WHICH ONE WILL IT BE WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS IN ZAGREB?
Dinamo Zagreb enter Wednesday (1PM Eastern Kickoff) trying to accomplish something they haven’t done in 40 years- to play in Europe past the New Year. The only thing that stands in their way is a gritty PAOK side from Greece. The objective is simple: win and Dinamo’s in. With Dinamo Zagreb hosting the game in what we can only imagine to be a frozen Maksimir Stadion, anything less than three points would be a complete travesty for the current Croatian champions. Dinamo has a fine crop of young Croatian talent, including 22 year-old goalie Ivan Kelava, Milan Badelj (21), Ivan Tomečak (21) and Šime Vrsaljko (18). Add Croatian passport-holder Sammir (23) to the mix with scrappy Montenegrin Fatos Bećiraj (22), and Dinamo could have enough to finally ‘hibernate in Europe’ after all these years. They have the youth, but do they have the discipline?
After already defeating a stacked Villareal side at home and Club Brugge on the road, not winning against PAOK would be a huge disappointment for Dinamo. Will Croatian football be represented when the ‘balls go popping’ this Friday in Nyon, Switzerland?
As Hajduk fans pray for another early European exit for their hated Croatian rivals, Dinamo supporters around the world will be fixated upon their TV’s and computer screens, treating this game as a World Cup Final instead of the mere Europa League group game that it is.
It has also been reported by multiple Croatian news outlets that PAOK’s Croatian goalkeeper, Dario Krešić, will be left on the bench for this match. Why? Because he’s Croatian. I guess the Greek club doesn’t trust the collusion skills that Dinamo may or may not possess.
WILL DINAMO FANS SEE THIS AGAIN IN 2010?
CSR will have two reporters inside Maksimir to cover this match. To all Prva Generacija and CSR readers alike, please feel free to comment below any questions you have for players, coaches or even fans. After all, your input is what makes CSR tick.
MISCOMMUNICATION HELPS PAOK WIN 1-0 BACK IN SEPTEMBER
PAOK will be missing a few regulars today
– From Uefa.com
PAOK, meanwhile, have a number of fitness concerns to contend with. Stelios Malezas and Zlatan Muslimović are definitely unavailable while Vladimir Ivić, scorer of the winning goal in the reverse fixture, is a major doubt alongside Zuela and Vitolo.
I'll be at work for this match.
They might be garbage, but the result have been there for Spurs to justify them playing over Kranjcar.
Denis, plenty to disagree with you on this one…..it is only a building block if you have a young team with talent to get better. 8th seed in the playoffs mean nothing and usually the teams that get the 8th seed are back yet again as an 8th seed or get even worse.
My comment about getting their every 3 out of 5 years is for hajduk and dinamo. The rest of the teams in the HNL can fall apart or go to the 2nd division.
If dinamo were to win today, I only view it as an accomplishment because of how bad the cro club teams (Hajduk and Dinamo) have been in europe over the years. Making the knockout stage and then going out in the next round means nothing at the end of the day. Just look at some of the teams in recent years that have qualified for the knockout stages. There is a bunch of garbage in that pile. And, quite honestly, with the amount of talent dinamo has been able to produce over the years, they should have made it that far at least twice.
@ziva istina
you know why we complain about kranjcar not playing? cause huddlestone and jenas play in front of him. thats why. they are garbage. especially huddlestone.
@ziva istina,
"Qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League means zero."
I disagree with you on this one. "one mans trash is another mans treasure." For the elite 25 or so Champions league teams in Europe, Europa league is trash. For everyone else, its treasure.
Dinamo has a chance tomorrow to erase 40 years of misery.(obviously, I'm being a tad sarcastic on that last line.)
Making it to the next round of the Europa League is a great achievement for Dinamo in my opinion.
"Club teams from Cro should be making to the knockout stages of this competition on average of 3 times out of 5 years."
I disagree. Besides Hajduk and Dinamo, the rest of the teams wont make group stage. Dinamo is the only team strong enough to represent Croatia at group stage year after year. Hajduk can squeak in every other year at most.
I mean can you see Varteks, Slaven Belupo, Sibenik, Rnk Split, or Cibalia in group stage? Men against boys my friend. 100s of European club teams with a roster worth 100x that of any HNL team outside of Hajduk and Dinamo.
"Its the equivalent of making the NBA playoffs as the 8th seed and going up against the Lakers in the first round……meaningless."
I disagree yet again. Every NBA team would preffer to make the playoffs as an #8 over missing the playoffs. First, playoff experience. Second, a building block for next season.
Take a look at Shakhtar. Won Europa last season. This year, sweet 16 in champions league.
As far as Tottenham is concerned, I was never a fan. However, I support them until they are Crottenhamless.
@Branimir
I agree with Ziva that you have to arrange a sit down with Mamic to ask him anything "interesting."
