This is it boys and girls. The week that will determine everything.
The cardiac Croatians have left their Russian World Cup hopes until the end.
CroatianSports will be reporting on both the Finland and Ukraine matches throughout the week, but this is what you need to know:
1) The match against Finland on Friday was originally planned to be be played in Osijek. However, due to heavy rains the past week, the HNS has decided to move the match to Rujevica, the temporary home to HNK Rijeka.
2) Danijel Subašić is back. After suffering an ankle injury in training weeks ago, the Monaco goalie returned to Ligue 1 action this past Friday and is back to 100% health. Expect him to be between the pipes.
3) No Mateo Kovačić. The Real Madrid midfielder is still out another month (minimum) with a groin injury.
4) Luka Modrić will be joining the ‘Century Club.’ With his start against Finland, it will give Croatian captain Luka Modrić his 100th international cap. He will join Dario Šimić, Ivica Olić, Josip Šimunić, Stipe Pletikosa and Darijo Srna in the Croatia 100 club.
@anonymous – agreed. We’re playing Finland. Don’t think we need to have the defensive mid. If Modric and Rakitic are there I think they are seasoned and disciplined enough to manage and share the defensive responsibilities. If we can’t beat Finland with that starting 11 we don’t deserve to even be in the tournament.
@cigan-i expect Cacic to go with that lineup. Solid for the type of ball Cacic likes.
@Brkic- id say no to d-mid. My biggest worry is a 0-0 or 1-1 tie bc we can’t bury any opportunities. Go for the beatdown.
@Elvis – I get what your saying but where are you and Nizic getting this Jugo stuff from ? Do you not think there was any influence from Turkey or Serbs/Balkans/whatever term you want to use to desrcribe that part of the world, even the slightest ? I’m not saying I like it or enjoy it (I already made that point). Look it’s one thing to not want to be associated with that part of the world, culturally, historicaly, politically etc but I find too many diaspora have this “down with Serbia, Turkey” mentality but have never read up on our history (history written by us and history written by outsiders which is usually slanted in someone’s favour as it often is). No one here has yet to embrace it so I can’t see why people are angry. We’re jusy sharing opinions on how we would define Croatia culturally. Pleading ignorance doesn’t refute a fact. Maminjo, JP, Idemo, Slavonac all make valid points in my opinion. No need to want to punch someone in the face because they understand a Cevap is a Kebab and that’s how we got it. You don’t have to like it.
Sorry guys. I know this is a sports site and we often talk about other topics. I’ll try and keep future comments sports related.
In the Croatian community there used to be a group of guys that would punch your nose in if you were a Yugo. You would find them at Christmas Mass or at the yearly picnic. Some of you are to young to remember. I remember though. Maybe it’s time to reform these units.
Got some panties all bunched up, you pieces of shit go let be in se via where you belong .
=U=
Weakest links = Piv, Mit
Wondering if we need a more defensively minded midfielder to help cover that back line. Hopefully we can dominate possession and limit their chances.
Atilla pretty good lineup. Should account for both Finland and Ukraine with that quality.
Cacic said the formation is gonna be 4-2-3-1
………………Mandz……………..
…Perisic…Kramaric…Brozo…
………Modric…..Rakitic………..
Piv……Vida…..Mitrovic….Vrs…
Nizic is lucky i don’t meet him in person or i would kick his ass back to lika
@ Dejan – re the Rakitić vagina post I was completely offside and incorrect with what I typed and so i’ll apologize. That wasn’t very nice of me.
He’s actually getting lowlights and feathered tips done on his hair in Barthelona on Friday so he can’t play.
I’m breaking balls here, I hope he plays well Friday.
@Adame
rakitic is fine
@ Adame – ya I checked as well. Just a joke. Looks like he’s playing.
