Mladen Petrić drilled a 30 yard free kick goal that went upper-V against Mark Schwarzer and Fulham in the 22′ of Hamburg’s second leg semifinal in London. The winner of this match would go to the Europa League final, which will be held at Hamburg’s home stadium. With Hamburg going into halftime with a 1-0 lead, they would have to crumble in the second half in order to not reach the Europa League FINAL.
As the saying goes, ‘That’s the way the cookie crumbles’, as Hamburg did conceding two second half goals to Fulham that will secure the west London club a spot in the final versus Atletico Madrid, who scored a goal in extra time against Liverpool Thursday night to book their ticket to Germany. Petrić couldn’t pull another goal out of his trick bag as Hamburg misses out on the Europa League/UEFA Cup Final for a second straight year due to a poor second half performance in the second leg of the semis. Petrić had a fantastic season in Europa League carrying Hamburg on many occasions. With no European competition to look forward to next year, should Petrić stick it out in Hamburg?
IS HAMBURG THE RIGHT PLACE FOR PETRIĆ NEXT SEASON?
@JP,
"the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, and expecting a different result"
Yes, Bilic had trust in the same players at the same positions. However, he didnt have an answer for the departure of Niko Kovac, and was thin in defense playing Pranjic at left back. Besides Pranjic, I dont think he made any drastic moves that he continued to do over and over and over again.
Bilic tried Pokrivac at left back, and we all know how that turned out. All the rest of the players were playing at their natural positions, just couldnt get it done.
Your listed team is all offense and no defense. I just dont see it working.
I think petric is the best croatian striker when he is on and not injured.Lets face it ever since Eduardo's horrific injury he just hasn't been quite as good, god bless him. Olic has a very great eye for goal but you cant say he is the same as Petric in the quality department
Why's everyone going off Dario Srna. Isn't that a bit harsh just cos he plays for a massive side in Ukraine. 18 goals for Croatia is a good record. Obviously no player is certain of there place, but we have tried to drop Dario before and every single time whether it be in Euro 2004 or Macedonia we got our faces slapped and needed to bring him back. Srna is a high quality player. I feel he can drop in at right back now as he's played there so long and the more and more classy Brazilian's that arrive in Shaktar the less attacking he needs to do. Its natural his mind set changed. I think Srna could be like Zambrotta if we give him a run at right back and just let him settle into the position. He is also still needed on right wing by the way as you never guarentee Ivan Rakitic anything or ever make him think he's made it.
Anyway it might be nice to play all those players at once, but there never fit at same time. PETRIC always missed some part of the season with injuries, KRANJCAR has a dodgy ankle and EDUARDO is still getting hampered by little injuries, so in theory its not gonna happen. I also think with Petric and Pranjic that you have them on bench as you need strong players on the bench. That actually includes guys like Klasnic, Perisic, Badelj, Vukojevic who can also influence a match.
I'm interested to see where some of these players go. There's interest in Badelj though if he stays another year that'd be good. Jelavic is being strongly linked with Celtic. Srna with Fiorentina. Even Perisic is being tipped for a big transfer.
I personally feel if Croatia competes with Greece and Isreal we should be going through. I also think if we played Ukraine now we should be beating them.
@Svircic
"I agree. This isnt the all star game. You need role (sic) players, and players in their natural positions"
Actually, that's exactly what National teams are… All-star teams!
Wouldn't you be pumped to see Bilic try something like this? Or anything for that matter?
Bilic knows the word varijant, I've heard him use it, he just doesn't what it means. Purportedly he's intelligent because of his law degree, but then again there wasn't much place for law in Yugoslavia, now was there.
Wasn't it Einstein that said something to the effect of:
"the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly, and expecting a different result"
What about the positives such a lineup might bring:
– No Srna playing
– Wonderful team speed
– Passing, passing, passing
– Aggressive style
– New potentials heretofore unknown
Dudu
Olic Petric
Kranjcar Modric Rakitic Pranjic
Simunic Krizanac Corluka
Keeper
(order the players left to right however you see fit)
Yes, surely we'll be scored upon, but so what, we can't defend anyway, and our goalies are never top notch.
We'll score more.
@Dinamofan,
I like your squad. Lets see how Vida does for U21 and then with Bayer before I start bringing up his name. Vida is without a doubt my favorite player in HNL this season. I can see him as a future Niko Kovac.
@Ziva
"You don't play your best 11 players, you play your best team."
I agree. This isnt the all star game. You need roll players, and players in their natural positions
Runje, Srna, Corluka, Krizanac/Lovren, Simunic; Rakitic, Dujmovic, Modric, Kranjcar/ Pranjic; Eduardo, Olic
Subs:
Petric
M Bilic V Klasnic
Vukojevic
Cale
Knezevic
Badelj V Pokrivac
Gabric V Perisic V Ilicevic
Jelavic V Kalinic V Mandzo
Subasic
That's how i'm seeing Croatia's squad just now with guys like Vida, Vucko, Schildenfeld, Bartulovic, Anas, Tomecak on the fringes.
RE: "Petric, Pranjic, Olic, Dudu, Kranjcar, Rakitic, and Modric"
I agree Ziva…. this starting seven would be pretty soft and would be embarrassed by quality opposition.
@ JP…..put those seven guys in a lineup consistnetly with our current defense and we will get lit up by quality opposing teams. You can do that against squads that do not qualify for euros or world cups, but try that against the bigger sides for a long stretch and we will have problems.
You don't play your best 11 players, you play your best team.
