After the Croatia-Serbia match on Friday, manager Igor Štimac commented that “the game went according to plan” and that he was “happy with the result.”
I’m sure I’m with the rest of you Croatian fans when I ask: what the hell are you talking about?
I’m fine with the result, as Croatia knocked Serbia out of the World Cup and have set themselves up for a playoff round berth, but to say that the game went according to plan is pathetic.
Knowing Croatia was still in the hunt to finish first in UEFA group A World Cup qualifying, albeit an underdog against Belgium being down three points and -5 in the goal differential column to start the day Friday, it was a pleasant surprise to see Štimac’s lineup against Serbia. It looked as if the Croatian boss and company were not only gunning for the win in Belgrade, but goals galore in a revamped 4-4-2 formation which slotted a third striker, Ivica Olić, behind Mario Mandžukić and Eduardo on the left wing. The back line consisted of three defenders (Ćorluka, Šimunic, Lovren) who all have a history at the centerback position, meaning at a moment’s notice, Croatia could send right back Darijo Srna forward in an aggressive 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation. Defensive midfielder Ognjen Vukojević was slotted in the midfield for added support, freeing up Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić to pull the strings. But then I think to myself, if you’re going for a full offensive approach, why not throw Inter Milan’s Mateo Kovačić in the starting XI instead of Vukojević?
But then the game starts. And within 30 minutes I see what Štimac is up to. He’s either 1) too scared to go for the win in Serbia at the expense of a loss or 2) has no idea how to put together a proper game plan for the weapons he has at his disposal. With that being said, Croatia made Serbia look like Spain in the first half. The Vatreni bunkered down and let the Serbs control ball possession for the entire 45 minutes, emulating Greek-style football in recent years. Counter-attacks were unheard of, balls were being kicked own the field with no plan and Croatian strikers did not touch the ball.
With all the firepower Croatia had in their starting XI, Štimac appeared to play for the tie. And what’s his plan for the rest of the game if that Serbian dummy off the corner goes in and doesn’t ring off the left post? You already have three strikers on the pitch. Scoring goals against this Serbian side wouldn’t be easy if they scored the first goal with Ivanovic, Subotic and Kolarov in their back line. Luckily for Croatia, Srna’s through ball from his own half found a crack in the Serbian defense for a 53rd minute Mario Mandžukic break away goal.
But let me give you some scary numbers Croatian fans. Croatia had only two shots against Serbia on Friday and the Mandžukić goal was their only shot on goal during the entire game. In their last World Cup qualifier against Scotland in June, Croatia had 19 shots with ONLY TWO being on goal. Even more scarier, in their last two qualifiers against Scotland and Serbia, Croatia does not have one shot on goal in the first half. You’re hearing that correctly. Croatia has done nothing in the first half for two straight games.
The strikers are not getting any service from the midfield and the offense has become completely anemic. There is no creativity or urgency on the ball. Croatia will be headed to a two-legged playoff in November but will they have the strength to get out of this rut and qualify for the World Cup in Brazil?
It’s a shame the one-man advantage only lasted five minutes in the second half as all of Croatia’s moral momentum would get flushed down the drain in the 80th minute as the Šimunić freight train rolled into Crvena Zvezda Stadium. It was his only play following the broken corner kick as he rightfully took out Serbia’s Miralem Sulejmani to save a break away and Serbia goal.
Either way, Croatia needed to win by two goals in Belgrade to still have a shot at first place in the group. Belgium defeated Scotland 2-0 on Friday meaning a two-goal win against Belgium at Maksimir in October would put Croatia level on points with the Belgians and only one goal behind them in the tiebreaking scenario with one game to go. Now, Croatia’s only job against Belgium is to win so they don’t celebrate a World Cup berth in your house.
The Scotland loss killed Croatia after a near perfect campaign up to that point. Belgium never dropped any points after the draw with Croatia and are now a draw away from a plane trip to Brazil.
Croatia has been in this situation before. They have some horrible qualifying results creating tension between fans and team, make the playoff, win the playoff and ultimately end up playing with the big boys in the summer. Croatia very well may be in Brazil next summer.
But it needs to be without the services of a tactically inept and arrogant Igor Štimac.
@Bobby V, that’s your only response to what I said? Very telling. Do you know what HAET stands for?
Is it true that Croatians voted to join the E.U. so they could leave Croatia to find work in Germany?
If this is true, is this not the epitome of stupidity? Why would you want policies that entice Croatians to leave Croatia? How in God’s name does that help Croatia?
Wouldn’t be policies that entice Croatians to stay in Croatia and entice Germans and other intelligent whites to immigrate to Croatia be infinitely less stupid?
How about making Croatia a Whites-Only country? The one place on earth where white people can escape multiCULTuralism that is being FORCED on them everywhere they exist on the planet?
Why would you erase this comment and why would anybody protest this idea unless you’re anti-white and want to keeping FORCING multiCULTuralism/white genocide down white children’s throats?
tbh i thought we would win the group
before a game, i thought we would beat belgium, i know that puts me on the outer apparently but i didnt consider them as much of a threat or think they would be anywhere near as consistent as they’ve been
it’s quite remarkable how consistent they’ve been, i dont think anything thought the only points they would drop entire campaign would be vs us
Come on guys!
This group played out exactly the we all knew it would.
We finish 2nd, but not because we lose to the 1st place team, but because we lose to Scotland and draw Serbia.
Typical Croatian football.
We’ll get in the WC and hopefully into the knockout rounds.
What more can we really hope for?
@Anonymous – Ever hear of a guy named HAET?
