Luka Modrić had a quiet day at the office as Real Madrid steamrolled Atletico 3-0 with a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo. It wasn’t much of a match as Real Madrid held the ball for 60% of the game while holding Atletico to only one shot on goal. The reverse leg is next week at the Vicente Calderon but Atletico would need a Barcelona-esque comeback to back the Champions League Final. Look for Real Madrid to be the first club to ever win back to back CL titles.
In 2014, Atletico were one minute away from lifting the European crown for the first time before Sergio Ramos’ injury time leveler brought the game to extra time where Real Madrid would explode for three more goals. 2015 saw the clubs meet in the quarterfinal round where Real scraped by 1-0 on aggregate before meeting again in the 2016 final which saw Ronaldo put in the final kick of penalties to shatter Atletico hearts once again.
It’s safe to say we all want to see Modric play well and make the final, but Champions League has been on Real Madrid overload recently. If they make the Final this year, it’ll be three times in the past four years. Modrić or not, who in CroatianSports.com nation is rooting for Atletico?
Thanks Lazio, I’m glad we can have an open dialogue and agree to disagree/agree without name calling. You bring up a good point. I think had Rakitic not scored vs Man city and then against Juventus he would not have received the plaudits he received. He contributed more (with goals specifically) on route to the Chamoions league title.
I have heard people say many times the words “that was a world class performance,” and not necessarily for a player that would be considered world class, so Croatianperson85, you make a good point, consistency has to be considered when calling someone world class!
What we have to ask now is, how long does a player have to perform at a world class level to be considered world class?
Think about Rakitic, way better player to watch at Sevilla, but makes the Fifa world XI 2nd team last season for his play at Barcelona, but he shone brighter at Sevilla. Was Rakitic world class at Sevilla?
Vrsaljko – good player (IMHO) not world class. Everyone has their own idea in their mind with what world class means but I think it’s pretty straight forward. I could be wrong.
Who would you guys consider as the top 5 right backs right now or the most consistent RB in the last lets say 5 years? How does Vrsaljko compare? I think that would help give us a better barometer to see where we think his quality level is. I think calling Cedric “world class” is no different than calling Vrsaljko “world class.” I think If you asked 1000 knowledgable soccer fans most would say neither is world class but a good player.
Hey Soul Champ are you from Zadar or somewhere around there? Just checking to see if maybe there’s a little bias (in my opinion) with how highly you regard his soccer ability.
My family is from Zadar. Saw Vrsaljko play when he was way younger. Fast. Originally played as an outside midfielder not a defender.
And thanks Soul Champ.
For this endless discussion that won’t go away..
In my eyes there are only 2 Hrvati who are possibly world class and even that’s very arguable.
And no im not talking about Mandza-Beast or Kova-Beast and most definitely not Vrsaljko.
3 years at middling Series A clubs and half a season at Atletico do not equal “world class.”
Simple as that.
The fact that these two categorize Sime Vrsaljko with Messi Ronaldo and company blows my mind, you can’t be more of a homer/dick rider
Here we go “Messi Ronaldo Vrsaljko don’t play the same position” yada yada yada
Hence the “kills and has a part in it” 😉
Neither do I Matt Bonner has 2 rings, but when you talk about the best (world class) you need to have trophies and performances, and not just 5 starts in CL
@Idemo
Vrsaljko, not world class in my opinion, just enjoying the argument.
“If Cedric absolutely kills and they do all that and he proves that he is world class and had a hand in it then why not?” So the titles alone wouldn’t prove he is world class?
Better NBA centre Luc Longley (3 rings) or Patrick Ewing (0)? You can find many more examples throughout the sporting world like this! I don’t agree that rings or trophies decide which player is better than another.
@Lazio
What if what if what if, Lucas Digne was brought to Barca is he world class??
If Cedric absolutely kills and they do all that and he proves that he is world class and had a hand in it then why not?
Sime ate in Italy, but clearly not enough as a “on his way out” Dani Alves was preferred to him, gets to Atleti can’t beat out a non-world class Juanfran, doesn’t have a title to his name, great player, but there are plenty of those.
WHY IS HE WORLD CLASS WHY?
sime vrsaljko has done nothing outside of putting together some good matches, if that’s your definition of world class you are a BONE HEAD, @BZ you judge the best basketball players based off of rings, no? Why does it go out the window for right backs?
I have not done yet for what the definition fo world class is!
sure there are some case like just Anonymous said’
according to Bale Lewa’s tribute, ‘ we will dare to say that they are a world class regardless their country even far from best because of their individual performance. But after they join to the greatest level competition and sure the highest level of clubs, they still perform like they did at their previous club, and make an astonishing perform, let’s put into word -> they give like what Simunovic’s God tackle do.
see Bale with a tremendous run in el Clasico, Lewa with 5 goals for Bayern.
^
@Idemo
What if Cedric goes to Barca next season and wins the league and UCL titles, does he then become a better player than Vrsaljko, even though right now you say there’s nothing to set them apart?
@LAknat
Do you reckon that Cedric is world class and a better player than Vrsaljko, Cedric has won a European Championship, and that’s an achievement?
