With Euro 2020 being postponed to next summer because of the recent pandemic and effectively becoming Euro 2021, we still do not know who will join Croatia, England, and the Czech Republic to become the final team in Group D. As you probably all know by now there are four possible nations that could take this spot. Those teams are: Scotland, Norway, Israel, and Serbia. Knowing that whichever of these nations qualifies will be our final group stage match, it could be a very important match to determine where we finish in the group. We are certainly better than all of these teams. However, with each team bringing a different challenge, who would be the best match-up for our national team?
1. Israel
In my opinion, Israel would be the best-case scenario if we are looking for the easiest final group stage match. Depending on the results of our other matches, we would likely be able to rest our starters – preventing any injuries – and would still likely get the win. Israel has not played in a major tournament since the 1970 World Cup, and would definitely do everything to get a result against us. But I still think that we should quite easily be able to get a victory over their squad as we have won eight times and drew once in nine matches against them.
2. Scotland
The final group stage match will be played in Glasgow, giving Scotland a massive home field advantage and the hunger to get a result in front of their home fans. Not only this, but we have never beaten Scotland in five matches played, with the two losses coming in qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup. With that being said, I still feel they would be the second-best option here. Our national team has come a long way since those losses and Scotland is not a team we should fear. Their best player is Liverpool’s Andy Robertson. While he is a top-class player, and I would love to have someone like him on our team, I do not see too many players around him that I deem game changers. Maybe someone like James Forrest would cause Croatia problems with his speed, but I still see us winning this match-up without too many problems.
3. Norway
I personally think Norway is the best team out of the four on this list and they have a few young players that can really cause us problems. Erling Braut Haaland and Martin Odegaard look to be developing into star players. And with another year for them to get better and perhaps develop some chemistry, they could be even tougher. Haaland would definitely be a handful for our defenders. He is very fast, he is strong, and is a deadly finisher. Odegaard has been one of the best players in Spain this season and the young midfielder Sander Berge just got his move to the Premier League with Sheffield United. But there’s one thing that puts us well ahead of Norway: experience. At least half of our team has played in a major tournament and have been playing together for years. Norway could be a really good team in the future, but they just are not there yet.
4. Serbia
Honestly, Serbia probably isn’t much better than Scotland, if at all. But this match-up has the potential to cause fireworks, figuratively and literally. While political tensions have cooled down over the years between Croatia and Serbia, there’s something about soccer that brings out the crazy in some people. I do not think that stadium security wants to deal with what could possibly happen in this match and we do not need to go back to getting points deducted and playing matches without fans. Even if nothing crazy goes on and it is just a normal match, just the small possibility of losing to Serbia in a major tournament is not something I would like. We would likely win nine times out of ten. But it’s that one loss that would haunt us if it happened in this match. If Serbia somehow knocked us out of the Euros, it would be a very hard pill to swallow.
At the end of the day, we have to be ready to play any of these teams. We know we are better than all of them and should be able to beat all of them with no problems, but I do feel as though some matches will be easier than others. Who would you like Croatia to play in their final group stage match? Do you think it matters who we face?
srbi tako da ih možemo poniziti
Their stars are hardly stars. Sergej is their only “star”. Jović is now known as a bust. Tadić is good but he is always gonna be overshadowed by Ajax’s next Dutch darling
It’s probably going to be against Scotland or Norway. However, if Serbia beats Norway, I predict that it will be them. Personally, I think Serbia should not be allowed to compete until the government renounces claims to the territory of other countries (no other country in Europe is doing that still), but obviously UEFA likes making money off of Serbia’s star players competing. Serbia is the most dangerous team here. They aren’t very smart tactically or organized, but they have enough talented players to beat anyone on a good day. We would be better off against a consistently mediocre team such as Scotland and Norway. Dalić is tactically skilled, so even if those teams play tough, we can beat them. We beat Russia and Denmark in spite of their grit. With all the experience from that tournament plus a few fresh players with superior spark on the roster, we are an upgraded side capable of putting away gritty teams sooner and more devastatingly than before.
Blažević subs in Žuti for ailing Boban we beat France and then we have a final against Brazil on European soil.
