Ten teams, five matches, one goal. Only one goal was scored this weekend, the fewest ever scored in a match week in HNL history. The lone goal was ruled an own goal by RNK Split’s Branko Vrgoć during their 1-0 loss to NK Lokomotiva.
Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split played to a scoreless draw at Poljud on Saturday, but all eyes were on referee Bruno Marić after he failed to award a penalty to Hajduk.
Marić, a known ally of Zdravko Mamić who has perviously been accused by UEFA for match fixing during the 2009 Croatian Cup final between Dinamo and Hajduk, allowed play to continue after Filip Benković controlled the ball with his hand in the box.
Marić has since held a press conference where he showed death threats being sent to him and his family via text message.
Disciplinary action will be taken on Marić at a later date.
The score remained 0-0 but the match was widely controlled by the Bili who put eight shots on target.
All eight of those shots were brilliantly saved by Dinamo’s goalkeeper Eduardo.
Eduardo shone bright, particularly in the second half, where he made several outstanding and acrobatic saves to keep the score tied.
Dinamo were given the opportunity to win the match when they were awarded a penalty in the 91st minute, but Angelo Henriquez’ penalty attempt was sent wide of the goal and the two teams were forced to split the points.
Dinamo is coming off their historic 2-1 win over England’s Arsenal, but were unable to score against Hajduk who had the full support of the fans at Poljud.
Several clashes between fans occurred outside the stadium and throughout the city prior to the match. One young fan was hospitalized due to injuries sustained by a flare lit on the streets.
Several fans were arrested for tossing flares onto the field during the match. A total of 62 fans were arrested on Saturday.
Slight controversy came at the end of the scoreless draw between HNK Rijeka and Inter Zaprešić, but the teams played a tough match and a new hero emerged for Inter.
Rijeka was awarded a penalty in the 90th minute, but 19-year-old goalkeeper Josip Posavec was there to make the big save and kept Rijeka off the scoresheet.
Two minutes later, Rijeka had another chance on goal but the referee was not convinced Ivan Močinić’s shot fully crossed the line and the goal was not awarded, ending the match in a scoreless draw.
This is the second straight match between the two clubs that ended in a scoreless draw.
Rijeka captain Dario Knežević has retired from Rijeka and stated that he will spend the rest of the year resting before he makes his desicion whether to continue his playing career.
Knežević, 33-year-old defender, has been with Rijeka from 2002-2006 and again since 2012.
NK Slaven Belupo drew NK Istra 1961 0-0 in Koprivnica over the weekend. Though no goals were scored, it was a hard fought match that showed both teams have the ability to compete.
Once again, it was the Vanja Iveša show as the veteran goalkeeper is earning his paycheck for Istra.
The Istrian defense was too tough for the Pharmacists to break, but on the occasions that they did, Iveša was there to stop all 10 shots he faced.
NK Zagreb are still without a win and have amassed only four points in 10 rounds, but were able to hold NK Osijek to zero goals in the Garden City.
Much like the rest of the games this weekend, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. The two teams are separated by only five points and occupy the last two spots in the league.
It wasn’t pretty but we finally saw a goal scored in the HNL from the final match of the weekend.
NK Lokomotiva were able to squeak out the only win this week against RNK Split with a minimum score of 1-0.
The goal came from the in adverted head of Split’s Branko Vrgoć who probably wished he had stayed home this weekend, but should have some secret pride in scoring this week’s only goal.
The Lokosi, who have direly underperformed in the league this season despite overachieving in their short Europa campaign this year have just lost their man in charge.
Coach Ante Čaćić will be leaving the Lokosi behind for his new position as the head coach of the Croatian National Football Team.
Čaćić, who coached Lokomotiva for 51 days through October to December in 2011, retuned to the club in June of this year. Čaćić has managed 15 different teams since he began his coaching career in 1986.
No official word yet on who will replace Čaćić as coach of Lokomotiva but GNK Dinamo Zagreb II’s coach, Sreten Čuk, is due for a promotion and may be ready for the job.
Re: Eduardo
Say what you will about him, but that guy has produced more goals for Cro than anyone else. The poor bastard never got the consistent playing time (for club or country) after that nasty leg break. He’s past his prime now, there’s no denying that, but I think he could still be our most lethal striker. That’s who shitty our strikers are. Who else we got….? Mandzo is on full decline. There’s literally no one else right now. We’re a team that’s all midfield and no striking capabilities, with a slice of Swiss cheese for defense.
