They did it the hard way, but Croatia is going to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil! We can all exhale now after one of the worst qualifying campaigns in team history. It started off hot but the 1-0 loss to Scotland at Maksimir put the team into a downward spiral. Tuesday night, playing with 10-men for over half the match, Croatia held Iceland scoreless and added an insurance goal right after the break to punch their ticket to Brazil.
We last heard ‘Lijepa Naša’ at the 2006 World Cup versus Brazil in Croatia’s opening match against the 5-time world champions…and we’ll hear it again seven months from now in Brazil. The World Cup draw is set for December 6th.
Croatia 2 Iceland 0
Croatia got the dream goal they needed in the first half, but just like in recent times, nothing came easy on this night. Goal scorer Mario Mandžukić caught an Iceland player at midfield with his cleats and was given a straight red card just before halftime. But captain Darijo Srna laced a shot two minutes after the break to make it 2-0 and give Croatia breathing room for the rest of the match. Iceland couldn’t score and Croatia should have scored at least three more, but a win is a win.
Croatia starting XI for vs. Iceland: Pletikosa – Srna, Ćorluka, Šimunić, Pranjić – Modrić, Rakitić – Olić, Kovačić, Perišić – Mandžukić
What a run by Mateo! He has skills.
Can’t believe people actually don’t think that was a red card!
Talk about wearing homer glasses or being just plain clueless!
It doesn’t matter if his heads down or if it’s an intentional foul or not.
Simple call, he put his spikes in dudes nuts, straight red!
Hopefully It’ll be just a 1 game suspension.
It not like when Rooney lashed out at the Montenegrin and got suspended for all 3 group games. That one was clearly intentional. Mandzukic’s was not.
we were a stupid ref’s decision away from playing 11 on 11 for 90 minutes and scoring another goal or two. scoreline did not truly indicate the one sided nature of the match. their keeper made some great saves to keep the game close.
really nice to see the team celebrate with a few beers….suck on that icelandic media. now its time for a long drinking session!
that being said, it was iceland and kovac should take this as a great chance to experiment in friendlies with some younger, faster players to get us ready to compete against a south american team or a belgium/england. i really hope a couple of new starters make their way into the line-up before june so inject a bit more energy
it will be a fun and interesting run up to the tourney. the draw in december will provide more answers as to our chances. a switzerland grouping perhaps??
@ Ziva
FYI . I have never met Niko Kovac before and when I do I will shake his hand, thank him and humbly ask for a picture !
No suck animal as “jock sniffing” within the Croatian community. We are close knit bunch that respect leadership and service.
Funny that I actual have a shot with Suker that I will track down and post for you at some point.
Stay positive my friend and let the light start to shine through the basement window !
negativity over the Modric move to Real??????? come again????? I was for that move and said so. I thought he would dominate from day one. That is why I was surprised that he struggled early on.
@ Iggy
LOL.
New KITS – jerseys.
No worries mate, Lovren will start for us soon enough.
you’re having new kids just for the world cup ??????
😛
i assume u meant “kits” lolol
@ Dennis
It was going to be 5-0, if Mandzukic keeps his foot down.
@ Horvat I Mali Ante
Thanks for allowing inner Hrvat to see what is possible for nogomet.
@ Ziva
The seed of a golden era has been planted and Ban Kovac will watch over it with great respect.
The ground is fertile with rich soil of young talented players.
Need I remind you of how you of your NEGATIVNA towards the Kovacic move to inter, Modric move to Madrid, the quality of Rakitic.
The basement shines no light and your vision is dulled.
@ Nije Bitno
Rakitic put in a master class performance as well.
We could cultivate the best midfield in the world for 2016!
@ Nepoznat
You are the man!
As soon as the new kids come out I am buying on for the entire family.
My son will be 6.5, and my daughter will be 3, this World Cup and will remember it the rest of their lives.
I’d say Algeria are the minnows for sure.
Do you really think we could lose to them?? Surely not even if our players were wearing blindfolds and playing after having consumed 70 beers each ?
fuck it, we have 6 months now to debate who is in form and where this and this guy should be playing… but like i said earlier and others have mentioned as well
fuck could you imagine another world cup without being there
i could stomach a euro miss before world… all the wannabe soccer douche bag fans come out and i love when our team and fans make noise and hear who we are
and why can’t we make a run… why is it so different then euro? we draw italy and spain at a world cup, these are still top contendors at the world stage… ya we didn’t beat them but we just as easily could have
we are probably a bit stronger going into world cup
remember when everyone was shitting the bed saying we have no defence going into euro, and they sure as shit performed…. we have a couple more pieces that could be in place in the midfield and upfront and one could argue that if lovren can perform for us like he is doing at southampton our d is more then capable of holding the fort and moving the ball from the back
can’t wait till draw day… i still say bring on the big boys. everyone here knows we have just as much of a chance of beating brazil as we have to losing to korea or whoever are the minnows of the tournament
You nailed it like no other Denis!!!
Bobby V, you may be on to something there too, though I think the WC is to some degree a different story. The beauty of it is the clash of styles etc, and of course everybody is crazy pumped too.
“BostonCro says:
@Petar – watch out for the trannies ….”
dont u mean make sure to keep an eye out for trannies???? 😛
If we were a quality side, this match would have ended 5-0. We still struggle putting the ball into the back of the net. However, I like what Kovac has brought to the team so far. Yes, he is still learning on the job, but the players are ready to die for him.
This Iceland team would struggle against an MLS team. New Zealand would give them a fight. I have been saying this after game 1. Merci Platini for the friendly draw.
The future looks bright with the Kovac brothers. Like Samuel L. Jackson said in Pulp Fiction “Lets not start sucking each others dicks quite yet.” This was a great performance against an HNL side.
At the same time, a win like this, will unite the team and bring confidence. They ran like a well oiled Mercedes Benz. Lets hope this continues.
Now its all about match ups. Fast teams with a quick physical striker will tear us apart like Lukaku and Walcott did for England. We have to avoid the Portugal’s, Belgiums, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and most african sides. Bring on Spain, we can take them, again.
Lastly, congrats to the fans that showed up to Maksimir. They were patient with the team before the first goal and after the red card. It wasn’t a packed house, but the 12th man was present.
I don’t nail predictions that often, but when I do, damn I am spot on.
“I might be thinking with my heart, but I have 2-0 win for Croatia in this one. Niko Kovac will make some adjustments(Drop Ilicevic, Eduardo) add (Olic, kovacic) which will give Croatia the first half goal and then a second after the break. Olic and Mandzukic with the goals.”
Submitted on 2013/11/18 at 3:11 pm
“Iceland’s confidence will be sky high until we score twice.(if we score twice.) Iceland knows that if they give up a goal, they still have a chance by scoring only one goal.
Croatia is pretty good at being patient and not getting frusterated if a goal doesnt come early. The crowd of course wont be.
The question is not heart or strategy, its how we perform.
A) If we continue to send rainbows in the box and hold possession in out half of the field and midfield, we will draw 0-0.
or
B) run at the defense, feed Olic-Mandzukic quality low bending crosses, drawing the defense with a run and cutting back passes, I like our chances. It will be like Mexico New Zealand.
The kiwis held them for 35 minutes or so and that was it. Mexico abused them, but needed 35 minutes to crack them. We might need 50 minutes to crack them. Our team and fans need to be patient. If we are playing well and attacking well, the goals will come.”
Submitted on 2013/11/18 at 4:08 pm
.
We need THe God of Halilovic in World Cup !!
@ivica
What you talking about?
Nike shirts are uninspiring snot rags compared to adidas and puma true football heritage brands, not track And field bullshit.
I give em one thing they make nice kicks but as for football wear leave it to the best Adidas.
@ziva
Golden generations don’t have to win trophies to be called great .
Look at the Bulgarian side of the early 90s and Romanian to a lesser extent were golden generation teams for their countries as they exceeded expectaions, just as the current mujo side could become without actully winning anything.
But to their fans they will be spoken of as the zlatna generacija.
..
As for some posters claiming we could have a golden generation in the making.
I say don’t count your chickens.
Back in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, soccer games involving national teams always involved better quality than watching club football.
Due to changes in rules regarding foreign players and rich owners building all-star teams, that has now totally changed. The top twenty clubs in the World could more than handle most national sides.
Hence, some of the frustration of watching these qualifiers.
We are used to watching such good quality when we see Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, etc. – it is now an actual downgrade in quality watching national sides.
We are much quicker with the “he sucks” comments. (ie, Perisic) – how many of us watch Wolfsburg every week? You are more than likely catching the top sides and used to the quality you see there.
Am I right?
< If anyone has a download link or stream of the match in CROATIAN (hrt), share! >
One OR two runs? If you can’t remember that Kovacic definitely made TWO World Class runs along with interceepting balls and feeding the wings on more than one occasion – don’t know what to say.
He set up Srna’s goal and almost scored on a solo classic – putting the ball on one side of the defender and moving around him on the other.
He was the man of the match.
When he’s healthy, he starts for Inter, yet, some of you are not sure if he should play for Croatia?
Kovacic will be better than Halilovic.
All of our players played their butts off today. They were all aggressive they all pressed and (most important) they looked like a unit. Yes it was Iceland we were playing against but we didn’t look like this against Scottland!
Toronto CRO – Kovacic and Modric to me were the players of the match. Kovacic made his mistakes but Modric did too. A lot of Modroc’s passes were incomplete at the beginning turning it over to Iceland.
They all brought it together today.
Laku Noc svima, cujemo se sutra.
Bobby V I’m not sure if you need to re-watch the first half but not only was Kovacic not doing anything……he was actually getting in the WAY of passes.
He made one or two good runs in the second half. One of which resulted in the Srna goal …which now makes him look like a hero.
Am I glad he did it? Yes
But it doesn’t change the fact that he was still unimpressive in the first half.
I know Crazy Joes uncle in Sydney very well.A fine Croat who would be chuckling today.
Maybe Simunic can educate Platini on the meaning.
Love his response to the media. Svaka ti cast Joe.
Congratulations see you in Brazil.
what i meant to say with the dark blue like euro 08 blue would be cool
the handball jersey is pretty nice but a little plain… talking bout the red one
now make it black and then red and white checkers on the sleeve like they have and now we are talking
but seriously if they made that one blue with how it is would look real good
lol would be funny if big joe gets suspended for world cup cause of racism…
that would just cement him as a legend
Posts not getting on.
Ziva,
I have to disagree with you and agree with Matesic.
We COULD have a golden generation in the near future.
take a look at the handball jerseys Adidas has done for Cro……not bad.
I feel bad as someone who is supposed to be the responsible adult in Zivas upbringing.I was so elated after the win that I gave him some stuff he wanted.egDonovan Jersey,extra X box time.
But then he annoyed me in the way that he didn’t really want to celebtrate after our Sarma dinner.
I slipped a mickey in his cabbage and knocked him out for a while.
I then tattooed my name,”Ante”on his back and a scrotum on both of his cheeks with the words “Rakitic”and “Kranjcar”next to the scrotums.
