In case you weren’t counting – between Mandžukić, Modrić, Rakitić and Lovren – a Croatian international has lifted the Champions League trophy every year since 2013. That’s seven years in a row. Yes, seven!
That’s really impressive for any international side to claim. Add the World Cup Final appearance for Croatia and Luka Modrić’s Ballon D’or win in 2018, and our beloved Vatreni have just been cruising the past decade; punching above their weight class.
Now that the ‘real’ Champions League season has begun – the knockout stages – we can start lining up the chances of a Croatian lifting up Europe’s most prestigious club trophy for an eighth straight year.
In the “Match of the Round”, Luka Modrić and Real Madrid will face a hungry Manchester City side. Expect City to take this one and knock out Real Madrid in the Round of 16.
Mario Pašalić has been hot for Atalanta this season. Although the Italian Serie A side won’t get very far in the Champions League, there’s a good chance they could squeak by Valencia before meeting a European giant in the quarterfinals.
Dejan Lovren and Liverpool received a tricky test with Atletico Madrid but should dispose of them to reach the quarters and defend their European crown. Šime Vrsaljko has been out with a knee injury for nine months but could return for Atletico by February/March.
Mateo Kovačić and Chelsea will take on Ivan Perišić’s Bayern Munich in an interesting two-legged affair. Chelsea hasn’t been able to put together more than 2-3 solid performances recently. Expect Bayern to make it through.
Ivan Rakitić has been playing much more football for Barcelona lately as the Spanish side have been paired with Napoli in the Round of 16. Expect Barca to make quick work of the Italians.
By my calculations, there will be four Croatians in the CL quarterfinal draw: Rakitić, Perišić, Lovren, Pašalić. The quarterfinals will be an open draw which means anybody can play anybody. Rakitić and Lovren are realistically the only Croatians who can help keep the streak alive.
Which Croatian international are you rooting to make a CL run in 2020?
Barca gets a nil all draw and the media blames Valverde for putting Rakitic in front of Busquets
Rakitic really needs to go to a club where he will receive respect especially where he is at in his stage of the careers
Surely it’s not always about the money is it I guess it is
^^^gbvh^
Modric played almost full game Sunday night. Not surprised he starts on bench a few days later.
He provided possibly the only highlight of a pretty drab second half … what a fucking pass …
https://twitter.com/joshparish_/status/1207402169508327424
nah, Modric still awesome. Just everyone smitten with Fede Valverde. Basically Real saying we need defense vs Barcelona.
Modric on the bench for the Barca game, is his time up?
Frank Lampard is getting the best out of Kovacic he is starting to finally add goals to his game. He is reaching his full potential we.need him to be playing like this because Boric and Halilovic are not developing.
Pjaca with two bad knees and he is still trying a come back?
@ HKS crew
Bojan Bogdanović is having the best year of his NBA career.
At 30 he is moving better than ever and is displaying his full floor game.
Nice to have at least one legit NBA difference maker.
He will have good 5 more years at this level as his game his based on skill and at 6’8” he can shoot over the defense.
His move to Utah is an example of making choices based on where you can flourish.
Man I remember those dark years when we had only Srna making some noise with Shaktar in the CL.
There is a direct correlation between national team success and having players leading their clubs into deep runs in the CL.
Rakitić played great in that last CL for Farca.
Real Madrid can take out Man City.
Man City is as weak as they have been in years and they have never had that CL swag even while playing dominating football.
Real Madrid is built for the CL.
They will see the Man City challenge as an opportunity to re-establish their bplace as the Kings of Europe.
Peder Pep is starting to get his panties in a bunch and his players are feeling the stress.
Wonder how they deal with Real Madrid knowing that there whole season is riding on winning the CL.
Liverpool are reigning CL winners and bum rushing the EPL.
Pašalić carving out a solid career with Atalanta.
We need to keep on bringing the depth of quality players to these major tournaments.
Jedvaj as mentioned has good for the national team and can play anywhere across the back line.
Two guys who had to over come premature moves to Chelsea and Roma.
Not to mention the Everton fiasco with Vlašić, that is more an Everton issue then Vlašić who showed signs during limited minutes.
Coric is the goods wasting away at Roma.
This big club move that stalls late adolescent development needs to stop.
Corny little agents and broke HNL need to both evolve.
What transfer will allow you to keep on playing your game?
I think the dark lego pattern is ok
The white and red man I hope not
I guess tho there is only so much that they can do with the checkers
Fucking Jebiga
I didn’t read on euro ticket site that you can only apply for one set of tickets per day
So I could only choose one
I went for trying for the Czech game in Scotland as I figured no chance for England match
Any way of getting scalped tickets??
Imam ali nemam has to be one of the best names I’ve heard on here. That and Idi u kurac was a great name. For 4 million people having someone in the finals since 2013 is huge. I think Atalanta vs Valencia is a toss up though and even though Liverpool is 1st in EPL, Atlético is never a cake walk. I feel like that game will be closer than most people expect.
Also, do you guys like the supposed 2020 jerseys?
I know the same website leaked the jerseys for 2018 and even though HNS said it wasn’t true then there was good feedback and they stuck with it. Do you think HNS sticks with the jerseys below should they be a legit?
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/cdn.footyheadlines.com/amp/4231481963956471018
I’ve got Barca winning it all this year. I feel like they won’t choke it this time. And although Rakitić might not play too much hopefully it’ll keep the streak alive.
Raketaaaaa
Good point BZ, but did you hear Tin Jedvaj scored in Augsburg impressive win today? The kid is tracking as a great utility player.
Highest scoring LB for Croatia in about half a decade
–And only played LB 2-3 times
–Scored against high level Talent.
Filled in decently at CB
Filled in nicely at RB for Vrsaljko
Rakitic with best chance in my books.
Then Lovren
if Real gets past Manchester he’d be third…but lower odds now because of their tough draw.
Manchester City 4/1
Liverpool 4/1
Barcelona 4/1
Paris Saint-Germain 7/1
Bayern Munich 7/1
Juventus 10/1
Real Madrid 20/1
Tottenham 20/1
Atletico Madrid 25/1
RB Leipzig 40/1
Chelsea 40/1
Borussia Dortmund 60/1
Napoli 80/1
Valencia 100/1
Atalanta 100/1
Lyon ?
Pasalic: pardon my dyslexia
Palasic is going to the final
Going back to Dinamo for the rest of the year wouldn’t be a bad idea at all
Especially if they sell Petkovic now
I don’t really want him or Livakovic to be sold now cause I want them to just play and not move and have to figure new team and playing time out
Cash in on olmo during winter for sure
I doubt it, and I doubt he will be on Juve in the spring. I said it in jest, as a reminder we had a Pjaca sighting on the bench this weekend.
Is Pjaca even on the CL squad?
My money is on Pjaca with Juventus!