@ Nizic – what post or comment made you type that some of us are “Cigani Jugovic” lovers? I would think it’s the exact opposite if anything if you read the posts. If I am wrong please do keep me honest and correct me, I’m tired and working late. People are just discussing their opinions on how they would describe Croatia culturally (ok from a diaspora perspective as most of us posting here are most likely diaspora).
Also, and I won’t reveal my age, I was a child during the war so it was difficult figuring out how to give money on your own at 9 years old, but I get the point you’re trying to make, just not sure it necessarily applies to the conversation in this particular post. I was in Croatia during Oluja and hid in a bunker during shelling from a few KM away though.
Just curious which post in particular had you thinking some of us are Cigani Jugovic lovers. No harm intended from here, literally just curious.
@Nizic How much do you know about Hrvatska and how many times did you actually visit? People like you are so not needed or important to our homeland. Its one thing to love our country its another to be an idiot . The war is behind us and very few people actually think like you do in Croatia.
Where u read that about rakitic? I cant find anything on him being out of the match and he looked fine in training.
Wow this is really startling, CS.com becoming a trolling site for Cigani jugovic lovers and people that did not give a penny for the war in Hrvatska, all they know is to sit in a kafic and talk like women, go find another country or team to follow you are all poison to Ljepa Nasa, fucken idiots.
So come one come all you keyboard tuff guys let’s see all your tough typing .
=U=
Za Dom
Rob Nikada
@Dejan
I read he’s not playing because his vagina is infected but I could be wrong.
Rakitic ruled out of Finland match with heel soreness. Highly questionable for Ukraine
@Croperson85
For sure, that got started in earnest with the Ottoman invasions beginning in the 14th century. In the last 100 years, others have co-opted the word for their own ends, not many of whom had HRV’s best interests in mind 🙂
Not sure if you’ve ever been to Klis, but we defended that for more than two decades of siege by the Ottomans. It doesn’t take much to imagine Turks running up that hill. Ironically, the victorious Ottoman general was a Croat POW from Sibenik, named Tardic, who converted to islam. They surrendered Klis because they ran out of water, and negotiated that they could all leave freely. They all fled to Senj, and became part of the Uskoci. Fascinating stuff!
@Soulchamp
Spot on as usual.
Anything can happen. Other teams also have hiccups all the time in qualification (unless you’re Deutschland).
We can lose in Kiev, but Turkey may beat Iceland and then tie/lose in Finland the last game, which would keep us in 2nd place behind Ukraine for example. So many scenarios are still possible.
even if we smash finland 11-0 i won’t be confident
it’s gonna be that last game and guys, i am PISSING MY PANTS about that one
can we avoid a loss in kyiv??? im not confident, SOMEONE FUCKING HOLD ME GEEZ lol
@ Idemo
Toooooooooooooooooo ….
Operation October !!!
@ Svima
Truth is Croatia is a diverse place.
You have Slavonci in the heart land that are good folk but maybe call you names when you think outside their “selo box.”
Croatians are Catholic which means broad minded and Universal. It is the reason we thrive every where we have emigrated across the globe.
Yes we have Balkan neighbors that have shared their food and women with us over the centuries and yes they have over stepped boundaries and wanted to move in and live in our house.
But we had to let them know that in Croatia you have to honor our KIN – Dom and if you don’t then you have to walk home to live with your own kin.
ZDS
I actually think we will have our way with Finland. They have nothing to play for and will open up. Teams that are already eliminated are known to expirement and attempt to play positive football. Bunkering does nothing for them
@JP – Completely forgot about the timeline very good point made. Would you not say Ottoman/Turkish presence and beefing with Croats has been longer than 100 years ago ?
well if we fail to beat finland then we have to basically beat ukraine which u never know might be easier than trying to play for a draw in that game so could be a blessing in disguise lol
Foisted 🙂
Finland will be a tough 90 mins for the boys. They will come organized and ready to play, no question. They have a couple good players in the squad and Hradecky is a decent keeper, but at the end of the day our quality should be enough to get by.
