From bad to worse.
With an essential “must win” game against Finland in Osijek on October 6th and potential group decider versus Ukraine in Kiev three days later, Croatia will be without one (maybe even two) of its starters for these key World Cup qualifiers.
Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovačić is likely out 6-8 weeks with a partial abductor tear he suffered Wednesday night in Champions League vs. APOEL. The abductor muscle is essentially your groin muscle that runs down the inside of your thigh. Kovačić played in place of Ivan Rakitić for the Turkey match earlier in the month due to injury and it is expected that Rakitić flips the script in October.
On the defensive side of things, Monaco #1 Danijel Subašić has been ruled out for two to three weeks, a pre-match press conference said ahead of Saturday’s Ligue 1 match at home to Strasbourg. Subašić sprained an ankle after tripping over the ball in training on Tuesday.
The current Croatia back up goalie is Lovre Kalinić who plays for Gent of the Belgian league. He has been capped by Croatia only nine times.
@The truth
“Croatia not being able to score on a team that hadnt even really played together before was an embarrassment.”
Remember to refer to this Croatian team as the golden generation!
Can you imagine what Turkey would do to us if we weren’t in the midst of watching our golden generation?
Is this Turkey team a golden generation?
More importantly is the Finland team a golden generation, what about the Ukrainian team are they a golden generation?
I remember when Modric and druggy Srna called this team a golden generation, are we still a golden generation?
Subasic is injured- best news we could get. Nothing personal just not a top level stopper. Don’t know the guy from the Belgian league but who knows – maybe he makes a stop or 2 and we pull through to Russia-just hate not making the world cup.
You gonna break with the model huh? Make a crazy bold prediction on something that’s dead even. You go Truth!
Stop with your play station Fifa “models” truth troll. Claiming anything could happen is NOT a prediction
My models put Iceland vs Turkey close to the usual 33/33/33 win, route, lose split you can expect from similar opponents
I’m tempted to break with the models for once. The Turkish squad is a disorganized disaster and like many things in Turkey haa been turned into a tool of the dictatorship. Croatia not being able to score on a team that hadnt even really played together before was an embarrassment. I’m calling Iceland with an easy victory
Yeah i was kinda thinking that too, not sure how big of a loss Kovacic actually is, shouldnt have too much bearing on the outcomes i dont think
Kovacic is a non-factor for this team. There are at least 10 players who are more impactful. His injury doesn’t matter other than us losing some depth (if we sustain more injuries).
We need to win against Finland and draw against Ukraine to top this group.
If this happens, the only way we could possibly drop to second is if Iceland wins out and beats Turkey in Eskisehir…but Iceland have played very badly on the road so far with their only win being a very lucky 2-1 win over Kosovo (thanks to a penalty). Turkey has a solid chance to qualify and will be motivated to beat Iceland. That will be a crazy game.
For us, that Ukraine game is going to be pure stress.
^^^ citluk stand up!
I hope Marko Pervan makes the squad. He’s in form and getting minutes for Cibalia, 5 goals as well.
a part of me is happy there is no kovacic, when is the last time he put a 8/10 performance for the nt? Iceland playoff for Brazil?
Turkey v Iceland is going to be a battle.
I can see Turkey beating Iceland and losing at Finland.
I can see Ukraine over looking Kosovo and having a tough go of it.
Osijek will save us against Finland. The fans are so appreciative that you naturally want to bring your best.
Iceland will beat Kosovo but not by 5 goals.
Can we produce a result in a must perform match ?
Have not seen us do it some time.
Perišić needs channel his fellow hajdukovac, Alen Boksic, and put in a world class performance in Ukraine with World Cup entry on the line.
Srna back at RB for Ukraine?
Vrsaljko at LB to stop gap for one match ?
Rakitic comes correct and bangs in a bomb from 30 meters ?
Modrić due for a golaso himself ?
Rog makes Napoli reconsider their depth chart?
Halilovic scores on counter in the 80th minute to put us clear by two goals and into World Cup 2018?
Stranger shit has happened?
@ HKS fans
Slovenia v Serbia in euro final.
17 yr old, “Slovenian” Luka Dončić has the IT fractor.
Are we ever going to produce a Dražen Petrović lead guard again ?
HKS is the Basketball equivalent of Hungarian version of world football.
Dražen Petrović is the Croatian Puškas.
I guess the talent is doing nogomet or rukamet?
Just would like to see one bad ass Croatian guard that can run the show. Bogdanović can shoot and score but not a floor general.
Šarić is a point forward but limited athletically to fully dominate proceedings at the Men’s level.
Hezonja revealed his character during the Svircic interview.
What is the water in Dubrovnik ? I guess they feel they transcend Croatia ?
God bless Ukic but he is pedestrian at best.
Hopefully Hezonja plan to skip euro 2017 and “work” on his game makes a difference.
Ironic has the missing piece is leadership which he could have worked on in Romania in August and his NBA skills ALL May, June and July.
The guidance these boys get is limited.
whats a good result for us in turkey vs Iceland? 0-0? puts them on 17 and 15
then they play the bottom two, lets give them the three
that puts Iceland 20 turkey 18
ukraine to beat Kosovo for sure so 17 for them
so we beat Finland wer on 19
and wer at ukraine, so yes a draw gets us in with 20 and we should be good on goal difference, but this game is MUST win for Ukraine as it would put THEM on 20.
I pray we don’t come in playing for the draw
SUMMARY ukraine and turkey need 2 wins while us and Iceland need a win and a draw
Osijek will be most supportive.
@ Ante
I believe Kovačić injured his Adductor muscle, which is the inner thigh muscle.
Abductor is the outer thigh muscle.
Real Madrid will have him back in tip top shape, just not in time for operation October.
Did I read that correct ? Subasic sprained his ankle on a ball? In training?
The Kosovo fiasco threw many players for a loop.
4-5 guys are all out of sorts ?
Rakitic … sneaky KURAC .. knew he couldn’t afford to lose his place at Barca, so bounced on us.
Imagine we tie Finland beat Ukraine hahaaaaa
@ Poglavnik,
Osijek will be rocking out of control for this match. It’s a tiny stadium and it will be packed to the brim.
They only get to host one game every 2 or so campaigns. So they’ll be behind the boys. I don’t think Croatia have ever trailed there though, so hard to say. But never any trouble.
Can anyone guess what type of an atmosphere Osijek will provide for the Finland match? I’ve usually got a good idea of Maksimir and Poljud’s atmosphere’s.
Would love to see the passion of Poljud minus the losers that bring trouble.
And if we don’t score early would they be the type to get on our boys or would they be the type to just be happy they’re hosting a big match?