But 2018 people champs erased that pain.
@ BZ
You are right that Modrić is magical in his own right.
2018 stabilizes Croatia as a legit footballing nation.
Do we actually lift on of these cups?
Dare we dream?
2021 will have sufficient talent to do it.
Zuti was genius. Very different player to modric. I don’t think you can compare them. He didn’t make the most of his incredible talent. But still won the champions league, played for barca and real Madrid and of course had a fantasticlegacy with the vatreni finishing 3rd in our first world Cup scoring 2 beautiful goals on the way.
Lmao you guys with great feedback and commentary crack me up as I’m sure others! … insightful knowledge and keep this difficult times somewhat turning in this coronavirus era- Modric takes the cake over prosinecki for quite a few reasons – mainly, he took us to the final regardless of us getting fucked in the guzica like my GF likes it …although it’s the greatest game on the planet it is corrupt and FIFA and UEFA have no love for us cause their scared of our talent as being the best athletic nation per capita person bar none. Henderbum-Henderson as well as chirper coaching staff and Kane and so forth said Modric in that second half never stopped running and he ran them in to the ground as we controlled major part to all of that second half. The whole World Cup our only worry was D and they did well besides the main problem a set peices – – Denmark -Russia – England (almost won it in injury time with stones header cleared off the line by vrsaljko) France (although bullshit game that was against us from the start) but better team then 98 as reserves were more then capable the past teams we fielded – I tm ever showing up to klagenfurt for Austria- pollocks /Croatia 08 – match meant nothing as we won both group games and our subs were decent but nothing like now. Like all sports footy has evolved and this might be the rakija speaking as I’m in my late 30s and watched pretty much every important/semi-important cro match since independence and being quite athletic myself thank god for the cro genes but comparing them to now is like Gretzky to Crosby – if you watch back then – he was great/excellent at that time granted but Modric reached a new level with club/country and heart ! I love prosinecki and I know he’s got cetnik blood in him does he not ? Not that it’s of utmost importance as I have cousins and I’m sure some of us have similar but I wouldn’t coach a cetnik club team if I ever wore the checkers no matter how much money they threw at my face. Regardless I know he’s only a few if any who played for 2 World Cup teams and he chose us in the end internationally but i would still never coach those jealous douchebag mongaloids for anything in the world even if I could eat Kate uptons or Anella sagras ass with a spoon or ice cream no hands like a fat kid and just dig in ! Some things are a no no , again my opinion . The Serbs got decent players individually as we all know but they’re shit as a team and as this sport relies on playing like a team! No creative movement – just a bunch of self obsessed monfaloid who cares more for themselves then representing their land locked country ! No charisma, nothing ! Lovren has a clothing brand and we dish shit on him all the time but like most hrvati he puts his heart and sleeve on the line when it comes to game time- ya he’s had his share of bone head / lethargic moves but in that England game he robbed Kane twice on clear chances as that one I’ve watched over the past month a few times lol. In the end – all this talk …oh we could be champions if Yugoslavia was one – to those I say jebi ta- we don’t fuckin need u ! – only perhaps dzeko or zlatan with a tad of cro genetics I personally would consider – not no mijhalovic ignorant cetnik no matter how good his free kick or pusilic that yankee who knew in this era he couldn’t crack our starting 11 so he code the USA which is firm but bottom line – playing for the real is a privilege! if you don’t wanna then go to your other less talented more populated country and play for them – me as a Canadian croat – my heart lives and dies with Croatia in soccer ! Matter of fact I might be a hypocrite here but if was magically called up to both – I’d rather be a reserve on the Repka then play with a bunch of ideological assholes who’s hearts are in the wrong places – 98 and 18 was all heart !!! That’s what separates us from other nations as well as the great genetics – lethal combination- thanks for listening to the Nobel boys ! Lol
pS…I never forget euro 08 when I was 24 and after one of our worst losses in history the Turks started shit as they populate areas of Vienna – they drove at us but cros took there belts off and charged at em like braveheart haha -I had to join in as I felt it was my god given right and took a few licks but handed out a dish served cold !