Never said Cedric was world class, just stating Sime has nothing to set him apart from Cedric hence neither of them are world class
World Class is about achievement for your team YOU DUMBAAS
After the team get highest level and you are the no 1 at your team, that means Ronaldo and Messi could get listed first for this catagory. Not only Messi and Ronaldo to be listed here,
there are some contribution players in the highest level team we should wisely considered as the best player in their potitions. We could say Suarez (Barca) and lewandowski (Bayern) at the central forward, come to Neymar (Barca) Bale (Madrid) and Robben (Bayern) at the wing, Modric has been choosen as the best world midfield, there are many world class in those position
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Ribery etc, but only few at the back line. If we want to mention someplayer at this position, then their team surely should be the champions of the world. Roberto Carlos with Brazil and Madrid, Lahm Bayern and Germany, Cannavaro Juve and Italy, sure S Ramos and Puyol with Madrid Barca and Spain, Goalkeeper like Buffon and Neuer.
Well that’s it
@Idemo
This argument about whether Vrsaljko is world class has to continue until it is resolved, I think Cedric is the key here!
I know that Vrsaljko played 5 CL games in a row before he got injured, and I believe that Soul Champ is right when he called Vrsaljko Atletico’s STARTING RB, it seems like he became just that before he got injured.
Now, you did say Cedric the Portugese RB was world class, and that Vrsaljko couldn’t touch him? I hope you’re saying that because you watch Southampton on a regular basis and not because you’ve read that he’s on Barcelona’s radar? So all you gotta do now is tell Soul Champ & BZ what it is that Cedric does that Vrsaljko can’t, and you can win this argument! I don’t think many here would say Cedric is world class! Good luck.
That’s fine, minimal crickets then, I wasn’t the one claiming they’d be in Europe after a nice little run, meanwhile not sure if it was u but there was noise of “niko kovac and ante rebic playing Tuesday Wednesday night” yeah right get real.
All that shit is blind homer-ism, there is no meat on the bone for any of your points. how can they miss him when they never had him????? ***pre injury**** (as you love to say) he couldn’t beat out a aging Juanfran and they could only split time or play together
Now injured, so how in the world could they miss him?
u don’t even believe the shit u say all u want to do is argue, no sane soccer follower believes Vrsaljko and srna are world class. this is my last comment on this u and ur boy are idiots and have your heads up each other’s asses
@Idemo – Colberting again? Your leftist professors wouldn’t be proud of your homophobic slurs.
That said, I actually believe Athletico dearly missed Vrsaljko. Hard to argue the results, especially as bad as the right side was dominated. I am sane enough to agree that Ronaldo/Marcelo would be a tough matchup for Vrsaljko, as they are for any RB.
Regarding front running, you are the king of it…”where are my Eintracht Frankfurt boys at?” After every loss, but crickets after a win.
Srna*
They lose you say it’s because he didn’t play, he plays and win you say it’s because of him, he’s not stopping Ronaldo. Never seen someone petition so hard for another man, must get sore riding that much
You’re lame, you’re nw just saying shit for reactions, how big is soul champs dick it’s so far down your throat, matter of fact get simes out ur throat to
When your missing a word class defender, how could he be missing when he hardly plays stuck behind an old dirt not even 4 CL appearances
Serbs world class defender? World class high diver
@Poglavnik
She goes by Lady Alchemy and is some sort of seductive performance dancer. Google/youtube her. I don’t know what to make of her. I need Ziva’s wisdom here.
An Alt Right woman?!
Fuck she must be sharp..
@ BZ
Istina !
They missed Vrsaljko big time. Everyone else had to run more and more.
I am all in for Real Modrić immortality. Three CL titles and a potential 2018 World Cup run ?
Luka looks quick and agile as ever.
Get to see Mateo this Saturday.
Real Crodrid is the best.
Real Modrić v MANventus
When you lose a World Class defender, you get a World Class beatdown.
Vrsaljko is out. Pity for Athletico as that is a World Class downgrade.
Speaking of formerly world class RBs:
Srna rejected Barcelona in Jan: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2614027/loyal-darijo-srna-rejects-barcelona-to-follow-his-heart-and-finish-career-at-shakhtar-donetsk/
Laknat: I gotta go with the team that has more Croat minutes…Real Madrid.
She is Alt right and yes in NYC. Part of Proud Boys crew.
Does anyone know if she is Croatian?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOGpKb4SYQM
Well better to have real madrid get defeated
Many arrogant players there. We would like to se Atletico go advance and make a football match good thing to watch.
Vrsaljko doubtful to be fit for today’s match.
It has been tough for Athletico to replace their STARTING RB.
@ Real Modrić
Sit back and enjoy how the importance of Luka comes to forefront against the toughest defenses in the world during the money time of the business end of the champions league.
Every movement, feint, turn, creates the limited space that sources the attacking play.
Modrić is the straw that stirs the drink.
His unassuming presence on the ptich is the peace that supports Zidane over this run of form.
He is also due for a Galasso!
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