The idea of coasting through an easy win during yesterday’s game seemed highly unlikely. With the inclusion of Croatian legend Robert Prosinecki as manager, Azerbaijan has looked more cohesive. The positive results from beating Malta at home and drawing Norway in Oslo were encouraging. They haven’t conceded a goal in 180 minutes under Prosinecki’s tenure. Should these statistics have applied to a star-studded Croatian team that has scored 16 goals through six qualifiers?
Instead of repeating the same jargon about several first-team players playing for high-profile teams, it would be wise to ignore that quote. Many pundits will find it difficult to look past a midfield that features three players on two of the biggest clubs in the world. As proven today, you will need more firepower to break down unified defenses. In today’s modern game, utilizing a narrow bunker defense and countering on the break with pacey midfielders has become the norm for lesser-talented teams. Look no further than Slaven Bilic’s brilliance in West Ham’s upset win over Liverpool last weekend.
Nobody quite knows the true essence of how to break down a bunker defense. A mere one goal is usually the viable response for that question. When Croatia managed to create actual chances, it came mainly from the wings. Sime Vrsaljko made an excellent run that led to a near goal. It was a solo effort that we haven’t seen Darijo Srna manage to accomplish throughout his career. While Vrsajlko looked nervous early on, his defensive capabilities will make him a suitable long-term replacement for Srna.
Ivan Perisic created two goal-scoring opportunities with a right-footed cross and a one-two combination with Nikola Kalinic. Both plays presented Mario Mandzukic with golden chances. Somehow both strikes (one header, one right footed toe poke) landed straight in the goalkeeper’s hands. What happened to the player that scored 33 goals in 54 games for Bayern Munich? It has become well documented that Mandzukic needs service to be effective. That is the case for any prototypical target man.
Earlier in the qualifying campaign, Mandzukic was subdued and received little service. The Juventus striker was still working relentlessly by harassing defenders and tried to get involved on a consistent basis. Things eventually opened up against Norway, yet he still couldn’t get on the score sheet. Mandzukic wasted a one-on-one opportunity that raised some eyebrows. The raised eyebrows transitioned into irate head shaking from missing and causing a penalty against Italy in June.
Mandzukic has always lacked the quality of a true world-class forward. The possibility of him reminiscing a world-class striker such as Robin Van Persie (in his prime) or Karim Benzema was never going to occur. On the ball, the lanky striker is limited outside the box. His predatory skills inside the box, along with his strength and work ethic have propelled him towards playing for three top-tier clubs.
Those predatory skills seem to be diminishing after wasting numerous goal-scoring chances. No Croatian striker has played so deplorable, since Ivica Olic against Turkey in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals. Credit to Olic for constantly running, refusing to make pouty faces, and not attempting any ridiculous back heels in front of goal. Atletico Madrid wasn’t hesitant in selling Mandzukic, as Diego Simeone grew fed up of his antics and lack of production. Niko Kovac may want to follow a similar strict approach rather than coddle him.
With the exception of scoring against Italy in June, Mandzukic hasn’t scored in a competitive club or international game since February 21st against Almeria. That drought is very concerning for a striker, who was “scoring for fun” two years ago. Croatian’s main goal scorer has always excelled in big games against the likes of Italy, Ireland, Iceland, and Serbia over the past three years. While his resume in big games is impressive, a spot on the bench may be necessary for Sunday. The sight of a ragged striker desperately needing to score isn’t a good recipe for a team under pressure.
Mandzukic isn’t the only significant problem. Kovac’s inability to diversify his tactics were concerning. The former captain should have known that Prosinecki was going to be well organized, given the obvious familiarity. Different tactics from utilizing the wings more to having his midfielders shoot outside the box could have been more beneficial. Azerbaijan’s defense was compact through the majority of the game. A stronger focus on stretching them out through utilizing the wingbacks would have likely presented more chances. Kovac didn’t do himself any favors by replacing his most dynamic midfielder (Luka Modric) for a box-to-box midfielder that has continuously underwhelmed for the national team (Marcelo Brozovic).
