Dinamo Zagreb may have been crowned league champions already, but the action is far from over.
The matter of third place is still on the mind of several clubs, who are doing everything they can to finish the season in the top three positions.
NK Lokomotiva could have claimed second place on Sunday in their match against Hajduk Split. The match at Poljud saw the two teams meet for the second time in a week, only a few days after Hajduk took the first leg of the Croatian Cup finals.
On Sunday’s match, Ivan Vuković had the chance to score from the penalty spot, but hit the crossbar with his shot. Both teams went to split the points. Lokomotiva is five points clear of third place, so a win on Saturday against Dinamo will certainly bring them to their first European cup appearance.
Hajduk Split is two points behind third with two matches left. They are also able to earn a European spot if they are able to hold their 2-1 lead against Lokomotiva in the second leg of the Croatian Cup finals on May 22.
RNK Split faced a tough loss against the Croatian champions on Saturday. The Modri scored twice in a six minute span with goals from Ante Rukavina and Said Husejinović to take away three vital points from Split.
Split is is one point ahead of Rijeka, who are breathing down their neck trying to enter third place. Split is desperately trying to get their first taste of Europe and must face Istra at home on Saturday.
Split coach Ante Vulić was sacked after the loss on Saturday. He will be replaced by Goran Sablić. The 33-year-old former Hajduk Spit and Dynamo Kiev defender has been Vulić’s assistant since he arrived at the club in October.
“This is Split. If Hajduk changed, and we must,” Vulić said. “Something happened [between the club and I] and it is a little ugly, but that’s the thing that will remain between the club and me. I’m very sorry about that. I do not want to air dirty laundry. it’s a matter of stuff that will remain between us.”
HNK Rijeka were shocked by NK Istra 1961 this weekend when Luka Hazdić scored the game winner and the games only goal, in the 86th minute. Rijeka could have used those three points to distance themselves from Hajduk and take third place, but unfortunately dropped the points and must try to make them up next week when they welcome Zadar to Kantrida.
Rijeka have reportedly added some depth to their strikers. Ivan Klasnić will be joining the ranks in hopes of seeing European play next season. The 33-year-old striker has been released by his current cub, Mainze and was without a contract. Klasnić has scored 12 goals for Croatia in his 41 appearances, including the famous Euro ’08 goal against Turkey.
NK Zagreb is the first team this season to be given the death warrant of relegation. The Poets 2-0 loss to Cibalia was the final straw, and they will be spending their next season in the Druga Liga. Cibalia saved themselves, at least for another week, with the win, but must win next week against Inter Zaprešić if they want any chance of staying in Croatia’s top league.
Inter helped their cause over the weekend by beating NK Osijek 2-0 in the Garden City. While they are safe from relegation now, they are ahead of Zadar only by goal difference.
The loss for Osijek has become routine, as they continue their abysmal second half to the season. Only four points clear of the relegation zone, they must watch their backs and fight for every point before the season is over.
Zadar gained one point in their effort to stay afloat, but it is still looking grim for the club. Their last two matches are against Rijeka and Split; two clubs fighting for third place. Will Zadar’s will to stay in the Prva Liga be stronger than Rijeka and Split’s will to play in Europe?
@Ziva LOL!!!!!!
Rijeka, Champions League, 2 years, better results than Dinamo!
Josip B and Black Zodiac. Same crap. Indeed.
The cult of multicultural terriosts is coming to an end. Not only have we learned that the Egyptians were Europenans but Minoans as well. Most of the worlds civilzations were started and maintained by white people. None have been found in Sub Sharah Africa…..None!!!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2325768/The-Minoans-Caucasian-DNA-debunks-longstanding-theory-Europes-advanced-culture-Africa.html
Croatian Sports.com, Uniting Croatian Fans around the world.
Indeed.
USA hrvati are great……………… “Idemo bye” “zatvori door-a” “znam, znam, O.K”
bog, bevande i pizde
the holy trinity right there, all I need in life…
What about the USA Hrvati who mix in English words?
@T O Cro
It is a fact that coastal Croatia has some Venetian influence on its dialect/some words,architecture etc and the same applies to Northern Croatia with Austrohungarian influences. I have no problem with that. How am I being stupid?
