Hajduk Split limped to victory against Bulgarian side Slavia Sofia Thursday evening.
The Croatians were favored in the match, but finished the match with the minimum requirement for victory.
The Ghana-born Italian international, Said Ahmed Said scored the game’s lone goal in the 79th minute.
Sofia finished the match with 10 men after Alexandar Alexadrov was shown his second yellow card ate in the match, but it made no difference to the final score, which finished 1-0.
Rangers FC fared no better than Hajduk in their match against Osijek in the Garden City Thursday evening. They too squeezed out a minimum win of 1-0 thanks to the goal from Alfredo Morelos.
Both return legs will take place on Thursday, August 2.
@maminjo. Uruguay won in 1950 in Brazil in front of 199000 people. There were 13 teams. I know someone who was there and still very much alive. I wish you meet him and talk to him. They still talk about it.
We need a better Goalkeeper. Looking for the best one like Wakabayashi to win all cups!
Even FIFA will desperate to help the opponents to score a goal via penalty controversion and It won’t give a damage to us!
VAR and Line technology will be more in our side!
– Just one Best Goalkeeper –
thats ridiculous maminjo. it is what is is. history stands
I like Uruguay, but I don’t recognize either of their World Cups.
I also don’t recognize Italy’s first two World Cups, nor do I recognize that shit show of a World Cup that England won in ’66.
IMO, there are only six teams that won a legitimate World Cup and those are Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Argentina and Spain.
Weren’t there only like 3 or 4 countries even entered in the 1930s and 50s etc? It’s not like now where 211 attempt to qualify. Out of 211, we came second. I’d say that’s not too shabby 😉
Not sure how to tell you how to edit vids Crnkovic but you should definitely give it a go cos the more the merrier. There were hardly any Hrvatska nogomet tribute vids on YouTube prior to this WC (im guessing there will be a lot more now tho!). I’m sure there are plenty of tutorial vids on YouTubbies itself for programs like Sony Vegas and Corel Video Studio amongst others.
@maminjo. Uruguay won in 1950 as well.
I think we’ll still have a strong team for euro 2020 IF we still have Dalic or the equivalent.
We have the talent and still will …the players will probably feel so good playing together again as if they are reliving the world cup moments (good team spirit) and they will have a new swagger about them.
Take in the new era of Croatian football boys and girls …in a sense that we’re not the same ‘underdog’ team anymore in the eyes of the world … every world class team now knows that playing Croatia is no walkover.
crnkovic im not sure if your capable of making youtube vidoes you cant even use proper sentences with simple commas and periods iggy even stated he wont read your comments anymore because they are somewhat unreadable i myself read your comments only when i feel like i am up for a mental challenge anyways crnkovic good luck with those youtube vidoes let us know when they are done i look forward to see what you come up with
LOL @Foreign Zagreb comparing us to the 1950s Hungary team.
The World Cup was a JOKE prior to 1970.
Teams used to decline invitations to participate, and there were no group stages in the earlier iterations.
Uruguay won the first world cup, which had no qualifications (just invites) and almost all European nations declined.
Then, in turn, Uruguay refused to accept the invite for the next World Cup (even though they were the defending Champs… If you could really call them that).
There were only like 30 teams in the world, and almost all of them sucked ASS. Then depending on how they were feeling that day, they would or would not participate.
Today’s World Cup is a different beast.
Any country that can make a Finals appearance is LEGIT.
http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/24227164/nikolai-volkoff-wwe-hall-famer-dies-age-70
Sad.
Big 80’s wrestling fan growing up
I thought we blew a great chance in ’14 too. That path to the final seemed doable.
btw for all you basketball fans i decided to go off my usual track and checked out some videos of hezonja, zubac, bogdanovic and couple others. i was quite impressed. i’m not a basketball man but my younger brother played semi pro in england for a couple of years. for southampton. we used to watch NBA videos together back in the days of jordan, olajawon, barkley, pippen etc..i used to sometimes play with him and his friends but i used to get dunked on plenty..
btw for all you basketball fans i decided to go off my usual track and checked out some videos of hezonja, zubac, bogdanovic and couple others. i was quite impressed. i’m not a basketball man but my younger brother played semi pro in england for a couple of years. for southampton. we used to watch NBA videos together back in the days of jordan, olajawon, barkley, pippen etc..i used to sometimes play with him and his friends but i used to get dunked on plenty…
btw iggy how do you make youtube videos? i want to make an epic tribute to croatian football…
well done iggsy
Valid point by Iggy. How anyone can be negative or predict we are doom is foolish? Some of you are sounding like Ziva.
