Photo: The Offside Lyon
Croatian defenseman Dejan Lovren suffered a right foot injury during Lyon’s 1-0 Coupe de France final victory on Saturday and had to be stretchered off the field in the 18th minute of play. The severity of the injury is still unknown and may be linked to Lovren’s achilles. The French Press Agency (AFP) has reported that Lovren is doubtful for Croatia’s EURO 2012 campaign, with Lyon manager Remi Garde saying, “This injury is quite rare and the recovery time is quite uncertain. It looks very tight for the Euro.”
But Dnevnik.hr has reported that both Lovren and Vedran Ćorluka will be ready for Euro 2012 and the main concern is on Eduardo. Euro 2012 is now less than six weeks away and Croatia cannot afford to lose any key members in an already thin defensive line. Some Vatreni fans may not want Lovren in Croatia’s starting XI due to his hot-head antics and, at times, undisciplinary play, but the 22 year-old now has two seasons of French Ligue 1 football under his belt, which goes alongside two Champions League campaigns as well.
If Lovren is unable to go, how should Slaven Bilić align his defense this summer?
defense is shit, goalie is shit, mid you never know with them and how they play, and as for the strikers they play good for they’re club, never for Croatia. We’re gonna tie Ireland 1-1, lose to Italy 2-0, and lose to Spain 5-0. Don’t get your hopes up for Euro’s lads. I pray to God my predictions are wrong.
Lovren is the most undisciplined Croatian player ever, glad he’s hurt because even tho our team is slack.. you know Lovren will be giving up Penalty kicks and most likely pick up a red card. Hope Corluka makes it to Euro’s, he’s our only defender.
I would agree with some of the comments that Ivankovic would be one of the frontrunners for various reasons.He was a assistant to Blazevic and did pretty well with Iran for a while.
It would also be good to see more of the potential new generation coming on.Prosinecki seems to be a frontrunner there,Soldo doesnt seem to be doing much,we still have to see if these guys can really develop a good coaching brain.Kranjcar was ok,but I wasnt wild about his playing style,but he probably did what he could at the time.
Bilic is young and knows himself there is more experience to get.If he can survive at a decent level club,I would expect that he will have opportunities to return in the future.
Actually, Kranjcar did OK. First, the repka is not a club. Go back and look at the roster we had. That was not a talented team. Plus, he had to deal with the headcase known as Igor Tudor. That right there shows he is a decent coach.
I hope Kranjcar doesn’t return. He didn’t run the club well last time so why would he this time?
http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/slaven-bilic-za-bild-vukcevic-je-kandidat-vec-za-europsko-264250
don’t know where to post this but…..wow……great modric goal! thats why he needs to be more aggressive offensively.
About the next manager, Mamic (who will probably make the ultimate decision, apparently he was the one who saved Bilic’s job after the Greek loss) said two things a few weeks ago
a) Foreigner will not be considered
b) Ivankovic is the favorite
Thats pretty much all you need to know. It will either be Ivankovic and Kranjcar returning. Ciro will probably be a candidate but God no, I think the HNS has some sanity left
Everyone I’ve talked to and everything I read claims that Zvone would be the savior of the HNS, no matter the position. Yes, he is probably the most popular and well respected footballer we ever produced, but I have to agree with others that the established mafia we have in power won’t just bow down to him, even if Zvone has overwhelming public support. The mafia at the top has been around for a while and I doubt (unfortunately) that just one figure can topple them in one fell swoop,
@Ivica……I agree with some of what you said. But, the current people in power will not roll over for Boban. Mamic would and could dismiss Boban. He holds much more power within the soccer community in Croatian than Boban.
I still think picking Boban has its issues due to his lack of experience and previous failure as an executive. Picking Boban is like picking the best looking girl to be the homecoming queen. Nice to look at and piont to, but you need more substance behind it.
In the end, its a moot point. Even if Boban came out today and said he was interested in the position, there is no way he would have enough votes to get elected.
Srna, Corluka, Vida, Strinic
Subs can be Schildenfeld and Pranjic.
@Ziva Istina
“Boban being involved with the HNS is the definition of a “no brainer”. To have a discussion questioning whether he should be given an opportunity to join us is ridiculous beyond reproach and convincing me otherwise would be a mission in futility.”
Learn it. Know it. Live it.