Ante B was busting Dalmatian’s balls and I responded with a fact to bust his balls. I have no problem with some mutual fun poking.
Again, where is the stupidity?
“when you Zagrebcani use “Germanised” Croatian words”
Sometimes I have to shake my head at the stupidity on this site. Incredible.
That I can agree with. I dont think you should go back to Italy either. Gemist ili skropec ja, bevandu ti. Tamburica ja, mandolinu ti.
@Ante B
Nice one. I have no problems with some ball busting and my response to you was not harsh. I just don’t appreciate someone telling me , a Croatian, to go back to Italy and calling me an idiot for no reason.
Anyway time for a gemist I think, or maybe a bevanda?
Davore I was being sarcastic about the non Germanization of our words which is why I used bok. Bok was Mein bochen which turned into moj naklon which is now simply bok. Look at Purger. Derived from the German word Berger for city person. I stand by my poking fun at the Italian words. Croatians bust balls with each other like this constantly. Some of you take it über seriously.
FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!!
@S
How can you say I start shit for no reason when you spoke to me first and said I must go back to Italy and called me an idiot! I had no problem with Ante’s comment about Hajduk just his dissing of Dalmatians as Italians
@Ante B
Paradajz, vekerica, plac . . .
I have no problem about your Hajduk comment, we are in a bad place and I don’t see us challenging for the title until we have decent owners who know how to run a club and are not corrupt
@Davor
Shut the fuck up you idiot. You start shit for no reason and in the same breath talk about your love for Croatia. Get a fuckin life moron. Feeling is mutual don’t need to meet a piece of shit like you.
@Ante B, nothing wrong with your statement. You make an educated statement based on the information and some don’t like it.
Entschulsigung but there is no Germanization of the Croatian language in northern Croatian, bok. Apart from my poke at the Venetians here, what was wrong in my statement about Dinamo Rijeka being the most competitive game in Hrvatska? Oh yeah, nothing.
Oj Zagoro, lijepa li si
Slavonijo, zlatna ti si
Herceg-Bosno, srce ponosno
Dalmacijo, more moje
jedna dusa a nas dvoje
pozdrav Liko, Velebita diko
lijepa li si
We’ve gotta fight somebody! 🙂
It’s a shame that some Croatians can’t put regional differences aside and unite.
Historically we united against common enemies, such as the Ottoman Empire and more recently Serbian aggressors. Or we need something to rally around, such as the Croatian National Team.
Even though every region has it’s own idiosyncrasies, we are still one people and shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves.
If you brought Kralj Tomislav back from the dead into modern day croatia, he wouldn’t understand much. The people he would come closest to understanding is the people that use the čakavica (Chakavian) dialect.
@S
What the fuck are you talking about? Dalmatian dialect (especially the islands) has some words that originate from Italian – as they were under Venice for centuries. Northern Croatia has some Germinisations resulting from centuries of Austrohungarian rule.So i am defending Dalmatians from Ante B’s short sighted comment. My dad’s side of the family are from Brac and my Mom’s side from Slavonski Brod and Glina. I am Croat and love Croatia. So go fuck yourself and hope I never meet you.
Can’t believe i have to defend my love for Croatia on a Croatian site.
I read some of these posts and all i have to say is that the older wiser croats i communicate with are right. Croatians are close and great together during war but in peace terrible. Even while there is no war there are many battles to be fought during peace and that’s where we suck. We don’t know how to fight our battles during peace, instead we bash each other.
@Davor or d’angelo
Go back to Italy. You idiot.
Istrin Milić drugi put je odbio Dinamo, nova meta je Pranjić
http://is.gd/Twv17a
@Ante B
Don’t talk shit about “Italianised” Croatian words when you Zagrebcani use “Germanised” Croatian words
RIJEKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sarics lackluster performance this year at cibona had people getting down on him. lately he’s come on strong, which looks like its going to help his draft status a lot. here’s the write up from espn analyst chad ford
“Saric was invited but will not attend the draft combine. He’s still playing with his team, Cibona, in the Croatian playoffs and couldn’t break free to come to Chicago. Saric continues to light it up in the playoffs. His last two games combined he’s scored 35 points and grabbed 24 rebounds while shooting 14-for-18 from the field. Several NBA teams flew to Croatia after the Euroleague Final Four to work him out privately, since it’s unlikely he’ll come to the U.S. to do team workouts. His draft position might be locked in by the end of the week.”
