Joško Gvardiol played the full 120 minutes of Manchester City’s 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid Wednesday night, however, it was Modrić and Kovačić who made huge impacts on the match during their cameos; both missing their spot kicks in the shootout session.
Modrić came on for Toni Kroos in the 79th minute of play and finished out the last 30 minutes of the match strong defensively. He hustled to multiple balls and did not blink as the City offensive attack looked hungry in the waning minutes of the match. Modrić was given a 7/10 grade from Goal.com as he was”Not a bad sub to bring on. Most of his work was defensive, though. Missed his pen, improbably.”
Kova was surprisingly brought on by Pep in the 112th minute for Kevin de Bruyne. Not sure why as KDB is a far better PK taker than Kova ever could be and it showed. Kova had a good look on goal deflected out for a corner but didn’t do much else offensively. Goal.com said this of Kova: “Replaced De Bruyne in the 112th minute and lost his nerve in the shootout.”
Gvardiol played a solid 120 minutes at left-back for Man City. He received a 7/10 grade from Goal.com as he was “Given a rough time by Federico Valverde at the start but came out fighting, making valuable blocks and interceptions until the 120th minute.”
Real Madrid will now play Bayern Munich in the CL semifinals where they will be favored to win. Expect Modrić and Real Madrid to be back in the Final against their new teammate next season; Kylian Mbappe and PSG. That’s my prediction. Mbappe Bowl 2024.
Can we not bring rakitic for 10 mins in extra time and pk
Same with orsic
If we have krama, orsic and rakitic in our 5 pk and Livaković on our line
I’d like our chances in almost any pk situation
Tell me I’m wrong
Bringing in Raketa after he retired may cause friction in the locker room with guys like Majer or whoever else may feel they deserve it more.
Raketa would arguably be our best midfielder off the bench, so guys like Majer, Pasalic, Vlasic, Sucic and Baturina would get brought down a peg.
Maybe even a guy like Broz or Kovacic would get taken out early, in favor of Raketa (if they have a bad game).
Our locker room seems to be filled with some nice guys (who probably wouldn’t mind if Raketa was called up) but you never know.
Don’t forget the two PK misses in the NL final. However, look at it this way it’s better that they get out of their system now than in June. A penalty kick Drop off was bound to happen. It’s just one of the facts of life however in June, they’re going to turn that around.
@croatiafootball. What up dawg?
Now you’re playing this game huh? Your cute little twitter account has some juice to it does it huh? Watch your twitter account
Before Modric’s sit down Pep talk session with Livakovic , we were in trouble.
The PK victories in retrospect, seem even more improbable looking back. Did Modric ever send the HNS his consultant bill?
Albeit, Liva’s problem was never reaction time, but more about when to come off the line in normal play situations, and then end up in between land. I think the Brazil game was his finest hour.
We can’t go to the well too many times and expect the same result.
I want to think that Budimir’s PK effort the other day was an anomaly, If I had to pick between Broz or Kova for a PK, I would think Broz.
The best teams are the ones that go to the well many times, and come out on top.
Back in the day (when Italy was good), people used to mock them for getting away with 1-0 victories…but they kept doing it, and medaled in many tournaments as a result.
I have no issues with us winning games against elite teams, even if they are narrow victories or PK shootouts. It’s what winners do.
We haven’t come out on top yet….
Imagine if they boys were fresh for France in 2018 or Argentina in 2022. (even though a Vatican Team managed by the Pope couldn’t have beat Argentina in 2022)
Too many extra time games add up in a month-long tournament. Going to penalty kicks multiple times is like playing Russian Roulette. You can escape most of the time, but not all the time. It will get you eventually.
I stand by my strategy. Need to start scoring more goals. To ti je to…
What are you talking about
Nike finally came out the Slovene kit. We should consider ourselves lucky.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1787471061761143
Are you In Between Days or something?
On another note, is Ante Budimir really out of the Euros because of the 3 broken ribs?
Where does it say that?
It generally takes up to six weeks for ribs to fully heal, which would be more than enough time before the Euros (which are two months from now).
I think people were just worried that his form would be affected, since he’s been red hot this season and may have to take a few weeks off and potentially ruin his good form.
I just read in Sportske Novosti that he’s taking one week off and will then be re-evaluated after that.
Here’s the front angle
U can see Rudiger talking to Modric right before the signal
So Modric sold out Kovacic
twitter.com/Emmanuelnnorom/status/1780739547761905898
I don’t see Modric telling Rudiger anything in this video. He is just standing there.