Why are you so determined to be negative? Comparing is to Hungary or Serbia is abject foolishness. Look at our qualifying record for major tourneys since 1996 and compare it with those teams (or any team).
WC98 – Third
Euro2008 – QF
Euro2016 – R16
WC2018 – Second
Just TWO years ago, when we lost to Portugal, there were plenty people on this site going “We blew it!! This was our chance, the draw opened up for us! We’ll never get a chance like this again!”
Heard it from plenty of people, that was TWO YEARS ago now now we made the final. Stop being such a negative nancy and look forward to Euro 2020 with optimism. We have a real chance to again do awesomely well. I know Hrvati tend to be pessimistic but you’re really going out of your way to do so in this instance. You have to make a conscious effort to be negative given this past 6 weeks!
Even if we dont I don’t think we will be making a World Cup Final anytime soon. Look at Hungary made two World Cup Finals and now since 1986 they havent qualified for a World Cup they only made Euro 2016. Some times our young players dont turn out any good like the Under 21 1999 generation. Serbia even missed many tournaments like World Cups and Euros now they finally made a World Cup first time in 8 years they missed out on Euro 2008 Euro 2012 and World Cup 2014.
We’re not going to miss anything. Euro is easier to get into than ever, and after Qatar WC they’re expanding it to more teams. We’ll never miss a tourney again.
RIP
Josip Nikolai Peruzović (October 14, 1947 – July 29, 2018),[3][4] better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, was a Croatian professional wrestler who was best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
I think that we could even miss a few tournaments World Cups or even Euros sort of like when the Netherlands made the World Cup final in 2010 then in 2014 they came third and then they missed Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 with a new generation. Also like Italy even Germany and Argentina will have to rebuild now. Its always changing even Chile.Spain is also going through player change Iniesta and Xavi no longer play for the national side.
So So sad. I never wanted him to leave us. Oliver was the greatest, please do a tribute article to him if you can.
Trag u beskraju
Sve bi dao da si tu
barem jedan tren da vičnost bude
da ti pratim trag u beskraju
sve bi dao da si tu
Croatian
1/32 Criatian! Lol… That doesn’t even count.
Part Croatian
http://ethnicelebs.com/claire-danes
Oliver Dragojević .. RIP.
Soul singer of Dalmacija.
Nadalina .. every family wedding.
World-Class.
Ziva was the one who spread a rumor that Dejan
Was a homosexual. I can’t seem to see any evidence ?
Oliver Dragojevic died today
Lovren’s new hairstyle hahah:
https://scontent.fbne3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37889913_262534391144176_1111272360628977664_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=3092533eddc36156a39c71f580c05f90&oe=5BD6EB17
Modric wasn’t the sole reason we finished second in this World Cup, and you don’t have to find a direct replacement for Modric (in terms of talent level) for the next one.
You just need to ensure that you maintain the system you play (which was the real reason we went far).
Why does every Croatian think that our National team needs to have superstars at every position to succeed?
People babble about the “LB problem” with Strinic (as if that is the reason why we cannot become winners) yet France just won the World Cup with two of the most inexperienced flank players in the World Cup in Hernandez and Pavard.
Pavard plays as a CB for Stuttgart in the 2.Bundesliga, and was thrown (out of position) into the starting RB role. Everyone thinks he’s fantastic because of the fluke goal he scored on Argentina (where he missed the ball completely and it clipped the side of his foot creating a nice looking backspin)…but defensively, every single winger blows right by him. Hernandez is not much better, and both players barely have any caps.
What’s most important is that you create a system that takes advantage of what your best players can provide to you.
France did this, and it didn’t really matter that they had inexperienced players in their ranks.
Look at our team in World Cup 2014.
We had PRIME Modric, PRIME Mandzukic, PRIME Rakitic, PRIME Srna, and PRIME Perisic…and we couldn’t get by a no-name Mexican squad.
Is 29 year-old Modric worse that 33 year-old Modric?
Or course not, but we didn’t take advantage of his game back then. Now we are.
We always have creative midfielders that can dominate possession, and we always play well on the counter against elite teams (hence our winning record against elite teams). We also always seem to have at least one or more great flank/wingers who are able to run amok on the flank (whether it is Jarni, Srna, Rapaic, Perisic, Rebic, Pjaca, etc).
Dalic took advantage of this, and all subsequent coaches need to just maintain this system as it is something that we have ALWAYS been able to do.
