The Champions League Round of 16 match-ups were announced earlier today…and boy do we have some doozies!
In the Round of 16 ‘Main Event’, defending champions Real Madrid will take on a familiar foe in former Barcelona striker Neymar, now with Ligue 1 club Paris St-Germain. PSG were reluctant to top a group which also featured Bayern Munich, but with Real Madrid finishing second behind Tottenham, they will now have to face Ronaldo and company.
The same fate struck Tottenham as the Premiership club topped the group with Real Madrid but were drawn against last year’s finalists and Italian champions Juventus; who finished second behind Barcelona in group stage.
UEFA should rank every team that reaches the knockout round 1-16 and have 1 play 16, 2 play 15 etc., like the NCAA basketball tournament in the United States.
Three major European sides will not make the quarterfinal stage with the third ‘super’ matchup between Barcelona and Chelsea also included.
Croatia will be represented well once again with Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić with Real Madrid, Mario Mandzukić and Marko Pjaca with Juventus, Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) Matej Mitrović (Besiktas) and Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona) in the Round of 16.
Clubs wh0 will progress onto the quarterfinals: Juventus, Manchester City, Porto, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
You heard it here first folks, Maminjo already blaming Mandzukic for our downfall. Quit preaching!
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“link” or leak 😉
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Yeah the weak leak will get exposed in a big tourney.
Strinic ’16
Pleti ’14
I asked yesterday
Anyone know how lovre Kalinic is doing this year?
I agree poglavnik. We all know even though we were losing that Brazil game regardless but maybe if we had a save or two from pletikosa we could have squeaked it out
Subasic worries be big time.
Knock on wood.
If we have a fully fit Marko Pjaca starting, along with Kramarić starting up top (with Perišić on the other wing) we will make some noise.
Unfortunately, I have a feeling that we’ll try to accommodate guys like Mandžukić and maybe even Kalinić (as well as Lovren in the back) which will be our downfall.
If we had a Lewandowski or a Suker this team would make the semis.
Kramaric is not the answer.
And unfortunately we don’t have a striker that is the answer.
Kramaric for sure.
He should be starting already. Fits our style of play much better than either Mandzo or Kalinic.
With whom do u guys think our future lies for a striker next qualifying round kramaric? Or another youth(perica) or even a santini get more look
https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/12/01/real-madrid-chief-reveals-tottenham-tabled-bid-midfielder-mateo-kovacic-during-summer
He would offer a lot to the youth if he took less of a role and stayed on.
What’s the story with kovacic? Do u guys think he finds his way back in the rotation? Do u guys think overall it was a good move for him to go to real?
http://app.football-italia.net/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.football-italia.net%2F114212%2Fjuventus-interested-kovacic#article/footballitalia-114212
@ Maminjo
Amen to that !
His intelligence is unparalleled.
I still think he stays on for Euro 2020.
I could only see him retiring if we end up winning the World Cup and wants to go out on a high.
At the same time, I could see him leaving if we implode at the World Cup and finish last in our group (in which case, he might feel like we need to move on to the youngsters).
But anything in between, I see him staying on for a final run at some silverware.
Luka has given his service to Croatia.
33 in September.
He needs to prolong his club career, which may entail a move this summer.
After the Mamić fiasco I think he has had his fill with the cirkus that is HNS.
Do u guys think there is still a chance of modric staying on? Even in a more limited role? He is getting older but he not too old. He has won all there is basically at club but not country Maybe that’s something that will haunt him.
I would say he would need to make like a semi final run to be sort of content
Sorrry for always talking shit guys…today was a sad day for me, I lost my gay lover and I quit my job…I’m devastated and wanna stay in bed all day
After this World Cup there will be a chapter ending for this pool of veterans.
All these kids should be looked at during the March friendlies.
All of the elite veteran core should not be called up and be rested.
Let’s see who out of all these u21 studs is ready to male the squad for Russia ?
Out of the 4-8 studs you will get 2-4 players.
Then in August there may be 1-2, teenagers that deserve a look.