Milan Badelj and Marko Pjaca were encouraging surprise inclusions, when the starting lineups were announced. Kovac doesn’t deserve fault for those personnel decisions, although should have subbed out Pjaca by the 75th minute. Both players failed to flourish from making their respective rare starts. Badelj’s inability to pass and form an organized partnership with Modric was most alarming. After a successful first season with Fiorentina, the defensive midfielder underwhelmed once again for the national team. Badelj hasn’t lived up to expectations on the national level, as former manager Igor Stimac publicly criticized him following Croatia’s comeback win over Wales in 2013.
The inability to develop another winger has hindered Croatia’s attack. Olic simply isn’t capable of playing within the first-team at a high level anymore. Andrej Kramaric isn’t an ideal fit on the wing and isn’t playing for Leicester City at the moment. Ante Rebic has the same issue at club level, along with having a tendency of dribbling into a crowd far too often. Both players have shown promise, but can’t be trusted yet. Alen Halilovic is the ultimate wild card, who could possibly play a super-sub role for his pace and trickery. It would be too physically demanding for the tiny inexperienced winger to start against major opposition.
Many questions linger about the landscape of Croatia. The prevalent issue at left back hasn’t even been mentioned yet. While many fans worry about the starting eleven in June, the focus should be on Sunday. Following yesterday’s dismal performance, Croatia only holds a one-point lead over Norway going into Sunday. They were slightly fortunate to win 5-1 last March based on a few excellent solo efforts from Brozovic and Perisic. Norway also conceded two weak goals in the final five minutes.
Despite being unbeaten through seven qualifiers, the pressure is on for Kovac. The away performances against Bulgaria and Azerbaijan have been lackluster. Croatia has notoriously struggled away from home over the past few qualification periods. That needs to change on Sunday by not playing so narrow and predictable. While trusting Danijel Pranjic to play more of an attacking role is hazardous, it’s one of the few ways to break down lesser-talented teams. Modric and Rakitic aren’t going to take defenders off the dribble.
If they aren’t going to shoot from distance, direct and fluid ball movement will secure Croatia’s trip to France next summer. Many fans have complained about the lack of a big game atmosphere for these particular qualifiers. Your wish has now been granted. Kovac will be tested once again within a big game atmosphere. Even though a draw would likely secure qualification, a win would significantly improve morale. This current team can’t possibly go 180 minutes without scoring against two sides that haven’t qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup (Norway). Whether Mandzukic rediscovers his scoring form or a highly touted prospect shines, answers need to be answered for Croatia’s lethargic attack.
Twitter: @Allen_Strk
He looks composed when out there and had some good chemistry with Luka. Also scored a big goal.
It’s all about chemistry. Rakitic and Modric are starters and we need to compliment them with a midfielder or two to do the dirty work.
Much like Rakitic at Barca where he fits in just perfectly on that side between Messi and Alves.
@Poglavnik,
Yes, Brozovic could be the solution
What about Brozovic for DM?
@Mali Ante/Maminjo,
Nice debate going on here gentlemen.
Maminjo,
Im not to convinced on Strinic at LB. At the same time, he’s unavailable as Kovac has pulled the plug on the former Hajduk Split defender. You know I pull for my Hajduk boys.
I wouldnt mind starting Vrsaljko at LB once Srna gets his spot back against Norway.
Jedvaj is injured. I wouldnt mind Jedvaj starting for Pranjic.
“roll up your sleeves and look for another, younger LB option to develop. We are in an easy qualifying group and a lot of teams (ie. Italy) have used this time to rebuild in preparation for the Euros.”
I agree. Kovacic needs to bench some of these veterans for new blood.
Im not big on Badelj but we really dont have a DM. We havent had one since Niko Kovac. Vuki, Dujmovic, Badelj don’t have much to offer. I agree that Badelj wasn’t needed but why not test him out against a weaker side like Azer? I would have started another striker up top with Mandzo and payed without a DM. However, I wasn’t throwing popcorn at the TV when I saw Badelj in the starting lineup.
