The first two Croatian matches of 2023 will take place at the end of this month when the Vatreni open up their EURO 2024 qualifying campaign against Wales in Split on the 25th and against Turkey in Bursa three days later.
On Monday afternoon, manager Zlatko Dalić named his 25-man squad for these matches.
There wasn’t much change from the World Cup squad in Qatar outside of Lovren and Budimir. Lovren officially retired from international duty last month. Osasuna striker Ante Budimir was dropped in place of 24 year-old Benfica striker, Petar Musa. Musa has met all expectations in Portugal this year coming off the bench for 1st place Benfica. He has tallied a total of five goals in 17 matches. This will be Musa’s first call up to the Croatian senior side after be capped 11 times for the U21 team.
Ivan Perisic — 3
” barely lasted 55 minutes, appeared to take a knock”
I dunno, it looks bleak for Perisic.
Some pretty decent opinions of his play today. Hopefully it’s something he can build on.
Josip Stanisic – 7
Started over Joao Cancelo and held his own, timing his tackles well and always playing smartly out of the back. Instrumental in keeping Kylian Mbappe quiet
Josip Stanisic – 7.5
Some might have expected João Cancelo to start but it feels that Julian Nagelsmann simply doesn’t rate the on-loan Manchester City defender to start. That being said, Josip Stanisic didn’t put a foot wrong operating as Bayern’s right-sided central defender.
What a kick to the gut for sucic and of course the repka
I wish him a good recovery
All the more reason we need Luka to stay till euro
There is talk that Madrid pushing his retirement for repka
I honestly like to think luka chooses us over Madrid it came to it
The Madrid faithful I feel would understand and wouldn’t lose his eternal legendary status
And most Croats would understand if he chose to retire and played out his end of career at Madrid
But if he openly chose Croatia if it came to it. There wouldn’t be anyone who will be able to touch luka as greatest soccer Croat ever
Thoughts?
He’s not an idiot.
Patriotism aside, Luka knows he has a future in coaching with the National Team, or an executive position within the HNS (if he wants it).
He’s already stated that he’s interested in coaching, and my guess is we will see him as an assistant or head coach in the near future.
Not sure if he’s right for the job, but that is a different conversation.
Madrid, however, will squeeze whatever drop he has left as a footballer and cast him aside. They aren’t even offering him guaranteed multi-year contracts. Just these one-off contracts, because they don’t want to be stuck with a declining Modric for even one year. They dumped club legend (Ramos) for less.
Modric owes Madrid nothing, and shouldn’t bank on being a part of their future in any capacity (because they don’t care).
Stanisic rated well
7/10
He may have worked his way up the ranking
Even if not long term in Bayern
His stock is rising and quality teams should be coming
Croatian restaurant offers one pot menu cooked by robotic chef (yahoo.com)
We need to get one of these robots trained as a striker for the national team.
Croatian restaurant offers one pot menu cooked by robotic chef (yahoo.com)
He need to get one of these robots trained as a striker for the national team.
test
1…2…3
Based on U-15 results, if the 2030-34 World cups come down to Hungary and Croatian, we are as good as gold.
Why?
Are Hungary and Croatia doing exceptionally well at U15?
8-0 CRO vs HUN
In American football they have changed all the rules to protect players so much, that theoretically, a 50 year old man can now play quarterback.
Has professional soccer rules changed in the other direction, to create more injuries in the last 15 years and less player protection? In the old days, Modric was our most injured player with his flexor or groin area, while Kranjcar had to stay in the steam room to burn off a few extra cheeseburgers around his waistline, but that was about it.
What gives?
sadly this start of qualifying cycle has let down written all over it.
the players will be unmotivated after the world cup run and are generally out of form
I worry about the quality of the side.
modric’s decline seems to have begun where maybe he can only will the magic out in big games still.. not for a march qualifier.
bozo-vic may be back but the team plays better without him
kovacic is kind of back in no man’s land.
perisic is declining quickly.
kramaric a shadow of his former self.
still no right wing.
the only thing you can hang your hat on, is that the defense still seems like it’s solid with sosa, gvardiol, juranovic all seeing consistent solid action. That may be enough to carry the day.
and then there is livakovic. we will all remember the winter miracle of 2022, but let’s not pretend this is a goalkeeper we are going to be pleased with.
and now the hopes for a rotation in generation with sucic becoming more active has taken a big hit.
