Dinamo Zagreb are set to take on Red Bull Salzburg in less than 13 hours in their Champions League third qualifying round encounter. With Salzburg only 200 miles away from Zagreb, one thousand Dinamo supporters have already made the trip for the big game with more on the way.
Will the BBB play nice in Austria or will it be a repeat of the friendly a few weeks ago?
Dinamo has a legitimate chance of qualifying for the Group Stage of Champions League this season. If they can get past Red Bull and beat another roughly weak opponent in the playoff round- they’re in!
Prediction: Dinamo and Salzburg will play to a conservative 1-1 draw with Mario Mandžukić scoring an important away goal. Dinamo, as a whole unit, will play much better compared to the games against Pyunik.
Any other thoughts before kick off?
In other news, Sparta Prague beat Panathinikos 3-1 in their first leg. Ante Rukavina didn’t make the squad for this match. Be your own judge on how Mario Galinović played.
Anonymous people,
good stuff… figure out a name, dont be shy..
Never mind. your right. We could have 4 teams in Europa League group play!!!! lol
I think only teams in the non-champions path can go to Europa League. If shakhtar loses, they play the playoff for the europa league.
I've only just took a proper look at the draw. Its a horrible competition this year with the way its been set out. Red Bull and Dinamo are actually a couple of the stronger sides compared to some of the other rubbish ties going on.
I think Jurcic should be allowed to play around with this return match. Its not essential we qualify. I'd rather see us really have a go at winning the Europa Liga. That'd be more fun.
I think we should play Papa and Kramaric in the second leg. Red Bull is no fantastic team and the kid deserves a real game to get stuck into. I'd hold Sivonjic and Slepicka back and tell Kramaric to give it his best and whatever happens happens. At least he'd be a better player come the end of the match.
Re: Tom
I don't understand this bizarre attitude to Slepicka. The guy is a Czech Republic international. Plus he played well at weekend so follows that anyone who plays well gets some time in the next game. In the end Jurcic made that switch. Papa has to start doing something cos he's paid much more then everyone else. We're expecting 20 this season. Time for him to hit the net.
@ Slaven,
He got it. 🙂
Mandza acted like a jerk at the end and so did the ref. they create a sending off situation out of nothing. Red Bull are poor. We should beat this side. I was satisfied with second half performance. A lot more disciplined in second half. Satisfied with Butina, Etto, Badelj, Biscan and Morales. Glavina and Lovren struggled first half and played better in second. Papa foul should have been penalty for us. Papa didn't really do it again tonight. Needs a goal as soon as possible. Overall was satisfied but can do better. Sammir is far too wild in his performances. Jurcic needs to talk to him.
yes Zach, he was red carded at the end
Denis, I sent you an e-mail.
Is Mandzukic out next match?
RE: They should introduce Slepicka for Papa.
Nice call dinamofan! You're the man!
Mandzukic scores on a nice lob over the goalie's head by stealing a pass from Salzburg defender to the goalie! 1-1… U boj, u boj… za norad svoj!
I'm watching the Dinamo – Red Bull match at moment. Have no idea how they are leader they are rubbish. Dinamo combining nice touches followed by glaring mistakes. Glavina and defence was poor on goal. Mandza and Papa are not playing as partners. both gesturing to each other when one makes a bad mistake. Etto and Morales playing fine, but Sammir is playing like a prat!
Vrdoljak is not secure in centre. Badelj making nice touches, but is not commanding. I actually want us to lose this match as don't want to see us in Champions League as we can't compete there yet. I hope for equaliser in second half. They should introduce Slepicka for Papa. We need a centre back after watching this performance. Lovren is fine as left or right back, but not in the centre.
RE: Kalinic to Portugal?
I know I have already questioned whether the Kalinic-to-Portsmouth thing is a done deal.
What's up, then, with this headline from today's VL?
Kalinić i Erceg iznenada za Portugal!
Nikola Kalinić i njegov zastupnik Tomislav Erceg iznenada su napustili Portsmouth i krenuli za Portugal.
@Slaven
Can you please burn me a DVD? Where are you located?
please send me an email at paluka81@yahoo.com
I will take care of you. thanks.
I have a recording on DVD of the last Ukraine/Croatia game.
guys, I just posted the squad with Bilic' comments. Lets try to make this post strictly for Dinamo-Red Bull. Any predictions?
Looking forward to your extensive analysis on Croatia-Belarus now and leading up to the game in a few weeks.
Does anyone have a tape of the last game Croatia-Ukraine?
I say Dinamo 1 Red Bull 1
Re: 'Any Roster without Drpic is a good roster'
Personally not seeing Drpic's and Kalinic's name just makes me forget about any concerns over Runje, Pletikosa and Juric. Lets just hope that Blazevic does not now carry out his threat to call up Anas Sharbini for Bosnia as otherwise we'd have lost one talented guy.