Good point about Stimac and Kovac. The shit can hit the fan real quick.
@ Mali Ante,
Kramaric might not see action as he gave Mamic the cold shoulder. Who knows if that has anything to do with his minutes. At the same time, dude hasn’t played a minute so far this season for Leicester.
We haven’t had a #9 since Suker. Prso had a good year. We haven’t had a DM since Kovac. Croatia doesnt qualify for the 2006 WC without Kovac. We are in trouble if we have Mandzo and Badelj starting in those positions.
.
Published 23. October 2008
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/croatian-news/ZJtaDKc2h0w
WHY WE CHANT: ZA DOM – SPREMNI!
Croats are a phenomenal footballing nation, evidenced by remarkable
triumphs and memorable victories on the pitch. We all remember France
’98 and the glorious march to a tremendous third place finish for a
national team that represents approximately 7 million people
worldwide. The statistics can be astonishing and at the same time –
redundant. Over and over again the narrative goes: A small nation
numbering just a few million takes the world stage and proves that,
although tiny in number, it ranks among the soccer giants. It
belongs. We will never forget the trouncings of Germany at major
tournaments, and the elimination of the “hated” English in European
Qualifying. Equally so, we will not soon forget the stunning defeat
suffered against Turkey at Euro 2008. Football, or soccer, however
you wish to call it, is a social phenomenon in and of itself, and few
nations take as much pride in their soccer the way Croats do. This is
so for various reasons, but the most important being that Croats were
for decades compensating for the lack of an established independent
state with a promotion of their identity and heritage by different
means. Whether in Melbourne or Sydney (Croats are responsible for the
rise of Australian soccer), New York or Toronto, Croatian soccer clubs
sprouted and flourished internationally, all during an era marked by
Yugo-communist occupation, oppression and captivity in the homeland.
Many Croats born in the diaspora have since donned the checkered
jersey (Simunic, Rakitic, Kovac brothers), uniting the diaspora and
the homeland at what times appears the only way possible: By
representing the national side. It must never be forgotten, the Croat
name has survived in the diaspora, while, sadly, much like today, it
is being erased in the homeland.
A GOVERNMENT REMOVED FROM THE PEOPLE
It has been said: A government removed from the people is the most
dangerous government. Leaders and political parties serve themselves
and themselves only. They are supposed to serve the people, whom they
represent, and who elected them to power. This has for too long not
been the case in Croatia. The government exists to protect national
interests and promote national values. However, the Croatian
government serves itself and its foreign masters. Point in case, had
the Croatian government, personified by Ivo Sanader, had the interests
of its people and its constituency in heart and mind, General Ante
Gotovina would have never been caught and extradited to the ICTY in
the Hague. Yes, many will say that it was the Spanish police, having
apprehended Gotovina, that shipped him to the Hague. But it was
Sanader, collaborating with President Mesic and his Yugoslav clique
-not only with the supposed Croatian security services, but with
intelligence agencies of foreign governments- that enacted the “action
plan” to tighten the ring around the famed General, resulting in his,
as Vladimir Seks had proudly declared: “location, identification,
apprehension and extradition.” Had the country’s president, Stjepan
Mesic, had his people’s interests in mind, he would have never
testified against Croatia’s national interests in front of a
politically-charged and anti-Croatian court. He would not have, after
assuming power, opened Tudjman’s archives and allowed BBC “reporters”
and other members of foreign agencies rifle through and steal Croatian
state secrets: Documents that were thereafter ripped from context and
reassembled in a way to defame the nation’s first president, and, more
importantly, to prove that Croatia was founded by way of “criminal
enterprise.”
