SUNDAY, 6AM (ET)
Although all eyes are on this summer’s World Cup, there is still business to tend to this week as Euro 2016 qualifying begins in September. The tournament will be held in France in the summer of 2016 as it expands to 24 teams for the first time in history. This means that the top two teams in every group will qualify automatically with third place going to a play-off. It almost makes it impossible for top teams not to make it to the final dance in this extremely watered down qualifying.
But that doesn’t mean Croatia can’t get their fair share of challenges. This will be the first qualifying campaign since Euro 2008 where Croatia will not be placed in Pot 1 alongside European giants. So a date with Germany or even Spain is possible. But it also produces a possible ex-Yugoslav group where Croatia can be paired with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.
I would personally love to draw England again as it’s always fun to follow their media outlets, but a showdown with Germany, Spain or even Italy would be a fun warm-up for the tournament as Croatia does not need to finish first to qualify.
Who would you like Croatia to draw? Or more importantly, avoid?
@ZG/TO,
Cyber high-five, my man!
@Ziva-Yawn.
Some of you guys are so far off base. Please point out anything that I have said that is completely inaccurate or over the top. Everything I have expounded on can be argued with a rational mind and a neutral viewpoint.
I guess in some sense I should be honored that some of you devote your time on the Lord’s day to opine about me.
I guess I should charge the guys some more for being able to bring in more traffic and engage posters.
@ZG/TO
Well said and completely on point! I’ve chosen to not respond at ZIva’s attempts to garner attention, masked under the guise of being the champion of objectivity. He does bring up some good points from time to time, but the negativity is just plain old.
@živa re “being fair”
I did note your praise of Ivica though I missed whatever you said about Ante and Janica. Your Ivica comment caught my attention as a result of my point- praise for Croats in posts from you so rarely go hand in hand. If we’re going to talk about not fitting a narrative, I believe my post says, “…rarely chime in with off topic positive stories.” My argument was not based on the exact number of positive comments nor whether a positive one was previously made about the Kostelić clan. However, I suppose that doesn’t fit your narrative as the misunderstood champion of objectivity in a sea of homers.
At the end of the day, do what you have to do to compensate for whatever insecurities drive you to play the I told you so-ing, repetitive joke making jackass that you come across as being from time to time. I can live with that. However, please don’t play the innocent, what did I say type when you’re challenged.
As a Croat, I’m proud that a guy from Zagreb managed to raise two kids into world class skiers and is himself regarded highly enough that he gets to set courses at the Olympics. There was no sabotage ( only bellyaching from the unsuccessful) and there is nothing lousy about that.
And well said ZG/TO.
For our resident troll Ziva Seronja
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/online-trolls-are-psychopaths-and-sadists-psychologists-claim-9134396.html
i’m disappointed euro 2016 is going to 24 teams. it takes out some of specialness of qualifying and the qualifying campaign. since croatia likes to keep taking its qualifying down to the last minute, it makes important croatia games pop up every 3 to 4 months. now after the world cup, we’ll have to wait two years until another truly important match. or lets at least hope so
i can understand why the tournament went this route. money as usual. similar to the constant expansion of the ncaa basketball bracket
^ ^
Nicely done!
Norway and Bulgaria actually play open and try to score.
This group will be good for us.
It will be a two horse race between us and Italy. Bulgaria and Norway will be a close battle for third.
@ZG/TO…..not putting him in a bad light, just stating the obvious. Skiers from Sweden, US, France and Germany were bitching about the course. I also believe in having a tough course, but not one that is crazy. When you have so many top tier skiers crashing out, then you know the course had issues.
I ask you to look at all of my statements/arguments about varied topics individually and not as a collective. Any rational person without the homer glasses can make the comments that I have made.
And I have nothing against Tata Kostelic. I guess you missed my praise for him and Ivica and Janica earlier in the week when junior got the sliver. But, of course you would ignore those comments I made, which were positive, because it doesn’t fit your narrative. Which is fine, but be fair. I am always fair.
And one more thing, how can I be an udbas when I live a “za dom…..spremni” lifestyle.