Now the poor kid is scarred for life and I am starting to feel bad.Even mama Istina is mad at me for this one.
@T-Bone
Adidas? Really?
I like Adidas, but I really doubt they would put together anything better than Nike would.
All of Adidas’ football kits focus on one thing:
ADIDAS
I watched both Ukraine and Sweden play today, and I could’ve swore they were wearing the same kits. They are nice shirts to wear for a consumer, but I would think ‘Adidas’ before I would ever think ‘Sweden’ when I looked at those kits.
I watched Ibra lining up for that free kick, and he had three stripes running across his shoulders, across his chest, and a big adidas logo just under his collar. I wasn’t sure if there was a Sweden crest in there. Hopefully there was.
It would be cool to see a Cro adidas kit for about a minute, but I just don’t see how Adidas could ever make a jersey that incorporates their three stripes AND our crazy checkers without it looking like crap.
Oh and just so we are clear she is Darija tonight not Darijo
nepoznat… haha, enjoy za dom!
Haha you’re right! But so did I Danny! Hehe
This playoff proves that you guys panic way too early.
I have to admit I haven’t seen Croatia play a game like that in a long time. Everyone left it all out on the pitch. Dominating with 10 men for most of the game, even against Iceland was very impressive.
In her defense I laid it out on the bed with some sexy red bottoms and don’t give her much choice. But we’ve been together 11 years so she knows it’s been 8 years since the last World Cup Qualifying Celebratory Lay
ziva brings a good point about wearing another mans name on her back, however… he did score today…hmmm
shit links not working… here is a good one
http://footballfashion.org/wordpress/2009/06/12/psv-eindhoven-nike-200910-away-kit-jersey/
@nepoznat…………hmm, tough question. I think it says more about your wife than anything else that she would wear another man’s name instead of your own. Again, tough one, because women and sports is a comical mix. I leave this one up to the rest of the posters to decide. What say you cro sports nation???
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Shirt-PSV-Eindhoven-2009-11-S-Away-Nike-Jersey-Maglia-Trikot-Holland-Camiseta-/00/s/MTA4MFg4MTA%3D/z/KqEAAOxyLiJR4Fyy/%24T2eC16J,!
@dannyj
Rob Ford is a bawss.
@Horvat
We suddenly have a lot of wingers that we can try different combinations with.
Pranjic, Perisic, Rebic, and even Olic on the left side. Srna, Vrsaljko, Ilicevic on the right side.
Cutter, i simply stated that a good team would have exploited Pranja like they have in the past, he is out of place too often and others are left having to mop up for him, one of our major problems is trying to have our backs play like wings, Strinic with Pranja playing in front i could live with, but he is on in years and only adds depth
@T-Bone……no go. Still signed with Nike. It wouldn’t take much from another outfitter to take the contract. But, in reality we are small nation and no outfitter is going to make money selling our shirts.
@ Croatia vs Antwerp
Typo on my end….I meant to say not to say we can be title contenders but we can cause some damage.
only one answer!
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Shirt-PSV-Eindhoven-2009-11-S-Away-Nike-Jersey-Maglia-Trikot-Holland-Camiseta-/00/s/MTA4MFg4MTA%3D/z/KqEAAOxyLiJR4Fyy/%24T2eC16J,!
Ziva does it count as jock sniffing if my wife (Italian) wore a Srna jersey (only one remotely her size, I got it cheap for when my sons get bigger) to bed to celebrate the big win tonight? :-p
@ Matesic and Mali Ante
I’m not so sure of us being title contenders. But we can be the perennial dark horse. And once in a while make a run in a tourney.
Anyone think it’s time for a new Cro shirt sponsor? I’m sick of Nike. Every shirt follows a similar pattern and are boring as shit. They haven’t made a “classic” shirt. My vote goes to the brand with the three stripes. Adidas would no doubt put out a shirt worthy of wearing the HNS crest. I doubt we get a new sponsor for this WC as our shirts are probably ready for production but it’s time to issue a new licence after the World Cup.
For the most part NIKE hasn’t put out horrible shirts but as I said there mostly f-in boring and uninspired. I liked the home shirt from Euro 2012 (dark red checkers within the checkers) but the current one is hurting in the innovation department. The designer asked: how do we make checkers look different? Let’s put small checkers on the sleeves! Fuckin lame. Good site for shirt design if footballshirtculture.com. Some of the user designs for cro shirts are better than production shirts.
and no sleeping with little luka doll tonight
zivas dad, give ziva a valium and no ps4 tonight
@ Matesic
You and I see eye to eye!! Not so say we are contenders but we can definitely do some damage. I can assure everyone that the big teams do not want us in their group as we have the class to cause the big teams problems.
The new setup with Kovacic-Modric-Rakitic worked really well…granted it was Iceland but it’s the ideal setup for the talent we have.
Simunic has been a rock for us for a number of years but Lovren is a better player for us at CB. I hope that Rebic gets some time at Fiorentina and can develop into a winger we desperately need!!!
As for Halilovic…he may be along for the ride on the World Cup side so he can experience it. He won’t get any time but these major tourneys are crucial for development.
Things are looking up boys!!! I don’t expect a lot but being in the finals is a great accomplishment considering the roller coaster ride qualifying campaign.
Zivjeli!!!!!
Iceland got OWNED. We found the final ball this time, actually more than once.
I got a chance to meet up with Allen Outraged in Veslo. The atmosphere was good, and everyone went nuts when Mandzu scored. It was as if the weight of the world was lifted from our shoulders.
I hope Kovacic continues to develop. Those runs helped pry open a staunch Icelandic defense.
Pranjic played well. But I would play him as a LW against better teams. Perisic was decent and provided the vital flick to assist on Mandzu’s goal.
Perhaps when Rebic fully matures he can take over the left wing or left attacking mid position. We need more players that can beat people 1 v 1.
Croatia still has some work to do. We still have to repair the damage from Stimac’s tenure. We have the quality to make the Sweet Sixteen in the WC though.
Nice try Iceland, but it was always an uphill battle against Croatia. At any rate, Iceland are an organized side with some promising young players. Look to see them make the Euro’s in 2016 under the expanded format.
Simunic for president.
man, some of you guys…….
yesterday crying about how bad we look and now saying we may be on the cusp of a golden generation. You know what golden generations do?????? win titles.
when do we really need to start thinking replacing pletikosa, after world cup or after the next euro?
i can’t see croatia ever missing out on euro again since the expanded tourney
Croatia actually have two draws to look forward to – the World Cup draw on December 6th amd the Euro 2016 draw on February 23rd, 2014.
Simunic is a legend!
His spot on the squad is without question.
Don’t call me Ziva ….BUT
Real teams in Brazil would roast his Aussie ass on the Barbie !
Have you caught some of the real title contenders ?
They have attacking forwards that move like Tazmanian devils !
I love Simunic for years of service to the repka.
But it is Lovrens time to breakthrough.
Simunic on the bench ready to go.
Plus Rakitic needs some cover as well when he ventures on a Franz Beckenbauer run.
Corluka will be our tall slow skilled CB, can’t have two of those.
Pletikosa is solid but not world class. Let’s not start stressing him out more then we have to.
Nice to see Pranjic back in form.
Rebic looks very promising as a striker or winger.
Supposedly Vrsaljko is doing well.
About time we get some decent wingers again.
Rakitic should never play as a winger. In hindsight, playing him on the wings was a major problem for the repka.
Perisic was disapointing today. I was hoping Rebic was going to replace him earlier in the game.
yup ivica, if we don’t appeal we might as well get the vaseline and get ready for it up the ass
if the savez were smart they would get mayor rob ford from toronto, canada to step in and lay the smack down when its needed
Šimunić’ ‘Oni kojima smetaju povici ‘Za dom spremni’ neka prouče povijest!’
Funny. I was just talking about this today.
I don’t understand why we don’t appeal the fines for this chant. “Za dom spremni” is not a neo-nazi chant, and if UEFA ignorantly decides to fine us, yet we stupidly continue to pay the fines without appeal, we are pretty just as responsible for changing the history books.
I would have strinic LB, left back at home that is!
@dannyj
thanks for putting up that Simunic video, love it
@ dannyj
Appreciate the “optimistic” acknowledgment.
But if we all drop a bit of cynicism, we would see that this World Cup birth is the beginning of a golden era of Nogomet. We have world class players in their 20’s and a pipe line of talented teenagers. We could finally breakthrough to becoming serious title contenders!
I am 39 and not sure my physical heart can take these roller coaster qualifying campaigns!
I want to qualify out right for euro 2016.
@MatesicMethod
Strinic and Lovren on the left side of the defense? You do remember what happened during our last game with Scotland right? They almost starting fighting each other.
I think the CB’s are Simunic and Corluka until Simunic retires which will be after WC 2014. Lovren is looking awesome in England though!
fuck how the shit do we not give big joe some play matesic? honestly without him we are not even sniffing the world cup. i agree he is old and slow but is it possible to put big joe in lovren’s spot and then lovren for strinic? can lovren play this spot?
Rebic
Kovacic
Pranjic-modric-Perisic
Rakitic
Strinic – Lovren – Corluka – Srna
Pleti
Subs – Olic – Vrsaljko – Halilovic
lets hope we draw the states and get the dream matchup of rakitic vs donovan to settle this age old argument once and for all!!
i thought pranjic played well overall, but was i the only who saw that terrible give away not far from our goal giving that icelander a good chance at the goal, you know the one pletikosa jumped for and looked like almost smashed the post with his head
Man, such a big difference playing Kovacic instead of Eduardo in that position behind the strikers.
Kovacic is still out of form, and he showed it by running out of gas halfway through those dangerous runs of his. But I’m so glad he played, and glad to see Kovac not make any knee jerk substitutions after the red card.
Hopefully, Kovacic continues to play in this role for Inter and gets back into shape by the end of the season. I’m really digging this Rakitic, Modric, Kovacic trio in the midfield (bye, bye, Vukojevic).
Our wings still need some tinkering. Hopefully we’ll try out Vrsaljko, and see some different combinations in upcoming friendlies. Pranjic has shown us that he really belongs on this team.
Nije Bitno, evo me!
AJMO AJMO AJMO Ustaseeeeeeee
@MatesicMethod
“Love to see Strinic at lb and pranjic at left winger to create some real width on the left side of pitch.”
You should never use the word create when describing Ivan Strinic. Useless.
above is the link of big joe cheering with the crowd!!!
matesic method is the most optimistic croat i think i have ever run across… love it…
im not jumping on the world cup champ bandwagon but i think we will be there to compete and with heart and a bit of luck we make it out of the group and then from there we all know how things can go
@ Dalmo
Love to see Strinic at lb and pranjic at left winger to create some real width on the left side of pitch.
Pranjic still has the wheels and his game has some depth to it now.
@Dalmo Ante
Really?
If you take both games with Iceland, you could make an argument that Pranjic was our best player combining both games.
