The Euro 2012 seedings were announced earlier today with Croatia grabbing a Pot 1 allocation, ensuring that the Vatreni would not play Europe’s elite on their way to the Championship: Spain, Germany, Holland, Italy, England, Portugal, France, or Russia. The toughest teams Croatia would have to face out of Pot 2 would both be emotional conflicts with Serbia or Turkey; should the balls bounce that way.
There is also the potential for Croatia to draw Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia or Slovenia, and Montenegro in the same group which would cause heated battles in a former Yugoslavia brawl. Thank you Ivica for pointing this out.
Croatia will be clear of England for the first time in two qualifying campaigns. With a restructuring of the national team occurring before our eyes, look for Croatia to easily qualify for Euro 2012. For all those people who are complaining how Croatia can be put in Pot 1, who else would you put before them? Croatia went undefeated through World Cup 2006 qualifying, ended up Euro 2008 quarterfinalists (only losing in a shootout) before finally stumbling in this last World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign. France had to cheat there way into next year’s World Cup, Greece’s run of winning Euro 2004 has finally worn out, and Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic and Sweden couldn’t get out of Euro 2008 group stage. Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia didn’t even qualify.
I firmly and unbiasedly stand by Croatia’s Pot 1 allocation. Can’t wait for Croatia to play a meaningful game with a clean sheet come late 2010. The draw for Euro 2010 groups takes places February 7th, 2010.
Brim over I agree but I contemplate the post should secure more info then it has.
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
I don't know if Croatia deserved a seed, however I am not complaining. Croatia will return hungry and with anything but a group of death draw, I dont see Croatia missing out.
Also, great to miss out on England for the first time in four years.
are in england first seeds again cos i don't wanna see croatia play england again in short term. those two defeats were the worst croatia performances i've ever seen. any other team is fine apart from england.
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Not really much you can say about English bias, you just kinda read it for what it is and move on.
BBC soccer site also said Cro's inclusion in Pot 1 was a surprise. F England.
@ Ante Kvartuc
You're absolutely right. As good a source soccernet is, I hate their english bias. I remember following the England vs. Croatia play-by-play and seeing comments about Croatia like this:
Srna with a poor pass that was intercepted by Walcott. If Darijo Srna only had any heart.
@ Ziva
Soccernet uses "Coatia as surprise inclusion in Pot 1" as there title. That's why I say that. I think it's run by Brits though.
have to be harsh to teach these idiots a lesson. maybe now the club will do more to discourage their fans from acting like clowns.
3 years?!?! I know Dinamo doesn't exactly have the best disciplinary record but that's a bit harsh.
http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=512/newsid=922169.html
3 year ban from all UEFA Competitions.
As for our position in Euro 2012, this is good as we can avoid all the big clubs, but we now possibly face emerging clubs such as:
Slovakia, Serbia, BiH, Ireland etc.
who is complaining about Cro in pot 1
Lets hope for,
Croatia
Slovakia/Romania
Austria
Wales
Liechetstien
San Marino
What ever group we get we should finish top, no excuses, we have enought time to prep and our team should be extra hungry
You beat me to it sir.
But did you hear about the current betting scandal hitting Europe? Suspected 200 matches, 32 in Germany including Croatia.
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-germany-corruption&prov=ap&type=lgns
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bild.de%2FBILD%2Fsport%2Ffussball%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2Fwettskandal-im-fussball%2Fstaatsanwaltschaft-pk-im-video-livestream.html
We got our 3 points from the Timosoara win back. This has brought our season to life again. I still don't quite believe our team is sorted to make a long run in the competition, but at least now with the Anderlecht match and Timosoara match there is something to still go for. Also we must learned now that we must use Tomecak on right mid ahead of Sammir and go with Slepicka and Mandzo as a two up top till winter. If it fails it don't matter no more cos until today we were out anyway.