(During the next 30 days, starting May 10th, CroatianSports will be giving “season grades” to 30 of Croatia’s most important football players: Starting XI, bench, fringe, prospects. Grades will be given on preseason expectations vs. actual season performance; not stats.)
Day 8: Josip Juranović
Season Grade: A-
National Team: B+
Union Berlin: A
Season Highlight:
Goal and assist in 3-1 Union Berlin triumph over Ajax in the Europa League Round of 32
Shutting down Real Madrid stars Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo in Quarterfinal victory over Brazil
Wicked free-kick curler against Bochum
Team next season:
- Stay at Union Berlin (95%)
- No current rumours to leave, so I’ll give it a 5% chance of happening
What the future holds:
Juranovič has been somewhat of a revelation for the National Team, if you consider where he was just a few years ago. At Hajduk, JJ was considered nothing more than a solid HNL full-back, and after a small journey through Poland and Ireland, Juranović finally broke out once joining Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. Juranović has been on a different level with them and these performances have translated to National Team play. He’s moulded himself into a very dynamic wing-back, providing a lot in the offence and speed on the wings. A recurring downside to his play is his shaky defensive qualities, which if improved on could transform him into a potentially elite full-back (considering he is already one of the best players on a top 4 Bundesliga team). Hopefully Juranović continues his solid displays and proves useful for Croatia in the next 5 or so years, whether it be at RB, RWB or RW.
……………… Decent players ………………..
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so where is Juranovic?| below list]
Be Considered as Decent Players –
Bilic, Stanic, Corluka, Asanović, Biscan, Kranjcar,
Eduardo, Zvonimir Soldo, Pranjic, Dado Pršo, Petric
Average players
Subasic, Livaković, Vrsaljko, JURANOVIC … etc – 30% more
Not Impressive
Livaja, Petkovic, Strinic, Sosa, Barisic … etc – 50% more
Yes that’s a fair grade. Dude is versatile if anything.
He left Glasgow Celtic which at the time I thought was a mistake because he was beloved there but gladly it worked out for him.
Like you said, he’s dynamic in a way with his speed .
Every national team on earth needs and wants a player like this. Fortunately, he’s ours.
Really want to see stanisic get on a team as a starter and have JJ in front of him
Maybe Dalic doesn’t want this cause of krama or vlasic as a right wing
But JJ is most on form for a while now
Stanisic I feel is too good to leave on the bench unless he moves more central…
My thoughts exactly Dannyj.
Dalic should really stop using Vlasic on the right wing, just so pointless as it just doesn’t suit Nikola Vlasic’s game in no shape or form.