhtar currently lead the Ukrainian League by 12 points with only eight games left in the season. And we thought the HNL was the only one-sided league out there.
England
GETTY/ Modrić doing his thing against West Ham
Luka Modrić got the start against London rivals West Ham on Saturday in one of the most disappointing draws Tottenham has ever been a part of. In the 0-0 match, Spurs had tons of chances to score but were either denied by the post or a possessed Robert Green, West Ham’s goalie. Modrić played his usual game and got the ball where it needed to be, however, fellow Spurs could not get the job done. Jermain Defoe had a horrible game as he couldn’t convert multiple chances in front of the goal for an easy score.
Robert Green’s incredible save on Gareth Bale’s left-footed free kick may be the save of the year in the Premiership. As the ball was curving towards the upper-right corner of the net, an extended Green got a fingertip on the ball to deflect it off the crossbar. How can he make a save like that but botch a goal so much more simple, like in the 2010 World Cup vs. USA?
PA/ Ćorluka holding down the fort for Spurs
It looks as if Vedran Ćorluka has regained his defensive spot in the Tottenham back four. Ćorluka looked a bit sloppy against West Ham in the scoreless draw and was subbed out for Alan Hutton in the 78′. Where will Ćorluka play when Croatia visit Georgia this Saturday in a Euro 2012 qualifier?
Niko Kranjčar and Stipe Pletikosa remained on the bench as unused subs for Tottenham.
TOTTENHAM-WEST HAM HIGHLIGHTS
Ivan Klasnić was an injury time substitute for Bolton on Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Manchester United. Even Klasnić couldn’t help Bolton overcome a late 88′ strike from United’s Dimitar Berbatov. Should Killer have gotten a call-up for the Georgia game?
Nikola Kalinić was left on the bench in Blackburn’s 2-2 draw with Blackpool on Saturday.
Belgium
ClubBrugge/ Perišić (L) at the office
Ivan Perišić played the full 90 minutes for Club Brugge on Sunday in a 0-0 draw with Lierse SK. The scoreless effort ends Perišić’ impeccable run of goals and assists for Brugge. It’s surprising the young Croatian couldn’t muster up at least one goal against a bottom team in Belgium. Will he finally get his first senior cap for Croatia in the upcoming week when the Vatreni play Georgia and France?
Next Matches:
International Week
~Ante Kvartuč and Denis Svirčić reporting from rain-soaked Southern California
Redknapp has been quoted that he wouldn't sell Modric for 1 billion pounds. This is usually what happens before a player is sold. Personally I would rather see him in Italy or Spain, for the sake of HNS.
There were another two brutal challenges in English football. Scholes on Nasri and Evans on Holden. This is what we need Modric to avoid. There seems to be a simple formula: 1 player from the UK and one skilled foreign player = broken leg.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/premierleague/story/Tottenham-manager-Redknapp-rejects-Modric-move-rumors
Modric V West Ham… amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1vL0S1LEGo
Wow, I just cracked up out loud at work listening to that announcer. LOL
Andrej L,
Dudu is a super-sub in Ukraine as well and as far as I have seen he is a major contributor with 4 goals for them in the CL…I would say thats pretty damn good for a side that wasn't expected to be this far let alone scoring as many goals as they have. You can throw in whatever argument about the sides they play were weak but all sides in the CL are good sides…
Dudu wont play as a lone striker as he is to small…he has great positioning and does get at the end of A LOT of crosses but we all know Bilic loves playing 2 strikers regardless of the formation and currently he will stick in Kalinic I believe as his 1st choice with maybe Dudu depending on his fitness.
I would love to think a midfield of Rakitic and Modric would work but in reality 1 needs to be aggressive and win balls back and neither really do that…neither is a terrible defender but we need a pure ball winner and against top sides we cant play this…against Georgia…sure but France no.
LMAO, Denis, that was amazing!!!
NCAA has nothing on this. 4 straight 3 pointers, announcer goes crazy
Maybe Badlj can fill that CDM role but that doesn't seem likely for this Euro Cup.