@živa re “sabotaged second slalom run”
I’ll bite on the stinky worm that is your attempt at trolling for reaction to a story that puts a Croat, in this case Tata Kostelić, in negative light. While I’m generally indifferent to your posts and don’t get too worked up one way or the other at your repetitive lines about basements, homer glasses, failing parents, etc. I’m one of many here (from what I can tell by the reactions you get) who can’t help but wonder why it is that you’re always quick to point out perceived flaws in the actions of our people even when evidence suggests that there are two sides to the story.
Off the top of my head, you’ve been on the critical end of negative stories surrounding Marin Čilić, Joe Šimunić, Ivica Olić, Sandra Perković, Ante Gotovina and now Kostelić to name a few in spite of the existence of counterpoints which suggest that these compatriots committed no transgressions. Conversely, you rarely chime in with off topic positive stories. Recognizing that part of the Croat condition is to adopt a cynical view on life (as a nation I suppose it’s a mechanism we’ve all adopted to an extent to help persevere through the years in spite of our historical adversities), your over the top cynicism isn’t appreciated as it always comes off as self aggrandizing and bubble bursting. Your drive to show the nobleness of your impartiality and rationalism seems to come at the expense of an online community striving to find common happiness. I would guess that most of us come to this site to cyber high five about the accomplishments of distant compatriots and to feel a sense of communal satisfaction. Instead we’re invariably brought down by stale views from an imaginary basement guided by self professed superior impartiality.
Specifically, on the troll du jour attempt, Ante Kostelić set up a second run which raised the ire of those who didn’t succeed, most notably an American. Tempted though I may be to accuse you of homerism, I’ll instead point out that other racers, successful on the run or otherwise, took no exception to the setting of the course. Moreover, there was also unhappiness with the first run which was not set by the elder Kostelić. Finally, the crux of the complaint from the American, suggested that Tata was looking to advance the position of Ivica, a silly notion given that his chances of recovery from a poor first run were slimmer than the likelihood that you live in your parents basement. Then again, I’m sure your expertise on the topic of skiing is such that you know better, what with skiing being the sport of choice in your Bible Belt home.
If you’d like to engage in further debate on this topic I too can be found on Twitter @ti_si_udbaš.
Platini is corrupt with this new top 3 teams system in the group stages. All these groups look fixed and corrupt look at Germany’s group and England’s group very easy walk in the park. Germany also has a easy group. Platini doesn’t want he big teams to miss out such as England, Holland, Germany. Bulgaria is 72nd on the Fifa world ranking but they cannot be taken lightly they have beaten us in qualifying years ago. Norway is 60th in Fifa ranking they also cannot be taken lightly. We also have drawn to Malta away once before everyone remembers that 1:1 away draw. This group will not by easy.
You mean to tell me that Vatreni will be returning to the roof of the world?
First it was Iceland, and now Norway.
Interestingly enough Vatreni will be traveling to not only Norway but Azerbaijan as well. Two vastly different cultures in very different lands.
I think we got this Group on lock down. Bulgaria’s national team consists of mostly of players from the weak Bulgarian league. While Norway don’t have any noteworthy players. That leaves the Battle of the Adriatic to decide the Group winner.
Italy
Croatia
Norway
Azerbaijan
Malta
Bulgaria
We got this.
I LOVE the draw… wife is Italian and I’m from the Italian area of Croatia so this is personal! lots of trash talking, I can’t wait! I may go even over for a game
The draw is relatively easy, not the easiest but not the hardest either. I think we should not have much trouble qualifying directly, and worth noting we can rack up some coefficient and FIFA points with a group like this
Here is the schedule:
2014
9/9 20:45 Croatia v Malta
10/9 20:45 Bulgaria v Croatia
10/13 20:45 Croatia v Azerbaijan
11/16 20:45 Italia v Croatia
2015
3/28 18:00 Croatia v Norway
6/12 20:45 Croatia v Italia
9/3 18:00 Azerbaijan v Croatia
9/7 18:00 Nowary v Croatia
10/10 20:45 Croatia v Bulgaria
10/13 20:45 Malta v Croatia
We have Italy- should be fun!
