Croatia will be in a unique position when they face Argentina on Thursday in their second Group D match of the 2018 World Cup.
With the Vatreni already defeating Nigeria 2-0 and Argentina failing to grab all three points versus Iceland, drawing 1-1, all the pressure will be on the South Americans as another draw would not be ideal going into the last group stage match.
Argentina must beat Croatia or they are in trouble. And a draw for Croatia would not be the end of the world by any means.
However, with Argentina having to open up to find goals, that will allow Croatia to score themselves; especially on the counter.
The Great News: If Croatia can mange to defeat Argentina AND the Nigeria/Iceland match ends in a draw on Friday, Croatia will have secured top spot in the group before their encounter with Iceland even takes place.
Luka Modrić and company are already playing with house money going into the Argentina match. But that doesn’t mean manager Zlatko Dalić won’t need a solid plan to stop the Argentines.
And who will Dalić be going to for advice? None other than Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitić, Sportske Novosti reports. Rakitić is of course teammates with Lionel Messi at Barca; arguably the best football player in the world. Surely, he will know what Messi’s weaknesses are; if any.
After a “not so hot” performance vs. Iceland, we have to assume Messi will be hitting on all cylinders against Croatia in a must-win match for Argentina in what could be his last World Cup.
Argentina goes as Messi goes. So how does Croatia stop Messi?
It may not be a formation question as much as a tactical thought. Real Madrid have successfully deployed a “lone rover” player in recent El Clasico’s which have one of their players stick to Messi, and only Messi, for the entire match. Where Messi goes; they go.
Call it coincidence, but Mateo Kovačić has been that player for Real Madrid and has done a pretty good job with the task.
Does Dalić go with a “lone rover” for Messi or play a normal “straight up” game?
The Croatian defense did their job against Nigeria but a hungry Argentina is another monster.
Stop Messi…and you stop Argentina.
Reports say Argentina is going with. A 3-3-3-1 fromation
there is a decent chance that after Thursday, this world cup will look eerily similar to 2014 for Croatia
Croatia loses to argentina and Iceland beats Nigeria, means Croatia needs a win against Iceland to advance
very similar to Croatia beating Cameroon, losing to Brazil, and mexico tying brazil…leaving Croatia in need of a win vs mexico in the final game
as of now though, things are still promising…my models are actually picking Croatia up as 80% to advance out of the group
Sweden will hope for a point off Germany they will play ugly dirty football Sweden is a bad offensive team lacking goal scorers without Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This Germany has shades of France 2002 no goals scored in group stage and a 0:0 draw they lost to Senegal 0:1 first game after dominating but couldnt score.
Remember what happened in 2014 we defeated Cameroon 4:0 then we lost to Mexico 3:1. Only one game also in 2002 we only defeated Italy and went out. Some American conspiracy about how people are saying Iceland will go through because it’s a feel good story small nation first World Cup.
Regarding N. Kalinic, we can all breath a collective sigh of relief that Dalic wouldn’t inexplicably start him, as he did vs Peru.
Dear Nicole, Quit acting like a bitch, even Higuain comes off the bench, and takes it like a man. Dybala didn’t even sniff the field vs Iceland. They are twice the player you will EVER be.
Can we send Truth Troll home?
I have question if 2 teams say Mexico and Germany tied on points for second place does it go head to head result or goals for and against?
Interesting Sweden beat South Korea
That’s not a guarantee for Germany to even get through
We played some nice tiki taka last match
The guys on Canadian tv were commenting how Croatia was moving ball so well and not forcing things
Just moving the Nigerians all around
We had some quality chances Just didn’t finish
Rebic and perisic and krama if they get hot goals can come
We just have so much more experience in big games now
Many disappointments for all
Mandzukic ok he has soem short comings but the guy knows how to do his job and do it well
We have that grit that was missing before in past few years
Modric and rakitic are controlling
They know they are great but not being overly cocky
They know they can do something
Let’s hope they can!