We did not have Strinic for Turkey and we won, we did not have Strinic for Iceland and we won. What has Strinic ever done? Let me guess your answer…
He was awesome at Euro 2012!!!! Whatever!
The guy is useless offensively and overrated beyond belief defensively. Off the bench maybe for some depth, as a starter no way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V2AMBbTog0&feature=youtu.be
@ T-bone
That Ajax striker was trying to muscle Modric who is a master magician and he turned his ankle. NO ACCIDENT!
We wore them down with our depth and quality. I knew they would tire mentally.
Kovac will have us moving like a Mercedes in Brazil.
Lovren will learn from Robert Kovac the ways of consistency CB play.
We will bring a squad of young attacking depth that will be able to run with all the teams from Africa and South America while having all the tactics of a euro team, PLUS the spirit of Vatreni.
Seriously? God forbid we play a good team with Pranja at left back, he is the only left back to spend more time in the box then any of the forwards on the field. Da je Island ikipa bili bi izkoristili sve one sance kad je Pranja kiksa.
Thankfully Iceland arent a good side so Pranja wasnt exploited, at 31 maybe he gets on the squad, hopefully as a winger where he could be of some use. All’s well that ends well
@Ziva-Son,I am drunk today and am thinking about getting a Sarma tattoo on my arm just like Mama makes.Is that ok???
But Mandzo is only out for one game in the group stages of the WC, right?
Man, we certainly made snow-cones out of those “children of the corn” fucks!
Matesic Method: I was just thinking the same about Rebic. The kid looks pretty damn good. Mandzo is really an awesome player and obviously crucial to our team, but Rebic showed some nasty technique tonight. Good sign for the future.
Croatia vs. Turkey – two games – 180 minutes with a successful qualification to Euro 2012.
Croatia vs. Iceland – two games – 180 minutes with a successful qualification to WC 2014.
That makes a grand total of 360 play-off minutes without Ivan Strinic and 2 successful qualifications!
How important is he again?
Can’t wait to wear my Modric jersey all summer long
Ziva, I’m 24 BTW 🙂
we should meet up for a beer and admire my jersey
@Sigmund Freud-You say that SMM needs to be taught the ways of a man.
-Please sir,can you help my son and how much do you charge per hour????
I was thinking Ziva can teach Mario the way.
Ziva says – “Kovacic got worse going to Inter….ugh”
haha – not much on talent evaluation, eh?
Toronto Croatia says ” Second half, take off Kovacic, hasn’t done shit out there”
haha – phew, glad you aren’t the coach.
When you play against a tall slow team and a big tall goalkeeper, you play the ball on the ground, shoot low, and use your speed and technical ability – a perfect situation for Mateo Kovacic to shine.
We played better with 10 men because our style of play changed to the counter-attack, something we are excellent at like most Eastern European sides.
Croatia hasn’t had much opportunity to play on the counter because our opponents since Euro2012 have been inferior -they bunker and don’t allow us to play it- which has some of us claiming that we play down to the level of our opponents – wrong – we just aren’t good at busting bunkers.
It is why I think the World Cup is set up perfectly for us. We will probably be in the 3rd pot, which means we will get to play on the counter against at least 2 of our opponents, much like Euro 2012, where we looked pretty good against Italy and Spain.
We need Rebic and Halilovic to develop in the next 7 months to help out Kovacic with the youth/speed/technical part of the game. Those are the only 3 players we have with those attributes.
@ MM
“central channel of power” LOL Lovin it.
My HD analysis of the match is forthcoming…
It’s great that we kept two clean sheets and Stipe made one save. Impressive against a team that was scoring regularly in their qualifiers. The Sigthorsson injury was one of the biggest factors to our clean sheets as well as the Joe Simu cement foot block near the goal line. That Ajax striker was good for a goal and we really got lucky on having the freakest of injuries happen to him in the first leg no less. What a relief to be in the World Cup! We don’t have to light the tourney on fire but I’m looking forward to seeing some inspired football against some new opponents. Hopefully we avoid teams we’ve played at the big show before like Japan, Italy, and Brazil. I’d like the U.S., Belgium, or an African team like Ivory Coast. Out of teams we’ve met at previous World Cups, I’d take Australia, Germany, heck even the Argies. Any of these opponets would make for an exciting match.
we should have scored more goals i am a bit worried but then again we played good with a 10 man squad.
also the guys pretending to be drinking beers after the win was epic as well
Bravo @ Nije Bitno, so very very true.
Mandzukic was with Dinamo team in Medjugorje.
Some teenyboppers paid him some attention and he was blushing and all.
The kid craves love.
He needs to be taught the way of a man.
AJMO HRVATSKA.
@Matesic … had no idea Kovacic was born in Austria, appreciate the info!
BTW it might be nice to be drawn into group B, E, F or H as then there is a chance we would play at the Maracana in the group phase!
@Ziva we are in Pot 2 I believe. And so is Bosna so no Hrvatska v Bosna match up either
We can face:
Pot 1: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Columbia, Belgium, Uruguay, Switzerland
Pot 2: Us
Pot 3: France, Chile, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon
Pot 4: Japan, Iran, Australia, South Korea, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras
So something like this would be an ideal draw:
Swiss/Belgium
Croatia
Algeria
Iran/Japan
Let’s not go overboard fellas, remember this was island.
They did what they should’ve done in the first game an that’s all.
So all qualifying took was only beating Macedonia twice, wales twice, Serbia once, and Iceland once.
Wow almost as easy route as the CONCACAF or Asian region.
Atleast we made it this time around and I can arrange my accommodation for brazil.
Ziva – pusi kurac ko to jebe mozemo mi I bez tebeeeeeee! Ajde stari opusti se malo we made it! It doesn’t matter how or through who! We are in!!!!
Ziva – I respect you but USA dude? if this were baseball, basketball, American footballl…sure…soccer?
nobody is claiming we’ll win the world cup but today was a very good showing from the dismal play we’ve been watching. you have to admit…it wasnt long ago we did relatively well in the Euro’s, we have some good young players, a disciplined coach and if we have some players in good form before the world cup we can do some damage…its possible!
Masterclass performance today when it mattered the most.
And crazy joe just cemented his legenda status tonight. Didn’t know how he would ever top that tackle in Beograd but
http://www.dnevno.hr/sport/nogomet/105325-simunic-uzeo-mikrofon-u-ruke-i-s-publikom-pjevao-u-boj-u-boj.html
Majstore ; )
And the overreaction has already started – as predicited.
Boys, I am happy as anyone that we qualified. It now gives me reason to follow the US and Cro in the World Cup and attend at least 6 games, unless they are scheduled to play on the same day.
But, before you go proclaiming we are going to win the World Cup or make a great run, remember this………..We beat Iceland.
This is the first step in a long process. I have faith in diaspora hrvati like Kovac.
Before the game, Ciro Blazevic said, put Kovacic behind Mandzo and we will score 4 goals.
ON PAPER, this is a significantly stronger team then we had las Euros.
With good coaching, we can go very far in Brazl.
Let’s hope Kovac is the man.
Maybe Stimac was mostly to blame for the poor qualifying campaign.
All is forgotten, we can star fresh again.
I think it’s plain to see the transformation in thinking and tactics that Kovac has brought in two shorts games. I’m excited for him to have 6 more months to work-in his plan!!!! I’d bet that teams will not be lining up to play us, that’s for sure.
Question for you all… do you think Niko was saving Kovacic all along for the second game…?
@Ziva-Son,you have dirty ink on your brain and I have the soap!
this is pretty awesome:
“Za dom”, povikao je Šimunić, a publika je spremno odgovorila: “Spremni!”. Povik koji je Hrvatski nogometni savez više puta koštao eura i panike zbog većih sankcija, ali poznati domoljub Šimunić ima drugačije mišljenje. Šimunić, koji je svojevremeno izjavio da je Hrvatska gubila na Maksimiru jer mu organizatori nisu puštali Thompsona, ima drugačije viđenje povijesti.
“Ja se ne bojim kazne, oni bi trebali malo bolje pročitati povijest. Nisam ništa pogrešno napravio, navijam i volim svoju Hrvatsku, svoj dom i ako to nekome smeta, to nije moj problem”, rekao je Joe.
“Oduvijek sam to želio napraviti, ali nemam puno vremena. Imao sam priliku, sjetio sam se i drago mi je što su nas navijači bodrili”.
Ajmo ajmo ajmo USTASE, USTASE, USTASEEEEEEE di si Ante BBB….????
@ Ziva
Your supply of NEGATIVNA is cut off.
Master Kovac has defeated the dark side that has been gripping the soccer soul of Croatia.
@ Svima
Ironic that it is the diaspora (Kovac brothers, Kovacic, Simunic) that have played a pivotal role in bringing victory to our people.
We are a nation that lives in the hearts of Svi Hrvati that live on all four corners of the world.
Kovac will start to integrate all of the young talent into the senior squad.
Mandzukic red card will allow Rebic to come into his own as a full service #9. Mandzukic will come in with fresh legs, depth is vital in the World Cup.
Kovac has cracked the :
Rakitic
Modric
Kovacic
Code!
They all play slightly up the pitch from each other!
Spine:
Pleti
Lovren
Rakitic
Modric
Kovacic
Rebic
Central channel of power!
Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47_ZEz9Gv90
Ziva sto se glupiras?
Any player who is unfortunate enough to be slampav and have the opposing player run into his foot deserves a yellow at the most, which pussy ass league did you play in?
No homer glasses here i’d say the same if the situation was reversed, incidental contact
lol @ Ziva’s dad 🙂
I told you Croatia were going through. The harsh red was to keep people watching until the end. Otherwise it would have been 5-0. It still could have been that bad with a man down. The fix is in. Breath easy boys and have a shot a rakija to calm the nerves and celebrate the victory.
I must admit its the best I have seen Croatia play since we got screwed by Wolf Gang Stark against Spain.
@”The Anonymous 1″…the way we were playing under our previous manager we still wouldn’t have qualified!! lol. Anyway, under Strachan we’re on the right track…still a long way to go until we get a Scotland team that no-one will consider “minnows” again…but we’re on the right road and we have time to get there. Today we beat Norway in Norway…surprise, surprise!!.
Meanwhile I’ll be watching and supporting Croatia in the World Cup. Hope you get England and dump them out!!!
Honestly, I am not surprised by what Mandzukic did. People who have a number of tattoos like he has are more inclined to do idiotic behavior. Look at the prisons and jails, I’m betting most of the people in them have dirty ink on their arms and body.
@T-Bone…………you don’t understand the rules. Intent has nothing to do with it. NONE!!!! Straight red. Ask any accredited ref. Hell, ask anyone who has played soccer. I find it funny with some of the homers. If a player from iceland would have committed the same foul, the same homers would be calling for a red card. But, since its our guy, they claim no red card. You can’t have it both ways.