Bobby V: “You also contradict yourself – If they allow Chetnik comments, how do you call the people who run this site politically correct?”
No, I’m not contradicting myself at all. The religion of Political Correctness has nothing to do with insults: Chetnik, nigger, mujo, etc. This site allowing those kinds of comments amongst other much more vulgar comments does not mean this site is somehow Politically Incorrect.
This site IS Politically Correct b/c the ONLY comments it doesn’t allow is pro-White-speech, while ALWAYS allowing anti-white speech. I know first hand, b/c several hundreds of comments and ONLY my comments have been erased.
Don’t act like you don’t know this.
My comment: ‘I didn’t see the game, but the impression I get here is that Croatia played defensive in the 1st half & offensive in the 2nd half’
———————————————————————-
Bobby V’s reply to my comment: “You didn’t see the game but you know exactly what happened?”
Can’t you read Bobby V? Did I say that I “know exactly what happened”??? No, I said ‘the impression I get here’.
Shit that was a nice through ball by rebic, split three defenders, nice ball from kovacic as well for the goal….too bad our u21s don’t always get their top players.
congrats to the hoops team. i gotta disagree with ziva. i think saric has a lot of promise. he’s been looking better and better in this tournament. but more important than any of that is his age. when the stat guys run the models for predictors of nba success in the draft, one of the very top factors is age. its that simple. at 19 saric can’t be expected to dominate or even perform well against pros rights now. but his skill set and age says he’s can put it together in the future
Btw…I just watched the highlights of the Under 21 game today….confirms my belief that Rebic should be starting for us….speed and finishing ability from the wing is something we need to open things up in the middle.
Here is my take…
Stimac has an ego that is going to destroy this team. He’s being completely selfish and taking way too much credit for the results we’ve had so far. Ziva put it best in saying something along the lines that a monkey could coach this group and get the results we’ve got so far. The trouble is the Stimac doesn’t have the respect of the players that Bilic had…or Ciro or Kranjcar for that matter. He’s slowly destroying this team.
This team contrary to what some here have said does have some very talented players. Mandzo gets bashed by some but he is THE choice at striker for Bayern…Modric is THE choice to pull the strings at Real. The young and up and coming talent of Kovacic, Rebic and hopefully Halilovic can create a great attacking team – the trouble I see is in D. We have some mediocre talent but regardless we can compete with the best in the world – let’s face it, we did have a good chance to beat both Italy and Spain in the Euro’s.
I think someone like Kovac, even though he doesn’t have much experience coaching, has instant respect from his players…that in itself will have players believing and even playing above potential…that’s a big part of winning.
In a strange way I hope we get embarrassed by Belgium but still manage to make the playoffs and ultimately the World Cup. We will be hard pressed to make it any further than the group stage unless things change.Unfortunately unless we fail to qualify things will stay the same.
@Ante B fuck the negro bowl. Bunch of soon to be overpaid to be felons and murders touching each other.
This article is exactly why CSR was created and is not regurgitated from other sports websites. Written by a Croat for the Croat audience in the dijaspora. Keep it up! It’s good to have an opinion piece and I think we should have way more of these (in addition to Colin’s write up pieces. Speaking of which, is Vedran’s Corner obsolete?)
Regarding this article, Mamic is the mafia king in Croatia. BBB tried to get rid of him legally (boycott) and as much as they hate him, I doubt they would want to see him dead. I might absolutely loathe the guy but I would NEVER want him dead. I just want him out of the club.
NFL Football: BEAR DOWN CHICAGO BEARS! As much as it pains me to say this, my two most hated teams (Niners and Packers) will make it to the NFC Championship. The only unstoppable team from the AFC is Denver.
My prediction for the Bowl: SF 49ers vs Denver Broncos. A rematch from the 80’s I believe.
BTW
do we actually HAVE any good current coaches?
and can anyone shed any insight into what coaching structures there are in cro ?
i ask cos i remember here in aus about 10-15 years ago when it was abundantly clear no aussie could coach there was a national coaching body set up that provided intensive coaching courses and gave out licenses accordingly
do we need something similar?
@Armada
Tebow fiasco – why setup all these plays for Tebow in the playbook and then hardly ever put him in? Woody brought him in but Rex could of left him on the backburner…instead? he hypes him up, sets up all these plays for him and then hardly plays him. That’s on Rex, not Woody. – Umm because he sucks and didn’t want him in the first place. Had to hype up the owners new jewels
Middle finger to a Dolphins fan – glad you don’t mind having a coach with no class… where did he come from? The Croatian School of Nogomet Managers? – I don’t consider it no class to flip off someone who is harassing you. It’s not like he did it because he just saw the guy had Phins gear on. The dude deserved worse than the finger he got
Super Bowl predictions – almost, key word. what about since those two runs? he came out with other predicitions since them… our team has been a shit show since those two runs. You don’t see other legitamate coaches pull that bullshit, no matter how good their teams are. – Cut him some slack, he appears to have learned from his mistake and stopped that nonsense
dude… i just hope you aren’t drinking that Jets kool-aid, cause its gonna get ugly this year before it gets any better, just as an FYI – I gave up on the team last year when they traded for Tebow. Franchise has real no hope for any sort of sustained sucess until Woody sells the team. Rex at least made them contenders before they made the cupboard bare of talent. I’m not a fan of the GM Izdick (not a typo)
a coach needs more experience before coaching a team of the calibre of our NT
but yeah a good coach would be nice
niko kovac might be too young.. i tghink we always have coaches that are way too young
bilic was also the youngest coach at 2008 and we just keep picking former players who arent all that long retired
guys should go thru extensive coaching careers before they are even candidates for NT job so its too soon for niko imo
bobby v
yep.. there’s a link up on firstrow already so should be active when the game is on
TBH im not surprised with the way the serb game went.. playing serbia in serbia.. it’s not in the same category (in my mind at least) as the other games where we played poorly, ie scotland/lichties/portugal.. that waas always gonna be the worst place for us to play
maybe the players were intimidated too??
all in all, to get 1-1- out of that shimozzle of a smashing we copped was actually a great effort and as i said elsewhere the good news was
a) defense held up good, and
b) mandzu was clinical and this should help his confidence
Game time in Seoul tomorrow is 8:00 PM local time, meaning it starts at 7AM Eastern time in the USA, less than 12 hours from now.