Since Rudiger considers Kovacic his best friend in football, he probably knew exactly where Kova was going to shoot
Rudiger best friend in football is Kovacic !
twitter.com/Asensii20/status/1780742389604213196
Look at this video
Modric tells Rudiger you have to convey which way Kova is going
Bc Modric doesn’t want Kova to see it came from him
See the Modric “playful punch” after Kova penalty is stopped
Modric and Rudiger teamed up to make sure Kova is stopped
twitter.com/Rice_Prop/status/1780868604004532235
So let’s stop criticizing Kova – Modric has probably watched him take 1,000 penalties in training by now
I don’t see Modric telling Rudiger anything in this video. He is just standing there.
Also Rudiger pointed what direction Kovacic was going to go [both ex-Chelsea]
The longer you’ve player the worst it is – there is more data on how you take your penalties plus ex/current teammates able to give tips
Kova could have told where Modric was going
Modric could have told where Kova is going
Both neutralize each other
Let’s stop talking about Modric’s miss – and let’s start talking about this
Genius stuff by Modric
Also Kepa (on loan from Chelsea) advised Lunin before the shoot-out – Silva scored out right down the middle vs. Kepa back in 2019
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Btw after Modric missed his pen he smashed the ball into the stands. B Silva was next up & had to wait a whole minute for the ball to come back & this clearly got to his head bcos his penalty was shocking. Modric knew this delay would mentally impact the next taker. Genius.
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It could have been worst – see Bernardo Silva’s penalty (which was worst than Budimir as he was at least “trying something”) – what was he thinking ?
Eric Dier MOTM vs. Arsenal – highlights
twitter.com/vandedd/status/1780836139819000210
I’ve always said Kova is crap at penalties amongst other things this just further proves me right. I’m not that surprised about Modric, he usually kicks them but I rarely feel confident when he’s taking a PK.
Kovacic should not be taking them that is for sure. Reading in Cro media Kramaric has 91% success rate which is above average. Modric is 75% for both country and club which is below average.
Not sure where you get your 75 per cent number …..
https://www.transfermarkt.us/luka-modric/elfmetertore/spieler/27992
That link just shows PKs taken in regulation.
Maybe his PKs taken during a shootout are worse.
Either way, his results are average…but based off the ones I’ve seen him take for us, he shies away from going too wide or high, and he’s been very lucky not to have at least a few more saved on him.
For Croatia, I’m recalling him in shootouts going 3-for-3 at World Cups, and 0-for-1 at Euro Cups.
Oh and Nations League, where he scored in the shootout in the finals. So 3-for-3 ….. 0-for-1….. and 1-for-1 … a total of 4-for-5, unless I missed something else.
When it comes to tournament play…
Modric is 3-for-4 in regulation
Modric is 4-for-5 in shootouts
So, overall, he is 7 for 9 (77%) which is about average.
The issue people have is that a couple of those PK goals that he scored in the shootout (against Russia and Denmark at WC2018) were incredibly lucky and were due to goalkeeper error. He could easily be at 5 for 9 overall for us.
Here are his PK goals for us in tournaments below:
Regulation Goals:
– 2023 UNL Finals (Netherlands)
– 2018 World Cup (Nigeria)
– Euro2008 (Austria)
Regulation Misses:
– 2018 World Cup (Denmark)
Shootout Goals:
– 2023 UNL Finals (Spain)
– World Cup 2018 (Russia)
– World Cup 2018 (Denmark)
– World Cup 2022 (Brazil)
Shootout Misses
– Euro2008 (Turkey)
There is the belief that if you try to get too close to the corner and too perfect, you can much more easily end up doing what Di Maria did today, and what seas of others have done before him. So many PKs go off the goalie and still go in the net because the shot was actually directed in between the posts and below the bar, and it’s usually a bang-bang play. Luka 22 of 27 in regulation/extra time for club and country and 4-for-5 for country in shootouts. I didn’t try to dig up extra-time PKs for Real but I can’t imagine he’s taken many( ?). Don’t think he took one when they beat Atleti in the CL final. Above has 26 of 32. I’m not here for style points when it comes to PKs.
Ieant shootout PKs for Real and not extra-time PKs. (If any of latter, they are included in previously-posted link.)
>>I didn’t try to dig up extra-time PKs for Real but I can’t imagine he’s taken many (?).
Meant shootout PKs for Real and not extra-time PKs. (If any of latter, they are included in previously-posted link.)
>>I didn’t try to dig up extra-time PKs for Real but I can’t imagine he’s taken many (?).
If a penalty kick goes in
it goes in nothing else counts
It is either a miss or a goal
It doesn’t matter if it looks pretty or barely made it or was taken badly
If you make it then that’s all that matters.