Za Dom Spremni
Bog Hrvati
I’ve never even been a cigarette smoker here in Canada but in Hrvatksa I’d smoke about half a dozen Walter Wolfs a day. My Stari would smoke about 2 packs a day in Canada and 3 when he was back home.
Classic – Walter Wolf and Ronhill lol Can’t believe I forgot about those. Who else was smoking those?
Once there was a montage of Boban with the eurodance Corona band song baby lets stay together at the end of a soccer programme down under on sbs called the world game
Lovely memories of a genious at his peak such elegance shown at the san Siro
He looked very handsome in that no 10 Ac jersey too
Captain forever in my srce
Man that was gold very underrated he was even when compared with Zuti
Sretan 10 Travanji on veliki petak during this lock down
Prosinecki was an incredible talent on the ball. I challenge all you aspiring middies to watch his highlights and ask yourself what would Modric have done?
Answer: Pass the ball to the clearly open guy, before you risk losing it.
Nobody ever shows Prosinecki’s low-lights on youtube! Those who watched him know he lost the ball a ton too. Teammates, coaches, and fans were often frustrated with his decisions to take on multiple defenders when there was no need…but damn he was good at it.
Modric > Prosinecki
http://sempreinter.com/2020/04/09/inter-owned-ivan-perisic-close-to-making-full-recovery-following-broken-ankle/
Ivan Perišić ??
What level will be at in 2021?
What is his motivation these days?
For years he was our only/most dynamic player.
Now Rebić is reborn, Vlašić is a revelation and Brekalo dribble attacks like Prosinečki.
Perišić is either performing as a game changing starter or should not be called up. Does not seem the type of player to come off happy or come in from the bench.
“I’d rather watch prime Zizou Ronaldinho Prosinecki or Boban than Messi or Ronaldo.
Modern athletes are boring.
Montana>Brady
Jordan>>>>>Lebron”
Best Poglavnik pandemic post ever!!
You know I love me some Modrić but Žuti was transcendent.
At his peak he could change a game single handedly.
I am not sure if there is an even close second but Boksic had different attributes and could change games.
Šuker had feet like hands and could walk through the defense.
Boban was a captain extraordinaire.
Modrić is a world class role player and deserves all his success as he supports his teammates from the middle flowing out.
Žuti was the greatest at peak, but Modrić has had the greatest career by far.
Just reading about Zuti at Pompey.
Voted into their alltime 11, only non Englishman, and he only played like a year. Not too shabby..
Lol.
Walter Wolf and Ronhill.
Those are some surprisingly underrated brands. Walter Wolf was the main sponsor of some Canadian car that won Formula-1.
Re: Zuti vs Brits…
Zuti best schooled the Brits in that game between Newcastle and Dinamo back in ’97. His dummies were amazing that game.
Dinamo was seriously robbed in that game by that notorious Croatian-hating referee (Urs Meier). Sent off a player and gave a penalty the first chance he could to deny Dinamo. Amazing that they even came back and scored, after being reduced to ten men all game.
Urs Meier reffed that Euro2004 playoff game we had against Slovenia too, where he was quick to red-card Igor Tudor in the deciding match. Luckily, Dado Prso scored minutes later to seal the win.
I liked Pompey Zuti.
Seeing the old guy schooling those Britts was a great reminder of what once was.
I’m more of a Walter Wolf man myself. 😉
@Poglavnik- Zuti was constantly injured at Real and Barca. Sure he was quick in his day but never managed to maintain a healthy body. Marbies are great as is weed!
Ha! Good advice 😉
You gotta watch our Pog, weed causes long term anxiety and depression.
Stick with the Rakija and Pelinkovac.
You’ll live long, like a true Croat and survive COVID (despite being right next door to the action – Italy) and an earthquake on the side.
I’d rather watch prime Zizou Ronaldinho Prosinecki or Boban than Messi or Ronaldo.
Modern athletes are boring.
Montana>Brady
Jordan>>>>>Lebron
Dude could run a sub 4 minute mile and was a 40 a day smoker. His fitness was just fine. I wouldnt blame his smoking too much. I smoke weed all day and can still run for days. Always one of the fittest if not the fittest on my teams.