“Which players played well in Beograd”?
wanna second that.. considering the smashing we got in terms of possession chances, i think to only concede 1 goal u’d have to say the defense held up pretty well
@ Ante Kvartuc
Master class piece my man! Really well written.
We have a goal scoring machine in Mandzukic. We have a crew of creative and attacking midfielders and some young talented wingers.
Watching Repesa coach is arse off at EuroBasket taking us into the second round, juxtapose Stimac posturing around f’ing around with our repka is travesty.
Kovac, Boban etc…
@ Slavonac & Nije
whatever it takes… threaten their families, torture, etc. haha
i’m surprised no one from the BBB has gone after Mamic somehow…
the repka is an institution in Croatia and abroad that a lot of folks take pride in and this crew (Markovic included) have runned it into the ground – if someone were to pull such a thing, i wouldn’t feel bad for any of those jerkoffs
Hogtie those idiots and Chinese torture them!
Armada…hahaha…I like your idea!
@ regarding Stimac, Suker, Mamic, etc.
why don’t all the decent sized ultras groups in Croatia (BBB/Torcida/Armada) team up, kidnapp all these goons, threaten them, maybe torture them a bit and get them to resign? they leave on their own – the HNS has transparent elections for the first time since the 90’s and viola, we have a normal, functioning savez with somewhat qualified dudes, with no mafia ties and would be scared shitless if they decided to pull some shit with the HNS due to what happened to this crew…
i should start a FB group ‘Hrvatski navijaci take back the HNS’ and see where it goes… haha
@ nepoznat
Tebow fiasco – why setup all these plays for Tebow in the playbook and then hardly ever put him in? Woody brought him in but Rex could of left him on the backburner…instead? he hypes him up, sets up all these plays for him and then hardly plays him. That’s on Rex, not Woody.
Middle finger to a Dolphins fan – glad you don’t mind having a coach with no class… where did he come from? The Croatian School of Nogomet Managers?
Super Bowl predictions – almost, key word. what about since those two runs? he came out with other predicitions since them… our team has been a shit show since those two runs. You don’t see other legitamate coaches pull that bullshit, no matter how good their teams are.
dude… i just hope you aren’t drinking that Jets kool-aid, cause its gonna get ugly this year before it gets any better, just as an FYI
I agree, I’m not gonna argue with a person that makes a comment based on his principles, you make a good point. I weak that way…you’ve seen my comments, I cant stand Stimac either but I dont know if I’d sacrafice the team to get rid of him…but it may just be the only way!
@ Armada
tebow fiasco – not on Rex, that’s on Woody
middle finger to a dolphins fan – I have no problem with this
countless Super Bowl predicitions – I didn’t mind at the time and he almost backed it up twice
admitting to “losing the pulse of the team” – fair enough that’s bad
FYI I believe we were 5th & 8th in 2011 and 2012 but my memory sucks. Definitely we were Top 10 both years
it just pains me to see Stimac leading the team and it pains me to see someone like Mamic runnign the show. Just imagine how good we could be if we had a functioning savez. Everything we have accomplished is inspite of the idicoy that leads the sport of soccer in Cro. Imagine where we would be with competent, respected individuals.
I get your point man…I’m guessing its a matter of pirinciple…its just a little further than I’d go to prove a point with the repka. you’re kinda similar to how my dad was…he’d stand his ground to make his point…and he was normally right!
I agree with you, I rather have them there as well. However, I will still watch with or without Cro.
With this current crew of idiots running the savez, I wont be heartbroken if we fail to make it. that is why all of us should encourage family members back home not to attend the Belgium game.
@ Ziva – you’re wired pretty differently than most…watching soccer is enjoyable but watching your National team comes second to almost nothing. I also have the nerves, disappointments, joys and several other emotions when Hrvatska play…I’d rather they play in the big tourneys and lose than not qualify at all…it somehow puts you in a category of belonging on the world scene, especially qualifying from Europe where its the hardest region to qualify!
Hope Nadal can take down Djokovic today.
@Ziva – 100% correct. Which coach would not have us in second place in this group? Idiots.
our u21’s beat ukraine 2 – 0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsAes6mzs-8
@Toronto Croatia……. I love soccer. I can easily enjoy the World Cup with or without Cro, especially with Strucnjak Stimac leading this team. Actually, without them I don’t have to watch a game with wreched emotion. I wont lose any tears if we fail to qualify, nobody should.
@NK Susak……..injuires are part of the game. Plus, Da Silva was missed during the Euros. we played well without him.
I see all this talk about how Stimac has us in second place. We are in second place by default. A blind monkey coaching the team would also have us in second place. This group is garbage and was garbage when the draw was announced. To me, Belgium was the clear #1 in the group. I expected us to be in second fighting with the serbs for that spot. The serbs shit themselves early on and this just might be one of the easiest groups in Europe.
