Ante from CroatianSports.com & Lovre Nikolac from @CroatiaFooty break down Croatia’s worst week in history after a 4-1 loss to Spain and 7-0 loss to England in Nations League. What is next for Slaven Bilić and his guys?
PODCAST: Vatreni Humbled By Spain, England In UNL
By 38 Comments
Hey IGNORAMUSES –
Ahmeti and Skafar Zuzic the MOST decisive U20 in the World
Data ALWAYS confirms Anonymous Eye Testing
https://x.com/cies_football/status/2110264347259736361?s=46
Good stuff. They are looking good. I think it’s important to remember that young players (and teams) go through learning phases. I have a good friend who is a Manchester United fan. When kobbie mainoo broke through he was saying this is the next big star, he is going to be Manchester United and England genius, Man Utd are going to win the league etc. I said ok wait a few months, when the team starts to depend on him, the pressure that brings, when opposition study his game to identify his weaknesses and prepare for him. How will he adapt? How will he handle the pressure? Will he find the solutions? Will he be strong enough mentally? Almost two years later now kobbie is again playing well. It’s taken him that long to adapt. Players who are destined for the top immediately adapt to every challenge. That’s what makes them special. Messi, Yamal, modric, gvardiol, Luka vuskovic. Each challenge, each new team they immediately adapt and find a solution and play well. For every Yamal there is an ansu fati. For every Messi there are 20 halilovics. The technical level of all these players is very close. It’s not the technical talent which makes the difference, it’s the strength of character and intelligence. This is not as easy to see when watching their goals. So let’s hope skafar zuzic keeps progressing well. He is small and light weight and not very quick. His technique will have to perfect, his mentality will have to be rock solid, if he is to become a top player. Time will tell. His finish in the last match gives a clue to those with the gift of the eye test. First time volley at far post. There is something special in the way he put it away. Complete control on the timing, power and placement of the shot. He knew EXACTLY how he was scoring. Most experienced players even will just try to make a good connection make sure it’s on target and hope for the best in that situation. Jim put the ball exactly where he wanted it. Like it was the easiest thing ever. So yes, big clue to his level. But….long way to go
You should become a pro scout not a scout for this site lol.
Can I do both?
Sorry Crnky, but you don’t check enough boxes for us.
You got the black part down, but we need you to be female or at least gay for Christ’s sake.
I pray that you understand.
I dont see why we are so bad on set pcs. This has to change with such arial threts players as Vuskovic Gvardiol and Matanovic our defensive style should be zone not man to man .We shouldn’t play man to man in our end we’re not good at that. Instead we should play zone where Vuskovic would judge the crosses coming in and attack the ball he’s great at that . Use the strength in the air we have. At the other end with set pcs Vuskovic Gvardiol and Matanovic would be a force we need to turn this weeknes of set pcs for so long now and cost us a lot into a threat that will feared. To defend and attack at both ends we don’t need pure speed players there set pcs. We should be werry good at this not bad.
We are 3rd above Czechia the next game at Wembly is a perfect low pressure game for us to let the younger players start . Bilic has young talent players on the team now to be full time starters. Vuskovic Baturina P Sucic L Sucic Matanovic Biljo. If they start in the England game Bilic can see their capabilities in a big stadium situation . At the same time the veteran players save energy for Czechia 3 days later.
U think Anonymous’ jokes about Jaga vs. GF vs. too much balls drainage
It’s not a joke – look at what Vini Jr.’s brother wrote (after Vini Jr. broke up with the hhhhooooo) – it’s not just Jaga – it can be any player in the World – if it can happen to Vini Jr. nobody is safe
Vini’s brother deleted IG story
“Vini changed since dating her, became worse on the pitch, gave less family attention. She pushed him into facial surgery after calling him ugly publicly.
His family found out online. Now she’s gone he’ll focus on career & love himself
again.”
I’m with Maminjo, team is shaking itself into who is who- Matanovic, Beljo . Kova, Sucic , Baturina, Perisic [showing that he’s not ready to say goodbye] Ivanovic [he’s hard to figure out] D- Vuskovic, Gvardi, maybe another kid, Stanisic. Bloody Jakic is making it hard to forget him . Kid got balls. U19 kid Lovro Chelfi, could be something. He plays like a nut and gives it. Hope he continues to progress. We need flyers like him
Yea, I think the best thing about this last window was the fact that we have our striker situation sorted.
Matanovic has established himself 100% as our starting striker, and Beljo proved that he can be a good backup. Ivanovic also proved that he cannot be a winger (and probably should be a backup striker instead). Musa and Budimir proved that we don’t really need them anymore and it’s better we stick with the three younger strikers.
The added benefit of Ivanovic proving he’s not an effective winger, is that we had to play Perisic there instead and he did very well this past window. This pretty much means that we just need to play him at LW moving forward (as he is currently doing at PSV), and we can focus on playing Baturina in his natural position at CAM.