I’d like to see Dudu start the next 2 Cro matches and determine his from there. I mean, how many chances has Olic had?!! Dudu’s too skilled of a player and a proven producer to not give him another shot, if he wants it.
People will bitch who is coach. People are bitching it is Cacic. Who else is there? It is all the same crap. Unless they hired foreign, then that is different.
Cacic or Vulic……………..same crap.
mixed signals coming out regarding Modric. Some say he didn’t say a thing because he fears what Mamic can do to him. While others are claiming he gave up some info. Who the hell knows at this point.
People did already take first steps and history will be very kind to them down the road. First one of the top of my head is Hrvoje Males. I don’t give a shit if he’s a hajdukovac, he’s earned my respect.
The problem is TIME. Nis se nebu promjenilo preko noci. It’s been a long time already…but not long enough. Does anybody know what Modric told USKOK?
WOw how about that. Sreten Cuk DID get that promotion. Can Mamic be any more predictable??
http://nklokomotiva.hr/vijest/sreten-cuk-novi-trener-nk-lokomotive-60
I’m sure others know this, right? there has to be some politicians that have relationships with former players that mingle in circles…right? we’ve seen credible people make comments about the corruption just as we’ve seen vocal people publicly make comments…ie…Ciro!
to me, it seems as if everyone knows but nobody really cares to take the first step…this really does look like a well organized Mafia…where are the morals of these paid officials?
Al Capone was eventually taken down for tax fraud…we all know Mamic is under investigation…how likely is he to get taken down? my assumption today is the same as it was 6 months ago and a year ago, this is a losing battle for those of us that just want to see a clean and healthy league and National Team!
what is the answer to all this fucking madness?
I’m seriously baffled! is there nobody in that country willing to stand up and fight this?
…or, are the majority so fucking corrupt from the inside out that its virtually impossible to clean up?
And that is the problem. The natural oppostion to Mamic are either the former commies………nobody wants them to succeed. And the other opposition to Mamic has been margainilized and no longer have any power or influence.
Chnages within the savez are not possible because he manipulated the system to get all of his people in. The people who vote on soccer activities in Cro are all alligned with Mamic. Forget the rivalry with dinamo and hajduk. I think we can all agree that dinamo and hajduk are two biggest soccer institutions in Cro and have the largest following. Agreed? So, how can reps from hajduk have no influence on the savez? Because Mamic has been bery successful in getting his people in positions of power. Hajduk’s ineptitude allowed that to happen in previous years and now they are trying to change that. It will be a struggle.
Only way Mamic goes is by force.
National pride lives with the average fan. The people who run soccer in Cro have no national pride.
so Ziva, I haven’t asked anyone about this situation (hiring Cacic) but I do see myself that this is really pissing off the entire Nation. How is this ever gonna change…I mean, without sabotaging the entire team?
I think when certain groups go out of their way to sabotage the team, it just paints all Croatians with the same brush while on the other hand, the country must have some diplomatic or not so diplomatic way to eliminate Mamic. How do they neutralize or plain and simply, get rid of him? is this problem bigger than him? are there higher people in higher places that want him to continue down this road or is there a opposition? the only opposition I’ve seen is the old Communists…Jovanovic, Milanovic….anyone else going to preserve some national pride for the public and soccer team?
Because Da Silva expressed an interest last week. He was asked by Cro media about coming back and he didn’t rule it out.
If Cacic wants to bring him back he can. Mamic doesn’t come down and tell the coach who the 23 or 18 man roster should be. What he does is make sure that one or two players are included on the roster. So, the possibility is there for Da Silva.
I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Have him in the same role as he does on the club side. Last 20 minutes of a game.
so, whats the deal with Cacic and Dudu? I know he coached him and we all know Dudu and Mamic had a battle in court…why would Cacic mention that he’d like to bring back Dudu on his first day on the job?
Colin I see Pranjic on the list! Not impressed already!
Well, here is Cacic’s first order of business. He’s got the squad called up. Let’s see what he does with them.
