Written By Andrew R.
Hajduk vs PAOK (0:0)
Hajduk and PAOK took to the pitch Thursday night at Poljud in the 1st leg of their Conference League 3rd qualifying round affair. With tensions high both on and off the field with Croatians and Greeks this week, Hajduk looked like they were ready to put on a show in front front of their fans in Split. While the work and performance on the pitch was good from Hajduk, they just could not find the back of the net. Despite dominating in nearly all stats, including 15 shots from Hajduk compared to six for PAOK, a goal was not scored. Hajduk also rung two shots off the post. While Hajduk are not out of this leg yet, their inability to find that goal at home makes next week’s task all the more difficult. With tough draws for Osijek and Rijeka, many feel the pressure is on Hajduk’s shoulders to be that second team to qualify for Europe alongside Dinamo. If Hajduk can keep the same performance they showed in Split, they are more than capable of making it out of the next round.
Rijeka vs B36 Torshavn (3:1)
Rijeka exit the week with a two-goal cushion after clashing with B36 Torshavn on the road in the Faroe Islands. After conceding first, Rijeka looked like they were sliding down a similar slope to that of Osijek. However, a penalty towards the end of the 1st half by Janković opened the scoring for Rijeka, and allowed them to build quickly. Bruno Goda also added his fourth goal this campaign on the night despite being a defender. All in all, despite the early hiccups from the Hannes Agnarsson goal, Rijeka were the best of three Croatian clubs on the night and showed their class on the road. If Rijeka can see this tie out and advance, they will be met with Lille from France, which could be the most daunting task for the club yet. Hopefully Rijeka will look to replicate their European home form again against Torshavn similar to the performance against Dukagjini in the round prior.
Osijek vs Adana Demirspor (1:5)
Osijek were by far the worst of the three Croatian clubs Thursday. From the opening whistle, the Bijelo-Plavi were behind the 8-ball. Letting a goal in just the third minute of play and conceding a second within 16 minutes; it completely turned Osijek off. Adana were ruthless offensively and the Osijek defense were certainly not up to the task, letting five goals in on the night. One of the few bright spots was a Gržan goal that gave Osijek a glimmer of hope, until Erdogan drilled home the fifth and final goal. If Osijek has any hope of seeing the beacon of European play, they will need a miracle and then some versus Adana. If Osijek can keep their home form, they could possibly make the second leg difficult for Adana. Tough task but let’s see what if Osijek can open the floodgates early next week at Opus.
Typical English media already anointing Bellingham as the next zidane.
It’s a win/win for us if he plays well and gives Luka much needed rest for the EURO and hopefully beyond.
Luka has obviously nothing left to prove and him being hungry and healthy at seasons end is what matters most.
Hrgovic with the win
Apparently he is due for a title shot
Good stuff
I don’t follow enough boxing to decipher the seemingly infinite titles
I’m sure savage babic wants a piece of Filip bad
I’m never a fan of cro on cro violence but babic is one entertaining cat
The savage has the heart of a 🦁 and he’s a very charismatic guy who the English media eat up.
His last fight he finally got exposed in the first round and it was bound to happen with his bar room style of brawling.
Apparently he’s been battling depression issues as well lately…I doubt he will ever get close to even fighting for the title but he’s a hard guy to root against.
Him going up against hrgovic would be entertaining with no love lost between the 2 but Filip seems to be ducking the savage,and that fight will probably never occur either.
So Bellingham has gone off to a hot start at Real Madrid, garnering lots of praise.
Ancelotti is going with the youngsters this season.
Although I always know this day would come, I kinda feel sad that Modric is not one of the key players at Real. Feels like the beginning of the end for him at Real…
And what does this mean for our beloved Vatreni going into EURO?
Oh relax. It’s one game in a long season and they have an embarrassment of riches in midfield. And yes, this contract is the beginning of the end. Not a secret. He came in late and looked good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZcK0LC3c0E
Because it is the start of the end. We saw that last season. But, that is a good thing. If we want Modric at his best for Euros, then I hope he plays less minutes this season. He will play a big role still for Real this season, butt hat will be off the bench or a start every so often
Jakov medic scored for Ajax
I mentioned him a couple weeks ago with the signing but no one saw it I think
He is Dario simic nephew
Anyways im sure he’s been talked about before
But is this kids the goods or what
It’s saying he is cb or dm
He’s 24 but probably a good career move
And maybe he can be a good depth guy or maybe more…?
What a great start for Medic. I think he’s either a bit unlucky (not recognized for his talent earlier in his career) or something of a late bloomer, and most of us have probably not seen him play before. Wouldn’t it be cool if Sutalo and him can form the stopper pair at Ajax…
I didn’t realize Musa scored again in Portugal. In limited minutes. We need to see more of this guy for the NT. Must play in the qualifying games.