I can see them taking points at home versus the Turks in the last round of games. They will be aiming to finish their campaign strong in front of the home supporters.
I don’t even want to look ahead to the Ukraine game until the boys get those 3 points in their back pocket on Friday. Anything less is disasterous.
So really we can’t afford to lose to Ukraine
sigh, im just not sure we can do it, i keep seeing us losing that game :/
Glad that this convo has broken-out, since the use of the term Balkan is one of my biggest pet peeves. Simply, I see it as pejorative to Croatia and Croatians, and so I never use it, since things can’t change unless we actually change them 🙂
Geographically it refers to a mountain range in Serbia/Bulgaria, while the word has either Turkish or Bulgarian origins (or Persian going way back), depending on who you believe at the wiki page, though they both refer to mountains.
So given that these options have nothing to do with HRV, it would seem that the term was foisted upon us by others. In essence, the Balkans start after the Croatian borders in my view. ie the end of civilization, which was recognized by Rome almost 1000 years ago, before any such word Balkan existed, this is our true heritage. What has happened in the last 100 years (not including post independence) is an anomaly, and again, foisted upon us from the outside. So to me anyone using the term is identifying with the last 100 years, and not the 13 centuries prior to that.
@bz what you know about the invisible hand
@anon- as neoliberal capitalists, we cannot count on an October Surprise result.
Hahahaha
Anywho, in the words of my great friend Soul Champ
OPERATION OCTOBER IDEMOOOOO
DOLAZIMO PO 6!!!!!!!!!
Ziva…I’d be his psychologist and have him crying in no time!
if you could only meet one person out of Ziva and Lakant who would it be
@slavonac
zakazano brate, World Cup summers always the best
@idemo
I think Maminjo’s post after mine sums up how I would generally explain Croatia culturally in a quick post. We’re not full on Balkan but we do have some Turk influence (Cevaps come from Kebabs) as much as I don’t want to be associated with anything even remotely considered Middle Eastern. I am biased in that regard.
Blame Cacic as He diverted Godfooter Simunovic to Bosnia
Blame Cacic as He made God of Halilovic goes down to the drain
The 2 of our God is sacrificed with merely little-known local club players
next summer…kaniza…or even slobodnica, both just outside of slavonski brod!
Iggy – to your original question, the only way we could lose at Ukraine and still get a shot at 2nd is if there was a surprise result at another game:
ie – Kosovo ties Ukraine at home on Friday. Or Finland/Kosovo get a surprise tie/win against Turkey/Iceland on Monday.
CJELOOOO SELOOOO SMRCEEE BJELOOOOOOOO
@slavonac
when and where big guy when and where
I agree Idemo but I’ve been around and lived there (Mostar) and seen so many parts of Croatia and BiH…Slavonija is just different…I suggest you come visit me in my selo some day!
@slavonac
That’s back home in general, especially towns with smaller populations
You’ll never get that familiarity in a American cjty 1 mil population
Selo life has pros and cons
Sounds like podonk hill Billy country with s lot of brother marrying sister action if you ask me
well, let me tell you that even though most parts of dalmacija are incredibly beautiful and fun to visit, Slavonija is probably one of the nicest places on earth…and I mean that! People are still very kind and helpful. when its time to winterize for the upcoming winter…all neighbours help each other. if someone’s tractor is broken, the next guy will lend you his or help you fix yours…the hospitality is beyond what you’ll see anywhere in the world…the things friends and neighbours do for each other makes me so touched and proud to be a Slavonac!
then there’s the food, music, alcohol and parties…ufff jebote, I need to go back soon!
I guess one of my biggest qualms is how do we rationalize every single part of Croatia other than Zagreb with Central Europe, I guess it really depends on which scope you’re viewing with.
Life is Bec is very different from life in Dubrovnik
Man I’ve heard people in the USA say kava and it blew my mind
South central LA ……2pac of Europe ……zubac is zupac
In my house it was called Sanka.