@nepoznat……….It is OK if kids wear jerseys with the last name of another person. I mean, its not ideal, but kids don’t know any better and it is up to us adults to teach them not to idolize people they have never met or don’t personally know. That is where responsible parenting comes in. So, to recap……..12-yr old boy wearing Modric jersey is acceptable. 35-yr old man wearing Modric jersey is not. That is jock sniffing. Think about it. You won’t see me wearing a jersey with Steve Job’s name on the back just because of the value of Apple stock. How dumb would that look. Same thing with an adult wearing another man’s name just because that man is good in a sport.
As for Mandzukic suspension. I think he will get 2 games and we will appeal and have it reduced to one game.
you guys know anywhere where they are showing the replay of the game?
which one of the young guys can play perisic position and take it over from him.
ya he plays hungry a lot but he seems like a younger less talented, less strong version of olic
Funky, almost every euro country will be at the euros with the expansion of more teams in the tourney
Like I said before Perisic should of stayed home! Jelavic looked completely lost out there for what little time he was on. Modric was great today, fuck they were all great for the exception of Perisic ad the little time Jelavic was on!
Congratulations Croatia..told you that you’d qualify!! Now go and enjoy the World Cup. Well done….wish it was us (Scotland), but we’ll be at the Euros for sure!!!
T-Bone, I also saw it as a red and just saw the replay. He clearly lifted his studs when he didnt have to…regardless, it doesnt mean anything now anyways. Mandzukic has a past history of not being able to control himself and its only been since he’s playing in Germany that he’s become much better at keeping his composure…i say this as a big fan of his!
lmao @dannyj yes they do… my oldest, Luka, has Luka above his #10, and my youngest, Sebastian, has Luka above his #10 (from when it was Luka’s) and Seb underneath the #10
so if any jock sniffing is going on I guess Seb is sniffing his big brothers jock so maybe that’s ok with Ziva?
fuck 3 games possible? thats ridiculous… surely it will be just one game… i know SMM ain’t ronaldo but still people want to see him
@DinamoDennis and @Dannyj if you scroll up you will see that I posted that I read elsewhere (Xtratime.org) that a direct red card carries over into the Group Stage and in that case Mario would be suspended for at least 1 game and at most 3 games
nepoznat i sure hope they have names on the back of those jerseys
the lamb and asparagus are roasting for the feast at my house tonight! me and the boys won’t take off our jerseys until we go to bed!
zivas dad surely a new PS4 for xmas? with the new ufc game?
@Ziva-Yes son,it is too early.Its a sign of immaturity.Dont worry ,the WC is over 6 mths away.You will grow a little by then.For the last time,I said “No “to the UFC subscription,I don’t care how much you throw your Landon Donovan dolls at me!!
@ Ziva man do you have a hate-on for Mandzukic. The red card challenge was something that happens about 30x on any given EPL weekend. A yellow fine a red ridiculous. On the replay it didn’t look like Mandzukic saw the runner coming in. The ref saw Iceland were hopeless and wanted to throw them a lifeline. He’s the idiot that got us through to the World Cup.
Great game. Questions were answered and my hat goes off to Luka. Played a master class. Look at the dirt on his shirt. Says it all.
The WC draw is like an early Christmas present. Looking forward to seeing who we get.
i have to agree completely with you ziva… sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to get better, it wasn’t rock bottom but close.
now kovac will have some time to work things out… seriously ok we could have an import coach but i think kovac will be fine… he knows the game and he ain’t some douche bag like stimac
would it be fair to say, kovac is a smarter tactician then say bilic was when he started?
WE DID IT WITH HEART
i heard that red cards in these playoffs don’t go through to world cup??
does kind of make sense cause if you think of it, the playoff teams have to play 2 more games meaning they have more chance of getting cards
of course its their fault for extra games, but not its not fifa fair play;)
Is it too early to repeat what I said a little over a month ago?????……We needed short-term pain (losses to Belgium and embarassment to Scotland) for longer-term success (World Cup qualification) and the elimination of Strucnjak Stimac
Is it too early to repeat that?????
@dannyj-No UFC package for the boy.I didn’t like the way he seemed reserved about the win.I couldn’t sit for most of the match.
ya curious about that do dennis… shouldn’t it be one game?
don’t worry dudu will play first game for him since its in brazil
lol zivas dad… don’t forget since he has been so good this year you will buy him the next ufc pay per view for the basement tv
WHat happens to mandzukic and the red card ? Dos he miss games in the world cup ?
oh im france, i play with black slaves that i stole long ago
Ante is very 🙂
-I will give 30 mins extra X-box time to ziva this afternoon.
-In the morning I have promised him a new “Donovan”jersey.
-Mama Istina is preparing Sarma for the 3 of us as we speak.
-Young Ziva will be put to bed early tonight 😉
stop and think how depressed we all were in south africa…
this is so nice
fucking france
@Petar – watch out for the trannies ….
@Slavonac from Canada
Nice post! Olic very close to a beauty!!!!
Our class showed through today.s
FIFA has already approved my ticket application in the first phase of ticket sales. My 5 tickets look like a way better investment now.
I cant wait to party until the sunrise in Rio.
ole ole
ole ole
ole ole ole oleeeey
ole ole
ole ole oleeeey!!!!
Yes! Brasil here comes the ekipa pijana!!!!!!!
haha love it 🙂
fuck it, we all know we play better against better opponents… bring on the big boys… at least then we are in the spot light and can show the world again who we are
but of course then the fix could be in against us….
@Slavonac……….agreed
@dannyj we are not even close to being seeded at the WC after the string of losses we had no shot unless we beat Belgium and Scotland
@ GS Croatia
You need a proof reader for your site.
@dannyj I would think one of the reasons he chose Croatia in the first place is due to the talent around him. If that’s the case he wouldn’t be shocked to find himself in this situation at 17.
Also I think, although it’s possible, there are certain hoops that must be jumped through since he played in an A team friendly (twice). And he may still not have Bosna papers even!
lets hope someone had the wisdom to send 70 cold ones to the “gospoda sa sjevera” 😀
Ziva – you’ve played soccer for many years, I know that…with that said you do realize that sometimes you can play a very physically strong and fit team, they dont give you much and they play dirtier than hell…you dont always get the result you want. I’m not justifying the first game, but I did think Kovacic brought quickness and the will to attack, something I didnt see anyone else do very well, he made a big difference on our attempts to break down their defense…he ran at them. soccer can be very fucked, especially when you get opponents that have not much to lose so they play to frustrate you. the difference I saw today compared to at least the last 5 games was attitude, will, HEART and the constant pressure of not letting up…when we lost the ball we recovered, when we attacked we attacked with numbers and had options…that was a BIG difference.
Correct. No longer a seeded team.
there is a possibility of drawing 2 euro teams in a group and no more than 2. But, I’m assuming we and BiH are in the same pot
8/10 for major qualfying tournaments if im correct
not always pretty but that deserves respect
Congrats Boys
Proud of You
http://gscroatiafc.com/brasil-2014-world-cup/
so we are no longer going in as a top pot team?
fuck ronaldo is sick
@Iggy it is possible that we could face Bosna however they consider geographic and sports criteria in the groupings so it seems unlikely unless we are both in a group with a South American seeded team (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Uruguay) as they would not go for 3 European teams in 1 pot I don’t think
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup#Final_draw
crawl into the world cup and come out running there like previous times!
my question to laknat, does the god of halilovic jump ship still to bosnia since realistically does he deserve to play for us in brazil at the moment?
i would think are more young guys in line at the time
Okay, ran out of beer. Need to get some new.
HRVATSKA!!!!!!
Great play. They did what they had to do. Even with 10 against 11, we were the better team.
I can’t name one player. They were all great. Hvala Hrvatska.
Thing could not have turned out any better.
We qualified.
Confidence has been completely restored.
New coach.
Won back the fans.
On paper this team is significantly stronger than the one we had last Euros.
If everyone stays healthy, we can go far in Brazil.
don’t forget……….we did this against Iceland.
awesome to be going to the WC
fucking ronaldo
Zlatan trying to win golden ball today.
in my opinion there was 1 major difference than what we’ve seen for a long time…they guys played with passion, will and creativity…I thought the overall performance over a much lesser quality team was good, this is how it has to be when you play down a level…show you are superior!
Croatia AND the US going to the World Cup. I am a happy man.
Evo ti to !
Sad znate ko su VATRENI!
Best match in decades!
Hvala vama G. KOVAC.
BOG I HRVATI
Ibra with 2 quick goals…wow.
oh shit, swededn up 2-1
the wanna be cro ibra scores twice
It’s exciting the National Team made it to the World Cup today because summer 2014 just got super interesting
You can only beat the team on the field and we smashed them, we looked good for the first time in ages. Now the task turns to ironing out the kinks in the lead up to brazil
Hey is there any chance we could draw Bosnia in the finals??
if so that would be good.. and also Australia please !!
Bravo decki!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a show of heart and determination, that’s probably one of the best half’s of repka nogomet that we’ve seen ever…Bravo Niko Kovac! The best part for me was that we didn’t waste time like the Greeks might’ve.
FYI December 6th is the final draw for FIFA World Cup 2014 Brasil!!!
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/final-draw/
Now all we need to worry about is good health and form for the boys come next June!!!
Yosha !
I called it yesterday. So I really would like to make a video with this music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUOgkfqYb34
So please send me videos link.
.
omg im just so glad i don’t have to hear the wops at the world cup and not us again
i think the country should go into more debt and have a lottery to send fans to brazil so we can flood that place
I thought although the opponents were not good, some guys played very well, in particular Modric…he was everywhere!
Now france just needs to lose
Well done…….doesn’t matter how we got there, main thing is we got to Brazil.
One of the best games in FUCKIN AGES. Kovacic is a beast!!!
Better finishing should have been more goals. Man im so happy!!!!
FT!
2-0
a much deserved win….
I know we joked about it earlier, but the guys played with a lot of heart, hustle and determination. Not the prettiest 2-0 win, but we deserve to be at WC 2014 at this tie.
MI SMO HRVATSKAAAAAAAAA!
what anticipation by modric earlier in the 2nd, pranjic just misplaced that.. and rebic natural footwork, much needed in combo with the pace. not bad not bad
enjoy it boys!!!
Rebic will be one of their best players in the near future.
YEAHHHHH BABY!!!!
fuck can’t buy that 3rd goal
but i do think rebic will be ready to be a regular starter very soon
ohhhh rebic
3 minutes of stoppage time
what would one need to budget to get to brazil from north america, tickets, hotel, food
any idea?
5k US?
that was a bad give away by pranjic
They are all Heart
Luka has been getting mugged in the midfield today
Fuck I love this team!!!! Hrvatska!!!!
@ dannyj
Agreed!
Toronto – sometimes when a team is down all they do is defend…the motivation is to not get scored on…believe it or not its really hard to score sometimes, they dont need to go at you so they sit and wait!
I cant believe we got that early 2nd half goal.
Too early to talk about which group we want?
ya but he scored a beauty so today the gay diving is forgiven
heart should be the secret word of the day here, everytime someone says it we all scream like on pee wees playhouse!