Let’s see what really happens with Antonio Milic. Tudor is supposed to be a good coach, at least that’s what the Croatian media says, hopefully he’s right on this one. Although Bilic did say Kalanic was Croatia’s future……probably wishes he could take that one back
Let’s hope buying Klasnic will help. Some competition in the league is always good, and I’d love to see Mamic throw a few more tantrums when dinamo doesn’t kill everyone by 1000 goals.
I’m not that hopeful about the Klasnic signing, getting Sharbini back would help, but it’s a step in the right direction. I’m more hopeful about the new ownership’s pockets than anything else.
Dinamo vs. Rijeka will become the new ‘rivalry’ in Croatia.
Unfortunately with Hajduk on the decline, the ‘eternal’ derby will carry less significance.
Good to see our boys training in Medjugore.
@majstore
Opps sorry!
errrrm
Herceg-Bosna or Hercegovina not Bosna.
http://sportske.jutarnji.hr/mario-ancic-dobio-posao-u-nba-ligi/1102803/
Šarić to Dallas would be amazing. Hopefully they give him a promise and he stays in the draft.
Ne razumijem talijanski, sorry. What’s negative about what I said? Hajduk is not getting their shit together and Rijeka is. Therefore Dinamo v Rijeka will be the most competitive game.
Ohhhh I see why you’re mad. I made a logical conclusion based on the data in front of me. Sorry again. I mean, skuzaj or however they say it.
NT going to Bosna!!!!
http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Sports/2013-05-15/33432/Croatian_national_team_to_meet_Zrinjski_in_a_friendly_in_Mostar
A little NBA draft talk………….The Dallas Mavericks had their GM along with another scout at Cibona’s game last night lokking at Dario Saric. It appears Saric is indeed going to stay in the draft.
It’s just a guess on my part. But, the owner of Rijeka has money and a player with Klasnic’s stature is not going to be coming to Cro for low wages. He can probably make 300K in the 2. Bundesliga.
@Ziva
Wow, even at 300 Euros still surprises me when you consider most of these teams are in some financial trouble, low attendance at the gates and doubt much revenue is generated from television. I guess with Dinamo making champion leagues past two years has given them money to spend. I guess 500k would be for someone like Simunic. Not bad for living in Hrvatska and to finish off your career.
@AnteB
Sta si se uvatija Hajduka, gledaj svoje Dinamo i njegove probleme……………
Dont forget about the Veliki Lopovi. We have it all in place for a Velika Sezona.
Veliki Hajduk will be league champs cup champs and into the quarter finals of the champions league next season. We have Veliki Tudor as coach and Veliki Antonio Milić ” The up and coming best defender in europe” according to Veliki Tudor!
Whats there not to be optimistic about? lol
@Luka……In the past when Dinamo has brought in washed up plays they have paid them above 500,000 euros per year and more.
I doubt Rijeka would pay that much for Klasnic, probably around 300K.
If Hajduk doesn’t step it up (which I assume will not happen for a long time) Rijeka will be the only competition for Dinamo in the HNL.
@Armada87 or Ziva
Do you know what Killer would be paid by Rijeka? Is it public knowledge? I always wonder what these teams from Prva Liga pay these guys who are pass their prime.
@Australia says in about 7-8 days here:
https://croatiansports.com/?p=14484
Does anyone know when Stimac is going to release his list of players for Scotland?
Killer and Benko up front? With Cesarec and Mujanovic off the bench? We’re up there with Dinamo then in terms of depth at forward.
Stupid, stupid loss to Istra, out of all teams…
http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hajduk/tabid/83/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/210157/Default.aspx
Sine vrati se!
http://m.24sata.hr/#nogomet/hrvatska-igra-prijateljski-ogled-sa-zrinjskim-na-pripremama-314905
LOVE IT !!!!!
Goran Sablic in now a coach…….boze moj, now I have seen it all.
Jadan Hajduk.
In France, Bordeaux won against Troyes 1-2 and goes to the final of the French cup. Gregory Sertic was in the starting 11 and he played very well.
Ivan Vukovic missed the penalty, not Mujan…Mujan won the penalty