@ Ziva
Experience is overrated. There are plenty of fools out there that have experience and continue to do awful jobs (yet manage to get new jobs based on this “experience”). There are many different factors that come into play with new roles and old roles, which makes it difficult to assume what the result would be.
The benefit of having someone like Boban is that nobody would dare challenge his authority. He status in Croatia is pretty much on par with that of a war hero. Mamic, Stimac, Srebric, Suker et al would simply become spineless “yes-men” to Boban.
If an outpsoken Ministar Zeljko Jovanovic, with the backing of the Cro media, cannot manage to force changes in the HNS, then no regular person can. In this Jovanovic case…Mamic just counters all of Jovanovic’s comments and dismisses him as just some unprofessional nut job who is using the media as an outlet. It also doesn’t help that Jovanovic is an ethnic Serb.
If Boban tried to force the same changes, Mamic wouldn’t and couldn’t dismiss Boban in the same way.
The only problem with Boban is he is very unmotivated to force any changes. He has the power to change everything, but he just has no more drive to do so. Seems like a jaded, bitter dude now. Too bad Dario Simic doesn’t have the status and influence of Boban. He’s another straight arrow that could be a good HNS president for us.
@Mihovil……but there is nothing in his CV that suggests he can lead an organization. His only other spot as an executive ended bad. Placing Boban as the figurehead is fine, as long as he is not making the day-to day decisions. You need someone with a business acumen. Would I take him over Suker??? sure, but that ain’t saying much.
Technically doesn’t mean much when teams are running past you and are much more aggressive than you. I did over look that post so my apologies Dukic.
Russia is on a roll and what you’re bringing up T.O was from 2007! Five long years ago, how do you bring that up! France is my sleeper of the tournament, they are primed for a huge run in the Euros.
@ARMADA87
Big thumbs down way down to Ivankovic.
Vukcevic is a very left field decision. What do you think of him as a player?
They said the exact same things about Platini and he seems to have worked out ok.
Boban can have and do whatever job he wants with us in any capacity. With pleasure, pretty please with sugar on top. The reasoning’s you have stated do not warrant him not coming over to the HNS. Boban being involved with the HNS is the definition of a “no brainer”. To have a discussion questioning whether he should be given an opportunity to join us is ridiculous beyond reproach and convincing me otherwise would be a mission in futility. I will take him in a heartbeat on any level. Please and thank you.
Picking Boban just for the sake of him being Boban would be the wrong move as well.
I won’t judge Boban based on what he did on the field because his on-the-field resume would have no impact on his ability to lead a federation.
What I can judge Boban on is his only stint as an executive. And he failed in that position because he couldn’t make the changes he wanted. So, if he failed already as an executive, I am not sure he is even qualified to be the head of the savez. I realize he would be an improvement over the current leadership, but bringing in Boban would not bring drastic changes. You need someone who has leadership and change experience. Boban has not of that. From a business viewpoint, Boban is the wrong person.
Vukcevic? Talk about out of left field… I don’t get what he’s done at Hoffenheim to warrant a call-up? Especially for the Euros?
@ Mihovil
Didn’t see that article yet. I agree with you dude. The dude wasn’t really doing much at Dinamo or any of the other NT’s/clubs he’s coached. Zvone would be everyones ideal choice but like others have said and I think even he stated, he doesn’t want to get involved in all this bullshit and politics going on with the savez and repka. He’s smarter than that.
Bilić otkrio iznenađenje: ‘On je igrač za nas’
http://sportski.net.hr/nogomet/reprezentacija/vukcevic-bi-mogao-zaigrati-na-euru
In regards to Boban.
The HNS can only wish that someone of his ilk and class would want to be involved with the program. He can pick up the phone and call anyone in the soccer world and they would hang on every word he said. We are talking quite the rolodex in comparison to others. Bringing him in would change the entire complexion of our organization in one fell swoop in regards to perception and the allure.
He is more suited to running the show than that of coach and personally I think that should be his job with the HNS. However, he can do whatever he likes whenever he likes in my opinion just because of who he is. There is no chance that he gets involved right now based on the politics that go with the job. He is too smart for that and I do not blame him. Hopefully one day.
It would be nice to have the kralj back. Use him strictly as a figurehead or someone to physically kick out our enemies.