What’s wrong with a Turkish word? After what those shits did to our nation. Listen turn that Pinocchio Rachel Maddow off and learn your history.
I’ve only ever heard Bošnjaci say ‘kafa’. Croats don’t say that ever. I even recall seeing some famous Bošnjak on a Croatian talk show explaining to the host why they say ‘kafa’.
@idemo
Yea, South Eastern Europe is a direct reference to the Balkans.
I was saying that we are most influenced by Southern or Central Europe (or both). I guess we can create a new one for ourselves called “South Central Europe”.
They already have ‘South Central’ gang signs and hats being sold in the US. We can expropriate these for our own use.
I’ve always been taught its kava…but I’ve heard kafa a lot as well.
I think most people from dijaspora don’t like the word Balkan cause it relates us the same as Serbs!
@elvis do you say kava or kafa?
until Sarajevo started using words with Turkish roots/ loans to solidify their habibi identity it was no taboo to hear “Turkisms” in croatian
@maminjo
was just going to say western balkans hah
but I think “south Eastern Europe” in itself is the balkan no?
every country you name in that region at least is some how balkan
@CroatianPerson85 what would you describe Croatia culturally then?
What’s wrong with using a Turkish word?
The Croatian language is Slavic-based, but has influence from Italian, German, Turkish, English and even French.
Do people really say zrakoplov for airplane? Or do they mostly say avion?
Same goes for words like sarma, šugoman, šugo, šampinjone, šlauf, kajš, vruće…people now say frendovi instead of prijatelji, lol.
Nothing wrong with calling Croatia a Balkan nation…but it’s not entirely accurate. I see Slovenia being called that too. It’s largely due to the fact that both were a part of Yugo and Tito did a good job trying to combine everyone into a single group.
The word “Balkan” comes from Ottoman Turkish balkan ‘a chain of wooded mountains”; related words are also found in other Turkic language
So some of you use that word? I can’t believe you use a Turkish word.
Balkan is a Turkish word. Are you Turkish? Turks don’t define us.
@idemo
Balkan is a Turkish term, coined after the Ottoman occupation.
We weren’t part of the Ottoman Empire. However, Serbia, Bosna, Macedonia, Greece and all of the others who were east of us actually were.
Sure there may be some Balkan influence due to proximity (i.e. Cevapi being the fast food of choice) but we’re pretty much on the fringes. Using my cevapi example…in Croatia, it’s largely a fast food dish. In Slovenia, it’s actually seen as a low-class food. In BiH and Serbia, it’s pretty much a main entree at every restaurant. Same goes for Turish coffee. Only seljaci drink it in Croatia, and you’d never find it in a cafe anywhere. Quite the opposite in BiH/Serbia/Macedonia etc.
I used to laugh at the term “Western Balkans” but it probably is a good description for Croatia and Slovenia. Croatia is literally the first country on the crossroads of Europe with Central, Southern, Balkan, Slavic, yet Catholic all mixed into one.
@ Maminjo
Thank you for making that point. It’s a grey zone. Everyone should research what the term “Balkan” actually means and how it’s defined geographically, culturally etc. Part of Croatia is geographically in the Balkans but culturally how Balkan we are is open for debate.
Croatia being Balkan is the same as saying that Russia is Asian.
Sure, geographically it is true, but for the most part, culturally, we’re a combination of Central or Southern European.
Slavic-speaking Catholics similar to Polish or Slovaks, but with a very sailor/coastal culture similar to Italians.
We’re definitely not Western European though. Our corruption and unemployment rate proves that one, lol.
Idemo, I am still not sold on him but that can change this year. It took me a long time to support Perisic, I couldn’t stand him back in 2012 Euro’s and I’m on the fence with Broz…except if he’s playing a more defensive role.
If Kalinic can prove to be a threat regularly, I’ll get on the bandwagon but from what I’ve seen…if he’s hot, he’s really good…if he lukewarm or less, he does nothing but shoot blanks! He missed an easy goal vs Iceland…its plays that that one that make a difference, he shit the bed!
