Both Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol played the full 90 minutes Tuesday night in a crazy 2-0 victory over Spurs in North London. The game easily could have gone either way, however, City capitalized on their chances while Spurs did not; kissing any chance of Champions League football next season goodbye. With the win, City now hold a 2-point lead on Arsenal heading into the last match of the season Sunday. City will host West Ham as Arsenal face Everton. A Manchester City win would crown them as 2024 Premier League champions. That would mean Croatian internationals would take league titles in three out of Europe’s top four leagues: Kovačić and Gvardiol (England), Modrić (Spain), and Stanišić (Germany). Talk about riding high going into Euro 2024, which is 30 days away. Add a blazing hot Kramarić to the list with both Perišić and Budimir returning full time may be a true recipe for success.
Gvardiol was given a 6/10 grade from 90min.com as he “Found a new swagger in attack following his recent spate of goals, though was unable to convert on this occasion.” Kova received an average 5/10 grade as he was “A level below his teammates tactically, but that’s understandable given he’s still in his first season in such a setup.” Honestly, not the best first season for Kova at City with only one goal and zero assists in 29 matches. I just feel he has to become more aggressive offensively, just as Modrić did later in his career at Real Madrid. I pray the day comes.
I would ignore nonsense on this forum and in general…
In the end you waste energy and time trying to change poop that is going to smell no matter what you try to do or say
I’m really hoping this is our big chance to do something and take this Euro tournament. I’m liking how this potential roster is going to look.it looks like we are going to have a strong team who are ready to make it happen this time.
Ante, or whoever is on moderation duties. My reply to anonymous is considered, sensible and historical and scientifically factual. If anons comments are allowed and my response isn’t….. Free speech I believe in. I’ve never asked anyone to be blocked or cancelled. But if the one person who is responding to the racism is blocked then I can only assume you are a racist. And I will be exploring legal avenues. Have a good day.
The moderation is automated and usually blocks your comment if you use an insult or bad word (even very mild ones).
I wish I could be present when you bring your case to a lawyer…
As much as I agree with you about anonymous being an obvious racist. Free Speech means that the government can’t prosecute you, it doesn’t mean a private website can’t block your comments.
Ok. I really can’t be bothered to do this. It’s a waste of my time and usually it doesn’t do any good, but I’m going to address the comments by our brave racist friend Anon. Where to start?
Ok so I looked up this Chinedu kid. Saw his photo. He is a really light skinned boy. Presumably, since he was born in Croatia, I’m going to assume that he has a Croatian mother. Which makes him precisely as Croatian as I am, and probably as Croatian as many of the people who frequent this site. (Maybe even anon himself). He is precisely as Croatian as Robert prosinecki.
2. He is born in Croatia and has Croatian citizenship
3. If his name is the problem then perhaps let’s take a look at gvardiol, a distant relative of pep guardiola presumably, it’s not a Croat name and comes from somewhere else. Probably Spain. Are we saying gvardiol shouldn’t play for Croatia because he is from foreign DNA and name? Pathetic
4. What percentage of the Croatian population is made of foreigners? It seems to me that worrying about black players filling the Croatian team amounts to a stunning lack of faith in “Croat” DNA. Right? Are black people inherently superior to Croats or something? So that despite the tiny percentage of the population who are black they are all going to suddenly fill up the national team? Again, pathetic loser mentality
5. As I’ve mentioned before Croatia is not like France. Croatia is not an imperialist country, a fact of which I’m proud and so should you be, seeing as colonialism is a crime. Therefore it does not have countries around the world where the population feels a completely justified right to follow the wealth stolen from their lands to the place that stole it.
6. Race is a construct not a biological marker. Racial classification comes from the need to justify slavery and colonialism. Before 500 years ago skin colour was not seen as important. Racism is a legacy of a brutal form of violent and criminal theft. It continues to linger like a bad smell, living rent free in the heads of people who want a scapegoat for their personal frustrations. It is utterly idiotic and there is not a sane man on the planet who believes in it.
7. You’re an idiot. Shut up
I hope some how that Orsic is ready and healthy and gets called for the Euros.
He can give a spark when needed and has earned a spot on our team. Bring Vida as a hype man staff member he doesn’t have to be on the player roster.
Will see Euros are right around the corner!!
Oršić would play well for us too.
His mother is Croatian, FYI.
Croatians have left for better pastures to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and left our people to fend for themselves.
The Nepalinos, Philippinos, Africans, Brazilians, with 4-6 children per women, have tacitly been given permission to take it over, as long as they clean our rental inherited B&B’s, and run our souvenir shops for cheap. Seems to me, Croatia has tacitly handed over self-rule and independence when we entered the European union.
Sad, when I walk the streets downtown LA, versus walking the Rivas of the islands of Dalmatia, I wonder why anyone would come to the US. I realize it was a purely stark economic decision, in the early 1900’s, to sell your Croatian future, for a rising US Christian European immigrant country, that was not in debt by $35 trillion dollars.
Seems like everyone I know is desiring to go back or at least get their dual citizenship papers.
I say if you need to hire a foreigner to run your restaurant or B&B, maybe close down your business.
