Photo: AP
After a promising 2-0 victory over Everton on Wednesday, which pulled Tottenham level on points with Manchester United and only three points behind leaders Manchester City, Spurs finally had the wind sucked out of their sails as they played Wolverhampton to a 1-1 draw from White Hart Lane Saturday afternoon. Croatian midfield magician Luka Modrić saved Spurs from complete embarrassment as he salvaged one point for Tottenham with his 51st minute shot from the top of the box. It appeared to be a savable shot but there was too much traffic in front of the Wolves net for goalie Wayne Hennessey to react appropriately.
The goal cancelled out Steven Fletcher’s 22nd minute tap-in goal for Wolves following an incorrect called corner kick. Both Spurs goalie Brad Friedel and Luka Modrić could not deflect the ball far enough from the goal line and Fletcher cleaned up the mess for an early lead. Spurs applied pressure throughout the match with a ‘trigger happy’ Modrić unable to find the proper shot on goal. He managed seven shots throughout the match but only had three on frame. Good to see his confidence in shooting has arrived; now Modrić only needs to finish shots accordingly.
Niko Kranjčar remained on the bench as an unused substitute while Vedran Ćorluka is nowhere to be seen as a Spurs player. Will he ever get back into this Tottenham squad?
Modrić equalizer @ 0:55
Photo: Scotsman.com
Rangers should be happy they didn’t sell Croatian striker Nikica Jelavić (yet) as he scored two goals Saturday against St. Johnstone to help his side earn the full three points and stay two points behind rivals Celtic in Scotland. Jelavić opened up the scoring in the 24th minute when he stretched out and wisely deflected his own teammates’ shot to put the ball in the back of the net. It looked as if the St. Johnstone goalie would have made the save easily without Jelavić’s doing.
Jelavić has the ‘striker’s instinct’
After a Carlos Bocanegra own goal tied the game up in the 68th minute, Jelavić once again came through with an ‘Ivica Olić right place right time’ tap-in goal for Rangers to win it in the 80th minute. After a long free kick was played into the box deflecting off the crossbar, Jelavić easily could have walked in the ball from two yards out with the goalie left to rot after an uncalibrated save attempt. Jela will take the goal and the win most importantly. He remains the Scottish goal scoring leader up to date with 16 goals thus far in the campaign.
Jelavić doubles his fun vs. St. Johnstone
Ivan Klasnić remained on the bench for Bolton in a 3-0 loss to Manchester United.
Yes, Mihovil, alot of the regulars here tend to make generalizations that make no sense.
Fisto,
In regards to our WC 2014 Qualifying home schedule. The early reports are:
Sept 7 2012 Croatia v Macedonia Maksimir
Oct 16 2012 Croatia v Wales Kantrida, Rijeka
March 22 2013 Croatia v Serbia Maksimir
June 7 2013 Croatia v Scotland Poljud
Oct 11 2013 Croatia v Belgium Poljud
This is not official.
@Denis Svirčić
“two Ivica Olic goals from Jelavic”
Equating and associating tap in goals to the name of Ivica Olic in my opinion is unfair and unjust. What do we want from him, to not put himself in that position to score goals? At the same time he scores from all over the place in all kinds of ways. As “Tom Franciskovic” said, “I wish Jelavic could score goals like this for our national side”. The branding is incorrect and let’s be honest here, it is mainly used to mock and poke fun of Ivica most if not all the time. Never understood the humor but I hope people keep making fun of him because it is working.
@JerseyCro – “He is worse than Olic dribbling”
Check out some horrible dribbling skills from Ivica below. You could have mentioned other players way before mentioning Ivica in this context by the way. Once again the guy gets picked on way too much for my liking and is a scapegoat. Keep picking on him though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQy9SzE5aVk&feature=player_embedded
The goal @ 2:04 is sublime!
If I am being harsh Denis I sincerely apologize. Hangover heaven is getting worse and worse for me as the years go by. 🙂 Funny thing though, if I keep drinking it is not so bad. 🙂
Jelavic is good in the air and good for direct teams, Croatia don’t play direct so Jelavic is essentially useless on the NT unless they pump long balls into the box. He is worse than Olic dribbling
GIANTS Bitches!!!
I wish Jelavic could score goals like this for the national side. Maybe it’s the level of competition.
two Ivica Olic goals from Jelavic…. the line of the day is… “Jevavic claiming the goal”…
I will have to quote the great Shania Twain: “That dont impress me much”
has klasnic been officially dropped in starting 11?
Will kranjcar ever come off the bench?
Will corluka ever make it to the bench?