Teams like Italy and Germany can roll out good or bad teams, and still get incredible results. Italy had a garbage team in the last Euros and somehow beat Belgium and Spain and only lost to Germany in penalties (going all the way to the quarters). Germany has also done incredibly well with poor to mediocre teams. We slapped them around in Euro 2008, but they still went to the Finals. They also went to the finals in the World Cup 2002 with a brutal team. But, they play a system that maximizes their results, and this is the proof.
Will Krovinovic ever be a Modric. No.
But if in the next World Cup you have a central midfield pool of players like Rakitic, Brozovic, Kovacic, Krovinovic, Coric, Majer, Moro, Vlasic …and if most of them are in-form, then you have a good problem in having to choose three of them for your central midfield trio that you want to play.
Couple that with a few wingers from a pool that includes Pjaca, Rebic, Perisic, Vlasic, Halilovic, Brekalo…and can continue to do the same thing as we did in this last World Cup. Results will obviously vary (based on injuries, form, and luck of the draw) but with a bit of luck you can make a big run. It’s a shame we wasted World Cup 2010 and 2014, because we definitely had the players to do some serious damage. Oh well.
Modric wasn’t the sole reason we finished second in this World Cup, and you don’t have to find a direct replacement for Modric (in terms of talent level) for the next one.
You just need to ensure that you maintain the system you play (which was the real reason we went far).
Why does every Croatian think that our National team needs to have superstars at every position to succeed?
People babble about the “LB problem” with Strinic (as if that is the reason why we cannot become winners) yet France just won the World Cup with two of the most inexperienced flank players in the World Cup in Hernandez and Pavard.
Pavard plays as a CB for Stuttgart in the 2.Bundesliga, and was thrown (out of position) into the starting RB role. Everyone thinks he’s fantastic because of the fluke goal he scored on Argentina (where he missed the ball completely and it clipped the side of his foot creating a nice looking backspin)…but defensively, every single winger blows right by him. Hernandez is not much better, and both players barely have any caps.
What’s most important is that you create a system that takes advantage of what your best players can provide to you.
France did this, and it didn’t really matter that they had inexperienced players in their ranks.
Look at our team in World Cup 2014.
We had PRIME Modric, PRIME Mandzukic, PRIME Rakitic, PRIME Srna, and PRIME Perisic…and we couldn’t get by a no-name Mexican squad.
Is 29 year-old Modric worse that 33 year-old Modric?
Or course not, but we didn’t take advantage of his game back then. Now we are.
We always have creative midfielders that can dominate possession, and we always play well on the counter against elite teams (hence our winning record against elite teams). We also always seem to have at least one or more great flank/wingers who are able to run amok on the flank (whether it is Jarni, Srna, Rapaic, Perisic, Rebic, Pjaca, etc).
Dalic took advantage of this, and all subsequent coaches need to just maintain this system as it is something that we have ALWAYS been able to do.
Teams like Italy and Germany can roll out good or bad teams, and still get incredible results. Italy had a garbage team in the last Euros and somehow beat Belgium and Spain and only lost to Germany in penalties (going all the way to the quarters). Germany has also done incredibly well with poor to mediocre teams. We slapped them around in Euro 2008, but they still went to the Finals. They also went to the finals in the World Cup 2002 with a brutal team. But, they play a system that maximizes their results, and this is the proof.
Will Krovinovic ever be a Modric. No.
But if in the next World Cup you have a central midfield pool of players like Rakitic, Brozovic, Kovacic, Krovinovic, Coric, Majer, Moro, Vlasic …and if most of them are in-form, then you have a good problem in having to choose three of them for your central midfield trio that you want to play.
Couple that with a few wingers from a pool that includes Pjaca, Rebic, Perisic, Vlasic, Halilovic, Brekalo…and can continue to do the same thing as we did in this last World Cup. Results will obviously vary (based on injuries, form, and luck of the draw) but with a bit of luck you can make a big run. It’s a shame we wasted World Cup 2010 and 2014, because we definitely had the players to do some serious damage. Oh well. Gotta learn from these mistakes.
Tko jebe Nikola Kalinic after the World Cup. Krovinovic will never be a Modric replacement.
The Milan derby is going to feature quite a few of our guys, pending a few transfers. Advantage: Inter.
Inter: Perisic, EpicBrozo, Vrsaljko (pending)
Milan: Halilovic, Strinic, Badelj (pending), Nikolina Kalinic (pending to leave for Atletico)
It must be an awful time to be a Milan fan right now. Imagine not finishing better than 6th in your last 5 seasons, in Serie Freaking A, and hearing they are signing Halilovic, Strinic, and Badelj. How ambitious…
Have dinner with Dejan
https://www.croatiaweek.com/a-chance-to-have-dinner-with-croatian-defender-dejan-lovren/
Santini with the hat trick in his first game. Maybe in hindsight he should have been picked over Kalinic. But as they say hindsight is 20/20.
