It’s time to do our homework.
Croatia’s first opponent in the 2018 World Cup will be Nigeria; who are the youngest team at this year’s tournament, with an average age of 24.9 years old.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel will be captaining the Super Eagles and will bring a decade of Premiership experience even though he played in China last season. Nigeria’s defensive core will be their Achille’s Heel when they play Croatia as most of their players play on mediocre teams around Europe including Circle Brugge, Kasimpasa and Bursaspor.
Their midfield has a bit more experience with Mikel dishing out orders and Chelsea’s Victor Moses alongside him. Trabzonspor’s Ogenyi Onazi played with Lazio for four seasons before moving to Turkey.
And what Nigeria’s striking core lacks in experience, they make up with in speed. 25 year-old Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow) has scored 13 goals for Nigeria while 22 year-old Arsenal striker Alex Iwobi adds some pace along with Leicester City’s 21 year-old Kelechi Iheanacho.
Nigeria has an extremely young team that Croatia should handle with tons of ball possession in the midfield and runs up the wings through Perišić and Rebić(?). If Mandžukić and Kramarić get proper service up top, the Vatreni could easily score three goals in this game against Nigeria.
Nigeria-Congo Friendly Highlights (1-1)
Regarding Pjaca…he’s shown some electrifying runs and flashes of brilliance but that’s just not enough in a game that has 90 minutes. I truly enjoy watching him in the final 3rd of the field but there’s another 2/3’s of a field space the game is played in…and this is where I’m not 100% certain about him. He’s shown us all the high-lite reel type of player he can be but. In this upcoming tournament we will need disciplined, hard-working and mentally strong players. There’s so many factors that come into play…ie….going down a goal/going up a goal, the ref, the weather, possession, limited chances…and in each of these scenario’s a player has to be able to adjust, react, maintain a level head and most importantly, keep the level of concentration/effectiveness and work rate high!
I remember a conversation prior to the 1998 World Cup. Tomislav Ivic publicly said that the National Team players have to learn how to play when they are a goal up as much as they have to learn how to play when they are a goal down! That’s a very true statement…the psychology of the game is very critical…and some guys like Pjaca, that have a world of potential, have to learn how to be effective for longer periods of the game.
Idemo, Pjaca based on that’s all we got!
pjaca based off what
I’m all for that (Maminjo and Lika) but I think coaches from back home believe heavily in their players playing time and don’t like to take what they think is a risk. This is why I doubt Dalic would start Pjaca but I could be wrong.
Perišić-Kramarić-Pjaca is our best trio up top.
Rebić off the bench to sub out either winger.
Mandžo as a direct backup to Kramarić, to protect a lead or if we’re seeing our wingers send in some beautiful crosses.
Slavanac in that case why not start Pjaca as our right winger from the get go…Sub in Kramaric for Mario. Pjaca has pace and is a real athlete as is Perisic. I know Pjaca will be out of form, but we don’t have any other option. Kramaric doesn’t have the pace a winger needs to be fast.
im open to vida left back lovren ? vrsaljko
two of my comments are stuck….one of them since early this morning.
I have been saying that Krama “MUST” start, not only has he earned it but if he doesn’t start, who knows how that can mentally affect the guy. I think we are in a bit of a predicament. If we had a right sided attacker that was in form and has proven to be effective, I think the easy solution would be to play him and use Kramaric at striker but since we don’t have that option right now, the only thing I could see as working is that Mandzukic starts at striker for the first 60 minutes while using Krama down the right side…and then sub on Pjaca, move Krama to the striker position and sub out Mandzukic.
This way Dalic has an easy transition….Mario does do anything…bench him for a hungry Kramaric everyone is happy. Lots of politics for Dalic to bench Mario immediately.
Horvat, Mandzukic had a horrible euro no doubt. But if he can get service he needs to play. Kramaric off the bench…Mandzukic is a big games player with experience. I know last week I said Krama should start. I think Mandzukic has one tournament left. Mario has his own unique skill set. Only thing about Kramaric he is slow as shit when making a run.