Hard to say who’s better. Luka obviously more accomplished but both are 2 of the best of their eras.
Zuti had amazing technical ability and could change a game on his own however Modric does more all around things and is much more durable.
Robbie couldn’t sustain health or work rate at barca and Real while Modric thrived at Real because of his health and work rate. Robbie was unable to sustain his prime due to his health habits. Smokes and pice! Ronaldo does sit ups for fun and Zuti smokes marbies for fun.
Prosinecki vs Modric
in my opinion, Prosinecki was better skilled and could beat you with the exact same move over and over again…he could really sell that fake like nobody else. He was also very skilled in tight quarters and as Maminjo said, he could score goals.
Modric is probably not nearly as “talented”…I say this in a street soccer kinda way…Prosinecki could easily play in a pickup game on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and like many Brasilians, put on a show…something I doubt Modric can do.
Modric is a far more complete player. If he were playing in a pickup game in Rio…he’d make sure his team wins. He’d be the guy hovering back a bit, stealing the ball and making sure his team keep possession while threading several great passes.
at the end of the day, they are totally different players but if we want results on both ends of the field, Modric wins in a landslide but Prosinecki usually put on a show!
Come on.
Modric has insane technical skills too.
Zuti just loved to show it off more, and you know it, lol.
Either way, Modric defensively was better than Zuti. So, even if you consider a prime Zuti to be miles ahead of Modric on offense, it would be negated on the defensive end.
Prosi tricks 20 ppl in a row and then pulls out some amazing pass
he’s unrivalled.
Cmon, Maminjo
Nobody controls the ball or fools others like him, he’s one in a million
What does Prosinečki do better than Modrić?
I can’t see him being nearly as dominant defensively as Modrić is (even if he never had his injuries and bad fitness habits).
On offense, Žuti would probably score more as he’s more aggressive there, but the offense probably flows better with Modrić (Žuti loves to show off and hold possession). I can’t see him being as effective playing the counter attacking game. He just loves Tika Taka.
I dunno. I still think Modrić is better.
If it wasn’t for the smokes and the grog Prosinecki could have been the greatest Croatian player ever forget Modric
Has anyone played Golazo on Switch/Xbox/PS4?
It’s a caricatured comic soccer game with a 80s/90s style. I think our dude is meant to be Prosinecki ?
https://gameclips.io/Iggsy81/screenshots/c76a1a52-91c6-4918-a5f0-0e3faeff19d2
Kovačić has stabilized his career.
He will get minutes no matter what.
Will see how the next year unfolds.
I’ll take the depth.
It will be interesting to see how it goes for sure. With Euro and WC back to back he’d have to drop off pretty far to lose his spot in just a year. Hopefully that drop off doesn’t happen between now and next summer… Could see Modric being a super sub change dynamic sort of player and he’d definitely still have an impact there.
Well Kovačić will be 27 at Euro 2021 and likely won’t be starting ahead of Modrić or Brozović.
Same story at WC 2022 if Modrić chooses to stay on (and still doesn’t drop off in performance).
Kovačić should improve enough to snag a starting spot at WC2022, but if he doesn’t, he’ll be a regular starter at Euro’24 for the first time in his Croatia career… At age 30, lol.
Kova will def start when Modric and Rakitic retire. He won’t be Modric (no one can be) but he’s world class
Ugh. Israel vs Scotland has gotta be the least exciting game to watch.
What a mess.
It’s going to be Norway that makes it. They had a difficult group alongside with Sweden, Spain and Romania. Managing to pull 17 points in that group is impressive. Not to mention they drew Spain once and Sweden twice. Serbia was atrocious in qualifying with an easy group. Serbia got pounded by Portugal and Ukraine. They did draw Ukraine and Portugal once but that doesn’t diminish the team’s sloppy defense and poor management. Serbia allowed more goals than Luxembourg. The only way Serbia progresses is if they get their shit together and with luck then somehow beat Norway at home. Which won’t happen because Norway is unbeaten in 13 games at home. As far as Israel and the Scotland match-up goes…couldn’t care less.
They have a lot of decent players (like Maksimović), but “decent” won’t cut it.