Should have brought one of the kids
Way to lay down the boot dalic
He gave him a second chance like a good coach would do and second time go home
Dalic overall has done a good job
He obviously has a brain for tactics
Cacic cost us with his subs or lack there of
Nikola Kalinic is only average we dont need him lets move on. Igor Cvitanovic was no loss as well. Luka Modric to win the Golden Ball would be good Suker came second in the voting in the 1998 World Cup. If we play for the 0:0 just put extra numbers behind the ball get one point would be good.Our midfield is better than their’s just hold the ball of them play some Spanish style tika taka football.
@ Earnest
Ciro left Igor Cvitanovic (HNL top goal scorer) off the team in 98. Refusing to run a few more laps cost him his spot.
https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/nogomet/reprezentacija/ciro-blazevic-zaprepasten-izbacivanjem-nikole-kalinica-e-to-mu-nije-bilo-pametno-sto-je-tek-meni-napravio-igor-cvitanovic-ma-tu-nema-popusta/7493598/
No need for cry-baby Nikola on our team.
Dalic made the right and only possible move which will unite the boys even further !!!!
Kalinic , was this another homo sex scandal?
it is sometimes said that the splicani have egos
but lets not be too hard on kalinic, allegedly his back had been hurting, so you shouldn’t expect him to play for the national team with that condition
it reminds me of a story my brother once told me about the eve of the oluja
there were all the troops in the trenches, preparing for the advance that day
gotovina marches down and shouts, “za dom!”
and in reply he hears a whimper back, “nismo spremni :(”
he asks what’s wrong…and several of the troops tell him they’re backs are hurting, they can’t participate
he pats them on the shoulder and says, “no problem at all. let me get some bengay for you… i’ll call in the massage therapist…we’ll do some foam rolling…and when you guys are feeling loose, then we’ll start the oluja”
seriously idemo? have you looked in the international news? ovo je sramota dude!
yall over reacting on this kalinic stuff
Someone remind me. Didn’t Ciro send a player home in 98? And then we beat Jamaica but lost to Argentina and then beat Japan. Unless I’m way off, we are playing a semi final lol.
so apparently Kalinic refused to go in as a sub vs Brasil in the warm-up match in Liverpool…then on Saturday, Kalinic refused to go in as a sub for Mandzukic, Pjaca took that spot!
This is completely selfish and ridiculous! Its obvious that Kalinic thinks very highly of himself and yet, Gattuso even benched him for insubordination.
If I was a coach, I’d never have that asshole on my team. Send him to the league in China, thats the only place he will be relevant!
They should of given a kid a chance from the get-go. Josip Brekalo?
Srna wasnt a kalanic fan
Wasn’t it Ziva who said all players from Split were selfish and had egos that were sometimes to big to control. Kalinic fits that.
…so what have I been telling you guys for the past 6 months? Kalinic refused go go on? gimme a break!
In thought Iceland was really organized, had an objective and excelled
This isn’t good news if confirmed. Sure, Kalinic was never going to start, but he was always a good option coming off the bench. Though not one of our most important players, he’s a proven goalscorer. Which is what we need more of, not less.
This leaves Mandzukic as our only out-and-out striker and should something happen to him, or a “target man” system’s working but Mandzukic is having an off day and needs subbing, we’ll need to change the overall approach.
It also tells me there’s still a bit of ill-feeling swirling around the squad at the moment. This may be one way of stamping it out, but I would have hoped that it wasn’t there in the first place.
Though not a disaster. I would have preferred to have him as an option, and not needed him, then the other way around.
Think about our state of mind in the 85th minute. Maybe not overwhelmed with our play, but feeling pretty fricking good… Kalinic was apparently sulking on the bench at that moment. If he was unhappy about playing time he should have gone in and played his heart out for the last 5 minutes to prove everyone wrong. If it was something different than playing time, that’s even worse… Addition by subtraction in my mind.