Gvardiol will just have to go back to LB, and we will need to figure something out at who to pair at CB with Vuskovic. It could be just a matter of how we play, and not taking as many risks playing the high line. We were pressed too far forward, and left ourselves open. Maybe we play a bit more careful moving forward (especially when we play against the two best teams in the World).
It’s a shame Baturina was still sick from that virus and couldn’t be effective for us. Also a big shame that Bilic forced Petar Sucic out of position. It will be nice to see a trio of Sucic/Kova/Baturina in the next window, but this all depends on Modric.
The RW situation is a big question mark. We’ll have to experiment with that one from now and possibly during the Euro qualifiers next year too.
But Perišić has been playing a lot on the right wing for PSV. I’d rather we start him there and keep Baturina in the same position he’s playing at Como. Then L Sucic or whoever is in the best form plays the 10.
Agreed on P Sucic and Kova in the pivot. Modric off the bench.
Interesting.
He was playing LW almost exclusively last season. But, yea, it looks like he’s been on the right this season.
In that case, yes, I would try him at RW and Baturina at LW.
Guys – instead of pontificating about future captains and phantom young players to call up that don’t exist – maybe watch Franjo he started champions league 0-1 currently after 42’
No love for Kulenovic two goals last two cameos – super sub – ahead of DDB?
Crnkovic 🤗 ❤️
Peri Pero Stani 3pm ET too
Told u Nike Sepic > Hrgovic
Naš Niko Šepić je prema @CIES_Football uvršten među U21 igrače na bekovskoj poziciji s najboljom izvedbom, u top 15 europskih klubova (izuzev pet najboljih liga).
Bravo, Niko 💪🏼
When I sead sometimes frst players are not the best choice I ment that the 1st tryout is not the best choice by the choosers. How many times has a great player failed he’s 1rst or 2nd tryout and become a great player later . The HNS has to keep an eye on all Croatian prospects at all times some develop early and some later.
It’s going to be at least 6 years of pain for HNS. We delayed development by 2 more years with Dalic. Bilic had a chance to go young, and he was too scared so we’re in trouble for some time. I say 2 more losses are more than likely against England and Czechia. There will be more pain and then Bilic will have to quit and we’ll start over properly. You heard it here first.
Let’s wait to see how 2026 ends and go from there. I agree that we delayed development for the last 2 years with Dalic. There has to to be a faster way to give the younger players a look. We have some of the best young players we’ve ever had right now. We need to test them to find who are the best ones. Sometimes the first choice are not the best ones in the long run.
I don’t think we lose to Czech at home, but even if we win it’s not a great sign that we were so easily dispatched by Spain and England in these last three games.
We are just way too heavily dependent on the old guard, and we still use some of the lesser talented veterans as our key subs or starting role player positions (Mario Pasalic, Vlasic).
If we were going to be beaten down so badly in these last three games, at least we could have done so by trying out some youth.
We found out some things about ourselves in these past four games, but probably not enough to make a significant impact in next month’s games (to beat England in England).
Hopefully we’re ready for the Nations League relegation playoff and the Euro qualifiers right after that.
Yes as long as we finish 3rd and go forward . The older players have to slowly step back its the same as when they were young and saw the older players pas the touch. Sometimes the greater the players the harder it is
What if Modric and Perisic actually want to retire but they feel they have to stay because there is nobody better/younger to replace them?
Aside from LB where we should call up best we have (whoever that is) – name one young player that is better and deserves to be called and which current NT player they would replace?
Eg people scream Segecic for winger but he’s on the bench for Pompey and when he plays it’s as a central 10
Can’t think of one young player (save Skafar Zuzic) that is being over looked
Let’s stop romanticizing some fictionally young players that don’t current exist and warrant a call up
There are plenty to replace Modrić. Modrić should not be starting right now and we definitely should not be playing Petar Sučić out of position to accommodate starting Modrić.
Kova and Sučić should be starting with Baturina in front of them.
The only veterans we need are Perišić and Kovačić.
All of Modrić, Budimir, Kramarić and Mario Pašalić could retire tomorrow and we wouldn’t drop off at all.
I’m fine dropping those four
That gets you from 27 to 23 squad size (max size with no extras)
Need to drop one more to add a LB – get rid of Misic and Musa too.
That leaves an extra spot for a new player – which young player should take it (Vrbancic?) or should it be Darko and/or Moro?
As eg to add Jagusic or Stojko you need to drop Luka Sucic? That’s not obvious
When you go name by name it’s not obvious that there are better young kids that should take someone’s position (again save LB which we need)
It’s easy to say let’s go young but not obvious when you go name by name
Well, with every passing game you start to figure it out.
After this past international window, it looks like the best rotation of strikers would probably be Matanović, Beljo and Ivanović. No need to waste roster spots on bringing any more. Musa can be on standby in case a player like Ivanović doesn’t start at his club and falls out of form, but really, we’re probably good with just those three.
