Boris Kovačev/Cropix, Sammir could have been the hero
Written by Ante Baričević
Kad neće, neće
Dinamo Zagreb took a small lateral step backwards with a disappointing 0:0 draw against Club Brugge in front of 20,000 supporters at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb Thursday night. The dream of “hibernating” in Europe is one step farther away for supporters of Dinamo and Croatian soccer alike.
Dinamo and Club Brugge both came out in the first half swinging, with Dinamo receiving a golden opportunity in the third minute when a shot by Sammir was somehow mysteriously blocked by Brugge goalie, Geert De Vlieger. Ante Rukavina was completely absent from the first half as Dinamo failed to use his speed to their advantage. Brugge controlled the remainder of the first half relying on the quick counter-attack but thankfully to no avail. Dinamo could not break Brugge’s defense and ended the half on a powerful strike from Chilean Pedro Morales, whose kick just missed the goal by mere centimeters.
DINAMO-BRUGGE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
In the second half, Dinamo started off stagnant with Club Brugge again controlling the pace and tempo of the game. Ante Rukavina decided to come back to life and made his presence known in the 51st and 62nd minute with two great shots on goal. Coach Vahid Halihodzic brought in Ivan Tomecak in the 69th replacing Ademi who had no impact in today’s game. Dinamo for the most part could not complete two passes in a row for a majority of the match sending the ball forward with nobody up front to take advantage.
A chance for Dinamo finally came in the 75′ when a penalty was called on Club Brugge’s goalie for taking out Sammir in the box, which was quickly followed by a yellow card. Sammir, usually a goal scoring machine, took the penalty and directly hit the right goal post making the ball soar away from the field of play. He definitely will not be sleeping tonight after two brilliant missed opportunities that would have most likely sealed a victory for Dinamo.
Boris Kovačev/Cropix, Dinamo can’t figure out Brugge
The game ended in a 0:0 draw and left Dinamo supporters heartbroken to what should have been a night to remember. Sammire, Sammire, Sammire…Kad neće, neće.
A draw does not take Dinamo out of the competition as they currently sit second place in the group. Next game is against the same Club Brugge on November 4th in Belgium.
In other news, is it me or does Ivan Perišić look like a young Željko Kerum with that natural Jheri curl? Somebody is obviously letting their Soul Glo.
The atmosphere was electric by all accounts and a Toronto banner was unfurled on the East Side of the stadium. Perhaps they’re under the notion that the Prva Generacija game should be in Zagreb as well?
Starters:
Dinamo: Kelava, Vrsaljko, Bišćan, Tonel, Cufre, Ademi, Chago, Badelj, Sammir, Morales, Rukavina
Club Brugge: De Vlieger, Camozzato, Hoefkens, Simaeys, Diaz, Geraerts, Odjidja, Dirar, Dalmat, Perišić, Kouemaha
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
anyone have a feed for dinamo v sibenik? thanks!
Interesting post game interview with Perišić. I like this kid already.
Perišić after Dinamo match
@Anonymous who said to drop Chago,
I couldn't agree with you more. As I was watching the game, I was thinking the same thing in my head. His passing skills were terrible and he couldn't dribble past any of his opponents. He tried to feed the ball in between four defenders and tried to pass three at one. I'm not the world's greatest soccer player but even I know I can't do that. Tomecak definitely needs to be starting.
I heard there was an offer for Mateo Kovacic from Tottenham. For selfish reasons I'd like to see him at Dinamo for a season or two but if the offer for him is that high, I just don't see Mamic or the Kovacic family not heading to London.
Still, Mateo's dad wanted him to play at Dinamo. He might stay. We'll see. If he does stay, I wonder how long it'll take for him to make it in the starting 11.
Kramaric has been very disappointing to me too. Another example of overhyping a player. Hopefully he'll find himself.
Oh no, my post just became a dinamo fan type response. This is not good.
Tomecak should be a starter for sure , he is surely a top 5 player in dinamo atm .
Vaha has to drop Chago, he may be good for the HNL but not good enough for Euro. He is not a good passer and not good on the ball. If anything, he is a guy you put on for the final 10-15 minutes of a match your winning.
Tomecak did so well against Villarreal yet now he is struggling to get into the team.
