Almost a third of the way through the season, LASK’s Marin Ljubičić continues to prove his nose for goal as he bags two in today’s match versus Austria Klagenfurt. This puts his tally to nine goals and two assists in 10 league matches, as well as the four he scored in his two Austrian cup appearances. Ljubičić has recorded a goal contribution every 51 minutes this season, an absolutely astonishing feat. Keep in mind, he’s also missed four big chances this season, so he could definitely be scoring more, which is proof of his incredible ability to find open areas of the pitch.
Now, with no solidified striking option, Croatians around the globe have been debating over who to start, or even who to bring on the flight to Qatar. Although it may be a longshot, it’s worth noting Ljubičić’s incredible output in a decent European league. Keep in mind, he’s doing this on a team like LASK, who is no Redbull Salzburg. For comparison, Salzburg’s “wonderkid” and Slovenian international Benjamin Šeško has only recorded three goals in the Austria Bundesliga, despite receiving the best service and support in the league.
In my opinion, Ljubičić has proven himself a hopeful prospect and potential successor to some great strikers Croatia has fielded in the past. However, the World Cup is just a month away and throwing Ljubičić in with no preparation or chemistry with the national squad is a huge mistake. His time will come, but it is too soon for a young and still developing player to be expected to carry the weight of an entire (and very passionate) nation in the biggest sporting event the world has ever seen, with a lack of preparation. His poor play back at Hajduk reflects that he’s still not accustomed to heavy pressure and high expectation football.
Marin Ljubičić is a top talent, and Croatia’s most in-form striker (alongside Antonio Čolak). Do YOU believe he should be on the plane to Qatar in T-minus 36 days?
Of course he needs to be in the squad. What’s with Croatia and not playing young talent. Especially in a position of need.
It’s important to note that this was a big win for LASK against Klagenfurt (who were right below LASK in the standings and were trying to overtake them with a win).
LASK were winless in their past five games and were about to fall out of their top-3 standing, then Ljubicic has a two-goal game at the right time.
Good to know that Maminjo!
managingmadrid.com:
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Luka Modric—8: His class was sprinkled throughout the game. Be it a little back-heel to beat two players or deft body feint to bewilder Lewandowski and create space.
@gvbh. That is perfectly said. Incredible this mofo of ours.
Now its just stay healthy for one more month i have a feeling some key player will be out then we are fucked
Most major domestic competitions in Europe will stop on the weekend
11 – 13th November. This means, if we exclude this weekend, it is another four matches in domestic leagues plus two matches in UEFA club competitions for most of our key players. Let’s hope that no one gets injured from the 26 players that Dalic has penciled in, but you would have to say that the odds are that someone will get injured. If that is the case we can only hope and pray that it is not one of our key players like Modric, Perisic, Kovacic, Gvardiol. Brozovic has been out for three weeks now and there is doubt about his fitness and form heading into the WC so we cannot afford to lose anyone else.
Brozovic getting back to full health is critical.
It was fun to nitpick on here about who our backup defenders should be, and if one third string goalkeeper should make it over the other…
…but shit gets scary when your second or third best player in Brozovic is injured.
I think if Grbic olays now he should go instead of Kalinic i think Livi is dalics number one at qatar
Why was he subbed in last game? Oblak injured again?
Oh concussion.
There’s also been a lot of transfer talk of Oblak leaving after the season.
Grbic just got himself another opportunity here.
He wont called up to A team maybe if he continues euroqs dalic wil stick with this group imo.
Krama Livaja Petko Budimir are his choices
Musa scored in 3rd round of Portuguese Cup against some third level side. Match ended 1-1 and his team went through on penalties. He wasn’t involved in the shootout.
A nice bit of footwork to beat 2 defenders before placing a low shot from outside the box.
Best video of the goal (that I have seen) can only be played via the official Benfica website. Click “Continue reading” then scroll to the video right above the 53rd minute commentary:
https://www.slbenfica.pt/en-us/agora/noticias/2022/10/15/futebol-direto-caldas-benfica-3-eliminatoria-taca-de-portugal
He also missed a few big chances according to sofascore.
Prior to the next World Cup, we’re going to have to move away from this Krama, Budimir, Livaja group and hopefully begin integrating Musa, Ljubicic, and Simic soon.
https://streamable.com/hwa8nk
It was a nice burst of speed to create some separation followed by a perfectly placed shot.
Cherry 🍒 picking goals from hi lites can give people a skewed perception of a players talents. YET that musa goal Displayed a lot of key traits you look for in a striker.
Control,dribbling,explosiveness and a great shot to finish it all off!
Excellent goal
Danny j asked about ljubicic goals. He is scoring all types. He is a good poacher but he has also scored 2 or 3 fantastic strikes. His link up play is clean and quick and he has good pace and dribbling ability. He looks the real deal. I’d take him. Was just talking to my friend now who is a big football fan, was a great player too. he doesnt follow Croatia so I was explaining our striker conundrum to him, he said “it’s got to be between the big lazy guy, and the young guy in austria”. Because IF petkovic or ljubicic can have a golden month the ceiling is higher than for the other options. I agree. Those two can make life difficult for the opposition, in a way the others dont. Kramaric is too easy to defend, budimir the same. Just not enough threat.