I just find it hard to accept that we pressed Spain in the group stage of the euro cup played well against Italy (even though we didn’t make it out of our group) I was happy with our fight, will and overall play. Now we cant press a young serbian team, lose to Scotland’s B team, barely beat Wales struggled with Macedonia. I mean we dont have that many different players but we do have a different coach. Yes we are still in 2nd place and have a chance to qualify and i hope we do, but with this type of play we will struggle in Brazil.
DA! says:
@ Sude mi what has he done in your opnion go back to his games in qualyfing
Not sure I understand your question but I reiterate, notwithstanding the last two group games, he has them in a position to qualify for Brazil in a two game playoff.
P.S. Prior to the Scotland game, everyone was pleased as punch. I’m the first to admit they are currently playing pretty poorly, but there are also too many pametnjaki on this site who will cry the roof is falling in, when it isn’t.
Now, if they crash and burn in the playoff, let’s talk.
Come on Eduardo was 5 years ago and at that time it hurt but time to get over that Bilic made a good team in 2008 2010 the team dcline and 2012 it rose alittle again and Stimac will kill it 2014 imo if he doesnt take his head out of mamics ass
@ NK Susak – what you’re saying isnt so wrong, but in a sentence you’re saying Eduardo carried the team. He was incredible, I agree with that…he scored on half a chance and didnt need much more…but its been a long time since then!
@ Sude mi what has he done in your opnion go back to his games in qualyfing
@ nepoznat
tebow fiasco
middle finger to a dolphins fan
countless Super Bowl predicitions
admitting to “losing the pulse of the team”
on and on and on….
dude is a grade A loser and complete bafoon
I feel the national team has never recovered from one particular incident. Before yous all get your panties in a bunch, yea there are many new players that werent around, but the core is still here when it happened. The moment is, the shattering of Eduardos foot. The team before his injury just had a different feel to them. That team created chances from nothing. If we went down a goal, there was always a feeling of we were gonna get it back right away and Eduardo was the one that bailed us out most of the time. If we played like shit, we found a way to squeak out a win. That feeling has never returned. Notice I say “that team” because this current team is totally different even though many players are the same. Yes injuries happen to all teams and the good ones find a way to overcome them, but all im saying is Martin Taylor not only shattered Eduardos foot, but my own confidence that this team can play a so so game and still win. Hopefully someone comes along and restores it. Rebic would be a prime candidate.
Could the Repka be coached better? Yes.
But with that being said we are still holding second place in the group…
There are nations which would kill to be in second place of their group right now.
So lets give Stimac a chance to finish the qaulifying campaign.
And for idiotic comments like Ziva Istina’s “either way I can enjoy the World Cup with or without our guys playing in it.”
Fuck you… no red blooded Croatian would ever say they would enjoy the World Cup without Croatia in it.
@ nepoznat
when has it been ridiculous? in 2009? in 2010? it’s 2013 dude and last year I’m not sure the Jets were even top 10 in the league in terms of defense.
plus, I don’t care if he’s a defensive genius or the second coming of bog, the man is a disgrace to the franchise. a complete fuckin bafoon. Look at the disaster he cause with this whole QB competition… Look at how he’s protected Sanchez these last years when he’s easily one of the worst starting QB’s in the NFL. Look at all the bonehead comments he’s made which usually lands him on the back page of the sports section of the Daily News, Post, etc.
Hate to say it, but you know who our next head coach should emulate (cause you know Rex won’t be around after this year….) – our fellow Croatian-American, Bill Belichick, head coach of the Pats. The man knows how to work his talent, stays out the media, no bone head comments, no stupid moves, no controversey. He sticks to what he needs to do – win. Which he’s very good at, unfortunately for us Jets fans.
He has them in position to qualify for Brazil. Hasn’t done anything for this team?
Some of you people have left your objectivity at the door….
Just funny how Stmac hasnt done anything with this team he has made it worse, his tactics against serbia was terrible and playing mandzo eduaro olic as wingers lol Rakitic a winger lol Lovren LB hahahah, the team that should have play when everyone healthy Pletikosa Srna Carli Joe Strinic -Kovacic Modric Perisic Rakitic-Mandzukic Rebic.
I’m a Jet fan too Armada but getting rid of Rex would be a huge mistake. The guy is a defensive genius, yes he leaves a lot to be desired as a HC but the defense is ridiculous under him.
The real problem is the owner, all he cares about is back page headlines, jersey sales (see Favre and Tebow moves) and Mitt Romney but not about winning football games
I would go with Vladimir Petković as coach of the repka first Niko Kovac second.
speaking of football ala amerikanac
know what’s worse than dealing with all this Croatian NT bullshit? or being a fan of the most beloved team in the world, Hajduk?
it’s being a NY Jets fan, which I am.
and if anyone need prayers, it’s the Jets. looks like one of my prayers has been answered in that the Sanchize looks to probably never start a game again …. now my other prayer needs to be answered that Sexy Rexy gets the boot – then perhaps my Jets can become a somewhat respectable franchise again…
stupid luck on that win vs. Tampa – I don’t see Geno stringing together enough wins to even sniff the wild card…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVw3Z_-V7FI
this Croatia has a plan Niko Kovac
@ Mishko i watched it on some stream and very nice and some of those players really look good not basing this on this one game but i watch every hnl game and report on young croats around europe
@DA, did you see the U21 game today? Kovac set the team up great. He’s definitely my pick or Kranjcar.