I agree about possibly playing Corluka in CDM. But I think Rakitic and Modric could still play together as long as one stays back while the other goes forward. They played together for about 30min once. If we're winning, we should try it. Its just too weak defensively but not weaker than having Vuki, Dujmovic, Pokrivac there. Seriously those guys aren't great defenders and they offer nothing offensively. Leko and Corluka are the only others who would make them better defensively. But Leko is not apart of the future. I would try Corluka there, and leave Gordon and Dejan in the back.
I saw Jajlo play a couple of times and he has a nice touch. Lets hope he continues to develop.
Definitly think Killer is a decent super sub even at his age due to the fact that he gets it on target with both feet.
I think we have to play 4-2-3-1 as we don't really have a FW who dribble…maybe Dudu but not really but hes not even performing in Ukraine. I think Rakitic has more goals at his new club playing CM.
Seems like the future could be;
Srna – Dejan- Gordon – Strinic
Corluka – Modric
Ivo – Niko – Ivan
Jelavic (Petric, Killer, Kalinic then Dudu)
The CDM is up for the taking and has been since Kovac retired. Sadly nobody has come in and tried to make it there own. Vukojevic has been the best and that isn't saying much…and to be honest I really don't know who we even have available to play there vs top tier teams besides him. I don't have much faith in him but when he is playing well he does a good job but his consistency is the only thing that is impossible to predict. The biggest problem with him is his lack of passing and technical skills that slows or breaks the passing game. He is always giving it 110% but his inconsistent passing is something that breaks our flow.
Dujmovic, Pokrivac, and Leko are really not better options.
Corluka has the ability to play a CDM role but cant see him being the future there either because of his mobility. He has the defense and passing but he is just simply too slow to close down players as fast as Vuko can. I wouldn't mind seeing Corluka in a friendly next to Modric in CM but still dont know if it will be a leap forward but crazier things can/have happened.
As our squad stands now we are not going to win to many matches vs top sides if we try to defend. Our success will come from us attacking and scoring and controlling possession. We have a decent attacking front and great midfield attacking players but the defensive mid and back line are all of for the taking as we are starting to rebuild there.
We need that Kovac type player again…not that he was the best most talented player but his experience is much missed. He did take the game to the other team at times and him and his bro are really missed in the side. Sadly I dont see anyone soon replacing them in that role soon.
A good weekend for Hrvati.
-Bravo Petric! He looked very sharp and knows how to finish.
-Rakitic, Jelavic and Strinic all with winners: Awesome.
-Runje played well but was at fault for that goal. You have to cover the near post in that situation, goalie 101. Shorter keepers tend to cheat so they don't get beat on the far post. He got caught there.
-Modric is world class, arguably in the top 10 in the world. I just wish he would pull the trigger more and shoot the ball! I bet Kranjcar would've netted one if he had the chance. Bad call Redknapp.
Agreed on Rakitic. La Liga and Sevilla are a perfect fit for him. Bilic might consider him in that role for Saturday, but he is not the long-term answer for that position. Georgia is not a side that should make us pay for playing some guys out of their natural position.
I can't say I have seen much of Georgia to debate their style of play. I assume they will play behind the ball and hope for the counter and set pieces.
Its nice to see Rakitic doing well at Seville and is making a big impact instantly. He is one of our midfielders who has a big future if he keeps developing at this rate but he still has a long way.
Its going to be hard for Bilic to choose his midfield on Saturday. Modric is the only player who is guaranteed a spot. Kranjcar is hard not to pick even when he is sitting on the bench he is a game changer with one touch of the ball and Rakitic is just as deserving. Is Bilic going to play Rakitic in the holding role with Kranjcar out wide left in a 4231? Its possible vs a team like Georgia.
I think Strnic made a great move by going to Ukraine and getting 1st team action in a decent but not top league and a decent side. He has played well it seems but only time will tell where he will be. He is a decent player and very young still. As long as he keeps improving the LB spot will be his and there is not to much competition for him there but his defense is key. Like most our team his technical skills are great and its nice because he has pace but like many he has done nothing to say his defense is worthy so I hope he can improve on that the most.