@ Horvat I agree, I think that’s the million dollar question. Will dalic have the balls to play krama in the right position and will he play a proper winger instead of mandzo on the flank so his ego doesn’t get bruised. Personally I doubt it, I think krama will. E on the wing and mandzo will play striker and pjaca and rebic subs I think that’s how it will play out. Dalic talks a big game about how this generation hasent done anything but he’s gonna be loyal to the vets just my gut feeling.
Kramaric needs to be our centre forward period.
Let’s not forget that Mandukic was our only player that did absolutely nothing last Euros. He’s not any better today than he was at the time.
Maminjo, you make some very strong points here, well said!
I was reading an article this morning. Balotelli is saying its hard to be a black Italian, living in Italy and although that may be true, I think the guy is playing the victim card. He has been nothing short of an absolute piece of shit human to sooooo many people so when I read this type of comment coming from him, I have zero sympathy for the guy. It wouldn’t matter to me if he was black, white, yellow or any other color…his actions are inexcusable and he can literally go pound sand and pout somewhere else!
Over the years I’ve read stories about him publicly bragging that he can do whatever he wants cause he’s rich, he was caught throwing “DARTS” at people, he verbally attacked people in a restaurant….the list goes on and on. He almost gave his coach Mancini a nervous breakdown because he was so damn unruly and couldn’t take instructions and constantly challenged his authority in front of the entire team.
so now the guy wants to tell everyone that he’s been mistreated because Italians are racist? ok, I believe there are racists everywhere but I can tell you that being a team-mate with people of color is no different than being a team-mate of another white guy….we are all brothers on and off the field and yet, most players were irritated by Balotelli and his constant childish bull-shit!
We all know Kramaric has to start.
I know Strinic and Pivaric are going to be our demise.
Dalic, please experiment with a different formation vs Brazil. Get those weak links off the field.
Zidane unexpectedly quits Real.
BZ Translation: Zidane expects France to suck out this World Cup, then he gets his dream job. Good for him.
@maminjo, good points about our attack. and kramaric
Well, yeah, you only have to click my name to go to my YouTube channel; and in any case anime is good for u 😉
Yeah there’s no way Mandzukic doesn’t start, which sucks for us. Maybe if we get lucky he’ll get suspended or injured or something ? idk but i can’t see any coach having the guts to bench him for the repka
Iggy with some anime on his youtube channel, i see you i see youuu
unfortunately, mandzukic not starting is not gonna happen. we can only pray that he will be subbed off for rebic/pjaca halfway through the game, and move kramaric from winger to forward.
Gee that is interesting, the Krama stat. But you know what’s gonna happen, he’s gonna play but in some shitty wing position so Mario can start.
We average 3.33 goals per game when Kramaric starts, lol.
I’d like to see the stats on Hoffenheim too. I’m sure they have a notable spike when he starts for them.
Another interesting thing to note (from the games Kramaric started above)…
That 1-1 draw against Finland…the Finnish goal occurred AFTER Kramaric was subbed off.
Also, the big wins against Azerbaijan, Kosovo and Greece (when Kramaric started) were followed up with 0-0 draws against Azerbaijan and Greece, along with a narrow 1-0 win against Kosovo (when Kramaric was on the bench for those games).
Good Point about the correlation between Kramaric starting and Croatia scoring more goals in those games.
It’s actually not a small sample if you go back to when he was first capped…
Games Kramaric started:
Cro vs Azerbaijan 6-0 (Euro 2016 qualifier)
Cro vs Kosovo 6-0 (WC 2018 qualifier)
Cro vs Finland 1-0 (WC 2018 qualifier)
Cro vs Finland 1-1 (WC 2018 qualifier)
Cro vs Ukraine 2-0 (WC 2018 qualifier)
Cro vs Greece 4-1 (WC 2018 qualifier)
Aside from the games against a grind-it-out Finland team, this is actually not bad at all.