I always like to say you need to be wary of these young guys who get hurt. It may just mean they are injury prone like gvardiol. In the case of gvardiol, it will likely just mean reduced availability rather than complete loss of effectiveness like marko pee-ass-a.
for a midfielder like Look-I Suck-ic, it could be much more debilitating.
i wish i could bring you guys better news. some say I’m pessimistic, but here I just need to be realistic and that approach has caused me to be consistently right. Just read the snooze fest of croatian weekend soccer update each week. There is nothing there to note. There is a whole dedicated page to beljo falling down on a break and knocking the ball in the goal.
Only good point you made is Perišić is declining and retiring before our eyes sadly
I was gonna say, not much to take from this statement truth. 90 percent of it, I am afraid, is off the mark
Livakovic came alive in the world cup, it took him time but I think he will progress and develop as much as I have been a critic of his. He is only 29 by the way, not in his mid 30’s.
A strong defense often wins games, and tournaments. Italy’s success is an example of this.
Modric still has the magic which the game against Liverpool should have showed. Real Madrid’s problem is the other individuals on the team, Modric cannot do it all on his own.
Stanisic as well has been exceptional as per Bayern’s coach and many media outlets so our backline is more than solid at this point.
The team does not play better without Broz, probably the worst of your comments right there. As a reminder he is a defensive midfielder not an offensive midfielder. Sonic all your doing is looking for goals, than you are looking at the wrong player, he isn’t on the team for that reason even tho can score a banger once in a while. People seem to be ignoring the difference between offensive and defensive midfielder.
More to the point, if Broz wasn’t a good midfielder why are teams like Barcelona and Liverpool scouting the guy and making bids for him at this point???
The puns are pretty stupid, I am having time understanding if your Croatian or not.
Kova, despite me being a bit of critic of his, is captaining Chelsea. Media outlets have been praising him as well.
I think you have to start reading the player ratings on different outlets, and potentially watch the games. It feels like you haven’t been paying attention.
He’s a troll. Most likely Serbian or has a connection to them. I was thinking about it over the weekend and came to the conclusion that he gets off on coming to this website, pretending he’s one of us, pretends he’s dispensing some sort of “truth”, but really just shits all over our players and team time and time again. Then sits back and enjoys our reactions. Best to be ignored and not engaged.
Fans don’t stop being fans, and the Repka doesn’t stop being a winner. This isn’t 2018. Dalić has the team well oiled. Stanisić, Majer, Sutalo, Erlić, and Musa are all going to be geared up to get playing time. Juranović is a dynamo that just doesn’t stop running. Kramarić, Livaja, and Orsić will be motivated to prove that they still belong. I sound like Soul Champ here…
I hope that the latter half of your comments are true, Anonymous Doom. The trio you mentioned at the end didn’t do much in the World Cup for the front line. Aside from Orsic in the game that won Croatia the bronze, and the deflection of Petko’s goal versus Brazil. Livaja and Krama scored against Canada, but aside from those moments no goals were scored. Perisic again had step in to score against Japan.
Livaja, has been scoring consistently for Hajduk but when it comes to the big games he seems to choke. No goals versus Belgium, or Argentina which nearly impacted us getting out of group stages and cost us big against Argentina.
Kramaric, as well is questionable at best. Lacking consistency. Same for Petko who is very slow.
Look, I will admit, we didn’t have easy teams to play in the last tournament, World Cup. We definitely had the harder bracket, especially out of group stages. But this is to be expected, the front line is really lacking and needs to step up in these bigger games
I have a difficult time believing that Krama, Livaja, and Petko will offer much come both the qualifiers and Nations League. But again I am hoping that they do.
@ kromiza
You are plus one in my book.
We have been comparing Kovačić to Modrić and it leaves him lacking every time.
I believe Kovačić has stabilized over these past two years and has a good 4+ years of prime ahead of him as a leader.
@ Maminjo
Sučić will comeback stronger!!
He is young and knows how to train.
Full faith.
I hope so.