GENERAL ZAGOREC, MESIC, MURDER & MEDIA COMPLICITY
Ivana Hodak, a beautiful 26-year old Croatian woman, daughter of a
high-profile Zagreb lawyer, Zvonimir Hodak, and an ex-vice president
of Croatian Government, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, was recently shot to
death in the center of Croatia’s capital, Zagreb. Ivana’s father,
Zvonimir Hodak, is General Vladimir Zagorec’s attorney. Zagorec was
recently, just days before Ivana’s murder, returned to Croatia from
Austria, where he is now being detained waiting to stand trial for the
charge of stealing jewels from the Croatian Defense Ministry which he
once worked for. Zagorec was Croatia’s main arms dealer at the height
of war, responsible for arming the fledgling nation by way of the
black market during an unjust arms embargo brought by the United
Nations against all former republics of ex-Yugoslavia. Lest we
forget, at that time, Budimir Loncar (Stjepan Mesic’s current top
foreign policy advisor) was Yugoslavia’s representative at the UN,
responsible for the ushering of that very same arms embargo that left
Croatia weaponless. It was Sasa Perkovic, son of the notorious UDB-a
murderer Josip Perkovic, that a year ago, by order of his boss,
Stjepan Mesic, met with General Zagorec in Austria in hopes of
brokering a deal. Zagorec, as evidenced by the video (secretly shot)
of the meeting, was to “rat out” President Tudjman and many other
high-ranking members of Croatian government from the war years. All
in exchange for amnesty. Who is Sasa Perkovic? Stjepan Mesic’s top
domestic policy advisor. Do presidents of democratic nations usually
order their top advisors to sit down with fugitives to broker
political deals in lieu of the Croatian Justice system? This is a
question that is never asked by Croatian state TV, the Jutarnji
List/Globus/Slobodna Dalmacija or Nacional anti-Croat media hydrant
that dominates in Croatia today. The media, of course, works
hand-in-hand with the criminals that rule in Croatia today. Will
Ivana’s murderers ever be found and brought to justice? Probably not.
The reason? It would most likely result in the total unraveling and
collapse of the Croatian government, riddled with recycled communists
and Yugoslav Secret Police agents that have not and will not stop at
anything to keep power.
THE GLOBAL THOUGHT POLICE & ITS SYCOPHANTS IN CROATIA
It was decided years ago by the elites in Croatia that any opposition
to their rule and to their politics (an ugly display of treason and
undying loyalty to foreign masters), ICTY cooperation & submission to
EU diktat – all in hopes of entrance to the star-studded club- would
be dubbed as Croat “extremism,” “fascism” & “populism.” There simply
is no place for patriotism on the political plane, and all expressions
of it would be first denounced, then by political and legal means,
removed from official Croatian society. Once again, the media has
played its perverse role of polarizing the small nation on old
controversies and recycled accounts of “history” with which the
Yugoslav lunatics saturate the papers, TV and radiowaves. Once this
was accomplished, any hope of challenging the criminal elites was
neutralized. The populace, tired & bitter, carrying on with false
polemics and false dilemmas, cannot generate a critical mass to
challenge its rulers. The sycophants in the public arena relentlessly
drum-up propaganda and controversies, distracting the people, while
the elites steal, cheat and kill. After the media prepared the way
for the destruction of the Domovinski rat, resulting in the jailing
and extradition of Croat war heroes, they focused their efforts on
one-sided discussion about WWII, “controversial” Croatian history and
constant barrage against anything that breathes Croatian. The
Croatian identity is under siege. If you follow the media in Croatia,
you should have noticed a perpetual Yugoslav/Global/International/
Balkan world-view
that smacks of theworst kind of Belgrade-sponsored propaganda we
wrongly thought we had
defeated. Only this time, the stink emanates from Croatia’s capital,
Zagreb. Where else in the world can a “journalist” named Denis Latin,
paid with Croatian tax Kuna, use his Monday night, prime-time program
as a platform aimed at the destruction of anything Croatian – all on
Croatian state television?! Nowhere else, except Belgrade, where
every year he is honored with awards for “journalistic excellence.”
Latin & his “Latinica” are only the tip of the iceberg, for the media,
through and through, are littered with foreign agent-provocateurs.