I’ll support him if he can create during a tough game, but he has to do a lot more than score once every 2.5 games without threatening in other ways!
@Slavonac
I’m surprised you’ve included Kalinic on that list.
@soul
this is extremely incorrect:
“Balkan – Jugo socio-economic construct is a post World War I phenomena that got entrenched after WW II with Tito.”
the balkan existed long before ww1.
so you think Croatia has more in common with Libya Algeria Egypt Turkey Syria Italy and morocco more than it does with Serbia and BiH? these are all countries on the Mediterranean.
central Europe ? I don’t think Central Europe has kafic culture like us, slavic language? do they dance kolo or have three day long weddings in Austria? are their roads built on mountain sides in Switzerland? I don’t think they have piss poor economies nor the Mediterranean? Zagreb is Central European at a stretch but Dalmacija?
ya leave it.
Halilovic, Simunovic, Pasalic…and even Cop, Kalinic, Pivaric…I truly don’t see any of these guy at what we might call a high calibre player…at least not at the moment. other like Santini are there to fill the roster…we’d never do much with these guys starting regularly in our line-up!
Soul Champ…are you a fitness instructor or motivational speaker? damn you are high strung and Mr positive! you need to balance things out a bit!
We gonna be ok. Just watch! Dont fret or lose sleep we good.
Looks like some of the players are in too good of a mood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlK4PPxAWYE&feature=youtu.be
Central – Mediterranean Europe geographically.
Balkan – Jugo socio-economic construct is a post World War I phenomena that got entrenched after WW II with Tito.
The source of all that ails Croatia is in the erroneous belief that we are Balkan.
The Jugo nostalgia is most tragic as well.
Balkan is soul sucking.
Jugo is soul stunting.
Adriatic Sea is soul sourcing.
But I digress …
Operation October needs our focused intent.
Stric Čačić needs our support.
Someone call “their guy” at the savez and instruct him on plans B – Z for Finland and Ukraine.
If play A is thwarted then there is no time to waste of th ere will be June to enjoy !
Soul Champ
LIJEPA not LJEP
+ Balkan is older than Yugoslavia, and Yugoslavia was not established on basis of Balkan. no one here celebrated balkan Independence Day
@soul I think your mixing regional identity vs national identity
regional identity is something seldom claimed, how often do you hear of mid western pride, Iberian pride or someone saying I’m proud to Manitobian! not often right? but it is undeniable that Pennsylvania is in the Midwest is it not?
in many definitions balkan can include Bulgaria, Albania, and even Greece so “balkan” being a yugo-ism is eh. Balkan refers to political, cultural, LINGUISTIC, economic similarities blah blah blah and not to Yugoslavia, while undeniable that all ex yu countries are in the balkan with a question mark on Slovenia, but they’re just alpine Croatians 😉
baš je ludo kako najveći hrvati ne žive u hrvatskoj, ne govore hrvatski, nisu nikad u hrvatskoj a ruga se na hercegovce. Još lude misle da hrvatska nije na balkanu.
Croatia is in the balkans culturally, economically, geographically, any definition you want to use. I hope you don’t think we’re Western Europe…..
Serbia should qualify barring a meltdown (here come the Georgia is a tough opponent stans)
Montenegro has its fate in its own hands
Slovenia in a pickle
bIh have one tough match against an already qualified Belgium and they are on the cusp of being the worst places 2nd place team only Wales is behind them who will be missing Bale for both their games.
@ Elvis
Sing the truth !
100 % Croat … 0% Balkan.
You can keep that Balkan/Jugo nostalgia.
I’ll keep the Adriatic coast and it’s rich historic significance to the world.
Back to Operation October.
Bring your GAME not you NAME!
Suit up and 180+ minutes for Ljepa Naša Hrvatska.
We are blessed to be Croatian.