Yep Kovac, Vejic and Sablic prob not fit to be selected anyway. I'd hope Sablic comes before Lovren under normal circumstances. I think Vejic is past it, but i have nothing against Vejic as a professional cos he always plays his best. If his best is not good enough i'd not hate on a player for that. If Vejic gets selected against Andorra for example good luck to him, but during these big matches i'd prefer not to see Vejic.
Regards Runje and Pletikosa basically credit to Bilic for sticking with what he believes in. Its upto Runje and Pleti to reward his faith in them. Both of them only lack confidence at the moment and Bilic's actions do give confidence rather than take it away. If he dropped either keeper they'd be down in the dumps. Especially Pletikosa – he might even be finished for good. My theory is shots won't rain down on us against Belarus so they just have to be on form for vital moments. That's there basic task. Prob we can get away with it.
As everyone knows i'm a Galinovic fan, but well not seeing Drpic, Vejic, Kovac, Kalinic there injured or not just keeps me happy
I am surprised at the Galinovic omission.
Kovac and Vejic are hurt. So that ruled them out. Sablic is just coming back from an operation.
Any roster without Drpic is a good roster.
Kalinic has not played in any preseason game, so no way he should be included.
I'll try to be less critical of Bilic on this squad. Firstly i guess at least he recognises that Drpic, Kalinic and maybe Klasnic should not be there at the moment. Dropping Klasnic is a gamble, but with Eduardo back then he has enough.
Regards Juric thats a conservative decision. We've all said that behind the rock music and image he has Bilic is not very innovative. If he already has Vukojevic, Pokrivac and Leko there i can't see why he needs Juric in the squad. He's just trying to make a safe decision. He prob also feels any discontent can be managed. Personally i think its a wasted slot though that should have gone to Sharbini or Klasnic who both could win a game.
As for Lovren – personally i think its better than seeing Vejic, Kovac or Drpic's name in there, but Lovren still has a lot to do to improve his game. I like Lovren, but Sablic and Mikulic should be ahead of him in my opinion. I just hope this is not another example of trying to give a HNL player caps. Lovren is a prospect, but i think Sablic and Mikulic have to come before him just now.
Regards Galinovic – again what can i say, Bilic is conservative. He is scared to change. At least he has not been rash about Runje. It can work either way, but i think standing by Pletikosa and Runje is good management in a way as it lets them know someone has faith in them. Maybe they might use to their advantage to have one more chance and prove everyone wrong. I'm pretty sure Mario has given up on getting a call from Bilic by now. He's playing every week with a big club in decent level competition which is more than Pleikosa has right now so he prob will not be too miffed by it.
Reading the line up sends shivers down my spine-with all that talent on the pitch. No R. Kovac? That's a shock. Pletikosa has been out of action but he's still better than Runje I think. Runje's performance in the Ukraine game was horrible. No Kalinic either?
Bilic has named the squad for Belarus.
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (RC Lens).
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham Hotspur), Ivica Krizanac (Zenit St. Petersburg), Josip Simunic (Hoffenheim), Hrvoje Cale (Trabzonspor), Dejan Lovren (Dinamo Zagreb).
Midfielders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivan Juric (Genoa), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Nikola Pokrivac (Monaco), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04).
Forwards: Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich), Mladen Petric (Hamburg), Mario Mandzukic (Dinamo Zagreb), Eduardo Da Silva (Arsenal).
taken from http://in.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idINIndia-41399020090729
Only Pletikosa and Runje as GKs. We're in trouble.
Galinovic is not the best in the world but he's certainly the best we have at the moment, I'm disappointed he's not even been called up.
Yep i believe that was the game that encouraged us to buy Slepicka. I'm still holding judgement on him till end of season. Galinovic's was left exposed by horrible defending. That first goal also skipped fast off the turf. i can't see Runje or Pletikosa saving it either. Pletikosa always misses low saves. He makes plenty of his saves higher up. Pletikosa or Galinovic in goal – either is fine by me. Both should be okay as he won't be under intense pressure. Runje however is not the future. We actually need to give Subasic an outing for experience purposes at some stage as he is our future.
Regards Rukavina – actually i think he may get even less opportunities this season as they had that Greek international last season who is still there and this season have Cisse so perhaps we'll be talking about Ruki needing to transfer soon. If he's not playing he's not in line for a Croatia call. As well as the usual 5, Bilic, Kalinic, Keric. Vrucina will all be playing matches this season so Ruki needs to make an impression to get anywhere near being in Bilic's plans.
Yes.
The first leg in Zagreb was 0-0 and then Dinamo managed a 3-3 draw in the Czech Republic. Dinamo was up 3-2 and then Sparta converted a penalty in the 82'. They moved on due to the away goals rile.
Bit ce nereda!
Sparta – Didn't Dinamo beat these guys on aggregate last year in the UEFA league? Maybe Dinamo isn't as far from "Europe" as we think they are. I guess we'll find out tomorrow.
Pozz iz Toronta