Badelj is decent too, and most of us want him off the team, lol. Pašalić is better than decent (and young) but we all pretty much know that he will never start for us in his career (heck, Kovačić is at risk of this too).
Just way too much of a gap between us.
Maminjo- I agree with you on the play of SMS, he is usually a beast for Lazio. Jovic in my opinion made the move to Real one year too early. I believe one more year of him playing for that exciting Eintracht Frankfurt team wouldve been more beneficial to him.
Other than Tadic and Mitrovic, I dont see anyone else on that “golden generation” team (lol) posing much of a threat to us going forward at least. Kolorav is the only defender I know for them, I am not sure who they have at CB’s and RB assuming they play the typical 4 in the back
Milos- I 100% agree with you on Jovic and Rebic. That trio of Kostic, Jovic and Rebic was deadly last year.
Jović was the biggest benefactor of Rebić’s motor and pressing
That creative box-to-box midfielder is supposed to be Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but for some reason, this guy can’t play consistently well for Serbia.
Also, I don’t even know if Jovic will play under Tunbakovic. The coach doesn’t like him.
Mitrovic is good, but he’s not enough.
This is actually Serbia’s Golden Generation (believe it or not).
They won both the 2015 U20 World Cup and the 2013 U19 Euros.
These players that won these two tournaments are 25-26 years old now. This should be their prime years, and they managed to miss Euro 2016, choke at WC2018 and possibly miss Euro 2021 now. If I were a Serb, I’d be furious.
Lots of these players became nothing more than role players, but Sergej and Jovic have the most potential to impact Serbia’s success, but (similar to Nemanja Vidic) can’t seem to play well when wearing their National Team colors.
RE: Perisic….
I think Bayern keeps him.
A Serbia march would be too taxing physically for us.
Serbia has a good team that when has a focus can play well and nothing Serbs like to focus more on that all things Croatian. We are probably the motivation to beat Norway.
Brozovic is worth is weight in gold as he protects or CB’s while also having the ability to initiate the offensive. Conte loves him for a reason. Brozovic is a world class #6.
Actually think Mitrovic and Jovic would be a problem for Lovren and Vida. Haaland has not yet got his aerial game together which we have struggled to stop.
Tadic is legit.
Serbia just can’t seem to produce any intelligence in the way of creative pivots in the middle.
Our depth these days provides the ultimate advantage as we are now bringing on game deciders off the bench.
Dalic has grown in confidence to make even quicker adjustments in the second half.
No more tired in effective legs when you play us.
Curious how Perisic is doing physically and where he may end up next season?
Yea, when you compare Serbia and Norway….it’s really whether or not our CBs can handle their forwards.
Serbia’s Mitrovic is a decent striker, but I think Lovren can handle him. Mitrovic is physical and doesn’t really flop well, which works to Lovren’s advantage because Lovren can get physical but Mitrovic won’t be likely to sell a penalty to the ref (like how we all saw Fred do when we played Brazil).
They both suffer from that bonehead Balkanska glava syndrome, so I think they’ll get physical with each other and cancel each other out. Vida would handle Mitrovic too.
Haaland, however, is taller, stronger, faster, craftier, and a lot younger than either one of Lovren or Vida. He will (for sure) make Lovren look stupid on at least a couple of plays, and we’ll have to rely of Livakovic to make a stop.
Odegaard would get shut down by Modric & Brozovic, but all they need is a set piece or long ball to Haaland to free him up against Lovren/Vida. I can somehow see Haaland scoring off a long throw-in against us, lol.
Not that I’m afraid of Norway though. They won’t be getting Haaland many chances as they won’t be able to control the midfield at all. A Croatia vs Norway match would probably be identical to a Croatia vs Nigeria match, where we give them the central midfield and ensure that their forward and wingers are covered well from any longball attempts (and force them to try and come through the middle).
Although I have tickets to the game, and I would love to get the opportunity to watch a Cro Vs Srb game, I would have to go with Israel or Scotland on this. Israel would want to be the first team I would want to play, even though there striker was one of the top scorers in qualifying.
Up next, is the home team Scotland, I feel like they really dont offer much going forward. I am a huge LFC supporter and as much as I love Robbo, I dont see him leading Scotland past us.