The latest false dilemma drummed up by the media in Croatia concerns
the chant of Croat soccer fans world-wide. That cry is: ZA DOM –
SPREMNI! Don’t be a fool and fall into the trap set-up by these
gangsters. Do not waste your time on discussions of just who coined
that salute, when it was used, why it was used, and what exactly it
means. The salute is self-explanatory, and at the same time, one of
the most beautiful verbal expressions of patriotism ever thought of in
history. Today, more than ever, it is shouted by patriots. Croatian
soccer fans, now falsely labeled “fascists” by the sycophants and the
political scum, are the elites’ new target. The latest reports from
Zagreb say the Interior Ministry will be dealing with the, oh, let’s
see, 50,000 people that shout Za Dom Spremni at Croatian national
soccer matches. Can anyone remember the last time Croats were
apprehended, jailed and fined for using patriotic salutes? That’s
right, during communist Yugoslavia. Let us never forget that many
Croat patriots, both in ’41 & ’91, gave their lives for Croatian
freedom with that very salute on their lips. Always keep them in your
thoughts when you chant: ZA DOM – SPREMNI! And always remember that
under that salute Croatia was founded, and Yugoslavia destroyed.
Frano Budimlic
Modric was quoted after the game saying “I don’t know why I was substituted, it’s a question for the coach.”
I felt Kovac basically made the right team selection but his tactics/adjustments/subs were poor. Mandzukic is in a rut and it was clear early that it just wasn’t going to be his day. The game suited his style and he got several poachers opportunities, but he could not get out of his own way.
Realistically very few teams have great strikers and Mandzukic is better than most on a good day (that’s why he’s with top clubs in recent years). It is a shame that Kramaric can’t get more minutes for Leicester because that makes him too risky to start at the moment.
Hats off to Prosinecki who clearly got the most out of his team while ours underachieved. I guess if we stick with the former player theme maybe we’ll try him out after the Euros.
When asked, at a meeting of the Sabor, to grant toleration to Protestantism, Ban Bakatch made answer: “I prefer rather to break off relations with the Hungarian Crown than to allow this pest to spread.”
How many Croatians think protestantism isn’t a pest anymore? The same thing will happen with Islam.
Mandzo tied with Schildenfeld in goals scored so far in Euro qualifiers. Coaching legend Kovac’s dilemma is understandable there is no way he can find a better forward option.
Muslims are like cockroaches. Gotta nip that shit in the bud before it gets out of hand like here in Canada.
They have infested the GTA in increasing numbers over the years. Out of control.
@ Denis
We definitely see eye to eye on things.
To answer your questions…
Pranjic…he needs to be benched and at this point our only option is an out of position Vrsaljko. He held his own in the World Cup and played well last game.
Kovacic….deserves to come off the bench to inject some pace. He hasn’t played consistently enough but in time will be a good player for us. Needs some more seasoning.
Badelj…play him in that odd game where we play a powerhouse where our below average D needs some support. I think Kovac thought it would free Modric up a bit playing him last game – that didn’t work at all. I’m still confused at why Modric was pulled…apparently so was he.
Kalinic, Rebic or Kramaric…I’d say Kramaric. Only because he has shown up playing for the repka and likely has something to prove. Love Rebic…he’s just not there yet and at this time would be third out of the three. I think he could be really good for us though. Kalinic hasn’t shown much so far in his career but seems to have played well with Fiorentina so far.
Our trouble is that striker spot…was hoping Kramaric would get time for Leicester but just hasn’t been able to crack that lineup yet.
We will beat norway away .
We will beat bulg at home
We will beat malta away.
Italy plays norway in the last game
The draw was a wake up call which we needed
Very do able !
@Denis
I’ll counter. 😉
Pranjic: Who would I start instead?