I would say That when Luka goes up for a penalty kick I’m pretty sure he’s going to make it. He’s a veteran with experience so overall he’s pretty solid. Hes not the best but he’s pretty good. I’m over trying to win games by penalties though. I want to see the win straight up. I prefer No more shoot outs. Especially after nations league. In the Euro I prefer no penalty shootout games for us and at the most maybe 1. That’s all.
This hopefully will be are year.
Winning the Euro 24 would be amazing!!
Good luck to Luka in the champions league !!
Real Madrid was lucky to win that game they were playing on fumes.. Luca has always been a bad penalty taker. Some of those kicks that he took in those penalty shootouts they barely went in. He completely telegraph. You could see that shot coming a mile away and Cova said she’s no better. This is something that our national team needs to work on although we have prevailed and shoot outs we need to continue to express mental health penalties or mental. We need to be confident and have people that are confident to take them.
Luka Modric has been a bad penalty taker? Do you watch football?
Modric Record
2023 NL Final vs Spain
2022 WC QF vs Brazil
2022 NL vs France
2019 Euro Qualifier vs Azerbaijan
2018 WC QF vs Russia
2018 WC RD16 vs Denmark
2008 Euro GS vs Austria
He missed against Denmark in added time and that dreadful Turkey penalty in 2008. The man is a legend at spot kicks. He has scored 22/27 penalties in his career which is 81%. I’d say that’s pretty good lol. Do your research before you make false statements.
A few of Modric’s penalties just squeak in. I get nervous when he takes penalties.
Your correct . He makes many nervous. He is still the best player for me
80% is the average success rate for a PK. So, Modrić is statistically average (and not a “legend” as you put it).
But for those who actually watched these PKs taken by Modrić, we all know that he was very lucky on many of them.
From your list, the Russian and Denmark PKs at the 2018 World Cup were hilariously bad, and the commentators were even laughing about them.
The rest of his successful PKs on that list were struck “ok” but none were deep enough into the corners, and none of them sent the goalkeeper the wrong way first.
Austria 2008 was basically down the middle – but not high enough – if a quality keeper didn’t commit or was a taller keeper swept his leg (think Subasic) it could have been saved
I think he may still have PTSD from the Euro2008 loss to Turkey where he tried to go wide and missed the net complete.
Ever since then, he’s only ever kicked it down the middle or too close to the keeper.
I think the Nigeria one at WC2018 was the only good one where he went nice and wide to the bottom left corner.
I agree with comments. That why I feel it’s important that our national team does more to improve the mental health of the team . Prepare the guys mentally . I think most of the team got the demons out with the World Cup 2018 victories in the shoot outs. That last cup we did well but some shots did squeak in. A goal is a goal . I just feel we can do a little better in preparing our guys
Bellingham’s was no better (maybe worse) and the goalie went the other way so no one says a thing. Did the goalie guess to go the other way or did Bellingham “send” him the other way? None of us know.
Don’t know what you’re watching. My statements are not false in any way .
Not a good week for Croatian penalty takers.
Hopefully if any of our Euro games go to penalties some others will step up.
Kovacic and Modric sucking at PKs is common knowledge and should be no surprise.
It could be a blessing for us, as recency bias could help push them away from taking any PKs for us at the Euros. We need to keep all three of Modric, Kovacic and Majer away from the PK spot.
Modric was horrible at the World Cup 2018…but recently over the years started taking more of them and scoring (despite them not being really good takes).
Krama should be the only one taking them for us at the Euros. If we go into a shootout, we have plenty of other guys who are good at taking them.
I am sticking with Orisic needs to play, especially in the end for PKs.
I agree that Kramarić should be our #1 choice for PKs. But if the match goes to a PK shootout, he would have probably have been subbed off if he started according to Dalić trends. Who is going to be on the pitch after 120 minutes if we find ourselves in a shootout?
I’m not sure if Modrić is lasting that long in the match by the time in the tournament matches are coming to a shootout. I think today may be a blessing like you said and Kovačić will shy away from the spot.
Maybe Kramaric just can’t start period, and use Petkovic or Budimir first. I would think: Pasalic(2), Sucic, Orsic, ……. Vlasic ?????…maybe Brozovic. We need Rakitic still.
What are you talking about?
It was lucky for us that the shots he took went in.
Get them out of the way now before the euros is say
Watching Luka playing so hard defensively, getting back, plugging the gaps, covering De Bruyne, winning that big aerial duel, then still a threat on offence, sending Vini Jr in all alone with that great pass….Vini loses speed duel and strength duel with Walker but Luka’s pass was perfect…..just wow. So impressive….