Kalinic should never had been part of this team. Go home.
Mr Black, no big deal! Kalinic is the least important player we have in Russia.
Nikola Kalinic got sent home.
https://www.football-italia.net/123134/croatia-send-kalinic-home
We will not stop Messi, but they won’t stop Modric/Rakitic/Rebic/Perisic from brilliance either.
Rooting for Nigeria or a tie.
How lucky will we be if we play an Iceland team that needs a win. They will have to consider attacking as opposed to bunkering, playing right into our hands.
ps-Their bunkering is not very viking like. And that clap is very overrated.
Love the pace that Rebic Perisic Kramaric bring to the attack Dare I say this but Croatia looks fast with those guys….
Anonymous, we go as Perisic goes! Once the competition gets tougher, we will need a game changer. In the Nigeria game we could and should have scored at least 2 more goals but once we play tougher teams in tighter games, he can be the difference maker…more than anyone else can. With that said, I felt Rebic was in the verge of scoring, so was Krama….if Perisic can kick it into 4th or 5th gear…we will do awesome against anyone! He’s our difference maker!
@maminjo
I think Spain’s nd Portugal have both played well and to their suits
Spain kept it pretty well and Portugal was able to get Ronaldo on the ball
@ Bilo,
Argentina can’t play Messi, Aguero, di Maria, Dybala AND Higuain at the same time. In their current formation, they played a 4-4-2 against Iceland, only three of those players can play which means two sit.
Messi obviously plays the full 90, di Maria is fine on the wing and Aguero is the guy for them to play alongside Messi. That means Higuain has to sit. Dybala great at club but still young and hasn’t proved himself for Argentina yet.
I feel you would put Tevez and Maradona in their starting XI if you could.
Anyone see Maradona after halftime of the Iceland match? Looks like he picked up a sniffle in the restroom.
@ Soul Champ I agree I’m super stoked, hopefully we see him in the first 11. Although, I wouldn’t be upset if I saw badelj out there due to his consistency and lack of mistakes.
Ante you’re so whack
Not concerned about Di Maria and Higuain.
It’s Aguero that will be a problem, along with Messi of course.
We’re more than good enough to come out with at least a draw… But we have to avoid the mistakes and unnecessary fouls.
I fully expect the Argentines to start dropping to the ground like flies in and around our box.
Don’t trust Subašić on long range free kicks from a guy like Messi. They won’t use VAR for everything. I can see Argentina getting a few freebie fouls just outside our box.
@Bilo
“I think Slavonac was mentioning that This game presents a great opportunity for Perisic.”
It was @Maminjo.
@Slavonac said, “we go as Perisic goes.” He said five times, you may of missed it.
He didn’t go that great if you ask me, but we won!
I am looking forward to Thursday!
Kovačić needs to start.
He actually makes Rakitic more effective than he compliments Modrić.
Modrić needs to play up as true #10 and wreak havoc on tired Argentine defense.
Kovačić is the ultimate Kontra player.
He turns defense into offense instantly.
Disagree with The last statement. If we stop Messi we have a greater chance of winning. This is not Portugal or the old Sweden. Aguero, Higuain, Dybala and di Maria scored more goals this year than our whole team combined. It’s going to take a collective effort and concentration to beat them in 90 let alone keep a clean sheet.
That means that “stopping Messi” includes not ball watching as he makes his cuts inside looking for the pass. Our defense must communicate and be diligent. They have a lot of firepower, and they’re desperate so we will be ready. I think Slavonac was mentioning that This game presents a great opportunity for Perisic. I completely agree with that statement and hope he tears them up on the counter. He is well overdue to bag a couple goals.
I would go with Mandza up top as he will be a thorn in Mascheranos side, all game long. Their defense are some pickice, that’s why Messi is always held accountable because none of the others players take initiative. Our midfield can handle theirs but I hope to see Kova deployed as a rover as he is also good in transition and we know Messi won’t track back after a lost possession.