Personally, it should have always been Strinic (even all the Strinic haters can agree on this). Swallow your pride, and make amends with Strinic. Niko’s stubborness has cost us or our only LB. If not Strinic, then play Jedvaj in that spot. He played there for Leverkusen a few times and the kid seems ambidextrous enough to kick with that left leg. Sure he may not play at LB full time for Bayer, but neither does Pranjic at Panathinaikos. Even Vrsaljko out of position at LB has shown us that he can do better there than Pranjic. Pranjic at LB is not only costing us defense at that position, it is costing us Rakitic’s offense too (as Rakitic has been given the task to trek back on behalf of Pranjic). Also, Pranjic takes corners away from Rakitic as well. If anyone should be pissed, it’s Rakitic.
But even if none of these guys are available or whatever, then you roll up your sleeves and look for another, younger LB option to develop. We are in an easy qualifying group and a lot of teams (ie. Italy) have used this time to rebuild in preparation for the Euros. We should plan ahead and try out other lesser known players to see if we have a diamond in the rough. I like that he tried out Milic and Leovac (Milic sucks, and Leovac is mediocre), but now it looks like he’s given up and is just going 100% Pranjic.
Kovacic: Personally, I think Kovacic should never start for us.
He’s young and only plays well for us in one out of every six or seven games. I think he’ll be good one day, but he’s not good enough right now to have one of our other midfielders benched in place of his. Keep giving him that 10-15 minutes off the bench. Only start him in case of injury to someone else.
Badelj: Even if you argue that our defence is not solid, you still don’t play Badelj.
Honestly, there hasn’t been a more invisible player on our national team. That nutmeg he pulled on Messi is the highlight of his National Team career. Playing with Badelj feels like we’re playing with a man down. He’s a DM, but actually doesn’t seem to play any defense. I dunno. I wouldn’t call him up ever, let alone start him.
Kalinic, Rebic, Kramaric: Honestly, just because two of them are on the bench at their clubs, doesn’t mean you never play them.
They were called up for a reason. That reason would be to be a Plan B in case Plan A isn’t working. Plan A was Mandzukic and he definitely wasn’t working (and was never even subbed out). That was arguably Kovac’s biggest gaffe yesterday.
Also, even if these guys are out of form (which they are not) then call up someone else. As Scout just said above “why hasn’t Santini been called up?”. That’s a good question. Dude is currently starting (and scoring) for Standard Liege. He’s been scoring pretty regularly for three seasons now, and he’s relatively young. A simply callup would probably further his career and probably result in a transfer to an even better club and he could become a good stop-gap forward for us in a couple of years time (if we don’t have a replacement for Mandzo by then). A callup for Santini is overdue.
Stimac may have been a disaster, but he too had a great start until he suddenly lost the team. It’s likely not going to happen here, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Stimac and Kovac are both inexperienced and stubborn goons who love to dress up for the cameras and play favorites with their players.
Do you mean Badelj or Badeldge?
@Denis
Agree.
Kovac is not a disaster, Stimac is.
These players have to pick it up on Sunday. Should be a great game to watch.
Kalinic has started and played all 90mins for Fiorentina in their first two games. Played really well in his first game which I watched, didn’t see his second game.
Maybe its time to see if Ivan Santini can play
@Mali Ante,
I agree. I wouldn’t place 100% of the blame on Kovac. Yes, he doesnt have any experience and made a few minor tactical mistakes(mistakes, depending on who you ask). However, the problem is with the players on the pitch like you said.
People complain about:
Pranjic: Who would you start at left back? Maybe an out of position Vrsaljko? Kovac already pulled the plug on Strinic.
Kovacic: KOvac decided not the start Mateo because of a chance of picking up a yellow card that would suspend him for Norway. Don’t worry, Mateo picked up that yellow off the bench.
Badelj: Lets face it, our defense is not solid. A DM is not the worst idea in the world. Again deciding to rest/save kovacic for norway. Take out Badelj for
A) kovacic, yellow card risk,
B) Kalinic, Rebic(on bench at club), or Kramaric(on bench at club). I thought Kalinic played well in limited time. I would have started him up top with Mandzo.
Kovac might have slightly slipped, but it hasn’t been a disaster. Do we agree?