We may have Balkan BS in our HNS but we have natural talent bubbling up all over the place !
I’ll go a little bit pessimistic on him as well though…does he actually have a chance to play for Germany?
But with all the talent coming up maybe the question should be does he actually have a chance to play for us(benko)
Great post maminjo.
Talked to this pork and cheese friend of mine and they talking highly of krovinovic kid in benfica
Sure there are more and more players leaving cro to play but I really do feel over next couple years a couple of stars or even super stars may emerge
So I don’t get it. Is benko confirmed or are they going back altogether from the decision?
I remember we talked bout him couple years back briefly. Looks like he may have the goods. Let’s hope so
“Firstly, the playing field is evening up a bit between Croatia and the historically next tier of soccer countries. ”
Ummm, ok. This is baseless comment, but whatever.
“Further to that point countries with better organization (think Iceland) or more resources (think Poland) are utilizing their competitive development edge making Croatia s position as a corrupt, small and low gdp country ever more challenging in the years to come”
Umm, ok.
There are always outliers every few years, where a team makes a temporary jump and does well…but are still wildly inconsistent performers if they don’t have the talent.
Iceland has done well in these past couple of years…but I wouldn’t expect them to maintain this at a consistent level without the talent (which they do not have nor are they developing like we are).
They are similar to Greece who (like Iceland) found a working system that plays to their strengths. Greece won the Euros…but then missed the following tournament altogether. They made the Round of 16 at the last World Cup, then finished last place (behind the Faroe Islands!) for the following Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Poland also finished third in a Euro or World Cup back in the 80s…then they disappeared altogether for multiple tournaments.
Teams like Iceland and Poland are nothing new. This has been going on for decades.
Successes like this are completely forgotten, and it is the consistent teams who qualify regularly and regularly beat top teams (like we do) who get the recognition.
This is proven by the fact that anyone who finds out I am Croatian, instantly starts talking to me about how good Croatia is in football.
You don’t get that with being Polish, even though they also once finished third at a major tournament.
“Secondly, teams succeed with guys in their mid to high 20s. Croatias incoming class in this age bracket is worse than the outgoing class”
Ummm ok. So you are saying that the incoming guys like Pjaca and Vlasic are worse than the outgoing guys like Modric and Rakitic?
LOL. Well of course they are currently worse, since they’re only in their early 20s…and you would have to be a wizard to know how well a guy like Pjaca or Vlasic will turn out.
Modric wasn’t even considered a star until he was 22 years old and Bilic had him starting at the Euro 2008 qualifiers. His first callup was when he was 21 and was considered less of a prospect than Niko Kranjcar.
So back in 2006 when Luka had his first few callups…Were you also saying that guys like Luka Modric (incoming) are not as good as Dado Prso (outgoing)?
“Finally, these kids playing abroad doesn’t say much to me about what they’ll become. The change in the transfer market and the eu has changed the incentive structures of teams and caused a lot of these moves. These guys actually becoming something is very up in the air”
This is the only non-half-assed point you have made.
It’s true that in the past…only the best would be able to leave Croatia to play for a foreign club…so picking a National Team roster was easy…Just pick the guys who play outside of the HNL.
However, your point would only make sense if the total volume of players who went to foreign clubs was roughly the same as before. The fact is, we have an exponentially higher amount of young players who are now going to foreign clubs and many of them have panned out.
Would you rather bet on a pool of 20-ish players who play on good foreign clubs in producing a handful of high quality players, or would you rather bet on the pool with hundreds of players?
In the past, I remember when we had a player move over to a team in Italy or a team in England and we’d be so dependent on them becoming something. Guys like Dario Smoje and Igor Budan or Bosko Balaban not panning out would be a travesty for us.
Now, we have busts all over the place and nobody cares.
Ante Rebic looked great in 2014, didn’t develop quickly enough…no problem, we’ll play the next star, Alen Halilovic in that position…oh, he’s not a star, no problem, we’ll just play Marko Pjaca there.
Just like that, we now have a Juventus talent replacing a talent in Halilovic (who is still only 21 himself) and Rebic (who is also only 24).