Ask him something about the BBB. Does he miss them? Does he want them back? if so, what is he doing to bring them back?
Ask him what happened with the propose winter break training in Las Vegas that fell through. Would he consider an off-season in the USA?
What do you have to tell all the fans that sold out tonights game?(win or lose/draw)
if they actually had croatians i would like them to go through. plus they are dinamo. ajmo bili!
Where my Dinamovci at? Only a handful of comments 24 hours before your biggest game in 40 years?
There either 1) isn't that many on of you on CSR or 2) you guys are pretty nervous for tomorrow? Which one is it?
http://gol.hr/clanak/europska_liga/u-zagrebu-zestoko-napadnuti-navijaci-paok-a-ima-i-ozlijedzenih.html
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-croatia-fansattacked
Dinamo advances
Dinamo 2
PAOK 1
Goals by Beciraj and Pele
They are not getting Zvezda. Kerum talking out loud again. There is no chance Zvezda is coming and like I said months ago, there is no chance Barca is coming to Poljud in August either.
Branimir…….thanks for the comments. Remember, there is no guarentee Mamic will talk. I have been in the media section for matches and Mamic is not required to talk after a game. If they win, you better beleive he will speak. If they lose, not so sure. Tough to assemble a question that can be asked in a news conference environment after a must-win Europa League match. Much easier to ask if you had access down the road for a one-on-one interview where you have more time for follow up questions. You can't come in and ask confrontational questions about his handling of the club based on the result of one european match.
We all know how he will answer and that being said, my question would be based on the following if dinamo wins (feel free to summarize/edit any way you want): Is this all worth it for you (Mamic)? You have to beg and pray for fans to attend. Is it worth all the headaches, the negative press, the negative reaction from dinamo fans? I know this is a accomplishment to get into the knockout stage, but shouldn't dinamo be able to acheive something like this every year or at least every other year.
I don't like you at all but if you have the chance please ask him how can he sleep at night after turning a once great Croatian club to a private Mamic family buffet full of second tier stranci where law has ceased to exist…
Also, congrats to all the Hajduk fans for getting zvezda on your 100 year anniversary.
@Ziva I will be at the game and press conference tomorrow. I always use you as my perspective towards Cro Soccer. I will most likeley be in the presence of Mamic and want my question for him to come from you. Please tell me what is the most important question for him if they win and likewise if they loose. I like your take on that it means zero and that they should be there 3 times in 5 years, but can you please construct the question for me. Also to everone else. I am looking for other questions.
Ziva, I will be asking your question first. So please make it good 🙂
@Zach……for the majority of quality clubs in Europe, making the knockout stage of the Europa League is either at the very least expected of them or a major disapointment (meaning failure in the CL). The reason it will be celebrated throughout cro media and by our fans is because of the lack of success by our club teams in Europe. Its the equivalent of making the NBA playoffs as the 8th seed and going up against the Lakers in the first round……meaningless.
Agreed on Tottenham……by the reason I dont root for them is because they are a jewish club. But, I am still puzzled why some people are bitching about them and the lack of time they are giving Kranjcar and Corluka. Last I looked they won their group in the CL and were doing very well in the EPL. So, all the moves they are making are the right moves.
live stream here
http://www.crotv.bloger.hr
u can embed the veetle link to your site directly!!!
embeded the stream to your site
here off the darquo site
i will pm you on facebook the link
@ Ziva
"Qualifying for the knockout sges means zero"
Really??? I am sure the majority of clubs in Europe would be happy with that
I have a feeling Dinamo will fall short, I don't trust Barbaric in a big spot. Only thing giving me confidence is Vaha, as his teams usually don't concede
But I think it will be the same story as the past 10-15 years for the most part, so close but not enough. The killer was the home match against Brugge. But if Dinamo can't beat PAOK at home then they don't deserve to go through
Enough of Croatian players going to Tottenham, it seems everyone is linked there. I'm glad to say I never fell for "Crotottenham" and look at them now, only one plays. In two years they will have zero Croatians, I'd be concerned if Modric is still there in two years, unless the club makes a big progression (competing for the EPL championship in a regular basis)
This game totally reflects how bad cro club soccer is and its current level. Qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League means zero. I look at the countries that have made it to the level of the competition in recent years with the Europa League or the previous UEFA Cup and I just shake my head. Countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, have cubs teams that have made it that far.
I have no clue if dinamo will make it or not. Playing at homes has its advantages but it also has the extra pressure attached. I know one thing. The media and the fans will have an over the top reaction if they do win the game.
Club teams from Cro should be making to the knockout stages of this competition on average of 3 times out of 5 years.
I can already see Mamic going crazy with his post-game reactions, win or lose.
Rakitic to Crottenham?
Dinamo 1-0 Sammir PK…. then defense slips in second half for 1-1 draw.