Goalkeepers: Kalinić, Subašić, Vragić
Defenders: Srna, Ćorluka, Vida, Pranjić, Lovren, Vrsaljko, Lešković, Pivarić
Midfielders: Modrić, Rakitić, Badelj, Brozović, Kovačić, Perišić
Strikers: Olić, Kalinić, Čop, Pjaca, Mandžukić, Kramarić
@ Ziva
Vrsaljko is a STUD, who is getting better and better.
Vida has rounded himself to being a solid athlete at CB.
Pivaric is an upgrade at LB.
Still like Strinic but not sure if he wants to deal with this circus anymore ?
Unfortunately I am with you on being happy if Cacic is average, then our talent will have a punches chance.
Curious to crack the mental midget code and unleash the heart of the Hrvat !
@idemo……..Mamic brother have no one of value??????? Modric, Kovacic and Lovren have no value to you??????
With Cacic we will see the same thing as we did when Kum Kovac took over…….qualification.
We will see the flaws with Cacic at the Euros, just like with Kum Kovac.
Bringing in Cacic doesn’t wash away mental midget disease, only enhances it.
Someone mentioned that Cacic’s teams at Dinamo included a backline of Vida, Vrsaljko, Pivaric. Well, how did that team perform in Europe with those guys. Now, that was a few years ago and they are better, but none of those guys are anything more than solid players.
All Cacic has to be is average as a coach. Our last two coaches were not even average.
i voted for finish second in the poll but if win euro2016 altogether was there i would’ve picked that, that’s how confident i am in DA MO
@ Bobby V
Ofcourse you would rather have seen Haliliovc out on the attacking third dribbling by defenders and laying off assists for 100% chances.
But Balkan basement boneheadedness is apparently tough to move on from.
@ Svima
Cacic or no Cacic, I am intrigued to see who is called into the squad and first 11 for these next two qualifiers.
We could finally see some new ideas on the pitch.
By the way, Bulgaria will be fighting for their lives and will see third place as a distinct possibility with a potential 6 point swing on the table.
You cannot make this shit up when it comes to Croatian Sports/Politics.
Cacic will done fine. The players stopped playing for Kovac.
Kovac lacked creativity in his game plans. Cacic doesn’t bring and ego with him like Kovac or Stimac.
many of the players have real agents…. mamic brothers have no one of value anymore
“Mishko says:
I don’t know enough about the guy to have a point one way or another. So I’ll just shut up and see what happens.”
Well, I’ve seen his moustache. This is all the info i need. He is a CHAMPION COACH !
SRAMOTA ! SRAMOTA ! SRAMOTA !!!
Why can’t Strinic come back now, his issue was with Kovac was it not?
I don’t know enough about the guy to have a point one way or another. So I’ll just shut up and see what happens.
Gonna text the cousins and see what they say.
.
Cacic will probably get the back line right simply due to his previous relationships with a lot of these defenders.
I could see him (partly in reaction to Srna’s humiliating game against the Nords) starting Vrsaljko at RB. I could also see him benching Pranjic and putting Josip Pivaric at LB. Throwing Pivaric into the starting LB role would be a risk, but still better than going with Pranjic (who doesn’t even play LB anyway).
When Cacic coached Dinamo, he regularly started Pivaric, Vida, and Vrsaljko. We might see those three (along with Corluka) start in our back line next game.
Cacic is the man !
Just you fuckers wait.
He’s gonna be THE BOMB !
There is a new soccer website for viewing games on-line called Fubo TV. Shows both BeIn Sport channels in HD, both GolTV channels, and a few more, including all club games from Benfica, Everton and Borussia Dortmund.
Only $6.99 a month. I know many of us have some of these channels but not in HD. Two people can view at the same time off one account.
Better than dealing with those pop-up ads and viruses from First Row Sports.
Regarding Cacic – it would be funny to see him do well. He has coached at least 9 of the players who were called up for the last two matches.
He is the first coach ever to be criticized so much without even being given a chance to show what he can do – for obvious reasons, but, let’s watch and see.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2569683-barcelona-starlet-halilovic-produces-sublime-assist-while-on-loan-at-sporting
Would rather have seen this against Norway and Azerbaijan instead of the prima donnas who play for only their club teams.
Watch Čačić get the lineup perfect and blow out Bulgaria, lol
Vatrena cast something has to be done. Our players should strike and refuse to play for the team.