Srna’s diving is embarrassing.
corluka is the worst looking runner i have ever seen… but fuck is he playing with heart today
Good stream
http://firstrownow.eu/watch/222349/1/watch-croatia-vs-iceland—fifa-world-cup-2014-.html
Charlie winning the ball with his blazing speed lol
@dannyj I think we actually played with more heart and there goes my stream again.
i agree, but do we need hunger or just responsible right now?
Maybe…Jelavic is probably hungry to prove something
jelavic wtf? is this good
yes honestly this game we looked like men against boys the right way this time
well you can’t say we havent created clear-cut chances this match (which had been our problem previously)
we’ve made shitloads this match
FUCKING YUGO ESPN FIX THIS SHIT
if we could shut down spain for that long at euro surely we can shut down iceland
yeah ims treaming from my mobile even on this site
http://firstrownow.eu/watch/222349/1/watch-croatia-vs-iceland—fifa-world-cup-2014-.html
and its been perfect its in english but the commentator is a fucking n00bfactory
It honestly seems like its Iceland who are down 10 men.
Croatia play so fucked up. How can they have 11 men and not score on a 10 man Iceland…..now Croatia is down 10 men and they’re fuckin dominating? WTF
in all reality we should try to woo that goalie from iceland to back up stipe at world cup if we qualify… sure we probably made him look good on a few but he has been stellar for 2 games
I hope after this victory the guys all goto their hotel rooms and order 140 beers, take lots of photos of them all drinking and send the pictures to ICeland media
http://footballstreams.net/soccer/croatia-vs-iceland-fs368il
in spanish (I have it on mute at work), but i haven’t had one interruption
Muther fucking stream
.
no one answered my hypothetical question
could a coaching back line of niko and rob kovac, with bilic and stimac work right now??
Yes- Mateo was amazing.
@dannyj
He’s got great speed and finishing ability…watch me eat those words lol
looks like whoever it was in the other thread who said give Rebic 20 mins has the same mindset as Kovac
and down goes the espn stream again
Rebic…awesome.
Rebic in for Kovacic
rebic in…
is this a good sub??
Iceland must be thinking …
Will these guys ever stop attacking and build an Igloo in front of the goal.
Keep pushing boys.
dont’ worry bout big joe, he’s got this. he’s got heart
if i had to pick a fighter to represnt the team it would be big joe and olic… then maybe schildefenfeldfeld, he looks like a nice guy but got some serious power in him
how come Kovacic suddenly became good in the second half? lol
Big Joe just about hands them a goal…Jesus.
yes thats the one iggy…
olic scored more special goals then other cro strikers of late, or at least they are prettier…
i don’t remember smm scoring a blast like olic did a couple weeks ago?
im sure he has but i haven’t seen all his videos
yes, clear-cut chances we have had more.. prolly should be 3-0 or 4-0
Perisic is a bum plain and simple
ok, time to sub Perisic
holy shit france are level on aggregate??? DAMN
france really tied it up? the fix is in??
yes ziva you predicted it… do you win on bets, im not a gambling guy but i think overall you must win money
Iceland look like they are the ones down a man..we are dominating but finishing has been poor, could easily be 4-0.
you idiots
when i made my prediction about olic scoring a bicycle kick in this game i posted the link.. dont you fuckwits refresh this site every 5 mins and read every single post like me??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJYZx7sDZMo
here it is cunts
Perisic you budala… 2 on 1 break, open net and you kick it at the keeper…. 3-0 and this game is on ice.
why is it when i see luka modric i feel like eating a fig newton?
Should’ve been 3-0! Perisic
france ties it up 2-2 now.
fucking frogs
Damn Jugo- Lost my feed on Espn..WTF
Thanks Mali.
haha dannyj….ya probably
@ dannyj
He did score a great goal from outside the box..he may have also scored a bicycle kick goal too..not sure.
It’s very rare for him to score a special goal..he always seems to play much better for the Repka though..hustles his ass off!
shit my stream is gone too…
toronto, rob ford sold tv rights for some crack!!
how would this back line be
niko kovac, stimac, and bilic, holding the fort right now?
by the way perisic is a loser… i don’t think he can score an olic type tap in
Fuck Croatia are playing better with 10 men.
Is it too early to repeat what I said a little over a month ago?????……We needed short-term pain (losses to Belgium and embarassment to Scotland) for longer-term success (World Cup qualification) and the elimination of Strucnjak Stimac
Is it too early to repeat that?????
Alright I got another feed, I wanted Croatian commentary…but this will do
@Toronto
Did you see the Olic’s attempt. Sick scissor kick of the post.
WHERE DID MY STREAM GO
Jimmy Cro…Iceland would go through.
mali ante, didn’t olic score a sick bicycle kick just a little while ago??
ya i would think with kovacic and rebic and whoever else can pick their way up the ranks can help us with speed for sure
qualify or not i think they need to be tried
but isn’t that what bilic did? bring up his youth boys, kovac will do the same
Not that this would happen, away goals if this game was hypothetically tied 1 to 1 after 90 mins. would it got to over time or would it just end and Iceland going thru on away goals???
I cant see the fuckin game anymore…so feel free to keep me posted lol
This just really fun!
OLIC YOU BEAST
I agree with you on rebic….
WOW-WOW0WEE_WOWW
dont they all start from 0 at the world cup?
@ Iggy….LOL..never say never!
WOW! He is amazing…
Youth baby
@Jimmy Cro…..ha ya maybe.
Whatever it was, id be happy for Kovacic to prove me wrong anytime.
OHH KOVACIC!!!! How did he miss that? SOO CLOSE After beating THREE defenders at once.
holy shit my prediction about an Olic bicycle kick almost came true ROFL
Olic…who would have thought he could do that!
OMG olic brought his bicycle on the field like someone said he would!
no one can deny that Kovacic is a beast.
@Toronto no fire they just had some cold beers this time 85 not 70.
OMG that would have been such a great goal
I read elsewhere that Mandzukic will miss at least the first group game in Brasil due to a direct red card… May miss group stage
Kovacicccccccccc!!!!
@ Ziva
They need some speed..he adds that regardless of mediocre play prior. Our issue is we are a little slow…he and Rebic could add the pace we need.
I think playing Rakitic in the Modric role of pulling the strings and giving Modric more freedom to move forward was the right call.
And again..
KOVA with an amazing run!!!!
my feed in the fortified basement is great.
ya my feed cut out, its all those yugo loving media over there
LINK NOW PLEASE
Can anyone ever remember an Ivica step over into a shot that worked? I’m not an Olic hater I just can’t remember any
Srna is more floppy than my cock and that is saying something
ziva im predicting undefeated at world cup, corluka getting the golden boot of sleeping with hoes in brazil
@mali ante……….before that dribbling, he played like shit. credit to him.
my fuckin feed keeps cutting out now
Oh… we are winning the world cup….
I miss Sammir.
I’m calling my cousin in Zagreb.
.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE WORLD CUP 100% U HEARD IT HERE FIRST FUCKWITS
whose are subs if any?
Ya Kovacic wasn’t performing in the first half……maybe Kovač lit a fire under his ass at halftime.
you know what is better than reading this site when theire is a meltdown over a game, it is reading this site when everyone has over the top reactions and expectations after a win, especially a win against inferior opponents…..tonight will be good reading all of that after this win.
BTW, Pranjic looks awesome, who doubted that you sons a bitches.
lol ziva you were right there
how does it finish now? ya people were calling for srna not to play today
they just showed kovacic run… fuck why can’t modric or raktic do that once in a while. just lack of speed
i think kovacic has some freak aero dynamic thing without a neck
@ ZIva
“Kovacic got worse going to Inter….ugh”
i just saw the replay
fuck Kovacic actually did something positive
good work ya kinky little fucker
Kovacic’s run OMG perfect! And Darijo with the finish!
@Ziva Next prediction?
fuck…they are pumped today!
Just checked the score now! is this hrvatska playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!
look
Pletikosa is doing a little dancey
FUCKING LOOK
Did that REALLY just happen?
thats a bullshit yellow… he went down like a swede playing hockey
why are iceland dominating possession ?
in reality even with 10 men we should be better than these fucking amateurs
see what happens when you listen to Ziva Istina…………………..go back up, it will be 2-0 before it is 1-1…….
you are welcomed
by the waym where are the Srna haters
Card happy ref…
10 MEN? NO PROBLEM!!
DID YOU SEE KOVACIC SMOKE THOSE TWO DEFENDERS?
I hope they don’t start sucking each other’s dicks yet. Still another 40 minutes left.
I think today we are really showing they arent at our level!
i missed it too but whocares WE ARE FUCKING WINNING BOOYAH
shove that up YOUR FROZEN CUNTS ICEMEN
Fuck the Srna I Mateo olic luka raketa pranjić haters!! Prava golčina!!
so now how do we play guys?
defend and wait for a chance to get the nail in the coffin we need?
i hope stipe warmed up during the break, he barely has seen any action at all…. its ok he has heart!!
SHIT I MISSED IT, I WAS MAKING COFFEE
Viva Brazil!
YERSSSSS !!!!!
ONYA CAPTAIN WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN HE DID SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIVING MEMORY
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SRNA!!!!!!!!!!!!! HVALA KOVACIC!!!!
seriously though with one or two runs like that from kova during friday this wouldn’t even be close, exactly what they needed to do
SRNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JJJJJJEEEEEEBOOOOOTEEEEEEEE KAKAV GOL!!!!!
Game. Set. Match.
DARIJOOOOOO
GOALLLLLLLLLLLL
Mateo with a great run!!!!!!
what’s scarier:
Ola doing stepovers on the wing?
or
The threat of nuclear war?
DDDDAARAAAARRRRRIIIIIJJJJOOOOO!!!!!!
fml if Algeria qualify for the WC and Croatia dont
ernest, wouldn’t he just get one game?
fuck it i think entering a tournament all cards should be cleaned
Time to take out swiss cheese Pranjic, only bad things can happen if he remains on the field.
Was a weak red, Mario’s only crime is being slampav
What’s the story on Mandzas straight red, if we qualify does he get a group stage suspension? If so, it’s much worse than I even thought.
thats acutually crazy cheechoo ended up in zagreb, he was a legit star in the NHL for a couple of seasons
he’s indian, cheap beer… and before you politically correct dudes go all crazy on me, fuck you indians drink, just like many cro
its scary hanging on to this 1-0 lead… i hope we can pop in early one just for the reassurance.
iceland will have to open up…..
lol on that flash of corluka running back… he looks in pain when he was running… someone needs to check his gait or something
Someone on Iceland needs to pull a Simunic and get a red card!
Olic do you take him off cause of his yellow???
Careless play by Mandzukic…emotions got the best of him. Interested in seeing now how we decide to play early in the 2nd half.
Lol good thinking ziva
For any of you that do not believe that was a straight Red Card, take off your homer glasses and stop watching Football. That is as clear as it gets. Studs up, well beyond the players knees and he leaves his foot hanging there.