Over the last year i've come to know a little more about Vida and i think this is the type of talkative guy on the pitch everyone was saying Croatia has a lack of. From what i know of him he seems quite confident and vocal and opinionated in a more positive way than Mandzukic is so its nice to see such a player coming through in the defensive area.
Next season its extremely important that Vida and Lovren show up well at their clubs. That really helps the defence. Knezevic is also still only 28. I think Maloca and Barbaric will also play each week next season so will be interesting to see if they improve.
I actually think Luka Vucko's been doing alright in Turkey. HNL1 players that go to Turkey are normally back in 2 years, but Vucko has been playing well. Hes still only 25/ 26 too. Considering the group we're in we should have enough to get through. The squad is better than in the last campaign. Theres more options and Bilic needs to always been freshening things. POKRIVAC for example really does not need a solid spot in the squad. Actually last night i was watching Hamburg and thinking they could really do with Milan Badelj. I'm hoping he'll move to the right club and be a part of the squad soon too.
Petric has outside football interest. He's keen on fashion and opening clothes shops and stuff like that. For guys who have lives outside football it just seems to hurt them less. Petric is definitely not all over the field. He walks 60% of the time. He can be a high class player whenever he wants to be, but it depends how he feels. I think there is a place on the bench for Petric and whether he goes in the team is purely up to him, but you should never guarentee Mladen anything otherwise he'll not give 100%. He's a guy who needs pressure to get the best out of him.
He definitely has a place in squad as he is the best at what he does, which is produce a goal from nothing when you need it. He's not a penalty box scorer – never has been and remember him in midfield in Switzerland. He's a withdrawn forward so if he plays that role for Croatia he'll be okay. Its all about combinations.
Next friendly Bilic can try Srna at right back. I think Corluka has been quoted as saying he's happy to move into centre if need be. Simunic is very happy at left back and played 2 successful games there V England in Euro's.
I think rather than Petric. It is actually Mate Bilic and Eduardo who could do with stepping it up a little at club level. Bilic has been injured too often and Eduardo needs to transfer. I still think Klasnic has something to give and Kalinic, Jelavic and Gavranovic who be under the radar next season. I'm prob on my own here, but i'm also looking to see what Srdjan Lakic does next season once he's full fit and finally gets a crack at a big league with Kaiserslautern. He's a player i personally rate and i think he's also better than Mandzukic.
@Ante
You're forgetting that Bilic never plays him.
If you play Petric in 3 straight games, he'll produce, and continue to do so. He's all over the field for Hamburg.
If Bilic was smart he'd put all of our best players on the field at the same time. If that means 1-2 players play a little out of position, then so be it. They are professional athletes, and it's still soccer after all. But of course then we might have to actually consider some other formation than the only Bilic has ever employed.
In my books there's no reason that Petric, Pranjic, Olic, Dudu, Kranjcar, Rakitic, and Modric, can't all be on the field at the same time. If that means that Srna comes off the bench or plays FB then so be it.
I don't know many squads that can match the depth of talent of these 7 guys.
Does anyone else hear what I'm saying here? Throw me a line-up formation with these 7 included.
@ Dinamofan,
I couldn't agree with you more about Petric thinking that football is everything. What I should have mentioned the first time around is how Petric should move to benefit him on the Croatian side.
He has already conquered Hamburg. They are not a Champions League side and he's helped them get to the Europa League semis in two straight seasons.
He's way too comfortable and nonchalant in Hamburg. I just wonder if he had a change of scenery if that would push him to another level, because he can quickly disappear in Croatia's depth chart.
I personally feel Petric is contented with his lot as a footballer. Its too late in his career to seek the big transfer and he seems very satisfied with his financial contract, the size of the club he's at and also his personal life. To me Petric seems like one of those guys who does not believe Football is everything. He is prob just not that bothered about going the extra mile.
HSV need to freshen it up and try again next season. Arguably there side has lacked new faces and needs a bit of a rejig.
What an incredible free kick by Mladen Petric! Its a shame that Fulham came back to rain on Mladen's parade.
I agree with Dinamofan, no way Mladen leaves HSV unless a bigger club come calling his name. Also, I don't believe that any big clubs are interested to "break bread" for the services of the 29 year old Croatian international. Mladen is like an on/off switch, however, can win the game with one kick of the ball.
I say stay in Hamburg, work on next season and try to qualify for the Champions league as Bundesliga has been granted an extra spot for next season.
Petric won't leave.. he gets paid plenty in Hamburg and they are a bigger club than Leverkusen. You can't really switch a club just for playing in Europe. HSV will prob still be there through Intertoto or something. HSV were unlucky and Fulham deserve it. Good luck to them. I hope they beat Atletico. I think Atletico have got a lot of ultra talented players including this new kid Salvio but i don't think they endeer themselves to anyone with the number of players, coaches they go through.
Tonight Piotr Trochowski was hugely missed. There was no guile in the HSV midfield – guys like Pitropa remind me of Olic in his very younger days. All pace and no awareness, whilst David Jarolim is like a Nenad Bjelica. Okay player but bit limited. HSV need to recruit new talent.
Goddamnit!
This was the worst Final we could have hoped for. Fulham v. Atletico. GAY!
Hamburg v. Liverpool in Hamburg would have actually been worth watching. Hamburg just can't manage to get over that Uefa Cup/Europa League semifinal hump. For the second straight year, they've fell short in the second leg.
And next year they will only have the Bundesliga to think about.
Petric needs to leave! Go to a Bayer Leverkusen or some club like that in the Bundesliga that will play in Europe. He's been too good this year to not play in Europe.
fulham have just turned it around 2-1
hamburg need 1 more goal to move ahead!…minutes remaining