Time for the boys to represent and give back to the nation that has sourced your talent and the millions you make from that talent.
This is legacy week.
I want to see who is ZDS.
U boj … U boj …
Za narod svoj !!!
+ he only wanted national caps to bump his price, and to cap this all off he said ” I want to play for my country” when accepting BiH call. Case closed give me Duje Caleta Car
Enough with this Jozo Simunovic garbage.
He sucks and he knows it. Dinamo conned Celtic into paying 8 million Euro for him a couple years ago, and Celtic realized their mistake and quickly tried to offload him to Torino at a financial loss in August. The deal was almost done and Torino backed out at the last minute by failing Jozo on his physical.
The Scottish league is worse than the HNL, so there is zero justification that an inconsistent defender in the Scottish league should get a callup simply because he plays in a ‘foreign’ league.
The reason why Simunovic is pushing for a National Team callup is because he wants to transfer to the EPL, he and was using the Scottish league as a stepping stone to get there (like many players do). He was a disastrous flop last season, but this season he’s been okay, so he’s quickly trying to get an international callup to increase the chances of being transferred to England.
Another reason for this is the fact that he needs a certain amount of international caps in order to receive a work permit to play in the EPL (similar to how Lovren needed them to play for Liverpool). By not having any international caps, Jozo won’t be able to transfer to England so easily.
Croatia doesn’t want to call him up because he was never that great and he plays in a very crap league. Bosna is willing to call him up, which he is willing to accept, but he doesn’t want to come off as a traitor, so he and his agent fabricated some story that the HNS doesn’t care about him and he has no choice but to play for Bosna. Since every idiot in the Croatian media is jumping on the anti-HNS train, people will believe this.
But the fact is, Jozo Simunovic wants MONEY and he can’t get his undeserved big money contract without international caps (be it with Croatia or BiH). If he really wants to play for Cro, then he would continue to work hard and play well for more than half a season before making demands for a cap. But the reality is that he’s switching allegiance for money, which is fine, but he’s sneakily trying to make it seem otherwise. That’s all.
“Many” may be a poor choice of words, but I could see Modric being done at 101 caps along with a few other key players.
How did I miss the fact that Simunovic (Celtic) got called up for Bosnia and we didn’t lock him down? Maybe he’s not good enough, but we’re pretty lean on defense and Cacic should have capped him to lock him down.
If we don’t qualify we’ll be the most talented team to miss the WC and many will likely retire from the NT… in my mind the blame will be On Cacic.
Elvis your funny. You think your better than others. You’re not even smart enough to realize there is barely any genetic discrepancy between races let alone within the Balkans. Croatia is in the Balkans. Making Croatians Balkan
Prediction- we score first on Finland – a good old Lika shovel beating will take place even worse than the scene from Goodfellas
I was hoping Subasic could be out- still time for him to slip on some shower soap.
@Marijan
Who is Balkan? Not us.
The way we are playing we could even lose or draw to Finland we only defeated them 0:1 away.
Hopefully Croatia is the only Balkan team to qualify. I hate watching the others.
Srna injured?……..lol
Jedvaj corluka lovren injured..strinic not called up..srna injured…mitrovic has not started a game for his club this season..vrsaijko not 100% fit yet..simunovic chose to play for bosnia..so we are left with vida..only pure CB now..and now you have to play against ukraine who are on form..yarmolenko fromt dortmund..scoring freely..and marlos who just been called up after given the ukrainian citizenship..
Luka 100 !
This will add a bit to the occasion.
I like it.
Kalinic will be missed but it forces Čačić to think and rotate the squad a bit which was needed anyway.
Rakitic interested in playing in the World Cup ?
Maybe this Catalonia movement will remind him of the plite of Ljepa Naša ?
We could use an inspired Rakitic in Ukraine. Maybe Čačić takes him off early against Finland to ensure he is fresh for Ukraine?
im pissing me panties m8, not feeling at all confident. Can we make second if we lose to ukraine?