The Vatreni will open things up on March 26 in Orlando, taking on Colombia at Camping World Stadium.
And they’re not leaving town.
Just five days later, on Tuesday, March 31, Croatia faces Brazil — again in Orlando. Same city. Same stadium. That makes it incredibly easy for anyone flying in. We can settle into Orlando for a full week.
That’s two elite South American opponents just weeks before the World Cup kicks off. You honestly couldn’t ask for better friendlies. I expect the stadium to be packed for both matches, given the huge South American presence in Florida.
Well done, Dalić.
And credit to the Savez on this one.
As for tickets, expect them to start rolling out sometime in February, so keep your eyes open.
This is a great start for Croatian football in 2026.
Why would I lose my mind? I hope Vuskovic becomes the best player he can be.
All my comments towards him has been based on my opinions of his game I just say what I see. And comment how others are over hyping/glorifying him.
After my original comment which got your panties in a twist I still feel the same.
I can care less about all the silly awards etc the debate wasn’t will he be a professional it was will he be world class.
This will be my last comment on him as I don’t care.
All his strengths are legit and he has world class talent, don’t need to list them off.
However he’s slow on the turn and his first few steps are slow not average but slow.
And I know most don’t see what I see when I watch him at Hamburg but the system is perfect for all of his strengths and perfect to hide his weaknesses. Playing in the middle of a backline of 3 takes away the open spaces to the left and right of him. He plays in a team that is bottom tier they got knocked out of German cup to a 2nd division team. They only play once a week No Europe and he isn’t stressed. He can stay deep in middle attack high balls not get caught. And to his credit he’s doing great.
Now when he would play for Croatia or Barcelona or Bayern they will with a back 4 high line full throttle pushing teams and full back constantly pushing up. There will always be open spaces around him.
If his speed doesn’t improve he will be exposed. There will be too many opportunities between champions league, cup games league games.
And he knows this, he’s stated as much and it’s the reason he has hired personal trainers.
The only thing I was wrong to say was he can never reach world class, as he does have the right stuff in the head. But at the moment his speed is an issue, and he won’t always be protected as he is now.
Luka Vuskovic Bundesliga Best Player of the Season ✅
x.com/croatian_footy/status/2009624075707007319
of your list, I’m most optimistic on the defense as many of these guys are already proving themselves (gvardiol and stanisic). Vuskovic has shown promise but still needs proof of concept.
Anyone else listed on this is wishful thinking. We have little proof to believe any of these other places will be better than average players in a top 5 league to subs
@Truth
Just because your eye tests suck plz kindly don’t project that onto the GOAT Anonymous Olympic Gold Medal eye tests (e.g. Anonymous never thought Halilovic or Brekalo would be good lol – Pjaca was bad-luck with his knees)
The below is a straw-man for 2030 (including some some-what optimistic projections of which teams the players will be playing at then) – this is based on players we know of today – there are of course some in the U19s and below that may still come thru b/w now and then (e.g. Belinho)
2030 Tentative Starting XI
Pandur @ Fulham [30] [placeholder: Liva will be 36 y/o – one new keeper required]
RB: Valincic [27] @ Inter [possibly Barisic [25] @ Marseille]
RCB: Vuskovic @ Liverpool/Barca [23]
LCB: Gvardiol @ Madrid [28] [placeholder: could play LB, if another CB breaks-thru e.g. Prpic]
LB: Stanisic @ Bayern [30] [possibly Hrgovic [26] @ Porto]
#8 Pero @ Madrid [26]
#8 Baturina @ Inter [27] [placeholder: one additional midfielder]
#10 Jagusic @ Chelsea/Tttenham [24]
RW: Belinho @ Dinamo/RB Leipzig [21] [possibly Matkovic [24]
CF: Biondic @ West Ham [26] [placeholder: one CF e.g. Igor, Frigan, Crnac, Frank]
LW: Franjo @ Newcastle [26] [could play CF, if another LW breaks-thru]
Yes – Croatia could have one of the best teams in the World in 2030 – just take a look at the projected leagues/clubs our players will be playing at – also please note most of the players will be in the “prime” mid/late 20s (like in 1998)
My point remains we should not risk Josko in 2026 (as the chance to go far in 2026 is very low – we would need crazy crazy lucky to get to a semi again) – and we have a much better chance in 2030
Has Biondic commited to Cro ?