This doesn’t include friendlies, and I do recall him starting (and scoring an incredible goal) in a big friendly win against Northern Ireland (3-0). He also started in our win against Mexico in March (where we looked much better than against Peru a few days earlier).
Essentially, good things happen when Krama starts.
Playing in the attacking third has been a weakness of ours but that’s why Dalic likes to play with Modric higher up the field. I think that he likes Kramaric and will give him a shot over Kalinic. Kramaric likes to come deep at times to collect the ball which can help build up play in the attacking third. Probably helps that he can collect and turn with the ball unlike Mandzukic and Kalinic.
Every time Dalic has started Kramaric, we’ve scored at least 2 goals. Every time he’s started Mandzukic and Kalinic, we haven’t scored….small sample size but I think it still telling
Iceland worries me the least.
Every game we played against them, we outplayed them.
That one loss in Reykjavik was a result of us bumming around on the field, settling for the draw, and a lot of last minute luck.
This time, it won’t be your typical “June qualifying game” where our Cro players (as always) look forward to summer vacation in Dalmacija and lose (like they always have been doing these past several qualifiers).
There is also that added motivation that Iceland finished first and beat us that last time we played (which cost us first place in the group). I can see a player like Perisic having a big game against them.
I highly doubt Iceland survives our match against them. They will play hard, but this game I am certain Cro will go at them hard.
The only game I have any real concern about is Nigeria, simply due to the fact that anything other than a win is considered failure (and Nigeria is a fake fourth pot team).
@idemo
You need to use more recent data (i.e. the games that Dalic coached) and not the games Cacic coached.
We lack play in the Final Third, but not in the games against Ukraine and Greece.
Pushing Modric forward and actually playing our most creative and gifted striker (Kramaric) really boosted our play in the offensive third.
Couple this with Perisic generally stepping up big in tournaments, and hopefully another player stepping up in this tournament (Rebic, Pjaca, Vrsaljko?) and we should be good.
@ Idemo
Great point about “controlled possession” and impotency in the attacking third. This has plagued us for 10 years.
My point is that Iceland is the fittest and toughest national team I have ever seen. They compete to the end.
I can see Nigeria getting rattled and tired of chasing our shadows as our technicians are peerless.
Nigeria scares me because they can score, if you let them captilize on mistakes.
I also feel there “German tactics” will be tougher to implement when the World Cup lights turn on.
Point is Nigeria first match is good for us.
Iceland third match is more of challenge for us because we are going to have to win.
also I don’t understand how pjaca has a place but brekalo does not
“controlled possession”
we play it around the back because we lack play in the final 3rd
thats not controlled possession
and soul champ u r scared Iceland will run for 90 mins and not Nigeria
@Coach Crnkovic
“when nigeria beat argentina 4-2 the other day they played with a back 5 and sat deep to absorb pressure before hitting on the counter.”
If Nigeria play like that against Croatia, would that be playing the game on their terms? I imagine that’s the way they will play, and if they do, Croatia will have no choice but to play that style of game.
“each of the 3 games SHOULD be on our terms with the opposition having to change their game to cope with our gameplan.”
You make Croatia sound like a good team Lol!
Again, what is Nigeria’s game plan? If it’s how they played against Argentina then they wont have to change anything against us, and the game will be on their terms!
what i REALLY want is to Vs Aus in the next round – if we get through – which is possible but hugely unlikely but u never know 😉
anway its really a very tough group. if you look at the group from argentinas perspective its really the worst possible group for them. argentina will face 3 completely contrasting styles of play all of whom will be hungry to get that famous scalp. nigeria dont fear them and will go for the throat against them. iceland will see that game as historic for them and try to shut argentina down over 90 mins while using their strength and long throws and set pieces to hammer them. croatia will dominate possession and deny them the ball messi needs. nightmare for argentina all round. croatia are the best equiped team to deal with this complex group. because we are the most rounded and complete team and have the best midfield so each of the 3 games SHOULD be on our terms with the opposition having to change their game to cope with our gameplan. so we have to be very positive and even a little bit arrogant. if we start to fear the other teams we are fucked
Nigeria could not hold our jock straps. No way! We will be ok.