He sucks hes no coach he sold himself to mamic man i hate this guy so hard to navijati for Croatia since he has been coach man the only time i was into a game was the 2 serbs derbis i from Swiss trashing to bashing rakitic in the first game to being a sore luzer calling up sammir starting radosevic against belgium man what has he done not one solid game remeber we can thank Simunic and Pletikosa and other team kiksing for our success so far Coward yes Coach no Niko Kovac next coach please nice job today thats how you play modern football.
Wow just read this article.
http://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/nogomet/reprezentacije/mamic-stimcu-necu-okrenuti-ledza-ni-ako-se-ne-plasira-u-brazil—302061.html
Who the FUCK is Mamic to say he wont turn his back on Stimac even if Croatia doesn’t qualify for the world cup?
Whats his status in HNS? He pretends to act like hes nobody but with that comment right there you can see whats going on. If your a nobody you don’t make statements like that. Dude needs to be executed!!!!
Yep, Italy and Spain did enough to get out of the group stage.
I don’t care about BiH and their teams, but here is how a coach should handle controversy or a tough game……http://m.sportsport.ba/vijest/bh_kosarka-113352.html
@ Ziva
By your reckoning Stimac played conservative football against Serbia which was perfectly justified to guarantee the playoff place.
I believe Croatia won the first leg due to Turkeys downfall as opposed to Croatia’s uprising. Once again our goals came from two set pieces and one looping cross to a far post header.
And regarding your seeding comment, you actually bring forward a case which contradicts your argument. We drew with Italy 1-1 and lost to Spain in the last minute however if it was a knockout tie and we weren’t desperate to score that would’ve been a draw too. You know what happens at the end of 90 minutes when a team draws in the knockout stage? The game goes on. If Croatia were in an easier group they could’ve taken Italy and Spain to extra time going by the group stage performances and guess what, those two teams both ended up in the final.
@nije bitno
I’m a long-time Steeler fan, it’s going to hurt this year to say that…..sadness.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE GREATEST RED CARD EVER. Croatia, of course involved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3IWx9I1eE0
.
On another note, my Tittsburgh Feelers (good fantasy name) looked hideous yesterday! I usually be upset at that kind of effort and play but I’m too drained from Fridays match.
On a side note, and off topic lets not forget Big Joe’s 3 yellow cards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caYdeTLSW-o
.
@Ziva I know your comment is meant to be sarcastic, but seeing what multiculturalism and DIEverSHITTY is doing to this country I don’t want it to happen there. A large percentage of our brothers and sisters back home are fricken brainwashed and they just don’t realize that the politically INCORRECT is actually correct.
Just saying.
.
@anonymous above – You didn’t see the game but you know exactly what happened? We didn’t play offensive the whole game. You are wrong.
You also contradict yourself – If they allow Chetnik comments, how do you call the people who run this site politically correct?
Your middle paragraph makes no sense. Get to know the people on here. Some people lean right, some left. We don’t try and make comments that compliment each other so we all sound alike. We are all different – get it?
@ Anonymous – predicting Belgium 1st was the impression people had…losing to Scotland wasn’t part of the reason we thought we most likely would have finished second…most here believed if we lost to anyone it would have been to Belgium. the recent games have been dismal…which is why when you look at where we’re at and then remove the coaches antics, public comments, tactical and selection blunders…yeah…Stimac is a failure!
your last two paragraphs are confusing…use a translator please!
hey man, you leave us backwards ass american-born ustase-loving biggest hrvati on the planet, alone. We decide what is politically correct around here.
http://youtu.be/4YodXJd6j6I
Everybody (including here) predicted Belgium to finish 1st, Croatia locks up a playoff spot w/ two games to spare, and Stimac is a failure? And a draw keeps Croatia in contention for 1st place whereas a loss would not. I didn’t see the game, but the impression I get here is that Croatia played defensive in the 1st half & offensive in the 2nd half, and both results were a draw.
It’s funny that someone would criticize the Croatian & Serbian coaches for “fighting WW2”, when clowns on this site have called Serbians “Chetniks” several hundred times; clowns that know absolute shit about politics/war to boot.
And last, it’s hilarious that this site has the nerve to intimate that anyone is a “coward” when this site is run by politically correct pussies.
Bilic took the right approach in that return leg against Turkey. When you are defending a 3-0 lead you play conservative soccer. You do nothing to let the opponent think they have a chance to get back into the tie. So, is Bilic an idiot for the return leg and a genious for the first leg? Is that right???? Too many people think a coach is great if the win and an idiot if they lose. Some team win despite of their coach and some teams win because of their coach.
As for trying to get a seeded position and easier group. You know who worries about getting an easier group at the Euros or WC, teams that can’t beat the top tier. That’s who. We couldn’t beat Italy and Spain in group, so what makes anyone think we would beat them in the knockout phase. You play who is in front of you.
to dig even deeper with Stico, look where the guy comes from – Hercegovina. He was born with that criminal/shiesty gene… What can you really expect from the guy?
😀 heheheh
I like your thoughts on man selection CroatHrvat, always telling of managers when they can spot who has something left and who doesn’t.
One thing to add, young players bring HUNGER which is in short supply.
Agree re Simunic, majstore!
Oh, and further to that I was very impressed with Jelavic’s performance. I like Mandzukic and Jelavic together, many said it doesn’t work but I have nothing but good memories of Croatia – Ireland 3-1, Croatia – Italy 1-1, Croatia – Macedonia 1-0, Croatia – Belgium 1-1. Positive results if you ask me.
PS – Simunic has achieved legendary status for me.
