Mario Mandžukić, Juventus, and more importantly – Ronaldo – are still alive in Champions League.
After a 2-0 first leg defeat in Spain to Atletico Madrid, Ronaldo put Juventus on his back Tuesday night; scoring a hat trick in a 3-0 victory that will see the Serie A champions-elect move onto the Champions League quarterfinals.
Mario Mandžukić got the start and had an average game for Juventus – receiving a ‘6’ grade, but it will forever ever be known as the night Ronaldo haunted Atletico Madrid, yet again. Mandžukić started a trend in 2013 that would see a Croatian lift the Champions League trophy every year for six straight seasons.
That streak is still alive.
Although Luka Modrić and Real Madrid have already bowed out in the Round of 16, Mario Mandžukić, Ivan Rakitić, Dejan Lovren, and Niko Kovac (Bayern manager) are still alive in Champions League this season carrying the Croatian flag. The quarterfinal draw takes this Friday, March 15th.
Which Croatian has the best shot this year?
It has to be Ivan Rakitić.
Juventus-Atletico Madrid Match Highlights
I find it interesting that some ex yugo countries are producing legit players rather than the fringe player they populated the league with for quite some time
Bojan has had a really impressive season and hopefully will have a big pay day coming his way
@truth
I think team Prussia can give them a run for their money.
Ottoman Turkey wouldn’t be bad either.
I can see Milic, Caleta-Car, Vida, Jedvaj against Azaerbaijan.
Caleta-Car is ready to start on the Repka. He is a very stable presence for Marseille, a team that basically plays with 8 or 9 attacking players, so he could probably slot in effectively for our team that plays with a real midfield and defenders.
Truth jugo lover….mrs
Hi Truth,
Why are you fantasizing about a non-existent Yugoslav basketball team?
The all ex Yugoslav hoops team might be in its best form ever
Doncic
Dragic
Bogdanovic
Nikola mirotic
Jokic
Bench
Nikola vucevic
Bogdan bogdanovic
Saric
Nurkic
Bjelica
Bubble looking in
Zubac
Marjanovic
Zizic
Outside looking in
Hezonja
Bender
4 prem teams in the final 8champions league.The seeds of this were sown when they signed that huge TV deal in 2016.
I did not expect it to happen this quickly though.The flip side of this is their have hurt their national team with all the foreigners chasing the almighty buck,and taking PT from many English prospects.
Tavares plays for Crystal Palace’s youth team (not their senior squad).
We current have a few defenders around his age who are STARTING on the senior squads of some solid European clubs in players like Ćaleta-Car, Benković, Pongračić, etc.
We also have a Dinamo U19 team filled with Croatian defenders who will be playing Chelsea in the UEFA Youth World Cup quarterfinals. I don’t see Crystal Palace in this tournament at all. Using that logic, Tavares should probably be behind some of the Dinamo U19 defenders in the pecking order as well.
Simply put, Croatia is no longer one of those National Teams who are desperate to naturalize any player that shows a bit of talent or plays in some foreign league.
The HNL is now a top 15 league, and probably a top league in terms of player development. There are literally TONS of young Croats playing on the U19 teams of major clubs across Europe…but none of that matters anymore to us.
Tavares is lucky he got a chance to even play a few friendlies for us, but he likely sees that he has a very narrow chance of ever making our squad. If he doesn’t want to stick around and fight for a spot, that is even better for us as we don’t want guys like that anyway. If he stays, then good, but it will be tough for a Crystal Palace youth squad player to make it into any of our teams.
I was going to write some stuff about Ronaldo’s trolling of atletico before the 1st leg. He’s the best. He predicts a hattrick before the 2nd leg.
Take a look at what Mandzo does in that box. How much chaos he creates. His effort is immense.
He’s been so important to the structure of that side and to Ronaldo particularly.
Ante thanks brother! We need Kalinic playing regular. This is not good!
Yugoslavia??? Fuck you!
If this Tavares kid does not want to play for cro let him go.Why should we beg anyone it’s ridiculous.