Likewise, if we need others to play our soccer, to be good, shut it down.
Hey Admins, @kvartuc,
Can we run some bans on the dumb posts? They bring absolutely nothing to any of the conversations and are just spamming by cowards.
Thank you
Facebook group
African Diaspora in Croatia – ADC
Wow. 2018 is going to go down as peak hrvatski team. Where the players were hrvats. Going to look like the French North African football team soon
Guys
I think I found Francis Chinedu Echue on twitter
Here’s a post where he talks about “worms on my head” (reference to his dreads ?)
x.com/lvl1chin/status/1789039018849571177
Serbs are laughing at us
Why would Serbs be laughing?
They’ve had tons of non Serbs on their team over the years and still finish last in tournaments (in the few that they’ve qualified for).
Yo Dalic
Can you call up Belinho for the 25th spot for the Euros ?
We want to make sure he gets capped for Croatia
He is still eligible to Brazil and we don’t want them to steal him from us
Bhahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaah
Yo Dalic
Can you call up Francis Chinedu Echue for the 26th spot for the Euros ?
We want to make sure he gets capped for Croatia
He is still eligible to Nigeria and we don’t want them to steal him from us
Bhahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaah
U15 vs. Morocco y’day 2-1 @ Vlatko Markovic tournament
***.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ra3EBrCzk
Did u c who scored winning goal for us in the 76′ ? (see 209′ minute in vid)
Francis Chinedu Echue #5 striker, lol
https://semafor.hns.family/en/players/394953/francis-chinedu-echue/
Look what happens when he scored – the entire bench runs to the winger who made the fast run to set up the goal – not Echue (who took his shirt off, lol) – not one player celebrated with him – not one.
Born in Zagreb. Gorica prospects.
Croatia has officially become the new France or Germany (where are all the geniuses that said they are proud Croatia isn’t like like France or Germany, lol – you live in a fantasy world)
No more Kuna (not even a referendum) and now we have Echue as our #1 striker prospect, lol
Serbs are laughing at us !!!
btw: anyone know why no exploited favela Belinho yesterday ?
In 4 years our starting 11 will include Belinho and Echue
And some clowns on here are against us pursuing guys like Pukstas because he “should” play for Lithuanian or the US, lol
Croatia play vs. England in the final game today (we already lost 0-2 to USA in the first game)
He is, obviously, also eligible to play for Nigeria, lol
Dalic
an absolute shit coach.
we were supposed to win World Cup 2018
if I were him -> Rebic would mark Mbappe
and the night before the final match – should have
to do a test for Subasic and the substitute keepers
| Subashit would not give up on it, then tell him
to leave after 2 goals / 1 easy goal — for sure I will do that!!
You sir, are a Pylon
When’s Dalic announcing 1st list for euro 2024 squad?
I read Monday which would make sense as that is basically always when he announces his squads. I personally think 25/26 spots on the final roster are just about set and the last spot is up for grabs with Nikola Vlasic out injured. This is what I’m thinking:
GK:
Dominik Livakovic
Ivica Ivusic
Nediljko Labrovic or Dominik Kotarski
DEF:
Josko Gvardiol
Josip Stanisic
Josip Sutalo
Josip Juranovic
Borna Sosa
Martin Erlic
Domagoj Vida
Marin Pongracic
MID:
Luka Modric
Mateo Kovacic
Marcelo Brozovic
Mario Pasalic
Lovro Majer
Luka Ivanusec
Luka Sucic
Martin Baturina
FWD:
Andrej Kramaric
Ivan Perisic
Bruno Petkovic
Ante Budimir
Marko Pjaca
Marco Pasalic
The only people on this that I could see as potential doubts would be Baturina or Pongracic. Last spot would be up for grabs. Likely for one of these guys:
Borna Barisic, Marin Ljubicic, Igor Matanovic, Duje Caleta-Car, Mislav Orsic, Niko Sigur, Toni Fruk, Kristijan Jakic, Josip Brekalo, Nikola Moro, Domagoj Bradaric, Veldin Hodza, Petar Sucic, Robert Ljubicic, Josip Misic, Niko Jankovic, Niko Galesic, Marin Soticek, Petar Musa, Matija Frigan, Dion Drena Beljo, Filip Uremovic, Anton Matkovic, Franjo Ivanovic.
One of the first 10 or so names are the most likely but it will really depend if Dalic is looking for someone who may actually get minutes or maybe just take a young gun for the experience?
I think you pretty much spot on with your list.
Your list is pretty much it.
Hopefully Orsic makes it (I’m not sold on Pjaca). But I can’t see him Dalic calling up Orsic.
He would probably call up Duje Caleta-Car over him, despite already having 8 defenders. I could see Dalic going with 26 players with 9 of them being defenders (leaving us short of depth at LW).
Has to be it because there’s nobody left.
I think Baturina is a guarantee. I would be very surprised if he were cut. I think he’s ahead of Sucic even.
The only real wildcard out of these youth players that has a chance is maybe Matanovic (only because there may be some truth to the media reports, and the kid is still eligible to play for Germany).
