DINAMO FALL IN SCOTLAND
Dinamo Zagreb escaped Scotland Thursday night with a 2-0 defeat to Hearts which will put the ‘Modri’ into the Europa League group stage with 47 other clubs. It’s a good thing Dinamo put the pressure on in the first leg as they won 4-0 in Zagreb as they looked very lazy to even play in the return leg. Granted the players knew they only had to show up in Scotland to qualify for the next round, they let Hearts get dangerously close.
BBB LIGHT ONE UP AS THE VATICAN FLAG MAKES ANOTHER CAMEO APPEARANCE
It could have easily been a two or three goal deficit for Dinamo at halftime, however Hearts blew a few good chances and even hit a laser off the crossbar. Nonetheless, Dinamo did what they had to do and will once again play in Group Stage. The top two teams from the 12 groups will enter the knockout round. The Europa League group stage draw will take place Friday, August 28th.
DINAMO WILL NOW FACE AJAX, ANDERLECHT AND TIMISOARA IN THE GROUP STAGE
HEARTS SUPPORTERS BRING A HAJDUK FLAG TO MOCK THE BBB
Ivan Jurić and his Italian side Genoa CFC drew Odense GK of Denmark 1-1 but will move ahead to the group stages of the UEFA Europa League on 2-4 aggregate. Jurić failed to have any kind of impact during the match because he was subbed out in the 14′ as he suffered a concussion hitting the ground after an aerial challenge. It is not known how long Jurić will be out but we should count him out for September qualifiers. We’ll keep an eye on his condition. Genoa CFC are grouped with Valencia, SK Slavia Praha and Lille.
NIKICA JELAVIĆ IS FLYING HIGH FOR RAPID VIENNA
Nikica Jelavić celebrated his 24th birthday in exciting fashion as he provided the decisive away goal in the 76′ against Aston Villa, denying the English side a place in the UEFA Europa League by away goal rule. The goal itself was very much a “right place, right time” Ivica Olić tally, nonetheless, it made the difference. Jelavić also had two solid chances on net after scoring his goal but was unable to capitalize and finally came off in the 85th minute.
The Čapljina native has had a profound impact for Rapid Vienna in this young season in both the Austrian Bundesliga, where they sit atop the standings, and in European competition. Rapid Vienna now await Friday’s draw to see who they will be paired with in the group stage of the competition. This Sunday, Jelavić and his squad will be taking on city rivals Austria Vienna in a match where Rapid fans will surely acknowledge the effort being put forth by their talented young Croatian striker.
RAPID VIENNA TO TAKE ON CELTIC, HAMBURG AND HAPOEL TEL AVIV IN GROUP STAGE
HRVOJE ČALE FIGHTING FOR THE BALL
Trabzonspor defeated Toulouse FC in France by a score of 1-0, however it will be the French side moving on to the group stage of the UEFA Europa League on a 3-2 aggregate. Hrvoje Čale played the entire match for his Turkish squad but failed to have a major impact during the game. Drago Gabrić did not dress for the match, although he should be in action this Sunday when Trabzonspor take on Bursaspor in Turkish Super League action. Trabzonspor’s European season is now over.
TURKEY/AUSTRIA RESULTS POSTED BY IVICA
In other news around Europe…
After posting a hat trick in the first leg, Mladen Petrić was absent for Hamburg’s 3-1 victory over French Side EA Guingamp. The victory for Hamburg has them moving onto the group stage of the UEFA Europa League to face the likes of Celtic FC, Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC and Nikica Jelavić’s Rapid Vienna squad.
Ivica Križanac started on the bench for FC Zenit St. Petersburg but was subbed in the 71′ in a 1-1 draw against CD Nacional. The Portuguese side scored a late 89′ goal to end Zenit’s European season and will be moving on to the group stage of the competition on 4-5 aggregate.
Darijo Srna and Shakhtar will be moving onto the UEFA Europa Cup group stages after defeating Turkish side Sivasspor 2-0 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Srna was fouled twice in the box to force two penalties for Shakhtar. Shakhtar are grouped with FK Partizan, Toulouse, and Club Brugge, the new home of talented young striker and Split native Ivan Perišić.
Srna and company also took on current Champions League holders Barclona in Monaco in the UEFA SuperCup Friday. The match went the full 120 minutes with Barcelona scoring the lone goal in the 115′.
@Vatreni
"My opinion is that NK Dinamo should bring in @dinamofan and put him on their boards of directors. I think he would be a great addition to their club 🙂 "
Too late CroatianSoccerReport.com has signed Dinamofan to a one year contract. 🙂
@ Slaven
Highly unlikely at this point. He is injured and would serve no purpose if the injury is as serious as it sounds. I do believe that it is supposed to be (if it does happen) a loan as opposed to a full transfer.