I think people here are forgetting Croatia’s games against Greece and Georgia under Bilic, no better than the current performances. Not to mention the most overlooked game in Croatian history, Turkey at home in the 2nd leg two years ago…absolutely awful performance that everyone dismissed because of the prior 3-0 victory, well a win at home would’ve meant an easier group at the Euros but everyone was still on a high and dismissed the game.
The problem is deeper than Stimac, I just don’t understand why it can’t be resolved.
CROATIA DO NOT CREATE CHANCES
Rakitic has to be dropped, that much I do know. His set pieces are 10/10 but this is not NFL, we don’t need a punter on the pitch for 90 minutes. He’s static and slow, it’s like playing Lampard right midfield, it’s not effective at international level. Good luck to the kid at Sevilla, but for now he is not needed. We have a player like Rebic who I think should be forced in at the deep end like Kovacic and Rodosevic were and become our new winger. Olic’s time is up as well. It may be too soon for someone like Halilovic so get Perisic out there and play with two proper wingers. We have center midfielders in Modric, Kocavic, Vukojevic, Badelj etc. Either player 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 or 3 centre backs. You can’t be bringing Eduardo on the wings or playing in the hole, he is a finisher and belongs in the penalty area.
What we saw in Belgrade had nothing to do with soccer. It was a stage used in a continuating personal feud between Stimac and Mihailjovic.
Stimac wanted to eliminate Serbia on their own ground and didn’t care if he was retarding the growth or promotion of Croatian soccer.
He used the players and us fans and didn’t care – as long as he had the chance to walk out of Marakana with a smirk on his face.
When you still have a chance for first place, you go for it, even if it means opening up your defense and possibly losing the match to get the goals you need – you still go for it.
Both countries deserve more than having two coaches who, in their minds, are still fighting World War II. Fucking Neanderthals – both of them.
…and I let his comments over the weekend speak for themselves.
I will admit, I always get a laugh out of Mamic & Stimac. Especially in contrast to the sporting / politically correct culture here in North America. For example, can you imagine guys like Robert Kraft / Bill Belichik speaking to the media here in the same manner as the aforementioned dumb and dumber tag team?
LOL
Congrats to our Basketball team in Eurobasket. And to our U21 boys taking it to Ukraine 2-0!
does anyone know if the players have been complaining about stimac?
@Sude Mi……nothing has changed. I haven’t wavered that I thought Belgium was better and would win the group.
I am critical of our play. Our last few games (go all the way back to the Wales match) have not been well played.
Ziva – i didn’t mention his ability to read a game and come up with tactile strategies to win a game because that now is apparent. No need to mention that , any idiot can see it. But your right, he has no knowledge of coaching outside of being a decent back in his day.
@Sude Mi – at this comment…”You boys put waaaaaay too much emphasis on the coach” – sorry dude but you have noooooo idea what you are talking about whatsoever! Many times a great coach with a less quality team will beat a far more talented team with less quality coaching. I’m only trying to tell you that your comment is 100% wrong…I’m not trying to personally attack you.
“Which players played well in Beograd”? – the defense played solid, Modric from a defensive standpoint did very well…Mandzukic worked incredibly hard to get behind the ball and help his team defend…he also pressured the Serbs defenders, when Kovacic came in he played well, changed the pace of the game and put the Serbs on defense in some occassions, Pletikosa played well.
“Which players played well in Beograd” – the system was wrong and the lack of being able to get the team to adapt was terrible, Rakitic was a liability, Eduardo and Olic weren’t involved but not for lack of effort moreso because they werent being fed the ball…Croatia had no answers…they couldnt break out of their end in the first half, the pressure was overwhelming…all coaches responsibilities!
Who is really surprised by the lack of talent from the national coaches? Stimac is as useless as all of the previous coaches except for Blazevic. One of Bilic’s players from his last club called him an idiot with no skill. It’s obvious more games than not.
You boys put waaaaaay too much emphasis on the coach.
Furthermore, I would expect Stimac’s back would be that we are locked into second place and on target to progress with an easier opponent by being ranked when the match-ups are made up.
Ziva, you indicated initially before qualifying started that you expected Belgium to win the group based on their SUPERIOR talent.
What has changed?
Until this Savez has an epiphany (good luck with that) and brings in a world class coach irrespective of nationality, you will no doubt see the same endless parade of puppets.
P.S. Which players played well in Beograd?
I don’t care if a coach inspires or not. There are way too many examples of coaches who were hated by their players but still performed and got results. Stimac’s fault is his inability to read a game and make needed adjustments. The main job of a coach is to put his players in the best position to go out and perform and win the game. We don’t have that with this idiot. But, one thing is enjoyable and that is watching Stimac implode in front of us. lets see if that implosion includes missign out on Brazil 2014.
Hopefully I’m not the only one watching this game. The U21 look twice as good as the NT, exciting times. But like Nije Bitno and others have mentioned, at the end of the day it’s the coach that inspires and makes the tactic.
Stimac along with Mamic are conniving pieces of shit. There is no better word that defines those two men than (conniving)!
Shaddy ass men that make no sense in their arguments, be little people every chance they get (Mamic), and like how Stimac did with the NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac guys.
Denis – I was also one of the guys that thought Stimac would be better than Bilic cause i thought he would be more strict and demand respect from the players more than Bilic did. I also thought that after his huge public feud with Mamic over the HNS presidential election, he would not collaborate with Mamic and help destroy the HNS due to personal interests. I always thought Stico was a Hrvatina but i was wrong.