I’d have to disagree and say Sucic is higher in the pecking order and is likely to play a more significant role, at least off the bench, with Vlasic out. He would probably be a more regular for the national team if he hadn’t of gotten hurt at this point. Consistently plays well at club level as well, while Baturina has been pretty streaky. He’s also a different profile to the rest of the midfielders on the roster. Baturina has more of a similar profile to the likes of Modric, Kovacic, & Majer.
I do see both of them making the team and getting minutes though. I just expect Sucic to get more due to the need of more attack in midfield and potentially needing a midfielder to play on the right.
As for the final spot that I mentioned, it really should just go to Matanovic, Marin Ljubicic, Sigur, or maybe Orsic like you mentioned. These guys play positions where they could potentially provide some impact even if they get very limited minutes. Matanovic & Ljubicic at forward where, yes we have some options, but none of them are really set in stone. Petkovic and Budimir will dominate the striker spot with the potential for Kramaric to play there a bit but we can have a different look with either of them off the bench if we’re chasing a game. Sigur, on the other hand, would be solid for depth at defensive mid, which we have none of at the moment. He also plays RB and while Juranovic and Stanisic can cover that, it doesn’t hurt to have another option since Juranovic can also slot over at LB in a pinch.
Orsic is a shoe in for me when healthy. However, he’s only had short cameos off the bench since returning from injury at Trabzonspor. I wouldn’t mind the call up because we know that he can still provide a good shot and decisive passes from the left but there are question marks as to whether he still has that explosive turn of pace he had pre-injury.
There’s also Brekalo for the left but he’s really got to turn his career around to be considered to me. He and Vlasic were both great when they first started in break into the national team. Both showed us a different look and played like they wanted to prove a point. But along with Rebic, Brekalo was one of the biggest losers after the Euro 2020 debacle and has been average to below average since. Been showing little flashes at Hajduk but nothing really to write home about.
Duje Caleta-Car has to be in there, probably instead of Pongračić or Vida. DCC has had a great season at Lyon and was the first one off the bench (and looked good) at the middle east tournament.
It would be great if Vida were left off the roster but hired as a team assistant so that Matanović and Ljubičić could both be called up. One reason Croatia used to score so many goals is that the team included four central strikers. Having a couple young, fast strikers available would be helpful late in games to put extra pressure on tired defenses or to save the legs of Petković and Budimir in games that we are winning.
We all hope kova can get to another level, but even if he doesn’t If he can keep the calmness and control we need reliably like pep asks for then hey we make it all work
Hopefully he hits that after 30 Croatia next level stuff tho
Agree with Miki below, I thought Gvardiol was very lively. He had an off pass here and there, and also could have done better with a header chance, but overall he was excellent. The TV announcers also praised his play most chances they got.
Kova was more than OK also. He still fails to produce the spectacular play (as well as the goals/assist numbers), yet somehow Pep is trusting him more and more to play. He seems to be a crucial “glue” in the midfield that can be always relied upon. He won’t score many blistering goals, but his teammates trust his technical skill to help get them out of jams, which he often does.
Overall, we are peaking at many positions right now.
Good analysis by both of you. I watched, and they are playing really well. Pep trusts Kova for stability in the midfield, and I also believe Rodri feels comfortable playing next to him. Most fans were quick to dismiss Kova in the beginning, but he is proving his worth. Pep has a specific role for him, and he always delivers. Gvardiol is on an unbelievable upward trajectory…it’s too bad for him that the season is ending, because he’s finally found his MOJO. Can’t wait for the Euros!!!
Kovacic seems like an ideal CDM for us this summer with Modric playing higher up in the 10 slot.
Gvardiol and Stanisic have been on fire during the business end of their historic club seasons.
Modric should stay one more season with Real Madrid and play good minutes for Croatia in preparation for the 2026 World Cup! He will be 40 and still can contribute something to the squad.
Dude has inspired like 4 generations of aspiring Croatian footballers.
The legend continues ..
I watched the game those ratings are not accurate to me kova was great as a dm and should for me a rating 7.5
Gvardiol was also a 7.5 to me looked great and played well with and off the ball.
This will be rhe first real premierleague title for croatian player if city take it players who contributed and played. Krama was loaned out for Leicester didnt contribute to title
Miki,
I did not see the game…..I have it recorded and will watch it later.
However, Sofascore roughly agrees with YOUR assessment.
They have Gvardiol at 7.8, which was second only to Haaland who scored both City goals.
And they have Kova at 7.2, same as De Bruyne and Rodri, and no midfielder for City was higher than that.
Sounds like your analysis is reliable….and accurate…..
Is sofascore biased with homer glasses?
I’m not arguing, I didn’t watch and of course i want our boys top of the match
Luka will stay till 40 I feel
Rumours again he is going to Miami online?
I think one more year at Madrid would be great
Make some money in Miami at 40 keeping him fresh enough for World Cup
I feel like he wants to stay and retire at Madrid kind of like the legend he is
But obviously that wouldn’t work for keeping in shape for World Cup
If I’m throwing money down, my guess he will really try to usher us to World Cup and leave then as king of the castle
Hopefully by then the team will be good after a little retuning after euro
There should be enough leadership to take over after next World Cup