Group H
Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta
here is our group pretty easy to finish first or second Group H
Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta
Pretty favourable group I’d say
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2016_qualifying_Group_H
Azerbajin
Bulgaria
Croatia
Italy
Malta
Norway
Hrvatska skupina: Vatreni za Euro protiv Italije, Norveške, Bugarske, Azerbajdžana i Malte
http://is.gd/kqPZyJ
The Italy games will be interesting. Norway and Bulgaria are not too bad either.
i just posted it got erased
easy ass group
azerbaijan, norway, italy, bulgaria, malta and of course us
these should be some boring ass games which we will probably barely squeak by lol… serious though at least we can try alot of different guys and different looks since there is so much room for error here and will give the young boys a chance to develop
in that sense its great from our point… we are going to be discussing how we will match up once again against malta, jesus boring… at least we got italy which is always good
and by the way lookie lookie italy with another easy ass group, when have they had a hard qualifying group? i can’t remember
go canada go!!!
easy ass group
italy, norway, azerbaijan, bulgaria, malta and of course us
jesus this will be so not entertaining
on the brighter side go canada go!!!
The Slalom race was a good watch yesterday, don’t know wtf you are talking about Ziva Seronja. Actually I do, it’s just more shit talking about Croatians at any opportunity you get as has already been established on here.
Kostelic absolutely set a good course to ski, I want to see the best athletes getting pushed by skiing challenging runs. Not some easy courses where they breeze down the hill.
Kudos to ante kostelic.
Re: our group, not bad at all. As long as we don’t lose to the waps I’ll be happy. Shouldn’t have a problem qualifying for this one.
Not a bad group, a chance to further our unbeaten record against the Italians
Italy it is.
@Zivi Seronja-You were wrong about me you mofo,you just cant admit when you are wrong,so people like to give it to you.Not that it worries me of course.I know you are a guy who loves money,maybe I will buy you with this weeks pay. 🙂
I would be happy to draw any of the top Group A clubs. Any one of Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, or England would be awesome. I would HATE it if we drew Russia (pointless game). I wouldn’t be happy with drawing boring Greece or BiH. But at least we can have a revenge game against Greece, and a bragging rights game against BiH. The Russia matches would be so ‘bleh’.
This would be an interesting group:
England
Croatia
Serbia
Scotland
Albania
Gibraltar
England: Revenge game and we can continue the rivalry
Croatia: Za Dom Spremni!
Serbia: Beat them again and solidify that we will always be the best football nation in the former Yugo
Scotland: Revenge game for us. Also, they will likely take points from England.
Albania: Nobody that interesting in Group E, but I expect the Albanci to take points from Serbia (much like the Makedonci did last time).
Gibraltar: Nobody interesting in Group F. Would be nice to see what this team is about at least.
The only thing that sucks is the redundancy in playing Scotland and Serbia as they were in our last qualifying group. But the problem with this watered down format, is that the other teams in the Serbia and Scotland pots are not interesting to play against at all.
hungary seeded #18 pot #2 ? really ?
Any of you guys watch the slalom race in the Olympics today. Man, what a shame. Tata Kostelic sabotaged the second run. Lousy.
Seems like Ziva’s been takin’ alotta heat from HAET lately.
HAET’s been pursuing him on multiple threads. HAET vs. Ziva–Round 10. Can Ziva handle it?
Hi everyone. I thought I’d finally come here to say hello to everyone. My name is Dragoljub, I’ve been the starting janitor at Rusanova 13 for the past decade. I always get Ziva the best insider tips like what kind of jock sizes his favorite players have.
Anyways, be nice to him guys.
Problem is they have not proven me wrong. Suspension Joey will not be part of the World Cup which justifies everything I have said.
Again, I have no issue with what Suspension Joey said. It is well established that I live a “za dom….spremni” lifestyle, but when you want to play in a certain event you have to play by their insane rules and ideologies.
