Fans of Dinamo Zagreb were hoping for a more attractive opponent to face before entering the Champions League group stage, but the Modri will face Albanian champions KS Skenderbeu Korce in the playoff round.
Other potential opponents included Serbia’s FK Partizan, Israel’s Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Sweden’s Malmo FF, and Kazakhstan’s Astana.
Dinamo avoided drawing Partizan, which easily could have been the most exciting match of the tournament.
Skenderbeu’s road to the playoffs was was not a difficult one. The Albanian side first defeated Norther Ireland’s Crusaders FC (agg 6-4) and then Moldova’s FC Milsami Orhei (agg 4-0).
But despite and unattractive opponent, playing a lesser team should be a ticket to the group stages without too much difficulty.
But don’t speak too soon. Dinamo has yet to win a home game this qualifying season and should have handled Fola Esch and Molde FK much easier than they did.
The first match will take place on Aug. 17 in Albania with the return leg at Maksimir on Aug. 24.
Hajduk Split also learned their fate in the Europa League playoff round this morning.
The Bili will face the Czech Republic’s Slovan Liberec on Aug. 19, then again in Split on Aug. 26.
Lionel Messi never performed well on a consistent basis for his country Argentina until recently. He only played well for Barcelona and was the best player in the world at club level not international level. Iniesta and Xavi made him look better at Barcelona than the Argentina midfield so he struggled there.
Playing in meaning national team games????? No.
Do that and watch how a coach can lose the locker room.
Let’s all sit back and see what the likes of Rebic and the bosandjero do at the club level before we anoint them as important contributors for the repka.
Ante Rebic
2013/14 Fiorentina 4 games 1 goal
2014/15 RB Leipzig 10 games 0 goals.
It’s clear based on that that he hasn’t earned playing time with the NT. Slavonac from Canada brings up a good point on his potential. So the question has to be asked, do players deserve playing time with the NT based on potential? I personally don’t have a problem with that, providing it’s not forced like Ziva Istina said.
I may be wrong but I see this two ways regarding Rebic. I agree that he hasn’t earned playing time with our repka but he is one of few attacking options that can change a game…we have few other attackers that can challenge and take players on, create chances and/or score.
He hasn’t done anything relevant for over a year but I think everyone still remembers his potential in absence of anyone else stepping up. If tomorrow someone else did step up and produce, we wouldn’t be talking about Rebic.
On Rebic, I reckon he’d more than happy with the the game time he’s had for the Croatian NT so far, probably is more than he’s deserved. Glad to hear he played well against Chelsea though.
Back to Rebic again……..so doing nothing at all for 12 months warrants time on the repka, huh???????
I don’t disagree he has speed, but he has not done anything that warrants a call up to the repka.
I never said Modric was a bust……all I said was that he was playing poorly during his first year at Real (and he was), and the fans/media were using the term “bust” (they were). Since you appear to be an expert of what I post, I’m sure you will then recall that I said Modric was going to be a stud at Real after we were eliminated at Euro 2012. or does that not fit your false narrative. All good either way.
Rakitic is world class on the club side…..I never said he wasn’t. Now, lets see if he can ever produce that same class on a consistent basis for the repka. The two biggest games he has played in for the repka have been a big FAIL on his part. 1. Euro 2008 against Turkey and not knowing how to kill a game, something that is coached at the youth level and anyone with a soccer IQ would know and 2. The tragic header that he missed at Euro 2012. Hardly WORLD-CLASS, right?????
No need to worry about me. I live the “za dom…spremni” lifestyle. It doesn’t get any more “veliki” than that.
Now, go back to making things up about what I have written or not written.
@ Ziva
He should get 20-30 minutes MINIMUM going forward for the rest of qualifying.
His 10-20 meter power burst is a skill set that is needed up front to keep the defense honest.
We need more speed in our attacking third of the pitch.
Justify or call it what you will, the kid gets a run out every match.
Then again we can always go with your Luka is a “BUST” scouting report.
And oh by the way Rakitic is WORLD-CLASS as well.
I bet that gets your disapora hating hrvati panties all in bunch as well.
Sooner or later you will realize that Croatians are AWESOME!
And then you will not need to be a Veliki Hrvat.
Earned it??????????? Sure he has.
Lets see what he actually does in games that count. You cant make a statement that so and so player has to play. The flow, the scorline and the situation of the game determine that.
No need to force him. If he plays well he will have earned it. Right now he has not. Dude has done NOTHING in 12 months. NOTHING! But, if you classify preseason matches as something, then go right ahead.
@ Svima
Did anyone see Rebic in the Chelsea friendly ?
He looked lively.
He has added a bit more touch and tactical awareness and was looking as explosive as ever.
Needs to play in every qualifier going forward.
His 10-20 meter burst is needed in our attack.
And Yes he has earned it!
i’ll be happy if we have SOMEONE make it out of groups
i think Dinamo could make it out of a Europa League group if they were in it… but they will get hammered in the CL groups. Hopefully they get a group with teams like Kiev, Gent, PSV, Olympiacos, etc. where they could steal some points and eek out a win maybe.
Just no repeat of 11-12 CL, where they just completely made fools of themselves….
This pic always summed up everything…
http://www.index.hr/images2/jurcic_mourinho-221111soptaaaaaa.jpg
^ ^
That’s the spirit!
….and will crash out of the Group Stages to a massively negative GD while quickly running to the bank to cash that fat participation cheque….big effen deal.
Screw the “attractive opponent.”
I just want them to keep advancing!
shows you how europa league is not consider high for some teams
Both of our clubs done the Norwegian double Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. Liverpool have signed another young Norwegian player this guy is 14 lol. You some Justin Bieber looking footballer.
Nothing happend to West Ham. They didn’t want to be in the competition and lost. That will happen when you send a reserve side. Bilic’s first year and he rather focus on the EPL season and FA Cup than have to deal with Thursday matches and then have to play league matches less than 60 hours after Europa League games.
What happened to West Ham?
Bozic u kolovozu!!!
If Rijeka didn’t shit the bed that first game vs. Aberdeen, we could of easily had 3 teams in groups.