Mandzukic is a moron, plain and simple. Watch his red card when he played for Wolfsburg and you can see the stupidity he is capable of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH44XecuQOI
Above comment is me and Pranjic sorry autocorrect
Players collide all the time in dangerous ways….they don’t always result in Red Cards. The guy wasn’t even taken off the field was he? (I don’t remember)
Yellow fine…straight red was harsh.
I want to see Croatia get one more re-assurance goal however I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be all about defending now in the second half
Our best counter in Zagreb currently is Johnathan Cheechoo, oh to bad he plays hockey!
stay with a 4-4-1 and then later in the game it will basically become a 4-5-0 if it stays 1-0.
Lovren possible sub for Pranjic and have Lovren or Corluka move to LB.
Will need another sub who can run in the middle. Modric and Rakitic can go all game. Can Perisic or Kovacic??? Badelj and who else, Males????
Prankish as to come off move corluka to LB and bring on Lovren. We can’t have it leak down the left side
Red card is shown by a referee to a player being sent off the field for a flagrant violation….Was that Flagrant?
Who is our best counter attacker? Capable of taking it from midfield and scoring…. ?
it sucksa tho cos this second half is gonna be fucking dogshit to watch now
fuck my fat balls
Corluka looks like he’s stomping his feet through the ground every time he tries to sprint lol
How did I miss this red card? I look away for one minute….. What changes do we have to do to compensate now?
Decent game from Croatia so far. Rakitic and Modric both are doing well but we’ll need a second goal; as soon as possible.
ok i just saw the red card
it was a pretty bad attempted challenge so i cant complain too much
Had Manduzikic made any honest effort to get the ball with his foot up, he would have gotten the benefit of the doubt and gotten only a yellow. Since the opposing player was running full speed at him, Mario thought he could get away with a punk move by keeping his foot up.
Not sure what he was thinking since it was a flawless game up to that point and Iceland was going nowhere.
ok 45 minutes plus 3 of sweat coming up.
@ARMADA87
“both players were going for the ball, Mandzukic caught him with a foot to the midsection. not deserved at all. a yellow, if anything.”
What?????
Intent has nothing to do with it. Intent is irrelevant, the rules state any dangerous play is a red card. That was a dangerous play.
And put Kranjcar in for Kovacic in second half
on a lighter note? know what I got a solid chuckle out of?
Vedran Corluka sprinting.
after that set piece, the cameras caught him sprinting back LOL some good TV right there
Yes I agree Toronto 100%
Definitely yellow, borderline red but shouldn’t be in this big of a game.
yes…cleats up that high…no question about it!
fucking fag dutch jew loving mother fucker
iceland really hasn’t put anything together since the red
oh that away goal would be so nice right now
I’d call it a yellow……..I don’t think it was intentional….do you?
he came up high a bit and late with his boot by the sidelines on a check…
again, maybe in rules its a red but just reaffirms the pussyness of soccer…
but how do we play now? hang in for the win or keep going
what is the smart thing to do??
at least it was a striker who got the red and not a central defender
anyway.. make it to half time and niko can re-assess what he wants to do strategy wise
not happy…..just saying it is a clean red.
you cant possibly think it wasn’t or do you have homer glasses on?
yeah.. we can still do this for sure but it’s a momentum-killer
Toronto – it was a stupid play by mario, I highly doubt he’d do that at Bayern!
Well if Iceland could defend against us in their last game at 10 men….theres no reason why we shouldn’t be able to do the same.
both players were going for the ball, Mandzukic caught him with a foot to the midsection. not deserved at all. a yellow, if anything.
what did he do ??
no way, yellow ok, but red, fuck that shit
and thats no homer glasses
Pranjic or Perisic need to come out……
straight red on Mandzukic
Ya figured you’d love that shit Ziva.
You’re probably clapping right now.
It going to be a LOOONG second Half…
can someone say what actually happened?
this is not bad, forces up to defend and will open up counter in 2nd…..it will 2-0 before it is 1-1.
sorry i was in the dunny, who got the red card?
For us not watching…what just happened?
DESERVED RED CARD!!!!
I still think we get one more.
fucking dutch… i guess we had the spanish ref but i guess our facist chants pissed off the dutch ref, fuck him
i don’t think we fall apart though…
Red card, are you fuckin kidding me
i can’t believe that just happened
you got to be fucking jokin.
Mandzukic is a complete idiot…I never see him behave like this in Germany!
what the fuck, bull shit
Unbelievable…the fix is on.
Rakitic has really improved since the Spain miss.
Fuck
WHAT THE FUCK
uh-oh
man did I mess up my pants.
not only heart…we are playing with passion. I can see it on my tv screen, can you guys?
who u put in for kovacic?
Rakitic looked like he kicked a FG on that corner. Mandzo almost with another tap-in.
I THINK WE NEED TO PLAY WITH MORE DICK AND BALLS
Second half take off Kovacic….hasn’t done shit out there.
jimmy cro i don’t drink but i think they have karlovacko at the liquor store, pretty sure i have seen that or whats the other cro beer?
jesus synchronised stereo kranjcar jokes on here
Kranjcar that is.
u know why we scored that goal ?? WE USED HEART
Sounds like a distribution opportunity in BC.
they just flashed to kranjcar, he had a double gulp and some nachos under his seat
See Kranjac on the bench? That’s a big jacket…I’m sure a few Big Macs or even a McRib could be stashed in the pockets.
Rather have Karlovacko but can’t get here in British Columbia, but when in Seattle QFC has it.
Thank U Lord !!
I shit in my pants goallllllll
ZAAAA DOOOM
SPREEEEEEEMNIIIIIIIIII
@ DannyJ
Agree. They need to let a few more shots go.
McCallan 15? I hope you brought enough to share. HOOK ME UP!
very goos work rate today…heart Ziva…heart!
BALLS OUT MODRIC
Karlovacko for me. I have a Six pack of 500 ml.
2 down- Staring third…
ok seriously do we not have anyone in croatia or in the world that can shoot from the outside??
smart players find the openings to be in Armada…I’ll take that goal anyday!
This formation with Modric playing a little higher and Rakitic pulling the strings seems to be the right combination.
Macallan 15, here goes one down!!!!
One more goal needed.
Whoooooooooaaaaaaaa!!!!
Don’t forget to give credit to Perisic for his whiff on the initial shot.
ok what do we do now… we need to score one more ajmo, rakitic with a mandzukic olic type tap in come on!!!
Rakitic did some nice work in setting that up, but an easy tap-in for Mandza…. we net another one and it’ll put this game on ice
now they have to open up and now we should really see us play better.
Damn my feed is late!!! About 30 sec. F espn…Slow ass feed.
Mario! Boom
well it wasn’t an early goal but early enough i guess
Finally. Just don’t go bunker mode.
BTW – Rakitic is working today…good boy!
PARTY TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
OPEN THE FLOODGATES BOYS
GOOD WORK BALL.. GOOD BALL, GOOD BALL
Mandza with an Olic-type of tap in……
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Slavonac #1…next up Olic!!!
FUCK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!
yayayayayayayaya
MARRRIOOOOOO!!!!!
fucking cock. one of these needs to go in
surely.. FUCKING SURELY iceland can’t last defending in their own box like this for 120 mins
dannj – tranny, naturally.
so a bit of both i guess u could say ?
u know what they say tho, two heads are better than one !
Great strike by Srna
Playing much much better….ajmo!
wow, that was probably the nicest set piece I’ve seen Srna take in ages, nice save by the Island keeper…. and Mandzo just missed a nice header
iggy which virginity to a dude or chick? haha
fuckkksakekkkeeke
GO THE FUCK IN THE GOAL YOU FUCKINT VCUNT OF A BALL
stupid FUCKING BALL
smm needs help on headers from rakitic
i cant relax.. my heartrate is as high as when i lost my virginity ffs
man we could have used that penalty
then again we would prolly miss it anyway
someone needs to step up today and be a Soul Champion and win this for us
much better urgency.
just by pure luck we need to score one
all it what you want…urgency, heart, passion…I say yes!
Kovacic got worse going to Inter….ugh
@iggy One goal by us and the flood gates open. Relax we got this…
corluka moving like bobby orr back on the D! 60 year old bobby orr but he tries for sure!
Spirit Passion is definitely up from the 1st leg.
Heart is the same- 100%
theres NOT ENOUGH HEART
i feel uneasy about this : (
Just think, there’s potential that there could be a World Cup without Portugal and France………….
Ratings, KABOOM!
are we playing with heart????
Gotta say…this lineup and formation looks to be the best in a while.
im fucking so scared right now
oh fuck my cock that was close
that….should of been 1-0 Iceland
well we didnt get an early goal
we’re fucked now :((((((
ahh shit
ive got a fucking stream in english where the cuntetator is calling them “modrik” “rakitik”
really???? in this fucking day and age u cant pronounce these names, AND YOU COMMENTATE ON SOCCER?
fucking piss up my ballsac
SRNA- Wave his punk ass off…
Passion
Gunarsson is a fucking shitcunt
the boys showed up today… and Darijo Srna goes flying past the ad boards. Seeing Kapetan Darijo up to his normal antics, all is well in the world!
nice move srna when getting shoulder checked… fire is on so far for sure
THERES THE BALLS FROM SRNA
PASSION
fucking ref slowing down the game with fouls. shittyfucks. need to keep up the pace to kill eskimos
At least our boys are showing an attacking spirit today…thank God
i have to say woudl be nice to have someone who can blast it from outside… kranjcar…. we seem to have these opportunities already
I’m with Iggy. WHY AREN”T WE WINNING YET?
Also, I heard there’s about 25k at the game today, Can’t tell by watching the game though
Glad Kovacic is playing.
@Ziva
I understand your point about the fans boycotting but then why did you fly to Reykavik to watch the game?
READY TO SMASMAhS SOME FORTIFIED IGLOS YOU EASKIMO PIE CuTSN!!!
Wow we are on it!
ya i said the same, sure sounds louder then 10k
was that deflected?! Kova needs to bury that…
Kovacic come on!!!
omg olic no tap in!!!
but seriously if you look at our biggest wins in last few years, turkey, serbia… we always come out super hungry and score relatively early, thats only way for success here
ajmo!!!
Kovacic…frick.
Looks better on TV than I expected.-
…Maybe ESPN is just really good at framing shots …
this is FUCKING BULLSHIT IT IS STILL 0-0 WHY ARENT WE WINNING YET ahhh fuck why DO I BOTHER
there are more than 10K people in the stadium. Looks like 20-25K, but how many of those were free. Props to the fans for not selling it out. Well done.
Ha, those Konzum commercials are great…
Jimmy Cro….I think we come out and show them! Kovac with a tear in his eye during the anthem….c’mon boys!!!!! AJMO!!
question:
do Livaja and Pranjic have the same barber…?