@ Ziva aj nemoj srati jer ces sude prati hahahah just kidding what ever man people like provong you wrong more than anyone on these boards popular guy.
Imagine BIH-Croatia-Serbia/Slovenia-Montenegro-Albania/Makedonija-who ever in a group hahaa.
i would like Italy-Croatia-Slovenia-Scotland-Northern Ireland-San Marino.
WRONG YET AGAIN !!!
HAET keep giving shit to Ziva Seronja.
: p
you do understand that Suspension Simunic is not playing by your set of rules, rather he is playing by a set of rules from FIFA and the liberal lovers out there in the world.
Suspension Simunic’s comments don’t go over well with that plus it doesn’t go over well with the helf-hating hrvati back in Cro. and that is why Suspension Simunic wont be at the World Cup.
If you want to play in the World Cup then you have to play by their rules, not matter how dumb they seem.
Listen, I can see you have multiple posts about this. I dont think the visitors to this website want to keep reading this all over again. So, if you wish, engage me via my twitter account @ziva_istina. I’ve yet to fully embrace twitter, but I will make ample attempts to respond.
If we lived under a Soviet style communist regime, Ziva would be towing the Soviet party line.
If we lived under a Nazi regime, Ziva would be towing the Nazi partly line.
If we lived under an Islamic theocracy, Ziva would be towing the Islamic party line.
We happen to be ‘currently’ living under an anti-white political correctness regime, so Ziva tows the anti-white political correctness party line.
That’s who Ziva is boys & girls, a NOBODY.
Ziva: “Ummmm, you do understand there are consequences for free speech, right? You, my friend, have every right to go out and say what you want. For example you have the right to go to a local city council meeting and express your thoughts on any topic. Let’s say you speak about gay rights (you pick if you are for them or against them), but your employer has the right to not want you to work for them if they consider your thoughts to be “too controversial”. I don’t know why that is so hard for you to understand.
Our actions all have consequences.”
If there are consequences for speech, then the speech isn’t free. Do you understand this very simple concept yet?
Joe did not scream fire in a crowded movie theatre, Joe did not promote pornography or homosexuality to innocent children; Joe simply said a time honored pro-Croatian chant ‘For the Homeland’. B/c the Ustasa used to say ‘For the Homeland’, no Croatian is allowed to say ‘For the Homeland’ ever again without being punished? -That’s anti-free speech, that flies in the face of the basic human right of free speech.
Answer the question: B/c the Ustasa used to say ‘For the Homeland’, no Croatian is allowed to say ‘For the Homeland’ ever again without being punished?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Answer the question – Answer the question
And AGAIN, you’re excuse that your boss has the right to fire you for your speech IS BULLSHIT. Your boss only has the right to fire you for your speech if your speech isn’t Politically Correct -which is anti-free speech.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Do you understand this simple concept yet?
nice to see Lovren back on the bench today. Hopefully he gets match fit soon.
Ill be up following the draw as i will be watching Canada win their 8th best on best hockey tournament out of 12
Ziva: “@anonymous……….your comments about hate speech and
being subjected to financial terrorism for your SPEECH is something else that has nothing to do with the Suspension Simunic situation.”
Yes it does, Joe was essentially suspended for “hate speech” & has been subjected to vocational, reputational, & financial terrorism for his SPEECH.
————
Ziva: “Me, I don’t give a shit about freedom of speech or being persecuted for it or having to deal with consequences for it. I live a quiet life in the fortified basement and I don’t involved in situations that can be damaging to my career or – for that matter- my tv viewing.”
If you don’t “give a shit about freedom of speech”, then why do you keep making excuses for the suppression of it? What if you got put in a cage for justifying/promoting the suppression of free speech? Would you give a shit then? Do you realize the founders of the United States literally KILLED for free speech – it’s the very 1st Amendment of the United States founding document – the Constitution.
———————–
Ziva: “I’ll say it again. I live a “za dom……spremni” lifestyle just like Suspension Simunic, but I am not dumb enough to say something in public that can be twisted by individuals or media that will make me miss the most important opportunity in my lifetime. Suspension Simunic was dumb enough for that to happen. Plus, instead of celebrating with teammates, he decided to go solo and the ego got the best of him.”
