Written by Markus & CroatiaU14
After months of speculation, German and Croatian media outlets confirm that Josip Stanišić has officially committed to playing with the Croatian national team. With an aging Šime Vrsaljko as Croatia’s number one right-back and Legia Warsaw’s Josip Juranović as option #2, Stanišić’s skills at the right-back position are exactly what the Vatreni need at the moment. Stanišić is a 21 year-old German-born Croatian, and has been capped by Germany’s U19 squad twice. He is already becoming a key player for European giants Bayern Munich, and started in the opening game of the 2021-2022 Bundesliga season. Stanišić is set to play his first match for Croatia’s U21 squad on September 2nd against Azerbaijan.
Stanišić is an incredibly versatile player, which makes him such a valuable asset to any national team. He can play all across the defensive line at right-back, left-back and center-back. He has also been deployed as a defensive and central midfielder for Bayern in the past. Patiently climbing through their youth ranks, Stanišić has earned his call-up to the senior Bayern squad. An impressed Julian Nagelsmann announced Stanišić in the starting lineup at right-back against their bogey team, Borussia Monchengladbach. Stanišić had an amazing game considering that just last season he was playing in the German 3rd division. Offensively, Josip was one of Bayern’s biggest creators. He recorded one key pass, 50% cross accuracy, two shots on target, one off target, and many progressive runs. He recorded a solid 80.9% pass accuracy as well. Defensively, Josip had a great game bar two mistakes. After saving a sure goal in the first five minutes of the match, he was caught too far up the pitch and did not make it back in time to help his central defenders make up for Alphonso Davies’ lazy turnover in the middle of the pitch, resulting in a goal for Borussia. 10 minutes before he was subbed off, Stanišić looked a bit gassed and was dribbled by twice, catching back up once and lucking out the second time by a Marcus Thuram mistake. Overall, Stanišić was the most defensively sound Bayern defender of the match. We saw him drift up and down the field, to the midfield near Joshua Kimmich, as well as to the opposite side of the pitch in order to support Davies on the left.
Just take a look at his heat map below:
In his Bundesliga debut last season against Union Berlin, Stanišić played as a left-back. Below is his heat map, showing yet again how progressive he is despite putting up impressive defensive numbers.
In his professional career, Stanišić has played:
- Right-back in 40 appearances, scoring one goal and assisting twice
- Center-back in 39 appearances, scoring two goals and assisting once
- Left-back in 4 appearances, assisting once
- Right midfield in 1 appearance
- Defensive midfield in 1 appearance
Keep in mind, he was a central-defensive midfielder in his youth days.
Fun fact: Josip Stanišić recorded the second fastest speed of yesterday’s match at a lightning quick 33.05 km/h, only behind the speedy Alphonso Davies.
It’s been a long time since Croatia had a reliable defense. Even during our legendary 2018 World Cup run, the Vatreni faithful had to sit through inconsistent performances from Domagoj Vida and Dejan Lovren – who still remain boneheads to this day! With elite talents such as Joško Gvardiol, Mario Vušković, Borna Sosa, Duje Ćaleta-Car, and now Josip Stanišić, Croatia is a couple years away from fielding a world class backline. Sosa and Stanišić possess the offensive skills needed on the flank, and have proven to be very strong defensively. Ćaleta-Car and Vušković are top-notch defenders with great vision, ball skills, and aerial ability. And as for Gvardiol, we already know how special he is with his stunning pace, dribbling skills, and work ethic.
Stanišić has the potential to become the best Croatian right-back the nation has seen. Starting for Bayern Munich at the age of 21 puts a lot of expectations on his name, and only time will tell us if he has the ability to beat the pressure and perform. Josip has big shoes to fill due to Darijo Srna, and now Šime Vrsaljko’s impressive accolades with the Croatian national team. It is fair to say that Darijo and Šime are already Vatreni legends – but the real question is, can Stanišić become one too?
Way it should be. No way he was going to commit to Germany. Pure Croatian blood. Makes you wonder what could’ve been if Pulisic, Ibrahimovic or Illic played for us. Others too that were offered across Europe and other ones.
They’re not pure Croatian blood. Bit of a difference
Again great post @poglavnik. Agree wholeheartedly.
True but Bosnian’s and Croats are similar, specially Slovenians…
Ilicic is
It’s natural that Stanisic chooses to play for Croatia–where his heart is at. It’s difficult for him to play for team filled with turkish, africans, and others. He would rather play with his own people.
But boy do we need him. I don’t like this Biscan calling him up business. He should be called up to the A selection right away. I mean who do we have better than him there, Juranovic? Gimme a break.
With an injury prone and not yet fully fit Vrsajko, Stanisic should be getting minutes at RB.
I just hope this isn’t another case where we fail to integrate our youth. Cause I’m not too happy with the old guarde. Lovren is guaranteed to give away 1 penalty per group stage (ie: czech ’21, iceland ’18).
As we poach every semi Croat who can’t speak a word of the mother tongue from Austria Switzerland Australia etc etc
Nothing worse than a hypocrite!
Funny, pretty sure Sučić speaks almost perfect Croatian, and Stanišić can converse as well.
Yeah rakitic and pulisic too lol who we were so butt hurt over not choosing us?
Address the poaching aspect now Markus.
I see it as levelling the playing field, somewhat. Croatia never colonized Africa, South America, or anywhere else for that matter, so we don’t have that supply of foreign talent that France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and England have at their disposal. As well, being part of a communist nation, and post independence, a poor nation, Croatia was never a draw for the immigrants that Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland had, which deepens their talent pools. The players from the diaspora who represent Croatia all were born with Croatian blood, and it is a testament to their affinity to the country of their parent’s birth that these world class players shun the nation of their birth to play for Croatia.
Tko kaze da ne prica?? Moras svatit da Hrvati iz BiH su morali bijezati…. kovacic I pasalic… oni su rodeni u “exile”
Tko kaze da ne prica?? Moras svatit da Hrvati iz BiH su morali bijezati…. kovacic I pasalic… oni su rodeni u “exile”
Tko kaze da ne prica?? Moras svatit da Hrvati iz BiH su morali bijezati…. kovacic I pasalic… oni su rodeni u “exile”
Tko kaze da ne prica?? Moras svatit da Hrvati iz BiH su morali bijezati…. kovacic I pasalic… oni su rodeni u “exile”
This isn’t a knock on the Germans but their FAs business practices. The Western FAs are just scumy business machines. They don’t even care if most of team is comprised of Auslanders. This is Modern football.
German FA tried to steal Sosa, and now they lose Stanišić.
Bierhoff (and his Petrović murdering wife) deserve this, lol.
Germany will be fine. These guys know Croatia will give them a shot and can crack the lineup. Kovac and Prosinecki could’ve played for Germany. I think Pasalic as well but it would be difficult for them to blend in with Germany. Germany has youth that are decent and the system they play is much different.
A great sign for our future depth on defense.Had no idea the kid has that pace.
I’m not sold on gvardiol after his debacle against Spain…yes I know he’s young but those mental mistakes were atrocious let’s hope that was a one off!