Coming in at third, is Serbia. One of the main reasons I dont want to play them is because of the added pressure there will be on the players. It is the last game before qualifying and although I dont think dodging opponents is a good move, whoever places first in Group D plays 2nd place in Group F which is the group of death. So we might want to play around with the points and dodge that matchup. In the end I would still like us to end first in our group, but that aspect might play into it.
Lastly, has to be Norway. Haaland and Odegaard are DANGEROUS, and to be quite frank with you, were going to need a Brozovic masterclass at CDM to stop those guys because it is going to be a tall task for Lovren and Vida to take.
I love what you guys are doing here and during this time, I will be checking you guys out a lot more. Greetings from Chicago
From Monday, 6 April, on HRT 1, the documentary series Junaci našega doba (Heroes of our era) will started screening. I just finished watching the first episode, and it brings me back to those tense moments leading up to qualifying.
Could watch this all day ahahah – And we call him slow joe lol
https://youtu.be/Sl_1kOgdPv0
Plums lol too much rakija for me – PKs **
Serbs only got there mongaloid looking defenders who are decent and flash of the pan forwards – but creative/attacking mid is horrible – they can’t gel worth the shit of the bottom of my shoes – I’m gonna re watch the slow joe Simunic elbow now against those cetniks as that always puts a smile on my face
I assume most of us would agree the tie between the cetniks and Norway would be favored and most likely progress ! Since there’s no soccer to talk about and as I imagine most of us have watched a World Cup 18 match over the past month or so and for some reason I chose the Iceland Croatia game with 9 subs/2nd starters – only 1st team players starting Modric and perisic but corlukas experience and reading of the ball was excellent – he was man of the match to me – pjaca, perisic and kovacic played well too/ within 5 mins of Lovren coming on he got handball – our only goal allowed in group stage – good saves by Kalinic too – oh what coulda been if he started instead of Subasic but would we have gotten through those 2 plums without Suba !? ! Also Modric takes main credit and so deserved but that semi as he played excellent I think Vrsaljko and perisic were even better ! Perisic turns another gear last 3 major tourneys – hopefully fully ready to go next year and this dirty coronavirus will give our veterans much needed rest and only aid in improving vlasic and brekalos skills
Za Dom spremni
That’s right how sweet it would be if we did a Spain or an Iceland on Serbia
It would be awesome
@BZ
That’s so true.
The typical Croatia thing to do is qualify for the knockout round using the first two games, then resting players for the third game.
We did this in FIVE tournaments… Euro96, WC98, Euro2008, Euro2016, and WC2018.
Has there even been a team that did this in five tournaments, other than us, over the past 20 years?
It would be pretty funny if we beat them with our B Team, lol.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
@Milos-Serbia missing out is the best point I’ve read. lol
It’s the last group stage game. I don’t want a situation where we plop out a 2nd team and lose on purpose to Serbia bc we want to dodge a powerhouse in the knockout stages.
Under no circumstance would Croatia lose to Serbia, lol.
The game would be as one sided as the one we had in Zagreb in 2013.
Serbia vs Norway would be a great match though.
Norway has the two young stars, and Serbia has a collection of good role players (and two severely underachieving stars).
I don’t think either team’s midfield has the capability to defend well nor dominate possession for long periods of time, so it would just be a back and forth of runs.
I’d watch that one.
everyone is saying that Serbia would play like it is their world cup final.. i agree but lets not act like our boys wouldnt come out with that same energy. yes we have played in an actual world cup final but it’s not like the tone would be one sided. As we so often say this is the team that was hardened by the war. I agree the media would hype up a soccer rivalry that isnt there with Serbia because we are lightyears ahead but our guys would still understand the symbolic nature of the game and their intensity would be high.
i personally would just think it’s funnier if Serbia missed out all together.
Core power is the foundation of explosive speed :
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pdAXWj3aU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Speaking of skilled technicians CM’s, Conte knows what’s up:
nter manager Antonio Conte is grouping his players into three different groups ahead of football’s possible return according to a report in today’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.He has placed three players in the indispensable category and these three players are as good as guaranteed to play every minute. Those three players are club captain and number one goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, centre back Stefan de Vrij and central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
@ BZ
Zlatan is Croatian.