I’ll say it again, you talk out of both sides of your mouth. If you not only don’t stand up for free speech, but actually make excuses for the suppression of it, then you are OBVIOUSLY being delusional if you think you’re “living a za dom premni lifestyle” – if the only “free speech” you practice is in private w/ like minded individuals, b/c you’re afraid of what might happen to you outside those confines, then you don’t have “free speech” and you’re a fucking pussy.
Btw I hope we draw Bosna if only because they have been talking a little too much shit lately. They need to be put in their place.
Schedule our home match against them at Bijeli Brijeg ; )
I wouldn’t call either of those goals an Olic style tap in.
Yep, but nobody took me up on that bet. He had one nice goal and an Olic style tap in today. He did it against a bottom tier team. I still don’t think Jelavic is good enough for the repka to deliver goals against top sides. He is good enough to score and play well against the bottom half type of sides.
here is the google search (it takes like 5 seconds to type), the key is to use site:Croatiansports.com like so:
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Acroatiansports.com+ziva+istina+jelavic+over+under+goals+Hull&oq=site%3Acroatiansports.com+ziva+istina+jelavic+over+under+goals+Hull&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.21441j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8
@majstore he said 6.5
Ziva Istina says:
Jelavic scored 6.5 goals remainder of the season: over or under? What you guys have and anyone willing to put a bet on it.
January 18, 2014 at 2:47 pm
https://croatiansports.com/?p=17654
Give me a for yugo countries group! that would be awesome! imagine, every match would be a rivalry match pretty much.
Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Scotland, Macedonia, San Marino
Ziva what was that shit talking line you gave on Jela scoring for the rest of the season with Hull again?
6.5 / 7.5 ???
Jela with a nice goal today.
Tbh, kinda unfortunate to have not scored in the lead up to the first goal after some nifty moves in the box.
Ziva – i did think about asking for Scotland yes, also u forgot the revenge factor.
well, we can all agree we want serbia, definitely not scared of them and would love to deliver them another beating.
How good would it be if we could play the game that knocked them out again?
Oh man.. im getting hard thinking about it !
Smashing serbs just feels TOO GOOD ! LOL
Since this is a watered down format, i want a tough group where it is worth my time and money to fly over and catch a game. Who cares if we finish second or even third.
Give me anyone in Pot 1 except BiH, Russia and Greece. I rather play Germany, Spain, Italy, England, Portugal, Holland. All countries offer direct flights from N. America, so catching a game will be easy.
From Pot 3 I want Norway or Serbia. I love the Scandanavian countries. And maybe one day we will beat the serbs in BG. This could be the time – or not.
From Pot 4 give me Scotland again. Just in case Niko Kovac does not do a good job, we can always count on the Scots to repeat what they did to Strucnjak Stimac and be the reason to help the team implode and have the fans turn their back on the repka in order for a change to be made. I don’t think it will come to that point with Kovac, but you never know.
Pot 5 give my Cyprus. Depending on the time of year we play them in Cyprus, it could be an opportunity for a short vacation to a warm climate.
Pot 6……who cares who we get from that group.
jm – 24 teams qualify
ITS A GIVEN
unless u are dogshit (serb)
think top 4 teams (6 groups) not top 2.. see how easy it is now ?
easy as my last gf
Bosnia, Serbia, Estonia, Azerbaijan, San Marino and im happy
i want to smash those cunting serbs again.. i really hope we draw them..
smashing them in qualifying is just not enough for iggy.. im greedy
as sad as it is, looking at this field there is a solid chance cro could make us sweat it out yet again. looking at pot 3, serbia slovakia, slovenia turkey romania etc could be tough. second place still not guaranteed. although it should occur. especially cause i think this cro team is still on the way up
there’s not as necessary thing about this qualification stage.
there will be 24 number of participant in Final stage !!
so this Level just a Joke @@
ah there’s not important for this recently qualification level ..
as long as there are 24 teams who advance to Final Round.