CroatianSports.com interview with Brando “The Balkan Bear” Peričić, who is coming off his UFC debut 1st Round KO win vs. Elisha Ellison in Perth Australia. Peričić talks about:
-fighting in Split at Poljud
-origin of Balkan Bear name
-CroCop being one of his inspirations
-“Walk Without Fear” trust initiative (walkwithoutfeartrust.org)
Dalic tone struck that vuskovic is still a player for the future rather than right now. In his reason for calling him up, it was because he deserved the opportunity to feel the atmosphere rather than to play. This of course means dalic won’t play him at all and then start him at the World Cup as his first official game
The Gvardiol 2.0 development path. Develop zero chemistry with anyone, then give him his first full game in the opening game of a tournament. 🙂
The good news is that Sutalo is more than capable to start alongside Gvardiol at this World Cup 2026 (whereas at Euro 2020, Dalic was messing around with callups like Melnjak before biting the bullet and calling up Gvardiol).
But hopefully Vuskovic gets regular callups and minutes off the bench from now until the World Cup.
This way, he can at least be a viable option off the bench for us (assuming we actually use our subs at the World Cup).
Maybe Dalic is willing/planning to manage this a bit different
Up to Euro 2021 – Gvardiol was only tested at DZ in HNL (and Europa) he actually started the year with DZ B junior team (played a match or two) – so it made sense Dalic was cautious with him (bc he was on season 1 of track-record)
Vuskovic already has 2 full loans under his belt (outside the HNL) and on his 3rd loan of senior football – he’s been battle tested for >2 years (will be 3 by WC) – so there is less risk for Dalic given this track-record – everyone sees he’s been able to step up each time
That’s why I think he’ll be willing to integrate Vuskovic ahead of the WC bc he has that track-record (outside the HNL) and basically zero chance he busts (when Gvardiol was integrated there was still risk how he’d do in Germany with RBLeipzig) with thought that he will start him at the WC
None of this is guaranteed – predicated on how Bungesliga goes this year, etc – but would make sense if that’s the plan
P.S. specifically it’s his elite aerial ability – both defensively and offensively – Dalic has to figure out how to best utilize – but can be a seriously dangerous weapon at the WC
To be fair to Dalic, this sounds more like Dalic finally seeing the light and wanting to integrate Vuskovic into the team…but doesn’t want to rock the boat with his existing veteran CBs (who have been there longer).
It’s blatantly obvious that Vuskovic is a star in the making…and guys like Erlic, Pongracic and Duje (who are currently all in the prime of their careers) are being overshadowed by an 18 year-old kid who has barely scratched the surface of his career.
Dalic is big on locker room relationship management, so he has to make these guys feel valued, even though they (for the most part) aren’t really that useful to us.
Seems like Dalic wants to squash the growing calls by fans and media for Vuskovic to be a part of the team…but at the same time, he wants to play down Vuskovic’s role on the team, so that some of our more ‘difficult to manage’ personalities (like Duje) don’t start anything in the locker room.
1000% this ⬆️
Dalic said what Anonymous has been saying for months
That Gvardiol-Luka CB partnership for next 10-15 years!
Anonymous eye tests are the best and Anonymous is the GOAT of all GOATs!!!
Mart go get your eyes checked!😊
I saw the Dalic interview on NOVA and he did say that Vuskovic is a great prospect for the future and that is why he called him up to be in the camp with the seniors. Vuskovic is 18 years of age and no one on here is doubting that he has great potential.
Is he going to be in our starting 11against Czechia ? I don’t think so. Is he going to be in the starting 11 at the WC if we make it? we are in a good position to do so. I don’t think so.
Dalic hinted that Vuskovic might be playing for the U21 against Ukraine which is being played a day after the Gibraltar match.
On a serious note, I did get a reminder from my optometrist that my eye test is due so I will get my eyes tested.
On a serious note, is there an opportunity to upgrade to see an ophthalmologist instead of optometrist?
Anonymous has cut out opticians and optometrists – why go to them – when you can go to someone with more education and experience?
The logic is that if there is any issue you will anyways need to be referred on to an ophthalmologist to deal w/
As eg most people will have some cataracts in their eyes as they age – some will need surgery to replace the lens – an ophthalmologist is the one who would do the surgery, so logically he’s best positioned to monitor the eyes on ongoing basis
Good luck!
Wondered why Brajkovic was only on U21 standby (along with Durdov)
Anonymous has figured it out!
Anthony Kalik got married today (yes, another F wedding on a Monday lol)
Per 24sata, Brajkovic was in attendance (of course Livaja+Iris was there, along with many other team-mates)
So Olic must have called Brajkovic and Durdov before announcing the list – and they indicated they had a team-mates wedding to attend (on a F-ing Monday again lol) and couldn’t join U21 this time around
Given Silic and Mlacic have joined the U21 (and declined the wedding invite) – this no doubt this will cause friction in the dressing room going forward – as they have prioritized their football career over a team-mates wedding (on a F-ing Monday again lol lol)
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccercirclejerk/comments/1nzdwd8/what_did_he_mean_by_doing_that_in_the_middle_east/
It seems that the fans are enjoying Brozovic in the Saudi Leauge
That’s hilarious!!!
Funny but potentially dangerous, He might not need to worry about causing handballs anymore!
Vuskovic
Won Bundesliga rookie of the month for September
Wow wow wow
The landscape keeps changing. Fun to watch the team evolve. Croatia is so extraordinarily blessed to stay relevant and dangerous for so long. Phenomenal really.