I hope we lose 5-0 and that every time one of our players gets the ball I hope they boot it into the empty stands
Imagine if Cacic does well lol..Can’t get any worse than Mexico,Norway,Scotland…this shlup lasted one year at dinamo omg!! Should of taken Zuti before Kovac.
Works perfectly for mamic that the fans are banned from the stadiums because people can’t see the lack support cacic will have. Da Bog da sam sebi brata napravio.
Two of the better quotes I’ve seen regarding the hiring of Cacic:
‘Od Francuske, Poljske, Austrije i Italije bio sam svugdje uz ‘repku’. Sada je ne bi više u zivo pogleda’ da mi pod kućom igraju.’
‘U zemlji gdje su Severina i Rozga popularne zbog svojih tekstova, Čačić je logičan izbor. Zbogom pameti i logici! RIP HNS.’
“Most of the club’s players have the same agent – Mamic’s son, Mario. When Mamic took over he forced all the players to ditch their agents and join him, signing one of his contracts which signed away 25% of their salary for the rest of their career. Those players who wouldn’t sign, were sold. Niko Kranjcar, for example, went from Dinamo to Hajduk in 2005. Why? Because he wouldn’t switch agents or contracts.”
Couldn’t force Niko Kranjcar to sign a slavery contract!
We Will make tuge Euros but I wish we didn’t.
I think hammer has a point.
The good news is that we can still qualify directly for Euro’s if we win our final two game as Norway and Italy still have to play each other.
I don’t know much about Cacic but I do not like the people that run the Savez at all. I wish someone with integrity like Boban would be interested in running the Savez but, I am not sure he want that position.
So Modric was forced to participate with Mamic because he signed a slavery contract. Now did Mamic force Modric to sign the slavery contract? I’ve read one article about this and already it’s boring me to tears. But I will read on.
It would be awesome if all the players banded together and decided not to play under the current leadership anymore. Why should they? If the majority of the Croatian people don’t support the national team under the current circumstances there is no reason to. They would be better off without the international rigors anyway. I think this pressure would be enough to remove Mamic and his pawns. And who knows, maybe they’d resign in time for the play-off game. That is a pipe-dream though. I’m sure many of the players are loyal to him as he “made” them. Mamic is probably looking to show case his talents at the Euros so he can make a few quick bucks on them, taking into account that we’ll probably be eliminated in the group stages.
Pičke, rođo!
Terrific news, all !
We finally have the awesome coach our players deserve! With this hire we can perhaps – just perhaps to aspire to reach the giddy heights of Libya and other such Cacic success stories.
I am 100 % confident we will not only mkae Euro 2016 now but we will WIN THE WHOLE KABOODLE ! Go Team !
🙂
I’m gonna go check out some of this Mamic stuff, because I’ve never really followed this or been interested in it. What sort of men would be scared of Mamic?
@Hammer……….well, if we are to believe the evidence that was presented in court regarding the Eduardo situation and if we are to believe Muric’s family and the evidence presented in that situation, then yes, in some cases, Mamic did force certain players unwillingly to be in his pocket. Through fear and intimidation they are now afraid to leave him and his grip. Good question.
“I do not understand how Croatia cannot make a good team.”…………….because individual talent doesn’t always equate to national team success
Azerbaijan and Norway are shit, absolutely shit. We should beat these teams whatever the player selection and tactics are! I can’t believe some people think we need some sort of tactical genius to beat these teams! Ridiculous!!
Interesting comment by Ziva on to many of these players being in Mamic’s pocket, did Mamic force these players to be in his pocket?
Joe Simunic won’t lose any respect from me.
In my opinion Perisic is a very good goalscoring player and Mandzukic can score goals and be very effective in a system. Behind them you have three players who belong to Barca and Real Madrid in Kovacic, Modric and Rakitic. I do not understand how we claim we do not have players. Kovac did not get these quality players close enough to each other. They were a mile apart.
Kramaric is a goalscoring forward. A good player. I think one reason he is not playing for Leicester is as Ranieri is Italian. Ranieri knows what he is doing but Kovac soaked it up. He did not have to drop Kramaric. He also did not have to upset Jelavic by always playing a 35 year old in his place.
Kalinic has had enough chances at international level and we have no looked for new hungry players. Vrsaljko and Vida have improved dramatically as defenders in the last year and we have a exciting young right back in Jedvaj. I do not understand how Croatia cannot make a good team.