a lot of inaccurate stereotypes being pedalled here. iwobi is not quick, his best qualities are his ability to receive the ball in between the lines and instigate passing combinations. his passing is fantastic. his pace is average. iheancho is a clever player with great finishing ability and a cute instinct for the killer through ball. mikel is an elegant playmaker from deep. none of these players main quality is speed or strength. you’re just using stereotypes about black athletes. thankfully the coaching staff won’t be, they know football and don’t assume players are fast but stupid because they’re black. when nigeria beat argentina 4-2 the other day they played with a back 5 and sat deep to absorb pressure before hitting on the counter. they didnt press or foul or try to physically intimidate argentina. it will be a tactical battle, which we should win. its a good thing we play them first. they are a young squad who lack experience on this stage. i can see us beating nigeria in the first game, people writing them off then nigeria beating iceland and argentina in the next two games. i hope thats what happens anyway. i believe we will win the group. just saying… 😉
Dalic interview;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i1TCEL0il0
Mentioned that he picked Bradaric over Rog and Pasalic because he was more of a defensive player. Believes him and Badelj are the only two we have.
Also said that likes Pjaca as the “joker” off the bench. Sounds like he thinks highly of Mandzukic too.
Caleta-Car, Mitrovic, and Corluka are all apparently fighting for the last spot.
@Ernest
The Brazil friendly will be shown on BEIN Sports in the U.S.
^agreed. Highly doubt that we will drastically change our controlled possession game for the Nigeria game. Also highly doubt that Rebic will start unless someone gets injured and he does extremely well against Brazil/Senegal. Just doesn’t have the positioning and passing abilities of all the other attackers except for maybe Kalinic and Pjaca. Does have a bright future though. Let’s hope he can stay healthy.
Caleta-Car showed up to training camp today as well. But it looks like Corluka is healthy and ready to go. If that’s the case, then he’s pretty much a guaranteed starter despite not being FAST. Champions League guys should be there for training tomorrow;
https://vijesti.rtl.hr/video/sport/280837/corluki-maksimalna-minutaza-protiv-brazila-dolazi-tercet-finalista-lige-prvaka/
Nigeria will play fast and physical (no doubt) but they will also play a bit out of control and I can see them committing some dumb fouls (which will cause constant breaks in play and lead to more opportunities for us).
If they get a couple yellows early, they will get scared and calm down (allowing us to dominate even more).
The dumbest thing we can do is is try to match their style of play. Let them run around like idiots and try to take the ball off us. They won’t be able to without consistently fouling us.
Honestly the nigeria game, i can see them winning 2-0 (couple counters) or us winning 4-0
no idea
iceland are easybeats, go look at the head to head for HRV v ISL. There is no threat there; Nigeria are a much, much tougher test.
Nigeria are bunch of divers. . They will show disgrase for their race (no little pride), We can’t stop corrupt FiFa to help them and world cup like 2002 with pathetic refereing will repeat!
Does anyone know if the Brazil game will be on US tv Sunday?
Slavonac, this is our time to shine!! Brother I feel a good tournament coming for us.
Lika, thats true, they run and are physical….but “IF” we play how we know we can, we will then control the midfield and I’d be happy to see them running and trying to close us down cause the ball travels much faster than any of them do!
We shouldn’t have troubles breaking up their attacks and defending against them, my only real fear is them scoring on a broken play, a set piece or a counter….but I’m confident about us being cautious enough on the counters.
We have much more quality and experience than Nigeria…but this game can’t be taken lightly.
Nigeria can run for days…they have young super talented strikers playing in the EPL. Argentina was up 2:0 then ended up loosing friendly or not.