Ilicic is Croatian.
Both tall skilled beasts in their own right.
MANdzukic was BEAST has well, just lacked that explosive speed to make him next level great.
Alen Boksic was the last nogometas that could run and finish as a world class forward.
Rebić was showing signs to start 2020.
Just feel that kid who is tall and has explosive speed may not be valued in Croatia?
No accident that we produce a factory of skilled technicians in the middle of the pitch.
Reminds me of how Dzeko was crapped on as being a scrub as a midfielder in BiH until he found his calling as #9.
Vlašić is a product of his Dad’s training.
Hvala bogu as his explosiveness is a game changer for us.
No doubt we can produce a Haaland. His success may spark some new ideas for how we produce players.
New Ideas ?? God forbid !!
@ Vuki
Count me in with putting Serbia in our Balkan rear view mirror.
Especially when it comes to nogomet.
I am actually curious to see how good over all Norway actually is vs Serbia?
Someguy, I also bought tickets for this match as well as the Czech Republic match since they were both in Scotland. Was pretty bummed out when the Euros were postponed as it was going to be the first time I was going to see the Vatreni live. I wasn’t going to be upset or scared if this game ended up being Serbia, it would be an amazing atmosphere, but the risks are not worth it in my opinion.
Soul Champ, appreciate the support, I will continue to bring my A game with all posts. Of course some will be better than others, but that’s life. I appreciate any and all critiques. Always want to better myself.
I’m surprised how many people have been agreeing with me about avoiding Serbia. Thought more people would really want to get one over on Serbia. I’m not scared of them at all ability-wise. Just the possibility of a bad result against our biggest rival in a major tournament is not something we need. Like a few of you said, it will be like a World Cup final for them especially if there is something on the line.
On a side note, I really enjoy when all of you bring your opinions, maybe elaborate on something I wrote or mention something I didn’t think of. Ultimately with every post I make I just want to have a discussion with you all as Croatian soccer is my passion and I’m sure it is for most of you.
Israel all day. Weakest team. Yes I enjoy exciting football but not when the odds of losing are greater. Serbia game would be WC final for them and played on emotion. Agreed 9 times out of 10 we win but losing to them and crowd trouble not worth it.
Norway has a few young guys Haaland (whose father Roy Keane smashed with that dirty ass tackle knee smash and Odegaard (wish Halilovic turned out like him). Scots we would play at home so Israel (Middle Eastern team) is my pick.
The mental ramifications of losing to Serbia would haunt us forever. Correct me if I’m wrong, but we’ve never lost to them.
Losing to them on a big stage like that, the chance of being knocked out of the tournament because of them….no, I couldn’t deal with that.
Are we better? Of course. 100 times better. But we’ve got that mentality sometimes where we just don’t turn up and shit the bed.
See first game back after the World Cup vs. Spain.
I’d prefer Norway.
I want to play good teams and beat good teams consistently.
Whilst Slavonia does not need a flare up
Dalmacija Zagora would love one anytime haha
We don’t have Super Joe so we might
Be at a disadvantage vs Serbia .
I’d like to avoid playing Serbia, I don’t even want to think about losing a game to them even if ultimately we make it through to the Next round
I have a ticket to this match, and tried to get it specifically because of the possibility of it being against Serbia…I guess my opinion is much different than that of the rest.
SC-I’m sure literally every country in the world would take a Haaland type player. Ain’t gonna happen.
I’d be satisfied with a Mandzukic type player, heck I’d be satisfied with Mandzukic himself.
I hear you.
We’re above all that now.
The bigger rivalry in the group is actually Croatia vs England…and the likely re-match of Croatia vs France happening in the subsequent rounds.
These are our rivalries now.
Unfortunately, us facing Serbia would result in nauseating pre-game babble about the war and how this is a big football rivalry (when it actually isn’t). It’s a rivalry, but not a footballing one. The gap between the two teams in football is too large, and they’ve barely play each other (and never in a tournament).