I did not agree with the selection of Pjaca. In future he and Coric can be international players but neither deserve a jersey and place on the pitch yet. We have seen it before where young HNL1 stars are pushed into the national team way too early.
There are young players around Ajax Robert Muric and Udinese Stipe Perica. Monaco’s Mario Pasalic. I still believe Fiorentina’s Ante Rebic and Barca’s Alen Halilovic will be very good players. I see no reason why Kovac could not defeat the last two opponents. Nobodies fault but his.
very true Maminjo…he actually did ok politically, he did terrible with player selection and tactic…was in above his head. I felt bad for him entering the WC…but he never displayed his passion as a coach as he was as a player…the players were like him…flat!
Niko Kovac was the problem. He didn’t evolved the team and has not moved the team on from the World Cup. We had these same problems in the World Cup and Kovac did not solve them. He seemed to solve them when he brought in Kramaric and played two strikers, but he messed up against Prosinecki’s Azerbaijan and against Norway. Srna still playing right back. Srna is finished as a international standard right back. His pace can’t make up for his poor positional play any longer.
We need a coach who will move the team forwards. We do actually have the players and I see little problem with the league. Just cos Hajduk Split have become such a weak side no need to take it out on the rest of the league.
EVERY SINGLE CROATIAN FAN wanted Niko Kovac to succede. The only person to blame is Kovac. The way he set up the team prevented them playing to their ability. Lets be honest how can we defend Kovac when he has continuous gone to Olic to solve our problems even when he is in his mid thirties. A good manager would have utilised young players.
It’s a shame that Kovač was a dumb jock.
He got himself onto the National Team largely due to his Mamić connection, but also due to the love from the fans and media calling for a “fighter” to be hired. The media was pushing for this.
If Kovač actually wasn’t retarded, he would have had the fans, players and media behind him, and he could snub Mamić all he wanted.
But he wasn’t a good coach, so it was easy to get rid of him.
I think Kovač used Mamić to get into the NT coaching position, but tried to distance himself from Mamić.
Could’ve been what the “lack of communication” comment made by Šuker as all about.
…you’re probably right but I do recall you eluding to the fact that he was a puppet, I didn’t think he was…now I just think Kovac was no very bright!
Tako je, rođo!
He was hired because he was kumovi with the Mamic family.
Did Kum Kovac have an independent streak? Sure. But the reason he got the job was because of the family connection.
I’m pretty sure Sammir on Kovacs World Cup squad was all Mamic
you’ve always insinuated “Kum Kovac” was Mamic’s boy while he never really acted that way…
Bilic was actually appointed coach when Markovic was still savez head, not Puppet Suker.
Bilic never would have accepted working for Puppet Suker and Puppet Suker never would have approved Bilic as the coach. Puppet Suker would have told mamic not to hire him.
I never said Bilic was…….Kovac and Stimac needed approval.
Never said Bilic.
Curious as to what was I wrong about. I’m talking about game predictions and things like that, but curious to find out what you think I got wrong in analyzing the situation. Not being confrontational on this.
I know very little about this guy! Does he have a relationship with any of the players?
At least Pranjic won’t start…I hope! What a waste of talent!! Just a fucking mess!! I believe in miracles…we are going to need one from what I have been reading.
to the majority of people watch the sport and don’t care about the politics Ziva, I am and have always been one. when Bilic was coach, I was ok with that…when Stimac was coach, I questioned it but only because I don’t like his character…tons of people in Croatia love him….when Kovac became coach, I thought that because he was current and recently retired he have his finger on the pulse, be somewhat innovating, structured and get results….he proved he was not logical…no experience can help Kovac….an illogical person will always be illogical and make stupid decisions.
this is a bit different. this hiring is right from Mamic’s personal cesspool.
in the past, you’ve been wrong on several of your comments and predictions…you’ve made tons of them so in this case, you’ve been right more than wrong….I wouldn’t necessarily say you have been right all along….I disagree with you that Kovac and Bilic were kissing Mamic’s ass…
regardless, this decision today has really thrown me off.
….drops the mic.
@Slavonac………….Hey, some of us have been preaching for years that Mamic was an evil in Cro soccer. Other claimed we didn’t know what we were talking about or the fan boy in them came out and said Mamic is good or blah, blah, blah.