How’s it working out for bozo Jozo at Celtic he’s hardly been a savior for BH.
It should be an honor for these punks,and the only reason they leave is because they realize playing time would be an issue if they even made the repka.
Even Pulisic probably knew that.
We are one of the foxiest bitch’s at the prom.. why should we beg losers to dance .
Liverpool and Barca are through today. I think they’re is a decent chance that a Hrvat will lift the Cup this year.
Serbs are stll nostalgic of the days when we were feeding them!
Yugoslavia?
Where is that?
@ Lika,
He sustained a head injury 3 weeks ago. Nothing major. But he’s back on the bench, which is not a great sign.
Kalinic had an injury you cuck
Aston Villa is playing and Kalinic is on the bench. Does anyone know if he starts?
“That tavares guy any good”?”
He may be.
Boom. Truth Troll style prediction dropped. Now stand by for me to be right again!
That tavares guy any good”?
@gbvh
No surprise, Ante never knew much about football
doubt hed wanna play for bum ass nigga ass south africa
@annonymous….Marin is a great player…he is great on the ball…I could not watch the whole game but from game clips Mario Cuze and Gjira also stood out to me.
we are about to lose another one
https://www.croatiaweek.com/south-africa-set-to-battle-croatia-for-services-of-crystal-palace-defender-nikola-tavares/
@ante
I don’t buy that angle.
I don’t think anyone was disappointed that Juve, without Ronaldo and Messi and so on, of the last few years went so deep in the CL.
Comparing that to Schalke or Roma … k’man.
Sorry guys that you cannot watch Luka in the champions league final this season but I really wanted to go to Juve.
I didn’t miss either one in the round of 8, last summer.
Whether you love them or hate them, football is better with Messi, Ronaldo and the other stars.
You want to see a Champions League Final between Schalke and Roma Iggy? Didn’t think so.
Mario Mandžukić, Juventus, and more importantly – Ronaldo – are still alive in Champions League
Fuck are u talking about “more importantly”? Ronaldo’s fortunes are the least important thing on earth to any Croat. Who cares?
Fuck you griezmann and simeone
I watched the Dinamo kids play Liverpool, my understanding is that most of you guys are excited by the result and haven’t actually watched the game.
The only player in my opinon that stood out was Marin but lol he missed his penalty in the shootout.
I thought Mandzukic earned a penalty when he was pulled down by Goden in the box much more clear cut then the one that was given. Ronaldo will get a lot of credit for today’s win but it was team win today Atletico never had a chance today.
Taking Ante’s advice, I plopped down $500 on the under this morning. Oh well, I guess miracles do happen!
CR7 hat trick knicks out that piece of shit Griezmann and Atletico Madrid.
Boy Real must be kicking themselves for letting Ronaldo go!
Talk about the ultimate comeback for Juventus! Putting 3 past Atletico is no easy feat.
@Ante Kvartuč
oprosti. brate.
a miracle, this is not.
(my bookie would love you! haha.)
Kovacic is overrated! Tons of talent but I don’t think he will become a top consistent player. I hope I’m wrong!
Anyone have a live stream link?
Zidane doesn’t really want Kovačić back, and I’m not sure if Chelsea will be allowed to complete the option to buy (due to their transfer ban). Plus, I think Chelsea need to spend money on a world class striker.
Gonna be an interesting summer for Kovačić.
I mentioned this in the other article but Dinamo Youth is in quarterfinals of Champions league!!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.caughtoffside.com/2019/03/12/mateo-kovacic-chelsea-transfer-decision-from-zinedine-zidane/amp/
This article saying kova for sure not going back to Madrid
@gbvh
Reason it’s a miracle. I just saw a stat. In Atletico’s last 100 matches. They have 55 clean sheets. Have conceded one goal 25 times, and have only conceded 2+ 20 times. It will be tough.
Take the under 😉
This could be the year Rakitić the nogometaš mantle for CL glory.
Both he and Barca look dominant.
“Miracle” is a bit much, for me, and the bookies don’t disagree.
(Juve -137 to win the match in 90, and +298 to advance.)