@ARMADA87
“Ivankovic just left that Saudi team he was at, so I definitely see him as a favorite now.”
Maybe not.
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/al-wahda-line-up-ivankovic-to-replace-hickersberger
At least I hope not. No offense to anyone but I really do not want him to be our next manager. Yes men never cut it.
I would like to see this guys seriously considered:
Srecko Katanec
Robi Prosinecki
Katanec should of became out NT manager ages ago… But like others have stated, it’s gonna come down to Cico, Ciro and Ivankovic. Ivankovic just left that Saudi team he was at, so I definitely see him as a favorite now.
Regarding Boban……..he is not a coach, so we can end that conversation. I know many people mention him as one day leading the savez. I don’t know what that is based on???? his Q rating, probably. His only experience in an executive position did not end well. I get why people would want Boban. His reputation as a “clean” guy would do well for the savez and everyone who has used it for personal gain. We need someone clean, but I just dont see any experience in Boban that says he would do a good job. I rather have a non-soccer guy in that position. A strong businessman who is a soccer fan. But, I know that is wishful thinking. As long as the likes of Mamic and Davor Suker are around, there is no way Boban would ever get involved.
The list of coaches to replace Bilic: It’s not a long list.
Cico
Ciro
Ivankovic
I would be shocked if it’s not one of these three based on who makes up the executive committee of the savez right now.
P.S-we simply dont have the finances to look at anyone outside of Cro,but personally I prefer that we dont even have the option of going down that path.People can say what they want about Bilic,but he is atleast not a journeyman looking for the best paycheck.
@Mihovil-Thanks for the welcome aboard,I will likely stick around a while,I have been missing some good NT soccer chats as I dont get to see some old friends often enough these days.My dear wife can only handle hearing so much!
The list of possible coaches after Euro has some decent possibilities.Blazevic is a legend,though he would likely need a heap of Viagra to keep him up to the job these days! @ Dukic also,Boban has clearly said a few times that he would never consider the job,I think he means it.Yes,too smart and classy for all the BS.I respect Bilic for putting up with it.It takes some balls for anyone to be a NT coach.
@Dukic
Modern would be the way to go and I agree with Barca’s tika taka football as a guideline! It would be nice to be able to implement that style of football. I don’t mind the run and gun but I do not like it as the major philosophy of play. However, I would like to mix it up a bit and if anyone understands a technical game it would be Robert Prosenecki. I think Zvezda might have locked him up for more years but please do not quote me on that.
Boban je kralj! I don’t know what else to add to that? You’re right, he is staying away for a reason. He wants to get involved but there is too much BS and it will not happen. He is way too classy for that.
@Sydney United.58
Welcome aboard!
A list of some of the names reported to be considered for the managerial position with the HNS when Bilic leaves. Some names more serious/relevant than the others.
Blažević
Zlatko Kranjčar
Branko Ivankovic
Igor Štimac
Zoran Vulic
Srecko Katanec
Ivan Katalinic
Robert Prosinecki
Nenad Bjelica
Zvonimir Soldo
Niko Kovac
@mihovil
i would love to have somebody who has a modern output on the game because i think we are coming to a time where attractive football is more appreciative then this run and gun. we need to thank barcas tika taka football for that. i mean a lot of people might disagree with me but i wouldnt mind prosinecki. he was enjoyable to watch as a player and played in spain so he would appreciate the technical aspect of the game.
again i have no idea how zvezda play or what not. im just guessing his football philosophy is like the way he plays. which is an attractive type of football.
but on the other hand would love to see boban get involved but i think he is too smart too. he doesnt want to get mixed up in all these politics. he seems like a gentleman. a true professional.
@Stef Oakville-not sure that I would describe the lsat 4 yrs as shambolic,Sure,Niko Kovac has been a big loss,all teams struggle with these types of things.If Bilic was so brain dead and stupid,not sure how we have managed to do certain things.I would like to hear input on Mihovils question as to who should replace Bilic though,I have not been able to find much info on possibilities.
@Dukic
“if you guys understood how formations were used and played it would make complete sense why the 4-3-1-2 would be useful.”
Would love to see that formation! Fully understood.
Dukic, what are your thoughts of Bilic as a coach? In my opinion his record speaks for itself. Also, it looks like he is leaving after the Euros. If he does leave, who would you personally like to see replace him? We have a very tough group for the WC 2014 campaign and I hope we make a good selection!
if you guys understood how formations were used and played it would make complete sense why the 4-3-1-2 would be useful.