Once Luka came on – after a few minutes – the whole game slowed down – especially in extra-time – that’s the Luka effect – calming things down
Luka’s pass to Vini was indeed perfect – shame Vini didn’t do more
If goes to penalties – I’d bet all 3 Croatians take one – let’s see
Harry Kane and Eric Dier knock out Arsenal
Eric Dier MOTM
So poetic
Good job RM making Haaland completely anonymous over two legs
Truth always pumping Haaland and bashing Gvardiol.
Haaland is already 24 and has never taken his country to a tournament. Gvardiol pretty much netted a bronze for us by transforming our defense.
Haaland stats look better than they are – a lot of goals are vs. bottom tier teams (like 5 goals vs. Luton in FA Cup, lol)
vs. Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa, Spurs, Newcastle this season (i.e. #2 thru #6 in PL) – he has played 10 games and has only 1 goal
Agree re: Norway – it’s also not like he’s a one-man show – he has Odegaard and a few other decent players around him
lol
Ancelotti brings on Modric after they tie it up
Terrible coaching – it was obvious he needed to be on the pitch – for the last 20 minutes
Great job Ancelotti
U should have listened to bringing on Modric
Ancelotti will bring on Modric shortly to calm things down for RM
I am rooting for City. Kova and Gvardiol with a champions league trophy would be nice. Additionally, RM is doing Modric dirty, he makes a huge impact in the game yet they are not starting him or giving him playing time rather playing Kroos.
Rooting for City I want Kova and Josko to start and play for a great team. I want them to have the confidence of champions, which will help us as they are the ones who will take the National Team forward
Yes, we are lucky to have so many starters playing at the highest levels. I think Kova and Josko will continue to play their best. I hate to say still developing especially in Kova’s case but that might be true still the same.
Good point, it will be a morale boost for both going into the Euros
This game is too close to call. I just hope for another great performance from all the Hrvati on the field. I agree with Ante, and want another (maybe last) trophy filled year for Modric, because he deserves it. However, I found myself cheering for City in the beginning, because I must support the team with Croatians on the field. But, as soon as Modric came on, I couldn’t help switching my support to Real Modric. It was very confusing for me mentally and emotionally 🙁
Rooting for Real Madric, but the Real question is, is there another world cup in store for Luka. He is already in rarified air with the likes of Pirlo, Zidane, regarding longevity with continued meaningful impact on the pitch.
In giving Gvardiol the benefit of the doubt, I think he is trying to enjoy every moment, playing with Luka most likely, realizing it won’t last forever.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W2GXu8bsOAw
all of these losers have never been here for cycling
Betting line (pinnacle.com):
Man C -155
Real +406
Draw +333
To advance: Man C -273, Real +226
https://hrsport.hr/gvardiol-o-modricu-jako-sam-sretan-sto-sam-imao-priliku-igrati-s-njim/
I think we should be talking about Gvardiol’s comments to the press
It is HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE for him to say the Euros will be Modric’s last appearances for the national team
Who does he think he is as a 22 y.o. punk – to comment on what his 38 y.o. captain / greatest Croatian football player of all-time is going to do / not do
It’s really arrogant – and completely rubs the wrong way
I did notice after the game last week – that they spent a few minutes together – and at some point Modric was saying something to Gvardiol that Gvardiol didn’t like and he pushed back at Modric (i.e. his response was not friendly)
Gvardiol needs to learn his place – he has a lot to learn / work on – instead of commenting to the press about Modric’s plans are – he should call up Mickey VDV and set some training for this summer – so he can work on his speed / pace
Ditto – the comments v-a-v Kovacic – that he is a great player and needs to continue like that
I hope both Modric and Kovacic have a strong word with this Gvardiol punk – and it becomes a teachable moment for him to learn from
Unreal stuff by this Gvardiol punk
You’re the only punk here “anonymous”. Budala.
Gvardiol’s a great kid, who seems very humble and respectful to his football elders.
Oh please, these are Modric’s own words, maybe subject to change but Gvardiol did nothing wrong here. Knee jerk reaction lol
@gbvh
As requested – here are Jarrod Bowen’s first 50 goals for West Ham
? ? ?
***.youtube.com/watch?v=xU_IfauDLqI
Not sure why this Jarrod Bowen guy keeps posting his highlights on an obscure Croatian fan site. Odd.
Micky VDV and Jarrod Bowen, ha ha
Non stop with these two
Let’s see some more god of halilovic highlights instead;)
Next time 😉
And Udogie 😉