It’s official! A Croatian is guaranteed to the lift the Europa League trophy on May 18th in Sevilla.
Joško Gvardiol, Kristijan Jakić, Nikola Vlašić, and Borna Barišić are all set to play in the competition’s semifinals with their respective squads, ensuring that a Croatian wins at least one piece of European silverware this season. Gvardiol’s Leipzig will face Barišić and Rangers, while Vlašić and West Ham take on Jakić’s Frankfurt.
Deep into the competition, this is a huge chance for some of Croatia’s youngsters to break into the spotlight. Although Gvardiol has already caught the eyes of football fans across the world, adding an early, valuable European cup to his trophy cabinet would be a fantastic way to begin a legendary career. Jakić, a routine starter for Frankfurt, is also presented a grand opportunity to boost his status after already defeating the mighty Barcelona. On the other hand, Vlašić and Barišić might need a bit of luck to crack their starting XIs in the coming weeks, as both players have recently spent many minutes on the bench.
CroatianSports predicts that Gvardiol and Red Bull Leipzig will hoist the trophy in May. Compared to the other remaining squads, Leipzig are surely the strongest and most capable of doing so. As for the Champions League, Luka Modrić (who else?) and Real Madrid are Croatia’s final hope in the hunt for gold.
Croatian Football is a hypocrite with the Ukraine flag on it! |
Barisic has been a bench player for Rangers recently; however, he was at the heart of their win over Braga. His crosses are the reason they scored goals, even the ones that were called back because of VAR
Nah. Kova is better than Majer at this point in time. He’s really come into his own this last year or so. That being said Majer looks great so far and is an excellent backup if one of the three of Luka, Broz, Kova get injured.
It seems like some of you don’t realize how important Broz is for us. He is arguably the best at his position at this point in time. When he isn’t playing for us we feel it. Jakic looks to be a bit of an upgrade over Badelj.
Rebic is done for us. Too bad as I loved the fire. He offered something different up front for us and when he wants to play he would be useful. That ship has sailed sadly.
Ante Rebić needs a call back for June. He is in his prime. The prodigal son must return.
All under the flag.
He is not in form, and he is all over the place for us he is not a good call up in my opinion. We need consistency, that is what’s lacking for Croatia people who can be consistently good, one whole tourney where you are consistently the worst player on the team does not leave a good impression, nor a good reason to be call up. Rebic has a lot to work on before a call up can happen, I think.
I know it’s just 2 liga in Austria, but Roko Simic had a goal and 3 assists today.
13 goals in 19 games. Nothing to scoff at.
He is scoring at the same rate as Benjamin Sesko was last year at Liefering, and he’s an excellent young striker.
Perisic with a very nice assist today. At first glance it doesn’t look like it’s anything special, but it was far from easy. You can see it in the same link as the Brozovic goal in the post below.
Yes a very fine play by Perisic
Hot as ever
I wish World Cup was in the summer the way luka and him
Are playing
I don’t want them to fall out of form for the winter
Is Jakic sort of a swap for broz, same role for us? A defensive sub to hang on to a lead?
Sounds like he is potent on defence and has a great energy from what I can gather
It looks like he will most likely be on the squad in November
Who is the midfield
Luka 1 and 2?
Broz
Kova
Majer
Jakic
??
Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic likely start.
Majer, Jakic, Pasalic would be backups…(but with Majer probably starting on the wing, since Kovacic gets an automatic starting spot).
I think Vlasic will still get called up because Dalic will grandfather him in there. Doubt he plays, but if he does, it will probably be off the bench, and out of position (like on the wing or second striker).
I would like to see Sucic get a callup. I don’t think Moro will get one.
I would love to see a starting central midfield trio of Modric, Broz, and Majer though.
I don’t think we’ve seen it yet, but I think Dalic feels like he has an obligation to start Kovacic…but I think Majer is probably the better player already.
I think that Vlasic is finished for Dalic unless he somehow miraculously finds his form. Time to move on. We’ve got more in form options.
I agree vlasic had and could have his place again but premier league or not, he is not delivering
I agree I really want to see more of majer
I feel he can surpass kova one day for club and repka
I don’t think Kova and Luka compliment each other all that well. But Kova is an all around better player than Majer right now, who knows in the future.
I agree with your take on situation. I agree Dalic will prolly call Vlasic but I don’t think he deserves one, he gets zero minutes and is out of form.
I’d like to see Moro and Sucic both get calls ups during LON esp since players like Modric don’t need to play.
Between kova and Majer it’s not that I think Majer is a better player it’s just I think Majer is what we need. Unfortunately kova plays a style and position that we currently have one of the best and until he chooses to retire id like to see kova come off the bench to replace Modric esp in a tournament.
Currently Modric, brozo and kova remind me of England in early 2000s. Many similar players and all had to start bc of their names and politics. It didn’t work out well for them and I don’t think it will work out well for us. We need 11 players that are compatible not 11 biggest names.
Broz scores for Inter
https://www.goalstube.online/2022/04/spezia-inter-milan.html?m=1
A beauty too!
Very nice
Didn’t realize it’s his first goal this season
Funny no goals yet he is the piece that makes them tick
Luka like, let’s hope he can find his touch tho again to make him into world class
Tho we could argue he is world class
He could probably make the starting squads on most top 5 leagues
Man if we had benzema right now we are champs even with our keeping
Is jakic an upgrade on badelj? I’m trying to figure out if our midfield is stronger weaker or about the same as in Russia
I think it’s a lot of question marks, personally. Broz is not consistent for us but is a solid midfielder for his club. Kova has also been questionable, but again is impeccable for Chelsea. Majer and some others look as tho they have potential but are still new to the team. Without Modric in the centre I would be a little scared personally, we do not have someone who is willing to take that mantle yet or that they can seem to make things mesh with the rest of the team.
A lot of these players haven’t had plenty of opportunities to play with one another, and Dalic kind of squandered that second game in terms of tactics with Bulgaria, it seemed like he slapped it together without any forethought so we really don’t know how those players can play together. You can’t just stick to one line and hope that everyone will fit together it was all over the place. So, really, the nation’s league I think will be the true test to see if Dalic has something figured out or a plan in mind I just hope he does a better job with it.
Jakic was instrumental in the build up to Frankfurt’s 2nd goal, he dispossessed Busquets, and started Frankfurt’s counter attack. He’s a good pit bull to have on the bench.
Vlasic, what can I say, poor season in West Ham. Shouldn’t have moved to the Premiership.
Yeah I agree, he has potential but it was way too soon to go to somewhere like West Ham. He should have maybe tried Serie A, or maybe somewhere in League 1 even, not that those leagues are any easier. Most people Jump at the age of 25 or so it’s not always a success story early on just look at Alen Halilovic, these younger players need better managers instead of just falling to their tata for advice.
Who’s better on header’s in each one’s prime- mandzukic or benzema ?
Benzema has been on fire past year and always had a decent header though MandZo scored some ridiculous headers in his prime also….opinions ?
Benzema with the help of God from prayer +
Mandzukic is only a Pagan _ hope he will take shahada!_}
Anyway to block this idiot?
I second that motion.
Given that Vlasic is barely playing that one hardly counts if West Ham wins it, lol!
Gvardiol and luka to lift trophies
Gvardiol will only have one kick at Europa soon it will only be champions leagues runs
I read on Madrid forum they want one or two cbs
I told them go look at gvardiol for another Croatian saviour
I think they’re already looking at him