The worst part is, if you read all the media after the game we are all on the same boat and saw and realized the same thing and yet Stimac can look at the camera and continue to lie and make him seem like the guy and we are all the bad guys that don’t mean well for Croatia lol
Conniving pieces of shit that all they are (Stimac and Mamic)
Now they’re trying to get fancy, but they look good.
Is Ante Rebic the son of Chuck Liddell?
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/3965/g7ze.jpg
.
Second goal, great pass by Rebic. The kid is on fucking fire.
.
Great pass by Kovacic, speed by Rebic, quick step to the right and then straight into the near post.
Goal
The firstsports stream is better
Is it just me of is Rebic fast as shit? He reminds me of a freight train. TooT Too. Coming through.
.
@Garden State Cro FC
ME LIKEY!!!
I see a few Sammirica’s made the team too.
@Ziva
“the funny thing with all of this is that Strucnjak Stimac the TV commentator would never approve of the style of play from Strucnjak Stimac the national team coach.”
Hilarious, and oh so true! 🙂
good or bad time will tell.If we win world cup he will be best ever…if we don’t he will be worst ever.:)
In a men time take a look at our girls from last photoshoot :)…they will make you smile
http://gscroatiafc.com/gs-croatia-fc-first-ever-photoshoot/
if the streams don’t work for you, use this Match Center as backup:
http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2015/matches/live/day=18/session=1/match=2011470/index.html
potential stream to the U21 game today:
http://firstrowus1.eu/watch/206450/1/watch-ukraine-vs-croatia,-u21.html
the funny thing with all of this is that Strucnjak Stimac the TV commentator would never approve of the style of play from Strucnjak Stimac the national team coach.
Remember folks……..call you family members in Cro and urge them not to buy tickets to the Belgium game. We need an empty Maksimir stadium with only Belgium fans
another stream (first one is awaiting moderation) for the U21 game in 25 min:
http://prosocertv.blogspot.com/p/ch10.html
so many what if’s with ’98, but I always felt like if we had Sjor Ivic… we would of won the whole damn thing
@Slavonac from Canada
Igor Stimac had no idea that Slaven Bilic changed the formation from a 4-4-2 in the first half of the Croatia Italy game at Euro 2012 to a 4-2-3-1 at halftime. Stimac was doing the television commentary for the game and he had absolutely no idea Bilic made that formation change, he was utterly and completely oblivious and clueless to it and did not make a mention of it at all during the second half of the televised commentary!!
Bilic even poked fun at Stimac after the game for not knowing the formation was changed. This is the current head coach of our team. That is all.
@ Sude Mi – managers manage…managing players means you give them all assignments and they have to play according to your instructions. managers make a lineup, set the formation and tactic/strategy…if you fail in any area the team falters…tell me based on last game where Stimac succeeded?
you also said “but we do need more players to step up and be accountable”…and you’re right…who’s job is it to ensure you have the right players in the right positions to “step up”? How can you continue to change lineups, formations and strategies…provide terrible results and show HUGE inconsistencies and then say “managers manage” while refering to Stimac?
We’ll have to agree to disagree.
Players play, managers manage. In my opinion, the athletes often take way too little responsibility nowadays in many sports. It is far easier to can the coach/manager than a team full of players.
I’m not apologizing for Stimac as I will make my comments at the end of the cycle, but we do need more players to step up and be accountable.
When Stimac openly and publicly made those rude comments he just confirmed the class of person he is…I’d like to see an example of another respected leader of any National team behave like that and receive the respect of the fans! We can argue all day long about lineups, for the most part, we’ll mostly have the same lineup other than 3 or 4 differences, the major issue this team has is the lack of management…there’s absolutely no question about it. I think Mandzukic displayed a little of his frustration after the game the other day when he said “Krivo smo ga shvatili Štimca”…how can you not confirm with your players on whether they understand you or not…especially for a game like that?
I’d like to remind a few people here that are talking about the ‘golden generation” of the 98 team…they were a great team, but they barely qualified for the world cup themselve’s. They had to play a playoff as well…and if I remember correctly it was a difficult time vs Ukraine! There were a few key players back then although they were all great. Its not as if that team was far better than this one today…I remember during the first round I felt we kinda squeaked by Japan, I remember Argentins giving us huge problems and we beat Jamaica quite handidly…when we played Romania in the second round it was another nail biter but we squeaked by. My point in all this is that the 98 team wasnt some dominating force…this team we have is very good but the management is a nightmare…I hate that we have a man like Stimac lead us, he doesnt have respect from many! Back in 98 we also had some leaders that weren’t what you’d call you’re typical favorites before the world cup started…guys like mario Stanic ran miles and miles every game, Soldo and Jurcic battled in mid field…Prosinecki hardly played that tournament and the funniest thing of all was that people called Ciro a brain when the real brain wasn’t selected to be a coach of that team but MANY people felt should have…Tomislav Ivic…a true soccer brain…Ciro…a true motivator and full of himself…was lucky to coach such a talented group. He’s what hockey players today call a players coach…he was a great politician, knew how to motivate his players…but wasn’t a soccer genius many thought he was…that was Ivic.
We are missing a few pieces of the puzzle to make this team a true competitor, I truly believe the players exist in the system…its a matter of having the right selector/manager who has the experience and knowledge to form a team and system…Stimac couldn’t manage a sock drawer…he’s in way over his head!
@majstore
When you have a 17 year old on the bench (he will be a good one) that is the most striking indictment of the lack of depth in your player pool….