I thought you said that would be a terrible move for Vuskovic😛
Anonymous never doubted the move from a football perspective (Vuskovic would be good basically anywhere he went)
But
Anonymous doesn’t trust the Germans, in particular the DFB
Hopefully there is no “cutting down the tall(est) poppy”
Let’s think positive, enjoy it and hope for the best
@Maminjo
croatiansports.com/pasalic-heads-home-the-winner-in-the-champions-league-orsic-with-another-wonder-goal-vs-bayern/#comments/520212
After playing against Bayern in midweek, Orsic played the full 90 in his team’s 4-2 win at AEK Larnaca on Sunday. He registered an assist and had a goal ruled out for marginal offside. The highlights also showed him creating another chance, having two more goal attempts (one of which was a skied rocket but preceded by a nice dribble), as well making a vital clearance. I know the league he plays in is a big handicap against him but as I said earlier, he’s looking sharp, looking like prime Orsic. And btw, I love how speedy he is… I suspect no one on the current roster will beat him in a foot race? I agree Dalic should monitor him closely.
@Anonymous
croatiansports.com/pasalic-heads-home-the-winner-in-the-champions-league-orsic-with-another-wonder-goal-vs-bayern/#comments/520216
Woah that was insightful.
Regarding Fruk, I would like to see him move abroad before the WC so yes, he needs to keep up his performance. He was great in Rijeka’s weekend win at Gorica. Hopefully Rijeka’s form will start to improve too. I feel he is a bit underrated and don’t understand why he hasn’t garnered more interest from overseas clubs.
Btw, I have no idea why Schuster isn’t giving Matanovic a chance in the starting lineup so far. Starting to wonder if it has anything to do with that bubble tea side hustle, lol…
Croatia does not have a 2nd Bronze Medal without Orsic , no way. His layoff pass to Petkovic and penalty kick against Brazil. His goal against Morocco. The most consequential inconsequential player in croatian soccer history.
I know that Dalic is already dead set on starting Perisic and LW and Mario Pasalic at RW…but he needs to pay close attention to the backup options in case we need some width.
I don’t want a repeat of Euro2024 where we’re desperate for width, but we just default to Krama or Majer on the wing (because Dalic is just so comfortable with them as individuals).
We have to keep an eye on Orsic, Pjaca, Marco P, along with Ivanovic, Fruk and others who are capable of playing on the wing. We also have some emerging youth to keep an eye on as well (Lisica, Soticek, Dolcek, Krivak, etc.). We’ll see how the season goes, but my guess is we’ll have at least 2-3 true winger options that can (at worst) come off the bench for us.
…and yes, there is NO bronze medal without Orsic at WC2022 and there’s NO taking Spain to overtime in the R16 at Euro2020 without Orsic as well.
Not saying that Orsic is back to full form, but he’s been showing signs of a comeback. He has that magic in him where he likes to rise to the occasion. We badly needed him at Euro2024. I really hope he gets back to his old self in the next 6 months.
@Maminjo
https://croatiansports.com/pasalic-heads-home-the-winner-in-the-champions-league-orsic-with-another-wonder-goal-vs-bayern/#comments/520212
After playing against Bayern in midweek, Orsic played the full 90 in his team’s 4-2 win at AEK Larnaca on Sunday. He registered an assist and had a goal ruled out for marginal offside. The highlights also showed him creating another chance, having two more goal attempts (one of which was a skied rocket but preceded by a nice dribble), as well making a vital clearance. I know the league he plays in is a big handicap against him but as I said earlier, he’s looking sharp, looking like prime Orsic. And btw, I love how speedy he is… I suspect no one on the current roster will beat him in a foot race? I agree Dalic should monitor him closely.
@Anonymous
https://croatiansports.com/pasalic-heads-home-the-winner-in-the-champions-league-orsic-with-another-wonder-goal-vs-bayern/#comments/520216
Woah that was insightful.
Regarding Fruk, I would like to see him move abroad before the WC so yes, he needs to keep up his performance. He was great in Rijeka’s weekend win at Gorica. Hopefully Rijeka’s form will start to improve too. I feel he is a bit underrated and don’t understand why he hasn’t garnered more interest from overseas clubs.
Btw, I have no idea why Schuster isn’t giving Matanovic a chance in the starting lineup so far. Starting to wonder if it has anything to do with that bubble tea side hustle, lol…
T’s keeper Kinsky used to get called-up to Czech – everyone saying he’s future #1
However, he moved last January to T – and is #2 behind Vicario and has only player one match this season (since August)
So Kinsky wasn’t even called up to Czech initially this time (not top 3) – and now two keepers drop out / two more get called-up to replaced – and he’s still not called up!
So he’s gone from 2nd in pecking order – to being at best 6th in pecking order
This is what happens normally on a NT when you don’t play for your club, you don’t play for the NT
Meanwhile, Croatia #1 Liva hasn’t play in a year and is a guaranteed starter for Croatia every game until he’s 60 (while Letica is putting up perfect 10s and Pandur playing every game with Hull 15th this season)
######
Goalkeepers Vítězslav Jaroš and Jindřich staněk are out of the national team squad due to injuries.
🧤 Martin Jedlička and Lukáš Horníček replace them ahead of the matches against Croatia and the Faroe Islands. #WCQ
######
Kotarski demanding to the media that Dalic play him!
Those neck tattoos have given him super-powers.
Wild.
England announce squad Friday
Today Reece James w/draws injury w/ Nico O’Reilly replaces
Dalic announces squad Sep 22nd (w/ non-binding 12 standby-list)
Bradaric added last week
That’s all we’re getting??? Nobody else being added e.g. another striker???
Anti-climatic
Is Stanisic joining???
No other striker???
No other news???
Ironically, Czech need a striker so they just take the top scorer for their domestic league – an UNCAPPED almost 35-year-old striker Jan Chromate!
Dalic – nothing!
Luka Sucic and Smolcic called up
lol