These guys aren’t even busts, and would probably start on the current Iceland and Poland rosters…but we have such a high volume of talented youngsters now, that we simply don’t have to go through the growing pains with them on our National Team. In 4 or 5 years from now, it’s likely that one of these guys will be a good winger for us…and we get to choose the best one.
Lift your hands, i need your energy
@maminjo
2-3 for every 10 would be amazing
Who brought benko on tour last year or the year before that ….I can’t remeber if it was Carlo or not
Well maminjo
That’s where i would disagree. I think Croatia continuing to perform at its level is highly questionable
Firstly, the playing field is evening up a bit between Croatia and the historically next tier of soccer countries. Further to that point countries with better organization (think Iceland) or more resources (think Poland) are utilizing their competitive development edge making Croatia s position as a corrupt, small and low gdp country ever more challenging in the years to come
Secondly, teams succeed with guys in their mid to high 20s. Croatias incoming class in this age bracket is worse than the outgoing class
Finally, these kids playing abroad doesn’t say much to me about what they’ll become. The change in the transfer market and the eu has changed the incentive structures of teams and caused a lot of these moves. These guys actually becoming something is very up in the air
Possible Peru friendly in march,….thoughts?
Yes, and considering Croatia has about 30 or so young players under the age of 22 who are either playing on well known clubs or will be sold to them in the next couple of years…then we should be able to at least maintain our level of quality, or perhaps even surpass it.
Wow maminjo…. You have spoken some truth…. It is indeed a numbers game…. The hope is one or two of these players will pan out… So i am all for throwing benko in there
Odds are, a couple of these guys will become starter quality and maybe one or two can become an above average player
I’m for adding dani olmo to the mix as well. Not because i believe in the kid (haven’t run the stats) but cause he helps in the game of large numbers
LOL, so bitter
Nobody even brought up this kid other than you. We have plenty of youngsters who show promise and most of them likely won’t pan out.
It’s a game of stats. You get like 10 kids who have some serious potential, and possibly 2-3 will become serious players.
You can add Benko to the growing list of young players we have who are making excellent strides at a young age, sure, but we’ll see if he pans out. If he doesn’t, no biggie. We have plenty of others.
Surprised there is not more hooting and hollering about benko
Former u17 Germany member. Called up to bayern first team at extremely young age. Attacking midfielder
He has chosen to play for Croatia several months ago but then him and his dad back tracked realizing it was going to create some tension for his situation in Germany
Let the hype train begin
I love the beast mode matchups of the round of 16.
Real Madrid v PSG
Simple equation :
2 Hrvati v 0
Real Crodrid advances.
Same equation for Juve and Spurs :
1+Hrvati v O
MANventus advances.
@ Svima
Who is Fabian Benko ?
I like the diaspora choosing Hrvatska, but have not seen this kid play?
Sammy is Sime Vrsaljko 😀
@BZ,
Good catch. It won’t load the rest of the picture. I’ve included Mitrovic even though he’s not a full time player for Besiktas.
Thanks again.
Ante, your picture shows inly 14 teams. You left out Bayern vs Besiktas; hence you also forgot to mention our boy Mitrovic.
Who the fuck is Sammy hahahahaha
Dragon Soul
Dokkan dokkan tsuiteru & paradise
You don’t need to wait long for the result
Here I have got 8 teams who will advance
Juventus
Manchester City
Liverpool
Sevilla
PSG
AS Roma
Barcelona
Bayern Munchen
EUROPA LEAGUE
We have Lokomotiv Moscow (Corluka) playing Nice
Atletico Madrid (Sammy) vs Copenhagen
Spartak Moscow (Pasalic) vs Athletic Bilbao
Athens (Livaja) vs Dynamo Kiev ( Pivaric and Vida)
Napoli (Rog) vs RB Leipzig
Salzburg (Caleta-Car) vs Real Sociedad
AC Milan (Kalinic) vs Ludogoretz
Hopefully Real loses.
We need Modrić to be ready for the World Cup.
Wut about Europa league scrub