I too hope they will create magic in Brazil, but they have to get there first. I also actually think they will give Belgium one hell of a battle and could possibly win in Zagreb, but Belgium is pretty well home and cooled for first place in the group.
potential stream to the U21 game today:
http://firstrowus1.eu/watch/206450/1/watch-ukraine-vs-croatia,-u21.html
if the stream doesn’t work we have this Match Center as backup:
http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2015/matches/live/day=18/session=1/match=2011470/index.html
And for the record, lol @ runje, pranjic + knezevic.
Hey that’s my user name asshole !!!!!
: p
Croatia can do some real damage come brazil. I predict quarter finals.
Bring in knezevic, halilovic, and bring back runje put pranjic at LB and we are good to go.
Personally, although as the qualifying campaign goes on I find myself less and less sympathetic towards Stimac (in my opinion you don’t rush to jusde until the campaign is complete and the results are provided) I think everyone puts too little blame on the men on the field.
Let’s face it, other that Mandzo what legitimate strinking options do we have?
Other than a world-class playing in Luka, where is the plethora of top-notch battle-ready midfielders, engines of the team? Players like Rakitic, Perisic, Kovacic (who I think is still too young to count on legitimately), Vukojevic, Eduardo, Srna, Badelj are really no great shakes at their club teams. Why do we all of a sudden think they will ignite for their repka?
Bottom line, we have a good, not great European national team. Reality is that we will be seeded and get a beatable opponent in the playoff round and could very well still qualify for Brazil.
Otherwise though, I can’t see us doing anything other than playing 3 group games next summer and going home.
I like everyone else keeps waiting for that next generation like 1998 to emerge….folks, it ain’t happening anytime soon!
What an UGLY match.
I don’t know about everyone else,but that game gave me a soccer hangover.
@Denis:
I agree
@Ante K:
Great train image.
Guys I’ve been saying this for years. As a top footballing club in the world we should have a top coach. Reality is the mafia wouldn’t have control and secondly nobody would work for shit money either.
God help me we would be World Champions under a guy like Fabiano Cappello.
As someone said previously the real issue is that for some reason in recent times coaching the repka has become a first-place of employment for young coaches. That is simply unacceptable, we are a top-10 team for how many years now? We deserve a coach at the same level as our players. For heaven’s sake can we take someone with SOME experience and not gift them coaching our NT as what is usually their first bloody job !!
Also, love the Simunic pic !! LOL
Someone posted this in the other thread but for those who havent seen, i really laughed.. its BIG JOE da TERMINATOR.. rofl
LOVE THIS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKxmR1-erxg
Why don’t they take Jupp Heynckes?
But more important. Is there any talk in the Croatian media to fire Stimac?
If you consider everything, perhaps we’re going too fast. The only reason why we won’t finish first is that the Belgians almost won every game. If you analyze our results; we’ve won in Wales and Macedonia, took a point in Belgium and Serbia, beat the Serbs, the Walesmen and Macedonai at home. Stimac’ only failure was the game at home against Scotland.
And about Suker a puppet. Do you really think that Platini is a great leader. I live in Belgium I know for sure that the President of the Belgian Football Federation is an alcoholic.
But if we should take a new coach: only one name: Jupp Heynckes.
look how nice that goal is… it just makes you wonder why the shit can’t even create anything close to that regularly… they sure as shit can.
as per hiddink… man wouldn’t it be great if we had someone who could do what he can with a team
I will be the first to admit that I didnt think that Stimac was this bad. I didnt think that he was great, but a decent coach. I wasn’t too big on Bilic but didnt think that Stimac was much worse. Bilic is a god compared to Stimac.
As far as the team is concerned, Croatia has always played to the level of their opposition. Take a look at the golden generation of ’98. We went from one Greek goal against Denmark in Athens from missing the world cup to 3rd place in the world cup. Can anyone explain that?
We have had talent post ’98, we just dont have the discipline and the right coach to take us to the next level. We will have games like we had against Georgia, Scotland, Malta, Slovenia (3:3 I believe it was in ’97), and then we will have games like Germany ’98, Germany 2008, etc etc.
The mafia has been running HNS for a looooooooooooong time. Markovic and all the goons. Stimac is just a puppet in the mix.
Soccer is an interesting game. A little bit of luck and you win 3-0, a little bit of bad luck and you lose 3-0.
On a good day, we can beat Brazil. On a bad day, we lose to Scotland at home.
The HNS will not change anytime soon. I dont have high hopes for this team under this type of management.
Luckily, Croatia has had luck this qualifying tournament to be in second place. A little more luck and we squeak into the world cup. A little bad luck and Stimac is gone. However, who is the next puppet to replace this one?
let me take his (fucking Stimac) place :
this would be my plan –>
…………………..Mandzukic……………….
…..Olic……Eduardo……….Halilovic…..
………….Modric…….Kovacic……..Srna
Strinic…….Corluka…….Vida……………
……………………Pletikosa………………..
Rakitic – Worst cro player by far!!!!! Cant pass, cant tackle, cant run, is just a panzie! if u dont believe me, please, just watch him closely the whole game next time cro plays! mateo kovacic with one run in the 2nd half beat in a dribble more players in that single run than rakitic in his career! cico kranjcar had the worst cro team in terms of players in history yet only lost one game, at WC to brazil, 1-0, imagine what he’d do with this team!
Fuck me dead
HNS === One big monkey farm operation.
I really don’t want niko kovac to be his replacement! please bring in someone like hiddink or rijkaard
do we have any coaches that can make results to take stimacs spot?
Strucnjak Stimac makes it much easier to stomach if/when we are eliminated. It is so easy not to root for this team because of him. Oh well, either way I can enjoy the World Cup with or without our guys playing in it.