Ivan Santini scored 3 goals for Anderlecht against Kortrijk (1-4) in their first competition game. Especially Ivan’s third goal was amazing.
Yeah, Krovrinovic woulda made the World Cup squad if his knee hadn’t bummed out. It’s gonna take a lotta rehab and strength building to get back to his former self.
In his first game back in Belgium, looks like Santini has started off with a bang–by scoring a hat trick. He definitely needs to be called up for the League of Nations.
Speaking of Modric, this guy has a really good chance to win FIFA World Player of the Year and France Football’s Balon D’Or award (now it’s two separate awards after being combined ). For what Luka did for club and country, I think he deserves the award. It’ll prolly come down to Modric and Ronaldo.
Krovinović is training and got a standing ovation from the Benfica fans, but I don’t think he’s playing yet.
What a disaster for us if both Pjaca and Krovinović never come back at 100% from their knee injuries. Those two looked like our Perišić and Modrić replacements.
How is filip krovinovic doing with his injury?
I’d like to see Rebić evolve into a power #9.
He brings that physical presence with power and pace. He needs to fine tune his finishing skills like the beast that is MANdzukic.
Then we need to cultivate our next wave of attackers:
Kovačić
Halilovic
Vlašić
Brekalo
Coric
Pjaca
I want to see all these kids in UNL.
It should be an under 30 team.
Instead of playing at Estonia and getting your knee blown out, we get to play against Spain and England home and away.
That benefits Croatia big time.
Spain and England are stacked with young talent and it will be a great test for our boys.
They need a healthy national team experience to compliment there budding big time club careers.
The jury is still out on the new generation coming through Coric Kovacic Halilovic Brekalo Balic.
I dont think we will have a player like Modric again he maybe the best ever Croatian player even Prosinecki said it. He gives it his all for Croatia plays with heart the jury is still out on Coric Halilovic Kovacic Balic and Brekalo.
We don’t need Modrić if we continue to play this style where we take full advantage of our creative central midfield, and our fast and physical wingers.
Four years ago, people were like “WTF” when Brozović was a late sub in the 2014 match against Brazil. Four years later, he’s an indispensable starter for us.
Four years is a long time. We just need one central midfielder player to develop and become a starter for us. It’s Kovačić’s job to lose, but you never know with these young guys.
@Iggy – agreed re Modric but some guys change their game based on injury, age etc. I’m not sure how Modric would play/what type of style, if he doesn’t have the legs.
R9 had knee problems so instead of running by everyone from half he did it from half of half and gradually received the ball closer to goal (like CR7) since leaving Man U.
Good points on Pirlo. He wasn’t a big runner. It also depends on your strengths and position you play on top of what was mentioned earlier.
Which other midfielders contributed to their national teams well into their 30’s aside from Pirlo? Serious question here I am asking.
There would be no point for Modric to be playing at World Cup 2022 he would be 36 years of age.
Modric runs shitloads more than most so he won’t last that long.
He’ll be good for Euro2020 but that’ll be it.
Flawless flow!
How dare some sweat messes that up.
Gotta kill this moderation
Hajduk only prevails once they get rid of the corruption in their ranks (both within the club and the Torcida fan group) and when they start producing national team players instead of hindering our youth.
Haha good comment poglavnik. And very true. Pirlo never ran
Good player though are you saying going by his hair do he didnt work as hard that sounds very fishy dude.
Pirlo didn’t seem to exert half the energy Modric does.
Just look at their hairdo’s after 90 minutes.
Both Hajduk and Osijek will most likely be eliminated as usual until some money is invested into the two clubs they wont be able to compete. Pirlo played till he was 36 for Italy so Modric could still play at least till 35. It was more the Croatian players than Dalic taking the credit even Mamic is taking the credit for the World Cup success due to many being former Dinamo Zagreb players Modric Mandzukic Vrsaljko Lovren Vida Kovacic Corluka Pivaric
So I don’t really get to watch much of the HNL teams, but I really enjoy trying to keep track of some of the younger players’ careers so I know what to expect when they come into the national team setup. I know about the more popular/hyped players, but who are the more under the radar “gems” playing in the HNL? The ones who most of the world don’t know about. A couple of examples I can think of are David Colina, Franko Kovacevic, Michele Sego, and Antonio Marin.
Hajduk only prevails once they get rid of the corruption in their ranks that (for some reason) hinders the development of our youth and cannot produce National Team players