Central midfield should be Kova, Petar Sučić and Baturina. I don’t anyone would disagree
Modrić can be backup (if he will allow it) and Mario Pašalić and Krama should be cut. You can use club form to dictate the rest. Luka Sučić, Majer and Jakić could do for now, but who knows, maybe Jagušić, Vrbančić and others make a case for themselves as the season goes on.
Winger is Perišić as the only guarantee, and this is our toughest question. Ivanović didn’t work there and Marco P only makes it by default (and would probably be a bubble player if we actually had true wingers). This is where we actually need to experiment most with younger (hopefully hungry) players.
Defense should be as it always is. Some combination of Gvardiol, Vušković, Stanišić plus a fourth. Whether that fourth be Šutalo or experiment with some youngster (Pavić), is what we’ll have to find out as the season progresses. But for the most part, we should stop loading up and wasting spots on out-of-form veteran CBs.
I just listed about 15 guaranteed (or about guaranteed guys) with the rest of the spots being open to whichever youth prospect is having a good season and is in full form.
For Bilic to take the Croatia job in July 2026 was a risk move. For many coaches that were available they basically avoided the job. Bilic took the position knowing the team was a de clining squad the games coming up against Spain and England in Nations league were extremely challenging. He took this job when others hide from it. Hope he makes this work and stays as long as its working . Don’t want to see him build the foundation for the next generation and someone else to takes credit. Modric needs to step down and be sub player his legs and stamina can’t match he’s wish anymore. He can play a good 30 minutes with his vision and ball distribution to cloase out games tuter the next generation going forward. It’s hard for players to except he and some other senior players will have to except stepping down . Stay to help the new genation transition prepare your coaching licenses if that’s what some of you want during this time . The next captain of the team for me should be Stanisic he is disaplind vocal and level headed for now. Gvardiol Kovacic are to quiet a personality. Vuskovic or Baturina may be the Croatia captain by the 2030 world cup . For now if Modric steps down and except the new role for the best of all Stanisic is our best option . Going forward against the English at Wembley I wish Bilic plays young players with some seniors foget the score try the young players this is the game that is a Nations league test for Croatia I don’t car the score use it for future. Based on the system the English play with there high press attacks it leaves openings for counter attacks has to start with the team defending them with emediat ball control get out quickly counter attack them going forward . Young fast players will exploit this vulnerability against England especially fast teams if properly organized. Eaven if we experimen this game after the 7-0 loss against them and they run up the score again they will be seen as cowards just because we were better in 2018 .
Beating them 2-1 in 2018 was their biggest loss so f em.
.I hear you they can be erigent at times
Stanisic terrible choice for captain. The guy talks a lot but usually whining and complaining waving his arms in distress. The guy is last choice for captain. Pero is the most consistent and dependable player and character
Yea Sučić is a hard worker and he doesn’t complain.
He’s a good choice to “lead by example”.
I also think Vušković (when he gets older) will become a great captain.
He’s very charismatic and diplomatic in his interviews. Wise beyond his years.
100% Vušković is the future captain. Even though he is too tall for a defender and was a bust at 16 per Ziva istina 😉
Or…let’s accept we are just MORONS and call up the guy who started the season at istra but has gone to the Turkish second division and make him captain. #The eye test
Or…let’s sack half the squad, including Bilic, for being dirty Jugos, call up Thompson, make him captain, and offer Trump the manager role.
Only joking Anon. Even though you are mad as a box of frogs, your insight, passion, research and sense of humour have created many interesting discussions and given me several laugh out loud moments and big grins. Never change
Whoa now, hold on…
Thompson as head coach?
You may be onto something.
We won only because we were better than they were. Allsow we were better than the French in the finals only the Idiot ref and band running onto field and fifa stopped us
from wining . Look at the awards presentation when the refs excepted there medals and the entire Croatian national team turned there backs History sead France wone that image of Croatian players turning their backs sead different. That image going forward might not exist soon unless its preserved..
https://x.com/SuperSportHNL/status/2109631663399678111?s=20
TOTW
Skafar-Zuzic
Ahmeti
Kumar
All consistent with Anonymous’ eye test based on the HIGHLIGHTS.
Hrgovic and Bambaaaaaa in there too.
Someone please explain to @CROBRO that Soticek taking on the Filipino Nanny whose side-hustle is filling in at RB for Dinamo isn’t notable and doesn’t make him better than Skafar-Zuzic. HIGHLIGHTS never lie.
btw: Skafar-Zuzic jumped from Istra U17 to Istra HNL first team i.e. he never even played a minute for Istra U19 – he just skipped that level completely – hopefully a sign of things to come for his NT career.
Try watching HNL and not just highlights. Soticek btw has played well in Europe not just HNL. Will see how he does against Ajax Thursday. Btw never said Soticek is a better talent then Skafar Zuzic who I watched over a year ago for the first time when he was playing for the under 17s euro qualifiers. Skafar-Zuzic looks like a special talent will see others have been fooled before.
I just assumed Ahmeti was some Syrian or Moroccan that Andy bara snagged had no idea he was one of us 🤷🏽♂️