@ allen
i meant top 5 technically. which means touch and technique. jesus. so hard to talk to people who actually dont understand the game. this is why i get so pissed. can you guys realize that?
The team has been in shambles for the past four years. The defense is a disaster and after Niko Kovac retired the heart, soul and passion was ripped out of this team.
Until we can find our image again I pray to god we don’t get hammered at the Euro’s.
Along with Bilic’s brain dead tactical stupid 4-4-2 every game and this crappy defense and goalie ….. May god help us.
This is my first post,though I have been following the site since the early days.First of all a sincere “hats off” to the guys that created and run the site.
From my memory,going into this particular tournament,we have the most question marks about injuries and about who will be playing where.Brazilians of Europe,top 5,all debatable,but most people know that we are a little guy that produces.When we play well,its better to play the bigger teams without fear.I am not a Bilic hater,but I really hope that he instills some hunger and character in these guys in time for Euro and that tactically he turns up prepared to “play”the game and possibly risk a loss,thats what most of us expect to see at any tournament from the NT.
@ Allen
Russia!!! Really??? We owned those guys the last two times we played them… They were really lucky we did not beat them, albeit that was four years ago, that said i am sure we would NOT lose to them in the present…. Would not put France up there either and i think Italy would be a toss up….
Dukic actually was saying some really intelligent things and really hit some things on the nail UNTIL he said Croatia is a top five team in the Europe. I laughed pretty loudly at that. Spain, Holland, Germany, France, England, Italy, Portugal, Russia > Croatia. You can even put Sweden although I do think Croatia beats Sweden when things get competitive.
An nice write up about Jelavic:
http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2012/04/30/jelavic-beats-greats-to-10
the brazilians of europe is an old term that was used during the yugo years. Quite honestly, outside of Modric, the term brazilians of europe does not apply to present day players on this roster.
A dynamic that is being overlooked is how Modric and Perisic can play together, because that is what we are going to see at the Euro.
Perisic will be wide left, Modric in the middle and Rakitic probably on the right side, although there is a chance he could play behind Modric.
i watched the last 60 minutes of that game. and i dont know if its cause they played stoke city rugby club. maybe. but i saw maybe a couple crosses. everything else was tika taka thru the midfield and nikica making runs. we are fully capable of that as a national team but i feel like we always hold back. luka plays too many square passes in my opinion. we need a midfielder who can make those risky passes because olic and jelavic are work horses.
would love to see more triangles in that midfield of ours. i would love to see a 4-3-1-2 with us. i feel like srna at right wing back would dangerous. but i think with rakitic dujmovic and modric as cm with niko as attacking mid would be big time. lets be honest there is a reason we are called the brazilians of europe. technically we are one of the best. top 5 for sure. why not utilize a dangerous midfield like that.
again im fantasizing with that formation im sure slaven is smarter then me in footballing terms. i just think it would be exciting to see.
@Dukic:
IMHO Everton are a lot more fun to watch after their winter signings. For me, Pinear never produced much for Spurs, but looks like a superstar at Everton. Their goal production has gone through the roof. They are very direct though.
@Dukic
It’s about as beautiful as a bull in a china shop. They do understand possession, but they are a very straight and to the point team. Their offense is very straight and direct though, nooooo funny business.
@Ante B
We don’t want to play like Everton, but we do…if that makes any sense. Everton is like a butter knife of what Croatia could be. We’ve never been dribbling dynamos, but our passing and foresight of the game is what puts a lot of hrvati above the rest. We don’t want to be as direct as Everton, because it’s an easy tactic to understand. But at the same time, we still want to provide long balls to Jelavic to open up the pitch so that our midfield has some room to breathe. We also want to put as much pressure in the middle of the field as possible so that our defense isn’t completely hung out to dry.
Dukicu,
Can Hrvatska copy the way Everton plays? Do we have enough ammo and surrounding pieces? I talked to GoldenChild about it this weekend too.
Maloca is out injured, he was supposed to move to Werder Bremen but he suffered a knee injury so his transfer was cancelled and now he is out for the season. Would have been interesting to see how he would have done in the BLiga.