I just don’t like the situation our guys would be in. They are there to play the game and it would be business as usual for them…of course there would be the “war” factor and other similar feelings.
the Serbs would all treat this as another war! from Beograd to ZG to Scotland….every damn opportunity to create massive issues, they would.
I can just imagine Pupovac making some ridiculous statements to protect Serbs…and other politicians would protect him for that. Vukovar could be another war! Those bastards keep posting signs everywhere saying “Vukovar je nas”!! the provocations are insane and this would make things worse!
I can just imagine a Croatian responding some Cedo provoking an entire Croatian population in one of our cities and then things getting ugly!
I just dont want the unnecessary game. we are by far the better team and by far a better culture. I have never had any interest in having to prove anything with them and this goes deeper than just a game…which is why I dont care for it. Slavonija doesnt need another flare up!
@Miloš
Serbia missing out would be pretty funny.
It’s harder to miss the Euros now, than making them.
Yet, somehow they missed Euro 2016 (after it expanded to 24 teams) and now have a serious potential to miss Euro 2021 too (even after they were handed a guaranteed playoff spot due to their low Pot C Nations League status).
That’s embarrassingly bad.
Bragging rights against all former Yugo countries are ours for at least several decades longer after this.
Yea, the disadvantage for us (over England and Czech) when playing the Serbs are the off-the-pitch issues.
I can see potential crowd disturbances and game delays.
Things like this can only benefit the weaker side (Serbia).
It benefited the Czechs when we were destroying them at Euro 2016, then they shockingly tied it up with that end of game penalty (after the game was delayed multiple times due to our ‘herioc’ anti-Mamic fans).
A similar thing happened in Italy during qualification when we were destroying them, but had to settle for that 1-1 result, thanks to the multiple delays from the fans.
Luckily these game didn’t matter, but I would hate it if we lost points or finished second behind England because some Serb fans wanted to help the English out and cause issues at our game (but not against England).
This will happen for sure, and UEFA will let it happen.
I might be a tad superstitious so I’ll just say for my overall health, I’d prefer we don’t play Serbia. Yes, we are a better team than them but there’s so many factors involved.
They would treat the game against us as their World Cup final. They do have a few good players, one of them is that Tadic guy from Ajax. He could convert from any of our defenders having a lapsing moment.
We would most likely control the entire tempo and midfield but I just prefer we don’t play them. We don’t need a game like that to make ourselves known, they would certainly use that game as the most important in the last 15 years.
I take Serbia. Scotland would also be fun.
Playing and beating Serbia would be awesome obviously but like you said what if there is that 1 time out of 10 where they do beat us… it would be absolutely devastating. Having Serbia miss out on the the tournament is satisfaction enough for me. Norway is the most likely candidate here and I think would be the most fun to watch. Stars are fun and they have two rising ones that would bring intrigue to the game. You still want some level of excitement around in major tournament games and you will get that with Norway and it’s still a side we should handle. Aside from the Scotland home field aspect them and the Israel games would be total duds to watch.
Scotland (in Glasgow), Norway, and Serbia are all about the same level of difficulty.
Norway has a couple of young stars on the upswing, so that could be a problem. The playoff match between Serbia and Norway will tell us everything.
I’m fine with any of these four teams. But Norway is probably the biggest concern as of right now just because they have the best #9 and #10 combo.
Israel isn’t a European country, so it’s weird having them in it. They would be the easiest by far, but they would also be easy for our other group opponents as well (England and Czech). However, since the top-2 and best 3rd placed teams move on, Israel would pretty much guarantee us a place in the knockout phase right away. Would be a boring ass game to watch though.
Hey Vuki!!
I see you are bringing your A game to your articles.
Norway is a problem.
An explosive #9 and now Odegard has found his feet as an attacking #10.
Norway will run and keep their shape and those two young phenoms can create goals.
Back to my blaming rukomet for now taking from potential athletic #9 strikers for the Vatreni.
I would like one Haland type in checkers.
Zlatan type figure.
A Petković with speed.
Israel no thanks bring on Serbia so we can smack those chetniks and send them back to Belgrade
Last time I checked Israel was in the Middle East not Europe so no rather have the serbs
Israel thx