Ha. no one there. looks like a 2nd division game in the US
does anybody know WHICH firstrow link is HRT??? there are 12 up ffs..
can someone go thru them and find out ??
http://firstrownow.eu/watch/222349/1/watch-croatia-vs-iceland—fifa-world-cup-2014-.html
my net is shit
@Ante B…..no surprise. I applaud the public for this.
@slavonac…..yeah, depends on the company and also depends on the individual and their track record of production. I know some people who i wouldn’t allow to go home and work from home, they become unproductive.
only bout half of iceland sang national anthem… even dudu sings the anthem for us… does this mean we have more “heart”?? lol
Mali Ante: couldnt agree more.
Ante B – Lord knows they gave me TWO of them when I went into the north stands.
@ dannj
I just caught that on Sportsnet…it’s disgraceful and a slap in the face to the players to not have the support regardless of the savez crap.
they just said on canadian tv, 10,000 tickets sold for the game… so cro not even hiding the fact no one is going
ahhh gotchya colin.. keep up the good work bro
nepoznat i already said up there ^^ youtube doesnt work u lazy bum read the messages
10k only in the stadium.
Iggy: skype me, I can set the computer up in front of the TV.
Colin,
For sure plus many of those guys didn’t want a colonoscopy getting into the stadium.
@ IGGY
DRUNK!
WE ARE GOING TO IMPRENATE ICLEANDIC DEFENSES!
Anyone know if the stands are full??
“da da Hrvatski HRT2 feed” was about the sportska one not the youtube one
hrt 2 stream http://sportska-tv-wizi.blogspot.de/p/hrvatska-island-veetle2.html
Here’s HRVATSKA.
Boy, will I be depressed if we don’t qualify.
da da Hrvatski HRT2 feed
Iggy you should watch the Youtube one (if available down under), I would think it has better quality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EmCgcOIncM
sportska seems to be sweeden stream
what language is sportska in ?? is the game going to be hrt ??
ok the one nepoznat posted for flash is now running
http://sportska-tv.net/kiwi-30/
@NK Drava I like you’re family’s style… right up my alley for sure
AJJJJMOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
is sportska usually a hrt stream
and how do i get rid of molly and abby at the bottom lol
Pleased Olic is starting- Only spark from last game.
2-0
Olic and Modric goals.
Just spoke with Family back in Ludbreg. They butchered a Pig today and have been drinking vino since noon. Lots of excitement for the game in Podravina Ludbreg.
FYI-Love ESPN3 never a doubt that the match will be shown-we have come along way in the Good Ol’ USA…
@jimmy Cro
“Stream? Why not just hop the border up here to Canada? ”
That would be the little known border between Australia and Canada would it?
I hope that sammir jock strap smell isn’t lingering around the locker room still, or we might as well just forfeit the match.
Ante B. – I heard the east stands will be completely full. Can only assume a lot of them are guys who normally sit in the north.
HOCEMO POBJEDO!
That is a crew.
First time in years when I have felt that we have started an 11 that is ready to light the field on fire!
Ajmo Vatreni !
Stream? Why not just hop the border up here to Canada? We have it on regular TV sportsnet one. Damn Canada just lost to Slovenia 1 nil.
hrt 2 stream molim vas if possible
any links ppl can put up yet –
and yes i know links have been posted but i mean are any actually active yet??
Look at donji Sjever. Not even full. Wow.
also
“ONCE WE SPLIT THEM OPEN, PENETRATION WILL BE EAST AND WE WILL IMPREGNATE THEIR GOAL WITH MANY BALLS.”
Wtf is wrong with you CousinBilo ?
LOL
awesome…wish we could do that here, I notice tons of US Corps allow that!
Iggy signing in at 4.45am Brisbane time !
I can confirm youtube links dont work everywhere outside of USA Nepoznat they dont work for Aussies either can’t talk about other countries tho
BRB smashing viking cunts
just have flexibility to work from home as well as office.
I have 3 streams setup on my work computer…patiently waiting and hoping for the best!
Ziva – you must be on contract or something…how do you get all this free time?
I got that going……but ti still blows.
If I was the soccer czar I would create an NFL Red Zone type of channel for soccer during qualifying, especially the playoffs.
@Ziva just set up 2 TVs… that’s what I do. Still can’t watch every second of the other game but you get the gist and can watch the big plays
i one thing I hate about this is that the games are all taking place within 30 minutes of each other. For the neutral fans across the world, I wish these games would have been staggered or play two of the games on Firday/Tuesday and the other two on Saturday/Wednesday.
It blows that we are only able to watch the final 25 minutes of the Portugal-Sweden game. That tie is the best of all the 4 euro matches.
correction to whom ever posted 4-0 against iceland in the 2006 qualifiers we also beat them 3-1 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaAAx1E9DAs
@ elvis and armada.
sharing the pain. in finance and can’t get out (although i can’t complain too much since i was just in reykjavik). i’m going radio silence once the game starts, hope no one says anything to me, and watch the replay when i get back
Hope the people in my office don’t mind me yelling at my computer for 90 minutes today. I got a bunch of my buddies real invested in this playoff round, and now all of THEM are down the street at the bar watching the game and I’M the one stuck at work.
youtube channel link (outside USA only):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EmCgcOIncM
Flash link for the game:
http://sportska-tv.net/kiwi-30/
and obviously ESPN3.com here in the states, and the Youtube channel outside of the states
@ Elvis
That Oliver’s Pub is gold. Went there for a dinner a few weekends ago; awesome beer selection, good food, chilled out spot!
@Anonymous scroll up I posted like 3 links to streams!
Veetle link for the game (I think Veetle may work on iPhone/iPad/iPod):
http://sportska-tv-wizi.blogspot.de/p/simulcastveetle.html
Good Luck Boys from New Jersey
I an going to say this – the only goal(s) we will score today against the bunker will be from long range – and the only guys capable are Kranjcar, Rebic, or Perisic.
Crosses to Mandzukic, Olic will be useless.
Iceland wins 3-0
I’m fired up for this match. I’m going to Veslo to watch it.
I think we will etch out a hard fought victory.
Za Dom!
any links to the game guys?
Knock on wood
Look at the pics from the u21 game in Pula:
http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/nogomet/reprezentacije/vazna-pobjeda-mladih-hrvatska-u-pulskoj-kaljuzi-ucvrstila-prvo-mjesto—311855.html
are the conditions this bad in Zagreb??
We gonna win.
Armada87 I am stuck at work with a finanical firm no less as well. Will have a pint at Olivers!
I would love to see corluka as rb again. Just saying. He did a good job joining the attack and it would take a lot of pressure off of srna coming back. But srna isn’t what he used to be either so idk. We got this. 2:0
OMG!!!! I’m so nervous!!!!
@ Elvis, Allen and whoever else is in Astoria today
First off, I hate all of you. Second, Financial Services firms don’t understand the urgency of taking off a day for the 2nd leg of Hrvatska v. Island, therefore I will sitting here at my desk watching a stream from “sunny Midtown Manhattan”.
If I were at Veslo, I’d buy all you bums a Karlovacko or two 😉
I dont know whats worst, our recent form in qualifying or the fact that all those guys ONLY drank about 70 beers! either way im embarrassed! I dont see what the big deal is anyway, they were out drinking after their game .. and? At least they werent drinking before the game (although if they did im sure they wouldve scored a few goals, for as we all know, us croats do work better with a few in us!!)
anyway with kovacic replacing illicevic, our passing will be that much better and perhaps we can work our way thru the middle a little better then we did in the last game. speedy gonzalez Olic replacing eduardo is kind of a wash. Both were terribly out of position last game. I hope hes in better position today.
im assuming nothing else changes. So is this the lineup today?
Mandzukic, olic, perisic, rakitic, modric, kovacic, pranjic, 3 card Joe, corluka, and srna ??
and can someone explain to me how and why 3 card joe is a better option at CB then lovren?!? i know some of you guys love 3 card joe, but with lovrens form at southhampton it shouldnt even be in question as to why he should be in there!
we’ll be off to brazil in a few hours gentlemen so crack open a cold one! (unless your in cro, then crack open a warm one) for we will prevail today! 2-0
Let’s win, eat our asses off on Thanksgiving (not hard for some of us to do), have fun watching the World Cup draw (maybe we will get the USA), give each other huge Christmas gifts and end the year drinking like a bunch of Vida’s.
Aaaaajjjjjjjmmmmmoooooooooooo!
When you hear the sound of ISLAND,
Don’t you get too scared.
Just grab your KARLOVACKO
And say these magic words:
“Fuck you, ISLAND!
You can suck my dick!
You can’t get me ISLAND
‘Cause you’re a bunch of homos!”
your first line can be said about all males in regards to females…….MUST ACHIEVE FORCEFUL PENETRATION
CROATIA MUST ACHIEVE FORCEFUL PENETRATION OF THE ISLANDIC DEFENSE.
We cannot rely out outside crosses, Island will pack so many players in the box, it will be impossible to win anything in the air.
WE MUST DIVIDE THE ISLANDERS AND PENETRATE THEM THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD WITH INTRICATE COMBINATIONS AND SAVVY PLAY. ONCE WE SPLIT THEM OPEN, PENETRATION WILL BE EAST AND WE WILL IMPREGNATE THEIR GOAL WITH MANY BALLS.
@TBone
thanks for the link. first 3 goals in that game came from srna swinging in crosses from the right. damn….he hasnt been doing much of that lately. if he could swing in a free kick or two like that today, i like our chances
Armada I am In Astoria if we win I will buy you a beer tonight!!!
Miss Bum Bum I am coming for you!!!!!
Ya Gotta Believe!!!!!!
In all likelihood this will be a nerve racking game right to the end. We really could’ve used an away goal. Even a 1-0 lead is precarious. Nail-biter ala Turkey 2008.
@ Ziva
I know you are getting nervous my friend.
Exhale.
Clap your hands because it is go time.
Today we break through to a new era for Hrvatski nogometni!
3-0.
CSR will grow and grow because Croatian sports will grow and grow.
Last time Iceland played in Zagreb they were thrashed 4-0. Who scored a brace in that game? Niko Kovac.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXyilVSiixQ
Can’t wait to see the coverage from of this game from our guys in Zagreb. It’s amazing that we have someone on the field for our little site. That’s the biggest thing to happen to this site since I came aboard 😉
c’mon ziva. the boys running the site want to hit up brazil for some partying and nogomet. dont deny them that chance!!
Ziva,
This site has never covered Croatia at the World Cup. ‘Nuff said.
2 – 0 or 3 – 0 for Cro.
@Armada…….good point……We can classify that as short term success for long term gain.
Anyone hear anything about tickets. Last I heard they were hoping that stadium would be about two-thirds full (low 20K)
@jm
People like to crap on Simunic but he has been one of our best players for this qualifying campaign. He made a crucial save for us against Iceland on the goal line. I am more concerned with the midfield feeding the forwards.