It may be possible that the transfer could still go through.
thats is just terrible luck, what an aweful day for Stipe.
Yikes i didn't know that injury was so bad. Bad luck Pleti cos Spurs would have recruited him to play in place of injured Gomes just now. Could have been the move of his life. Thats real unlucky.
I heard Pletikosa to Tottenham was pretty much a done deal. Of course with Stipe's luck he just tore his ACL today at training. No transfer for him and he will be out the next 4-6 months. It would have been nice to see him leave Russia. I think he still has alot to prove. Hopefully, he'll come back quick and move to another club. I've always been a fan of Stipe and think he'll come back and do well. I wish him the best of luck.
Wow. I hope Pletikosa goes to the Spurs. He's a great goalie. I was wondering when someone would bail him out of that crap team in Russia. Plus, Gomes' performance last season was not so great.
Tottenham Hotspurs make a bid for Stipe Pletikosa?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1209623/Spurs-set-sights-Croatia-keeper-Stipe-Pletikos-David-James-radar.html
Please let this be true, just get him the hell out of Russia
Cvitanich won't face Dinamo, he's being sold. Also thats a horrible draw. Anderlecht decent this year. Timosora also not bad. Ajax is not the power they were. Basically this is what we are here for to play games like this. We'll stand up and face off. We'll be fine.
hmm interesting, I see our friend Dario will be facing Dinamo. That should get the conversation started again!
Decent draw, but Dinamo wont get out of the group phase.
Ajax and Timisora will go forward. Romanian clubs have done well in the past few years.
Champions league and Europa league draws are done. Not a bad draw for Dinamo.
I think Zec was rumoured to German league.
That game was awful 100%, but it's typical Jurcic to play defensive in this role.
Dinamo drew Ajax, Anderlecht and Timisora.
I see a 2-2-2 finish for them.
i think Hajduk will linger in around 6th till winter. in winter on their wish list should be JURICA VRANJES (very versatile player) and MARIN LJUBICIC cos if they are gonna play 4-3-2-1 they need strong midfeld players otherwise even HNL teams will go straight through them. They should also sign the remaining realistic quality striker available BOJAN VRUCINA when he returns from injury in winter and sell IBRICIC. Apparently Zec plays tonight for Sibenik then leaves on Monday. Not sure where.
Re: Hajduk winning league
I think Reja is making the right moves. Marijan Buljat firstly was a no brainer. The guy is first choice right back each week no question. Duje Cop is a sensible signing. Having said i'm abivalent to what goes on at Hajduk i guess that's not totally the case. I want them competing at least with us. The signings by Belupo and Rijeka this week is very very very pleasing. Dalovic and Ceh will be class in HNL. Also glad Osijek brough the proven Pavlivic back to club. Zagreb going down if they don't sign something. They can even take Sivonjic on loan if they want.
Hajduk squad is less complicated than Dinamo's as they have some players who you wander if they are good enough and some who may just be too old now. They should cash in on Ibricic as he no longer fits in the team and the formation has to be messed up to fit him in.
SUBASIC, M BULJAT, SERIC/STRINIC, VEJIC, PANDZA; CERNAT/ TICINOVIC/ JERTEC, ANDRIC/ RUBIL, SKOKO/ LJUBICIC, ANAS; AHMAD, RODIC/ COP/ IBRICIC
If you look at that team its a bit of a catastrophe cos they have no right midfielder once Gabric went. Cernat, Ticinovic can be forced to play there but they are left sided. Anas is right footed, but is better on left. They are really forced to play one up front which does not help with goalscoring.
There is no excuse for Hajduk to be third from bottom, but i doubt Reja can get that team to top of table playing one striker and no proper right winger whilst also accomodating Ibricic.
Also i think Skoko, Seric and Vejic showing signings of aging. They perhaps should have gave him them 1 and half year deals rather than 2 years so they could get rid of them by winter. Still stunned what Bilic has seen from Vejic to justify his call up.
Re: Vatreni
Fortunately for Dinamo we can change this around. It is not only Jurcic's responsibility, but Mamic needs to get to work as well and try and shift out players and get in negotiations with Delac. Zapresic want 3m Euro, but i think they will take 1m Euro and some players in exchange. Send Carlos, Sivonjic and Tomic there on loan for the season.