Losing two talented central midfielders (both aged 20) could really hurt that generation.
I dunno, even in this game some outlets suggested Kovacic was not fully consistent, and led to alot of giveaways in the beginning of the game.
I am not suggesting he isn’t a good player, nor have I suggested he shouldn’t be on the team I just don’t see him as a starter.
I could be wrong, but other than the game against Canada in group stages I think the other midfield players were more crucial for the duration of the tournament; in fact, Broz nearly scored a goal against Brazil and he was defensively sound for the majority of the tournament and covered a lot space and distance. Yet many people are unfavourable to Broz on this site, but if we draw a comparison I would argue that he was way more important to the midfield.
Broz is better than Kova.
Almost everyone will agree with that.
People should agree with that, unless their name is truth.
Sučić ruptured ligaments in the left knee and has to go through surgery.
Honestly, this is horrible news.
We lost Kačavenda and Sučić (two of our most promising midfield talents) to knee injuries.
We lost Pjaca, Moro and Krovinović to knee injuries.
I haven’t watched Kačavenda’s comeback with Lokomotiva this season, but I’m hoping he managed to get some of that explosiveness back.
We need to wrap Mate Baturina in bubble wrap or we’ll end up with no future.
Yikes! That is the worst scenario it was afraid of. The Da Silva injury seemed to be an anomaly in the day, not is seems to be par for the course lately. These accidents did not seem as prevalent 10 years ago.
I have Kovacic-idis. I am sometimes disappointedly sick over what Mateo is not, rather than being truly grateful for how great he is as key support player on excellent teams, that have all the pieces. I will continue to take spoonfuls of gratitude, and will continue to call the doctor in the morning.
CM: Mateo Kovacic – 7/10 – A quality showing in midfield. Great press resistance as Dortmund tried to fight their way back into the game.
AND has captained to two wins in a row to save Chelsea’s season !!
I read a couple things where he started slow
Misplaced some passes
But he did a good job neutralizing Bellingham apparently and picked up well in the second half
That’s kind of Kovacic’s problem is consistency. Modric may be having a tough season with some respect to his age, but it’s not consistently a problem for Modric, or Broz. But Kovacic kind of does this back and forth dance between having a couple great games and then some not so good games. So again, I don’t see the guy as a starter personally. Maybe I am wrong and Kovacic will start to Excell, but even in the last World Cup I saw issues with him and lots of giveaways.
Like I said above, I am not saying he shouldn’t be called up. I would definitely call up. But I can’t see him as a starter.
Chelsea need to win and they give the arm band to Kovačić two games in a row !!
Real Madrid should definitely bring him back.
He is pure class as a #8 midfielder
Sad news that Luka Sučić will be out for 3-4 months
one of the stand-by call ups will be in then, it would be Jakic in place I reckon.
Please don’t tell me it is a knee? ……. We don’t need to lose him like Pjaca.
It is his knee. Needs surgery. I hate to say this, but this will cap his ceiling the way it did all the others who suffered the same injury.
Yes it is his knee, outer ligament and he needs surgery sadly
kova with the armband!
Again for Chelsea? Are they doing this to keep him around?
He really should go back to Madrid I feel
Some are saying Kroos will leave This year
I feel luka will stay till end of 2024 season
Love to see him and kova for one year together again
Then win euro for us
Luka retires
Kova takes his spot
All is good in nogomet land
……………..Perisic…………………….Musa………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………Majer…………………………………
………………………Kovacic………….Modric…………………….
Sosa…………………………………………………………………..JJ
………………Gvardiol………Erlic…………Stanisic……………..
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………….Liva…………………………………….
Love the 3-5-2 with Perisic and Musa upfront…. Juranovic for me is more a winger than a true RB he would thrive in this role as would Sosa as well! At the World Cup I felt that Sosa was lost in that 4-5-1 as it seemed as if him and Perisic were choking each other on that left side… with a 3 man back line that can defend create and help push the ball up Sosa will have more freedom in attack where I think he is best at anyways…. Would love to see Beljo with Musa as well.. both are beasts.. to bad he couldn’t make room for him as well.. we need to really focus on our attack Dalic is making strides with the calls!