I think Iceland will be half the test of Nigeria. This Nigerian side is extremely unexperienced….I agree we have much more quality…but I just don’t wasn’t us to take them lightly.
Strinic, Vida, Lovren and Vrsaljko are all quick.
the game vs Nigeria is ours to lose, not theirs to win! we not only are at least one class higher but we are far more experienced….its up to us on how we play and how hard we work for the win.
for the record, the comments about running fast and being able to keep up with Nigeria are absolutely ridiculous. I really can’t even find the words to comment because the topic is so damn idiotic!
@ Horvat
Like that line up ….
I love Kovačić in there for explosive speed and defensive cover.
MANdzukic – always good for 30 minutes.
Brozovic – first midfield option of the bench.
Pjaca – joker!
Nigeria is a blessing to have for the first match.
They think they can beat us and will come out looking to dominate.
We will be focused and fresh physically for the first match.
Argentina is a showcase for us.
Iceland is actually most concerning as we need to beat them and they will run 90+ minutes.
If Dalić does not go with the young legs and plays worn out veterans than you have Mexico 2014 all over again.
We actually match well with Nigeria … IF … we play the speedy 7 as outlined in previous posts.
I can see Nigeria getting caught over stretched and we hit quick on the counter.
But you can’t hit quick if you have SLOW “attacking” wings.
Modrić is physically quick and his intelligence is 7+ moves ahead. If he is deployed up the pitch then any attempt to be physical with him will draw dangerous free kicks.
^^^^^
very very very fast team
I see us beat arg and ice and losing to Nigeria
Idemo, Nigeria is a nightmare….no pressure on them…young and talented…German coach. I’m the most concerned for this game.
……………Kramaric………
Rebic……..Modric…….Perisic
………..Rakitic..Brozovic
Strinic….Vida..Lovren….Vrsaljko
………………Kalinic………
nigera is no joke
LOL i loaded up fifa’s WC mode and played online and first opponent i got was “Croat28” so we palyed HRV v HRV!
Awesome! Some other Aussie i think too judging by no lag.
Possession…
Then Nigeria has two break away counters and bang your down 2-0.
We need power and speed to match in certain areas of the ptich.
Again … for the last 10 years …. we need to support Modrić our ALL WORLD attacking midfielder …. with POWER and SPEED.
It’s not that Rebić is world class, it’s that he brings POWER and SPEED.
His quotes are not accidental.
He brings a physical confidence to the pitch that you need.
Real Modrić had all the possession v LFC, a healthy Bale stepped on the pitch it was a different ball game.
Power and speed players:
Perišić
Kovačić
Vrsaljko
Rebić
Lovren
Vida
Pjaca
Speedy 7
All need to play a part for us.
I pray Dalić understands this basic concept.
Posession is great but we better get some shots out of it. That’s been a problem for us recently.
if we score less than 3 goals against nigeria ill be surprised
im hopeing messi gets injured in game 1
Argentina beat Haiti today 4-0. Messi played the full game. No worries of injury.
We also have an advantage since Ndidi still hasn’t returned from a hamstring injury. Transfermarkt has him as their most valued player; https://www.transfermarkt.com/nigeria/startseite/verein/3444
where are my video creds? 😮
@Soul Champ-Rebic understands a winning mentality. Unlike Dalic, who thinks the team will suck out so bad that he is going clean house for the Nations League. Newsflash Dalic, if you suck out this summer, you will not be in the position to decide who plays in the Nations League. But on the bright side, there is always a job for you at the Cacic TV repair shop.
Possession is key. I think Luka and rakitic will do that to give them the ball. That’s my opinion thats all. They won’t get the damn ball. I can see 70 to 30 possession for hrv and thats being generous.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/croatia-a-better-team-with-better-players-ante-rebic-aims-dig-at-/7p5hupngsq6u17i2y8dt4iad6
This is why you need a 24 year old beast in the line up.
ZDS
Midfield should say.
I’m pretty confident we will prevail in that match. Our midfied too good I think to thwart that attack. We will win!