Dinamo fans are not being over the top on team or Jurcic at present as firstly we recognise that Badelj, Kramaric, Mandzo, Etto, Tomecak, Morales, Vrdoljak are playing very well. Even Biscan is playing the best at the moment he has played since he came to the club. Papa at least turned up fit so we're not that irritated by him, but Sammir is getting annoying. As its just one or two individuals who can be easily identified and changed then there is hope. Also we've not seen Ibanez yet, Callelo waiting for a run out, Kovac and Cufre are all certain to come in so we won't be seeing Carlos or Barbaric for much longer. I am also happy this morning to be reading the right noises coming out of Jurcic and Dinamo and that they are making no excuses and showing desire to improve. I actually think the fact Jurcic subbed out Sammir first shows he's getting tired of Sammir as well. I think he's had his time as right midfielder now. Its time for Tomecak and Etto to take over that position. Jurcic should also stop holding onto Sivonjic. If Mamic says it'd be financial better and better for the players developement to go off on loan Jurcic needs to listen. Yes he needs a good size squad, but 20 is too much. It needs trimming. Both Dinamo and Hajduk have massive squads.
My opinion is that NK Dinamo should bring in @dinamofan and put him on their boards of directors. I think he would be a great addition to their club 🙂 I agree with all of your observations. I watched the game today and was very disappointed. I'm a Hajduk fan but I really wanted to see Dinamo kick the crap out of Hearts today. There's nothing better than seeing a team out there looking hungry and battling for every ball. After that great performance in Zagreb they came out like they didn't care at all. This makes me wonder if that game in Zagreb was just a fluke. I've watched Dinamo play too many mediocre European games this season. I don't know why but I always believe our teams are better than they actually are. I hope that Dinamo plays better in the Europa League. Its great experience for young talented Croats like Mandzukic, Badelj, Kramaric, etc. I would like Dinamo to do well in Europe and for Hajduk to come back and win the league 😉 A man can dream right
I think we should clear out Slepicka and loan out Sivonjic as he needs more depth of games anyway as we got him early in his Zapresic career.
Basically last chance now for Sammir. I think we should attempt to turn him in a striker. If he still does not make it, basically we should throw in the towell. Its a lost cause.
Jelavic does not deserve a call. This is the first time he has got anything going. He was poor at Hajduk, did nothing at Waregem and last season we mediocre. Yeah he can be on a list of players we analyse during the season. Personally i don't think we need a 5th striker and if Klasnic is the man at present as he's proven player. Also on his games for Croatia he scored against Poland, Turkey and won the Andorra match for us so that doesn't justify being ignored for some unproven guy like Jelavic. I think we should put an end to this 5th striker business and call up Badelj cos he's not learning anything in the Under 21's under Ladic's comedy show. He might as well spend time with the first team. Badlej will be a national team player eventually so we might as well started creating out future side from now. Anas, Badelj and Lovren should be in on a regular basis till right up till the world cup.
Its nights like this when you find out about players. Granted it was wet raining and a tight pitch at Hearts, but many players showed no desire and others were just plain bad. I hope Jurcic and Mamic take this result seriously and make changes.
Firstly BUTINA worst player on the pitch. Needs replacing. Delac signed up asap. CARLOS basically is no good. He has to leave. To me he just seems like an average players in a mid table HNL side. SAMMIR – had enough of him. Attitude was terrible last night. He could barely be bothered to even run around and on the second goal rather than clearing he lathargically lifted his leg up and sent the ball back towards our goal. Also his attacking player is just not good enough. He is worse than Carlos as Carlos has no ability, Sammir does yet Sammir just cannot be bothered. We can also change this. We have several options.
We can go
1. Morales right, Ibanez left
2. Morales right, Glavina left
3. Morales right, Badelj left with Vrdoljak and Callelo in the centre
4. Morales left, Tomecak right
5. Morales left, Etto right
6. Morales right, Antolic left
My preferred option would be trying option 5 and occasionally option 1, but basically we should over look Sammir till he changes his attitude. I'd also take BARBARIC out the team and go with the side below.
DELAC, LOVREN, BISCAN, KOVAC, CUFRE; ETTO/ TOMECAK, VRDOLJAK, BADELJ, MORALES; MANDZO, PAPADOPOULOS.
subs: KRAMARIC, SAMMIR, CALLELO, IBANEZ, CHAGO, GLAVINA, ANTOLIC LONCARIC
GET RID: SLEPICKA, TOMIC, CARLOS, BUTINA, BARBARIC
SIGN B4 DEADLINE: SIMIC, DELAC, VIDA
LOAN OUT: SIVONJIC
i feel we are on the brink of a decent side, but we still need to clear away some crap which is messing up the team.
I didn't want to say that, but, yes…
correct…….typical hercegovac
From what I understand, people in the football business have been very careful and hesitant about Jelavic. Not only is his uncle is one of the bigger mafija bosses in Cro but he is his manager as well( or was, I think he's in jail). It would be a tricky situation for Bilic & co to call him up.
so true Ante, so true…
Maybe it is still early to say this, but are you watching, Slaven Bilic?
@ Ivica,
I'm sure Olic would have found a way to butcher that opportunity. It was a nice shot to beat the defender for Jelavic. Olic needs to be within three yards of goal for those tap-ins. 🙂