Dalić will send Musa to a Greek prison before seeing him play over AEK alumni Livaja.
Is the Livaković deal still in the air??
Courtois apparently ruined his knee and gone for the whole year
They are talking on Madrid forums liva is the most cost effective and best keeper available
What in the actual shit…. Could you guys imagine he goes to Madrid??
What an amazing turn of events if that actually played out
Real Madrid is not going to sign him. He isn’t quality enough for a club like Real. Livakovic is a GK who can play at middle club in Spain, Germany , Italy. That is not meant as a knock on him. Top clubs like to play our of the back. He is not able to play that way.
Šutalo to Ajax, Ivanušec to Feyenoord
https://nltimes.nl/2023/08/09/ajax-dinamo-zagreb-reportedly-reach-agreement-transfer-josip-sutalo
I think they could have gone to better leagues.
But they’re going to continue to start at their clubs, so that’s good.
Looking and some comments and scratching my head.
Hajduk could have easily and justifiably been up 4 or 5 goals by the 60th minute. They hit 2 posts and were very lethal, but couldn’t buy a goal!
This “NEW” Hajduk might be for real…and I’m not joking. They have the mentality to win and they’re doing it in a nice fashion.
Pukstas is injured and could be out for up to 2 months…regardless of him, guys like Mlakar have to do much better, Krovinovic is a damn pedestrian…playing the ball backwards and never being relevant in big games.
I’m a Dinamo fan in the HNL but I like this Hajduk! They’re playing a good brand of futbal and it’s nice to watch! I really do hope they fuck the Greeks in Greece…hey deserved better today!
I’m not a Hajduk fan. All of Dalmacija can catch on fire and I wouldn’t piss on it. There is a reason Istra is nicer. But, I am impressed how they played. Have to give credit to Leko.
Anyone know what happend to their American MF?
Say it louder for the tovari in the back. 😆
Try telling me now that there is no division between the North and South??
There is division. No doubt. The coast feeds the rest of the country. Take away tourism and what do we have. Slavonia is dead. People leaving for a better living. ZG is ZG.
Just stay out of Istra. We want it clean
Do you even live on Istra??
In***
I don’t know how any normal individual cannot be disgusted with such a comment Davor. I almost didn’t want to respond and say such comments as I am going to. This is only because so many of the players on either of these teams have careers as players and aspire to do well, teams clubs look do the same as well. This also because, like every other Croatian I want to see the National Team win. The success of any team be it Hajduk, Dinamo, Rijeka, Osijek or whomever helps to develop further success for the National Team and rival clubs as well. Which many people on this site, including myself understand.
Despite all of this, if the HNL only helps to harbour resentment between Croatians and gives rise to these stupid comments then maybe all we deserve is to see these club teams fail in the end (that includes Dinamo). Why would we deserve to see this success if we see eachother as being less then human or hold little to no self worth?
This is kind of puzzling to me because remember there being song that was song where Dinamo and Hajduk saw eachother as brothers once upon a time. Whatever happened to that sentiment??
What did you expect from CosPlay Italians?
That was during the war. I don’t root for any club outside of Dinamo. You think I care if hajduk wins or loses in Greece? I don’t. I wish Dinamo had the support that hajduk fans bring for their club, but you cant have everything in life.
Looks like somebody pissed on Davor’s truffles today
Calls us taljanci but don’t you fucking dare mess with our tartufi 😜😂
Šibenik produces tartufi now.
You guys lost Lidia, Andretti, and now the tartufi are next.
You unproductive football producing Istrijanci are done.
🙂
We honestly can’t produce footballing talent if our lives depended on it… 😂
Why Istra and Kvarner regions don’t produce good nogometasi is beyond me..
Osijek are getting dismantles 5-1
Rijeka should move onto the next round
Hajduk are currently even
Yeah saw that. Osijek got smoked. Speaking of smoking, Zrinjski cruised to a 4 goal victory in the Europa. Lead 5-0 at the break
Any solid cro prospects currently on the team?
Zrinjski you mean danny?
If so, Zrinjski is a veteran-laden team so don’t think so.
Yes… unfortunate. Still good for them
Not to be a Debbie downer but this will be a rinse and repeat year where only Dinamo is playing Euro football come the spring. I don’t see Rijeka, Osijek or Hajduk making GS.
Agreed. Dinamo is already guaranteed Europe in Conference League if they lose out. The other 3 all got shit draws. Jebiga.
I’m looking forward to these games…too bad they overlap.
Good luck to all our teams! I think your odds are pretty accurate. If Rijeka and Osijek make it to the next round (I think they will), they both have a tough opponent next. For Hajduk, its opposite. Their more difficult games are in this round. If they make it to the next round, they have a very good chance to qualify.