Stimac has been a disaster.
.
Damn auto correct…*start sranjic too*
Ziva,
thats a good start. I will use three of those questions.
Anything else?
I can understand how people can question why Kovac started a DM in a game when you needed to create…why he continues to start as ranjit too…What I don’t understand is how so many of you fault him so much. How about the players? Plain and simple they played poorly. Mandzukic was awful…he’s not in form and it showed…the heel flick attempt was beyond awful.
Mixed grill, my parents are from Livno…since you’ve obviously never been there you have zero idea what a hrvat is. Enough said.
Kovac was a hard working player for the repka…a true leader…but unfortunately it hasn’t translated well into his ability to coach. That being said, I fault the players. With the exception of Perisic and Vrsaljko…everyone played very poorly.
Hopefully they can look themselves in the mirror and man up.
Questions for basketball squad should include:
1. Are we that desperate of a nation that we need to naturalize a crnac from the USA. The Serbs and Lithuanians don’t do it, why do we?
2. I heard Kukoc is a consultant to the repka. What have you learned from him, how to be cheap or how to order prostitutes?
3. Have you or any of your teammates been with Dona Vekic? We heard she gets around.
4. Who is crazy enough on the repka to yell out “za dom…..spremni”?
5. Just how selfish was Bendar?
Well, with Kovac we have the foreign coach everyone is clamoring for. Born in Germany of parents from Livno, Bosnia. I wonder why no one questions why he is considered a local coach?
He’s the typical hercegovinan, living it up in Croatia, out working the lazy natives. The Kovac brothers were Bundesliga brutes, plain and simple, Cut to…..the face of our coach, straight out of last of the mohicans, squeaming in his ill-fitted Hugo Boss suit. He’s an Illyrian tribesman, not meant to think, strategize or plan but to take orders from the network to which his true loyalty lies. I’m sure someone carried a big Croatian flag at his wedding.
@armada lol
How do the hrvati feel about having ‘Croatian’ crnci on the team?
I’m close to locking up an interview with one of the bball players.
Questions?
Well done Allen!
I agree but I dont see Kovac benching Mandzukic. Look for Mandza to start up top with Olic on the wing against Norway. By the end of this season, Olic will be playing in the MLS. Will Croatia have an MLS player on its roster like Italy(Pirlo)?
Excellent piece, we need more of these op’s
.
We are going to take them in. Maybe not these mentioned in the article, but it has been decided we are going to take in at least 3,200.
Clever Serbs looking to flood Croatia with Muslims. Mark my words Croatia will regret if these people settle in our homeland.
Crime, rape harrasment, jihad anyone?
http://inserbia.info/today/2015/09/serbs-from-krajina-offer-their-properties-in-croatia-to-syrian-refugees/
I also was unsure why Badelj started in a game like this. You knew they were going to bunker and Modric would be taken out of the game. Having Kovacevic or Kamaric starting would have made more sense. Also, Ratikic seems to disappear out wide.
Agreed. With a team of this talent we need experienced coaches
Kum Kovac is certainly to blame for starting a CDM yesterday. Those type of games don’t require someone like Badelj and Vukojevic before him. You lose an attacking option and basically have another defender in there with someone like a Badelj in the CDM role.
It was not a disasterous error from Kum Kovac. If we scoreany of the missed Mahir Mandzuka chances, nobody says a word. But, for me, this goes back to the day Kum Kovac was hired. They hired a guy with zero coaching experience and surrounded by his brother who has zero coaching experience. And why were they hired?????? Because of family ties.
Don’t think for a second that we have players in the locker room who view Kum Kovac with a funny grin knowing he doesn’t have the current experience to lead this team.
We will win games because we are more talented than the other side, but we will not be winning games due to our coaching being more tactical savy than the opponent.
Nice Allen.
You may be a little tough on Mandzukic.
His sole season at Athletico resulted in a decent amount of goals.
He should stay at one club, but perhaps his personality is to blame.
A Wolfsburg,Leverkusen level club is where he belongs.