Dalic / Nose-Pickers –
Please find below Domagoj Bradaric’s Heat Map from his last game vs. Napoli
The Heat Map is correct – it’s not a typo
***.sofascore.com/football/match/napoli-hellas-verona/bebsoeb#id:13981607
Spoiler: the coach played him as RWB (not LWB)
Per SN:
Valincic back mid-February
Lisica back early March
the idea that croatia will be the best nt in 2030 or even top 10 is laughable
Projecting these young prospects to become anything is fools gold
I remember when the us was named wc host 8 years ago and I dreamt when Croatia would wreak havoc down the wings with a world class trio of halilovic, pjaca and brekalo. Oops
I’ve always said the best hope ever for any offensive prospect we’ve had is that they reach the level of perisic. Despite many claims of the Croatian Messi, the next modric etc, no prospect has ever done that
Orlando. That means Marco Pasalic will probably get a start considering Dalic always likes to get the locals in front of their home crowd.
Poll:
Two options
a) Josko misses 2026, but plays 2030
b) Josko plays 2026, but misses 2030
Suspect 99% of folks take b) (the 1% is Bipolar Vlad and Mart)
In 2030 Josko 28, Pero 26, Jagusic 24, Luka V 23, etc
2030 Croatia could have one of the best (or possibly THE best) NT in the World
As such – let Josko miss 2026 – and get ready for start of Prem season in August
No point risking 2030 and forcing him to play 2026
2030 Croatia could have one of the best (or possibly THE best) NT in the World AND ALL IN THEIR VERY PRIME – it’s like WC 1998 (in terms of age profile of Suker, Boban, etc – all late 20s)
Going back to the transfer window and current status of our players. We have so flopped forwards and gone through so many since our last World Cup final run in 2018. Even before that. 8 years ago and we are still relying on Perisic.
Mandzukic: Contributed his time from 2012-2018. Scored 3 Euro Cup goals and 5 world cups goals.
Rebic: Nowhere on the map and had one major goal against Argentina slaughter.
Brekalo: Had a few good runs at Wolfsburg and no hardly playing in La Liga
Petkovic: Same was Rebic. He had the huge goal against Brazil that was lucky and had contributed to some qualifying goals a but that’s it.
Orisc: Same as Petkovic. Came in clutch in the third place match and in shootouts. Now he’s irrelevant.
Kramaric: Hardly scoring or even playing at Hoffenheim. He’s also slow and can’t finish. Always scoring when it matters though like against Russia, Albania, Canada etc. but too inconsistent
Kalinic: Who could forget him? Scored huge in qualifiers when we were down and out. One European Cup against Spain and after that. Nothing.
Musa: Started off well in the Portuguese league and now in MLS
Who else? Halilovic, Pjaca, were nothing.
So now we are still relying on Perisic the almost 38 year old? It’s not enough. Budimir is a hit or miss.
Ivanović and Matanovic need playing time. Midfield is still developing and decently strong. Our defence is still better than ever. You can’t tell me that Gvardiol, Vuksovic, Stanisic, CC, Erlic isn’t better than 2018? Corluka was our grinder. Vrsaljko did well with ten long balls. Had that beautiful assist for Perisic on that tying England goal. Strinic? I have no idea what he was doing in the final. Then there is our beloved Vida. That slow header in extra time against Russia. Lovren was decent too. I think our backend is better than ever.
In conclusion. We need to expand goalkeeping options. Livakovic is still number one but better get started soon. Gvardiol being injured is going to hurt us severely. I’m even worried against Ghana. Then our forwards need to get better. More playing time for the younger guys. I haven’t been impressed much for our squad as a whole starting off this year at clubs but it’s also still early.
Colombia and Brazil are good tests for us without Gvardiol.
Luka Vuskovic ahead of Harry Kane for player of the year in Bundesliga award
Please vote
https://x.com/TheCroatian_/status/2009333456250249379
Current
Luka 61%
Harry 39%
Someone please do a wellness check on both Bipolar Vlad and Mart – suspect they are doing well – given Luka about to WIN BEST PLAYER IN THE WHOLE FUCK*NG BUNDESLIGA
Oh yay! A fan vote to decide the best player.
Like when B.J. Armstrong was voted onto the NBA All-Star team in the mid 90s.
I’ve been off for a couple of days
What’s news on gvardi front?
Do I want to know??
Out with a fractured shin bone. Needs surgery and will be out for several months.
World Cup is in doubt. This kind of injury should take 4-6 months to heal (but can sometimes take longer).
If things go well he could rush back in month five, and try to play in June (but it would mean he’d probably not be in full form).
Assuming he has superhuman healing (or uses “magic supplements”) then maybe he’ll be back.
With the loss of Gvardiol, the more the better in terms of exposure to high quality friendly play, to figure out our best line-up formation and actual desired players. I think a good beat down which totally exposes our every weakness is not bad thing to be avoided, and might actually help us to snap out of any comfortable complacency mind set. 6 months, a lot can happen.
Lovely, maybe the Trumpster will also be managing both Brazil and Columbia as special advisor by then . He loves the Slavs at least the women so we’re kind of safe.
We get saved by default
Now that gvardi is injured send his new gf to trump for sacrifice;)