Lovren is a good player and will get his chance soon enough.
ahhh moj Ziva…
It would make sense for us to advance. Granted, if we shit the bed, I’m sure the site would be bombarded with traffic for a day, maybe two – but after today’s game, when would the site see a substantial amount of traffic? Probably a Euro 2016 qualifier that’s a year or so away. People aren’t going to get excited about a NT vs. HNL All Star friendly or Croatia vs. Malta/Latvia/Sweden/Norway/Slovenia/etc, friendly.
At least if we make it, you know this site will be buzzing (lots of hits) come WC, where you’ll not only have the regular CSR faithful, but I’m sure outsiders who google ‘Croatian soccer’ and this site pops up in the results…
it’s been interesting that there has been very little buzz of simunic replacing lovren who has been awesome this season in the premier league . i would tend to prefer lovren against most teams, but against a team that lacks real offensive firepower, perhaps simunic is the right call to remain disciplined and not make any crazy undiscplined plays
This from the internet.
Poznat je sastav kojeg će Niko Kovač večeras poslati na teren protiv Islanda. U odnosu na prvu utakmicu iz početne postave su ispali Ivo Iličević i Eduardo da Silva koje će zamijeniti Mateo Kovačić i Ivica Olić. Formacija ostaje ista.
Sastav Hrvatske za Island:
Pletikosa – Srna, Ćorluka, Šimunić, Pranjić – Modrić, Rakitić – Olić, Kovačić, Perišić – Mandžukić
I was thinking, if we win today all is great. But, I’m concerned for the guys who run this website. Usually more hits to the website come when we lose and play bad. People are frustrated and use this as a forum to vent. So, it may make more sense for us to not advance in order for the boys to keep making some money from this site (or stay above water) and attract sponsors.
u21s up 3-0 and we don’t even have several of our best u21 players out there (Kovacic, Rebic, Vrsaljko)!
I would put Lovren at CB and Corluka RB with Srna Right Midfield- at least if he can get behind the defence he can put a cross in, unlike Olic on the right.
I would also concetrate on getting better service to Mandzo with a support player much closer to him than last game to feed of his possession. No point just hoofing it up to him and leaving him on his own. Classic example was his lay off to Perisic. That was our best chance- need more of that.
Ajmo momci!!
At least the day has started out positive. Our U21’s are up on Latvia 2-0. (Jedvaj 4′ Brozovic 8′)
http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2015/matches/live/index.html?day=27&session=1&match=2011473
@ Elmo
I think they would respond better to Seka Aleksic, Lepa Brena, Ceca, etc.
u21 boys are already up 2-0 in like the 10′:
http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2015/matches/live/index.html?day=27&session=1&match=2011473
I can’t find a video stream so that’s the best link I can offer
@jm……..basketball player practice free throws because they shoot free throws all the time in basketball games. For anyone who has played soccer, taking PKs in practice are meaningless. You can’t simulate the pressure of a PK series. I’ve watched guys who cant miss in practice choke when it matters and on the oppostie end I’ve watched guys who i think would choke come through with their PKs. Now, what I know the staff has done is gievn Pletikosa a DVD of all the PKs that have been taken by every player on that Iceland roster, be it for club or country, in the last 3 years. Plus, they have a chart printed out that is with the GK coach and he will let Pletikosa know by hand signals where the player usually goes.
@elmo……….turbo serbo music would work in our locker room more. Just ask Rakitic, Olic, Srna, etc….
PLAY THOMPSON IN THE LOCKER ROOM. IT WORKED FOR BILIC.
you tube channel link (outside USA only):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EmCgcOIncM
Flash link for the game:
http://sportska-tv.net/kiwi-30/
and obviously ESPN3.com here in the states, and the Youtube channel outside of the states
Veetle link for the game (I think Veetle may work on iPhone/iPad/iPod):
http://sportska-tv-wizi.blogspot.de/p/simulcastveetle.html
I’m usually optimistic for our games; I thought we were gonna blow out Iceland in Iceland. Not getting my hopes up for this one…
1-0 Iceland on a fluky early goal and we won’t break their bunker.
Next game to look forward to? HNL All Stars vs. NT.
VATRENI for 90+ today!
@ bjorn
We brought little natural width by
I guess that report of boozing was filed by TMZ Iceland.
Who cares, hope our boys do their talking on the pitch today and show up, play a full 90 mins. and book a ticket to Brazil.
Btw, was it just me, or did the pitch in Iceland look smaller than Maksimir? Easier to defend/bunker if the field is a smaller size, no?
1) Biggest game for cro since australia 2006: no game has held as much do or die pressure and with cro going in with a disadvantage (no away goal)
2) penalty kick practice: i disagree wtih ziva. i think these should be practice even if you can’t replicate the pressure. basketball players practice free throws don’t they?
3) 1-0 croatia. perisic
Agreed. Our boys may also end up playing a more aggressive game given the beergate news story which came out of Reykjavik. We need to be careful Big Joe and team don’t end up conceding a soft penalty in the process however – that may all be part of Iceland’s strategy here.
@ nije bitno. i hope so too. good point about aggresiveness. some of the guys would definitely have been holding back in certain situations. let’s hope that extra bit of energy on defense (and lack of fear for picking up a yellow) might lead to a counter-attack that leads to a goal.
Joe – I hope your right brate
against iceland at home, we should be able to dominate possession, as we did in the first leg. therefore, why not go with 3 at the back. seems like a waste of defenders when iceland wont get many shots on net. we have 90 (possibly 120) minutes to break the bunker and need some speed and creativity up front to do that. passing at the back between simunic and corluka aint going to do that. i hope kovac comes out with an attacking mindset.
no need to soak up pressure this game….time to put the pressure on them from the onset. we need 2 goals to be truly comfortable so i hope kovac pushes for them both in the first half.
and for god’s sake, attack right at their D and stop trying to swerve in crosses from the wings. that hasnt worked for a while now. lets see modric, kovacic, rakitic etc dribble at this d and put some through balls in.
prediction: 3-1 for the good guys (rakitic, srna, eduardo)
Imagine if instead of Croatians demanding INDEPENDENCE, they insisted on being FORCE integrated onto the Serbian people because of past Serbian subjugation, and demanded affirmative action and other special rights and privileges from the Serbs because of past subjugation, and wore Serbian costumes and bragged about being “the first Croat” to do this and that that Serbians had naturally already done? Who in their right mind would have any ounce of respect for the Croatian people, whose only asset would be Serbian guilt? Who would respect such a people with such a slavish composition?
I expect a more aggressive game from our players today. A bunch of them have yellow cards and were probably not playing as aggressive last Friday so that hey can play today.
Who cares about iceland
they were not the first country to recognise croatia
Slovenia was , does that mean we have to bend over for them too
Fuck me even ukraine , latvia and luthuania did so before iceland
Too much propoganda here
The mind games being played here are sad. This drinking story looks to be a sign of desperation after Iceland had a golden opportunity at home in the first leg to beat us, but they blew any chance of that after the red card and they will be all too aware of that.
I’ll still like Iceland as a country and for what they did in recognising Croatia, but this time their media has failed them.
canada guys, or maybe just BC guys, game is on sportsnet one
channel 159 on shaw
well i have 30 standard drinks per night when im drinking so between the lot of them, as hrvati, 70 beers aint much
only disappointing thing is they didnt have more
only 15 thousand tickets sold. Game should be in Split or Osijek,
————————–Mandzukic—————————————
———Olic————-N.Kranjcar————–The God of Halilovic
Rakitic——————– Modric ———————Darijo Srna——
——-Corluka———- D.Lovren ——Vrsaljko————————
———————– Stipe Pletikosa ———————————–
we need to show more “heart” than Iceland, right????
Time to experiment so more!
——————–Mandzukic——————-
————-Kranjcar(Kovacic)—————–
—Rebic—Rakitic—Modric—Vrsaljko——
-Pranjic—Schifo/Joe—Corluka—–Srna–
———————Plete————————
– Perisic needs to be benched. Let Rebic start on that left side. His laznjak followed up with the outside shot would probably hit the target a few times.
– Olic won’t be as useful against a team that will bunker. If we score and Iceland opens up, subbing in Olic on the left side would be very useful and would cause problems for Iceland at that point.
– Start Kranjcar as second striker and hope he puts some nice bombs on goal from outside the box (since noone else wants to do this). If he runs out of gas at the 60 minute mark (as per usual), put in Kovacic as the trequartista (or shift it around with Raktic or Modric).
– We seemed to have tried everyone on the right side except for our most in-form right-sided player in Vrsaljko. Start him. He can’t be worse than Ilicevic or Olic on that right side.
Will Kovac play this? Probably not. Is this a winning formula? I dunno. At this point, I don’t care how we do it. We need some energy out there and a friggin’ win. Our younger guys look hungry. Let them eat.
All of our coaches are a bunch of morans.
For god sakes hire a german/italian coach.
This team is built for a 5 man mid.
A five man mid relives pressure off Modric.
To beat Island we need players that can take guys 1 on 1 and players that can actually cross a ball (cough cough here’s looking at you Ivan Perisic).
For Island however we can play a 4-4-2 with players put in the right positions
Formation and players that can beat guys one on one and can produce are as follows.
Corluka Simunic Lovern Pranjic
Srna Modric Rakatic Perisic
Kovacic
Mandzukic
Play this line up and we smash them.
.
Sounds like quite the crew. Srna fell on the floor and flopped after three beers. Kranjcar demanded a late night trip to McDonalds. Vida brought two beers on the cab ride home with Corluka who brought two dirty skanks with him.
Jelavic was trying to convince everyone he’s still relevant, while Mandzukic was thinking about another questionable tattoo. Kovacic pulled an Allen Outraged and used his perfect fake i.d. Eduardo was hiring a bounty hunter to find Martin Taylor.
True facts right there folks.
To all the New Yorkers on the site, I’ll be wearing a Corluka jersey tomorrow. Hope to run into some of you great people.
And what are 3 strikers going to do up there when they don’t have the ball? Pick the fuck’n nose?
Iceland must have a Serb journalist on staff with the looks of that propaganda. No one is better at propaganda than a Serb. Although a Croatian communist would give him a run for his money.
rather than playing for 5 midfielder and use 3 defense, we should play 3 strikers and 3 midfielder instead !!
modric so skillfull in the middle .. and go to speedy wing
-> I am prefer for kovacic and Rakitic . meanwhile Ilicevic speedily too ^^ >> but THe God of Halilovic so intense
I feel like we will lose tommorow i dont know why i justvsee 2-2 or 1-1 iceland scoring late. Hope im wrong. If we do fall i hope Kovac starts fresh for 2016 and calls a new croatia nothibg he can do in 5 trainings. What ever happpens happens but its sad that these players think so highly of themselves my team. Pletikosa- srna simunic carli vrsaljko -males-kovacic modric-rebic mandzukic perisic.
True or not…they reported it. Front page material. Kinda sad. Hopefully Iceland plays as bad as their journalists….
And the artwork is nice 🙂
(ehhh who I am kidding…I wrote the piece earlier but wasn’t updated)
see you all in the morning!
Ante- they already cleared this up and said it wasn’t true!