What took place today is not anything new. Not even close. I’ve posted about this in the past on how Mamic has been able to get his people elected at the local “zupanija” federations and these are the people who eventually send the delegates to the main federation and end up voting pieces of shit in like Puppet Suker. This is where bribes, kickbacks and money laundering come into play. Ever wonder why DInamo would buy a marginal player from Osijek for $1 million when the guy is not worth a $100,000 transfer fee? Its because it is a form on money laundering. The selling clubs gets some of the money and that is then sent along to the feeder clubs who groomed the kid. Then, when time to send deleagtes to vote of federation issues, guess what direction they go. And that is just one example.
Lets embrace and enjoy this ride because we all know this will have a disasterous end.
“who is 100% behind the repka anymore”?
this is the first time ever in my life I have a hard time answering this question. I still think, out of my love and hope for the game and future that somehow things will turn out…I know I know…I a glutton for punishment.
someone has to fuck up Mamic…this has gone too far!
this is a tough one today….I expected some bullshit and I read all the Cacic comments, Ziva started naming him right after Kovac was fired.
how does this happen? I am not familiar with this Cacic guy so I shouldn’t criticize him…but how does he get this job and why the fuck hasn’t anyone, anywhere, other than Ciro Blazevic said anything public about this? Yeah, I saw Stanic’s comments….where the hell is the outrage though? doesn’t anyone from the recent 20 years have a vested interest in doing something here? why on earth would anyone allow this to continue…over and over and over again…this is beyond painful now….I’m gonna have read Ante’s comments every damn game about Mamic’s boy…
where do I sign-up to protest?
@DI…………tough to hear the truth????????
Honestly, for anyone who follows the game and situation closely as we do since we all post here……..who is 100% behind the repka anymore. I don’t like seeing them lose, but it is to the point now where its not a big deal when we lose.
I go back to the World Cup against Mexico. I’m in the fricken stadium and have money on the match for Cro to win and when they lost I really didn’t give a shit. More and more of that is taking place.
Moron te napravio.
@Doktor prle, shut up you moron.
If Simunic accepts the assistant position, he is nothing but a tool. As his tentative appointment is a contrived move with the purpose of silencing/neutralizing patriotic critics and opponents of the scoundrels that ru(i)n Croatian football.
Fuck you Mamic! It wasn’t enough that you have had two failed appointees until now. Now you must exhibit your power even further by putting a washed out drudge in servitude to you at the head of the national team. Yeah, you are one powerful son of a bitch and you can do whatever you want. Even if it is a joke, but you will do it because you can. FUCK YOU!
Ante Cacic is bringing Big Joe Simunic and Ante Mise in as his assistants.
I am not sure what all the stress is. Our issue wasn’t Niko Kovac. The players did not want to play for him. There is quality in that squad. We always win when our back’s are against the wall. We always put our backs against the wall but none the less the repka will succeed in making it to Euro 2016.
Kramaric, Rebic or Kailinic need minutes beside Mandzu. Croatia will never succeed with one lone striker. One of the yankees on this site made a great Landon Donavon reference. Many American players do nothing on their club team yet succeed on their national team. Give someone a chance based on their characteristics and not based on their club team stats. Thats where Kovac also went wrong. Mandzu needs a partner up to.
We will qualify for Euro and Big Joe will lead the chant!
Just came back from a little vacation in Arizona. This is the first topic back.
Ljudi, kaj se tice Cacica, bit ce nereda. I would venture to say that 85% of people back home are against this move which has cemented Mamic as the lone dictator of the HNS which is leading to its demise.
I see nothing but “long term PAIN” in our future.
Call me selfish but I don’t even fell bad for the players.
They don’t seem like they give a shit either.
I only feel bad for us fans.
I think we could become like the Colombians circa ’95 to about 2010. Hopefully we can see some league and national team progress in about 15 years.
R.I.P. HNS..
Well I can’t be the only one hoping we don’t make the euros right? Fuck it. Would feel bad for the players but fuck it. When is that pig going to jail?
HNL should be re-named MPPB…..Mamic Personal Piggy Bank!
Yes and it was an own goal.
You got to love a league where one single goal is scored, refs ruin what should be the league’s biggest match and the coach of a mid-table team in a shitty league gets to be national team coach.
Cro soccer……awesome