……….Perisic………………………Musa…………
……………………..….Majer…………………………….
……….…Kovacic……………Modric………………
Sosa……………………………………………………JJ.
……..Gvardiol….…Erlic……Stanisic…………
………………………………………………………………….
………………………Livakovic…………………………
Dalic is pragmatic.
Jebi ga .. these dude wants results.
No experimental BS.
He is getting for UNL!!
At this point how can you question his results? Back to back WC historic to runs.
Modrić keeps on ticking.
Musa scores off the bench in Portugal.
He can do the same for Croatia.
Do we have any other LB options besides barisic? I suppose we could move gvardi there if our other cbs really come along
Vida will retire after nations league as you guys say
I wish he would just retire now and give him some sort of pre assistant gig before he retires from professional play
Assistant orange peeler for half time /motivator
Musa may not even be on the team if lovren didn’t retire…..
Musa in the HOUSE !!
Can Juranovic play RW with Stanisic at RB?
Sure. You’ll get a taste of it tomorrow with Kingsley Coman playing on the right in front of Stanisic (who will be starting).
hahaha .,
Dalic is a Dalic
and he is stupid
absolutely -> _O)shit
Vida is the team mascot and the dressing room cheerleader. Dalic will likely let him stay on until the Nations League finals to give him a chance to raise a trophy and then retire. I have no problem with his selection if that’s the plan.
You can be a mascot/cheerleader from the stands… I get what you are saying Becar, but that is still a wasted spot in my eyes.
I agree with this…I’m sure he’ll retire after the Nations League. I think he knows his place (on the bench) and is willing to contribute as a motivator/mentor.
Vida should get the hint to just retire. If Lovren did it, so can he.
It could have given us an extra spot on the striker department for either Ljubicic or Beljo, had Vida retired.
Exactly right, could’ve been used for anything. It could’ve been the one you have suggested or it could’ve been for a back-up CB but an improved player like Smolcic at Frankfurt, even Peric from Dinamo is a surplus from Vida.
I also don’t agree with Barisic as back-up LB, scares the shit out of me whenever he plays.
It’s really the one gripe I have with Dalic. If goals is your problem why hang on to player like Vida if you didn’t even play him during the last World Cup?? Especially, instead of calling up players like Ljubicic and Beljo, or even if he wanted Colak.
I am not saying they will solve the problem, but especially with regards to the younger alternatives like Ljubicic and Beljo they eventually will over time.
It’s both his strength and his weakness as a ‘relationship’ guy.
He’s said before that it’s very hard to get into (and get out of) the team.
This was proven when he gave a declining Ante Budimir every opportunity to succeed by giving him starts in most of our UNL games, despite Musa and Colak going on mean club scoring streaks at Boavista and Rangers. If there was any time to swap out of one our current strikers and try something new (especially in preparation for a tournament) that was the perfect time to do it. In the end, he still stuck with Budimir for the World Cup (without even a callup for the other two).
It’s a slow process with Dalic, and you could see that Musa was on the radar for him (with that standby callup in June last year) which is finally resulting in an actual callup a full nine months later. We see Beljo now with a standby callup…which means he will likely get his first cap sometime in late 2023. Beljo only gets fast tracked if he suddenly scores like crazy, but even if that happened I could see Dalic swapping out Musa for him in the next round of games, ha ha.
It’s not Dalić’s style to start a newcomer so it’s more likely Musa comes on as a 70th minute sub.
As expected, no surprises in the selection as it’s pretty much the 2022 WC squad.
Finally Musa has gotten his call up hope he stays healthy… I like his style and believe he will bring alot to the table… With Orsic in poor form.. I believe Ivanusec is more then likely to be backup on the left for Perisic.. I think Spikic would complement the RW RAM role as well.. also would been nice to get Beljo in here as well .. but overall quite happy with the callups
Ivanusec is scoring goals, and Dalić needs players who can score from team plays. I think that promotion is a smart one. He takes the place of Jakić, who would just ride the bench behind Sutalo and Stanisić.
I don’t think it’s Orsic’s fault, same way it’s not Broz’s fault either.
They are just not getting played. But they definitely need to both move to different clubs come the next trade window.
Broz really needs to leave Inter.