Glad to see Ljubicic lighting in up.
Although each spot is important for the WC, moving to 26 players allows you to bring a young up and comer. I do think over time Simic will be one of our best young strikers when it’s said and done. I watched him play his limited minutes in the U21 Euro playoffs vs against Denmark.
I forgot to mention that in that shootout, our first three shooters were all defenders. And all 3 buried their PKs as did Sucic. Marco Pasalic also played well and was dangerous throughout that second game….others like Matanovic, Vidovic, Biuk could pan out too.
We have some really good young up and coming talent. Would love to see one or even two (one midfielder, 1 attacker) taken for experience. Vida or Barisic could easily make way although it will never happen.
I really can’t see that happening in particular we are still discussing whether colak gets a call up
If I’m dalic, I would reach out to ljubicic, simic, Vidovic and whoever else might be on the young striker list and tell them he’s going to save one spot for whoever preforms the best (out of that group) , leading up to the World Cup…keep them engaged, be open with them, and let them feel like they have a chance to win a spot on the World Cup roster! That 26th man should always go to a future prospect anyway, and we have the least firepower upfront as well!
You don’t just take a prospect when you need to win. Every spot on the team has to be the best choice at that time.
I hear ya, but who would you rather have, budimir or the hottest young striker talent croatia has going?
Good point Niko!
I have to agree with Slavonac here. Prospects you keep an eye on they don’t necessarily get the call up per se, but Ljubicic should have had the the opportunity with the under 21 not sure why he wasn’t called up there.
But yes, I also do not favour Budimir either.
Although I must say that is scoring quite a few goals. Correct me if I am wrong Sucic had 10 goals last season or was it more?
I think sucic Is gonna been on the team regardless, and he should be
Sucic is a direct player and he is always advancing the play, Baturina is similar and I hope both keep developing! I really like Sucic, he has a fighters mentality with a lot of skill and a smoking good shot!
Sucic is better – has more fire power and with left foot or right foot- not a lot of people on Croatian Sports realize that this is a strength of HNS training to be equal in power left and right foot- fun fact
Sucic is the better all-round player but he’s also a midfielder and Ljubicic is a striker. Can’t compare players that play completely different positions.
That is true, I thought Ljubicic was midfield tho. I didn’t realize he was a striker.
As a member of this group I wasn’t really able to comment much about the HNL and players because I didn’t watch games. Last season I got a device so I could watch and then fairly comment about teams, players and the league overall.
I watched Marin Ljubicic play several times last season right up until N Kalinic showed up and I’ll say this about him! He’s a die hard Hajdukovac and would put his club in front of himself. The kid worked very hard every game, he’s physical, emotional and was usually a threat to defenders even when he didn’t play well…he works hard.
When I found out he was being sold it shocked me. I then started reading comments on forums that he’s wasn’t a great player anyway and that Kalinic was world class, filling the spot anyway.
A couple weeks ago I was told a few things were going in at Hajduk but I can’t confirm. 1) Elez is bullying the younger players in the locker room. 2) Livaja can show up or not show up to training sessions without receiving any consequences. 3) Livaja gets a separate room when they travel so he can smoke. 4) last season Livaja slapped Ljubicic and the club did nothing about it.
I feel bad for Ljubicic, he was basically given no chance to remain with his club. His spot in the field taken and he was going to play few minutes. This kid told Bjelica to fuck off last season. I don’t condone that at all but I like his fire for his club!
When Kalinic was brought back last season (all of you know my opinion on him) he was brought back as the star that played for Atletico Madrid and AC Milan although nobody in the media ever once said he was a complete flop and rarely ever scored and was kicked out after one season. The media spun it as if some superstar hero was coming home and yet so far he’s barely played because he’s weaker than a wet paper bag and injured all the time. In a league like HNL and with his experience, he should be top scorer in the league but because of him, Ljubicic had no place on the field.
I don’t watch Ljubicic anymore, I can’t watch that league, there’s nothing interesting for me to see. All I can say is I feel the kid got screwed and he didn’t deserve it!
I don’t know if he deserves a place on our National Team at the moment but I hope he continues to do well!
I didn’t know this and it makes me view Livaja in a different way if that is true.
That’s disrespectful even as an older player.
Livaja has been called the Maradona of Hajduk and they say he’s the best ever Hajduk player so it’s easy to understand how his head got big…the man has his own mural!
He’s nowhere near ready to be called up.
Maybe next year for minutes, but for now not a chance.
Drop lovren and vida
Bring him and colak
Problem solved
It will never happen
But I do agree, next cycle he should get some proper mins
Is he getting lucky with some goals or are they pretty good quality
Some said he was playing well at hajduk just wasn’t getting goals…. Truth?
yeah _
you’re a good servant | God opens your mind
you and Mammijo are following God’s will [-
not Dalic’s will <– Marocco will punish him
LA KNAT you’re still a snot…get off the high potency pot!