Pavlovic might be selected as a reserve player outside the 23 man squad to train with the team. I read it a week ago that Bilic will take two extra youngsters with the team to Euro’s who will train with the team but won’t be eligible to play. The candidates are Pavlovic, Vukusic and Kovacic.
Lovren if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks should be ready to train by May 20ish, but thats the key, he can’t have a setback and there is still a danger he can re-injure himself, which is why he is listed as doubtful
Vrdoljak is not a CB btw, he is a defensive midfielder. Decent player but probably not good enough for a NT spot
I think we are screwed at the back even with what we have if everyone was healthy i blame the HNS for all of this and i Blame that fucking old crap Bosanac Markovic he alway say boli ga kurac za HNL eto ti sada kreten no more great disapora players they are choosing to play eher they are born Fuck you Markovic if the HNL was better then no problem finding Ok replacements but a for me i would have gave Vrdoljak a chance see what he has aswell a try younger guys like Maloca i know people are gonna say i am nut but why not, Renato Kelic a young cb in the czech league Mateo Pavlovic young cb prospect plays for under 21, i just thin we are too worried about losing meaningless friendlies and it will cost them big why does modric kranjcar eduardo carli srna need to play friendlies all the time why not put thi line up in a meangless friendly kresic vrsaljko scifo lovren pamic Ilicevic vida badelj perisic vukusic kalinic antolovic kelava jajalo vrdoljak tomecak santini kovacic pavlovic maloca lendric livaja, HNS PEDERI SJEBALI STE NOGOMET
actually watching everton right now. they do play an attractive type of football. i dont think its as brute as we think. they touch the ball around a lot.
Our squad is going to be thin as is. We don’t have to call-up long lost journeymen, playing in leagues worst than the HNL. In the case that Dejan is lost for the tournament, I’d just bring:
Simunic
Corluka
Scifo
Vida
Strinic
Pranjic
Vrsaljko
From that group, we can patch together a backline. While not ideal, it’ll be serviceable. In that group you have natural CB’s, LB’s and RB’s. We can even plug Srna into RB, depending on who we play, who else gets injured, etc. No need for Buljat, Mijatovic, Knezevic, etc.
hmm…i cannot think of anyone who can get called up to replace lovren and corluka in 23 man squad..do any of you have anyone in mind? apart from Buljat.
Srna can play RB if Ilicevic plays RM. So Corluka can play in the heart of the defense with probably Schildenfield. On the left side we should take Pranjic, no doubt. He doesn’t play often but he plays for Bayren Munich, one of the best teams in the world. I don’t have strong faith in Strinic.
Simunic, I love the guy but someone of 34 playing in the center of the defense is asking for problems. Then there is Vida, saw him playing awful against Ajax in the Champions League. Perhaps Vrsaljko could play.
I don’t trust Croatian media one bit. Get Robert Kovac!!
and I don’t even think he’s a regular starter even…
But someone get on the horn and get him to our training base in Austria!
Dario Knezevic – Hasn’t he been playing at a mid-table Serie B team for the past 3-4 years. Yes, let’s call him immediately.
@AZ…..man, as the old saying goes: that is scraping at the end of the barrel.
Krizanac is a no.
Knezevic would probably be a possibility
Vrdoljak…….don’t see how him playing in Poland benefits us just because our matches are in Poland. We can hire him as a tourist guide for off-days so he can lead the sight-seeing tour.
@ AZ
None of the above! Krizanac and Knezevic….are you kidding me!!!?? and mabye if eduardo cant make it we can call Balaban ?
Emergency replacements in case lovren and corluka are injured for euros
(1) Krizanac (to come out of retirement)
(2) Knezevic (experience with NT and played in serie A once)
(3) Vrdoljak (captain of legia who plays in polish league: very useful as the NT is playing in poland for euro 2012)
(4) Buljat
Eduardo: Spreman sam za treninge, operacija nije potrebna
http://www.nogometni-magazin.com/newspro/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EFFVlyuFppadcadPHI&tmpl=coranto_euro2012
No use to make any suggestions just yet for the potential backline, as there is still 6 weeks til the tournament begins. Alot can happen in six weeks, like more injuries!, and plus lovren still hasnt officialy been ruled out, has he? Like the heading says “MAY” miss the euro. Who knows he may make a quick recovery. Fingers crossed..
looks like jurica buljat.