I gave up on Rukavina 3 years ago, he won't be anything special, he hasn't scored in a month. Too bad that Slovak can't play in the Europa League. Even Beqiraj is probably better
Vrsaljko had another good match, even though he is 19, I think he should be on the NT, especially if guys lile Buljat and Schildenfeld can make it
The result is not the end of the world, but a win would have made things comfortable. This means Dinamo HAVE to win at home against PAOK and take at least a point in Brugge.
Sammir could take a few lessons from Ibro on how to take a pressure-packed penalty. See Ibricic clip below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Poefk28h2-I
Yeah, I admit it, I'm just having some fun to lighten the mood after yesterday's disappointment.
When taking a PK you should 1) Always put it on target. 2) Never try to overthink the shot 3) Blast away, at that level you shouldn't be worried about bombing it over the goal…….
Sammir was thinking about how he missed the goal in the 3rd minute….soo much pressssure. And that's why he's not on the national team.
All in all a fair result in my book. Dinamo dominated bits and peaces of the game and missed an undeserving penalty kick, however Club Brugge was right there with a few chances of their own.
If you look at the stats: possession was 50-50, Dinamo had 8(4) shots, while Brugge had 9(4) shots. It doesnt get much even than that.
Besides this, Dinamo are still in good shape and can get at least a point in Brugge.
@Ante Baričević
Well done sir! Excellent report.
If Dinamo won on that PK, that would have been dirty. Relax, Dinamo are still in this. Also, they get Villarreal last where they will most likely be qualified for first. Dinamo can still advance with another win-draw-loss…
@Michael
You cant call a PK on that. I disagree.
Good report btw..
0-0 not so bad, but prob could have won. Pedro took some kicks last season. Sammir has missed a couple. He's definitely not gonna be 100% with that kind of run up.
Maybe Sammir was trying to do his best Croatian impression with that PK miss today. Maybe he's really Croatian after all. 🙂
What's the deal though? I don't remember that last time I saw a Spaniard, German or Dutchman miss a PK. It's just automatic. They step up to the spot and GOAL.
Why can't we (or even our wannabe Croats) do it? Kranjcar's PK against Israel was near perfect and was almost blocked.
As for the tottenham match….I am embarrassed for them. I feel so bad for Kranjcar that he cannot get a match in that team over Jenas. Bale got a hat trick but it was the biggest joke hat trick ever. Inter were already shut off and the scoreline hides the problems that are going over there right now.
Kranjcar although not the most consistent player deserves to be in a 1st team and can be on an equal level team of tottenham…either way he must move if he isnt getting regular playing time.
Modric while off form is still surrounded by Jenas and Hudd…may i add the biggest joke of a midfield combo i have seen in a long time. They are not good enough and Modric suffers because of this…Palacios too. I mean no technical ability. On top of that add to the Tottenham loving wingers game…Lennon is not technically gifted at all but he is a good player and Bale is amazing but still a winger…They need to spend money.
I saw the games Dinamo didn't play amazing but should have won just on the chances they had. Hajduk played well never thought they would win anyway but I was shocked to see them play the way they did could put up a point in Split maybe….will be really hard still as Zenit is really good…
i think Sammir takes most if not all of their PKs. Soccer gods were not kind to dinamo today. You are never going to be 100% on PKs.
But, they still have a chance. Probably have to get 6 points out of their next 3 games to advance. All 4 teams are in play.
Can one of you soccer God's somehow explain to me why Sammir took that PK? Wasn't he just injured? Shouldn't it have been somebody else like Morales?
Vaha is piiiiiissed. Good, I like that. I want my coach to be beyond pissed when his team loses the way they did.
Fairly entertaining match. A tale of two halves. Villareal go to first, with Dinamo going to 2nd I believe (unless PAOK's victory trumps the goal differential). Brugge on the bottom.
I still believe that was a PK, De Vlieger did have a good handle on Sammir and did pull him down. This was after the ball was punched away.
That chance Sammir had in the first 3 minutes and missing it, was a sign of things to come.
Dinamo have resorted to long ball.
I guess there is justice in soccer. The missed PK by Sammir is a reward for Brugges after that terrible call by the ref to signal a PK in the first place. I thought there should have been no whistle.
Looks like Dinamo might be kicking itself for not scoring in the first half. Brugge has more of the play and possession in the 2nd half.
Villareal up 1-0.
Good start to the match so far, Brugge look pretty solid, they are definitely looking to burn on counter.