After the 2-0 loss to Scotland at Hampden Park Tuesday night, all signs pointed to a new Croatian manager come Wednesday morning with Igor Štimac saying he would put in his letter of resignation for the better of the team. But who would it be?
Many pointed to former Croatia manager and the always animated Miroslav “Ćiro” Blažević to take over the reigns of the Croatian national team for the playoff round. Maybe even 2006 World Cup coach Zlatko “Cico” Kranjčar could make a return to the Croatian bench. However, Davor Šuker and the HNS opted for current Croatia U-21 manager and former senior captain Niko Kovač. The 42 year-old Kovac captained the Croatian national side for nearly half a decade, scoring 14 goals in 83 appearances from 1996-2008. He was as vocal as it gets for a football player, pulling the strings from his defensive midfield position game in and game out. He was respected by fellow teammates and adorned by fans for his ‘lion heart’ attitude; always leaving every drop of blood and sweat on the field.
Although Kovač has limited coaching experience, he has guided the current Croatian U-21 side to a perfect start in Euro 2015 qualifying with four wins in as many games without conceding a goal. Beforehand, he remained in the Red Bull Salzburg system as an assistant after his retirement from professional football.
“We decided to terminate the contract with current coach Štimac and named Niko Kovač as a temporary one for the next two matches in the World Cup play-offs. Our wish is that he remains coach after these two matches regardless of whether we qualify for Brazil or not,” –HNS president Davor Šuker.
As Niko Kovač prepares Croatia for their two-legged playoff in November from a temporary caretaker roll, he will add brother Robert to the coaching staff as an assistant. This team has too much talent to be losing games to Scotland and barely scraping by Wales and Macedonia. Maybe the players gave up on the system. Maybe the locker room got a bit stuffy.
Either way, there was a problem. And if anyone can fix it and get the players’ heads back on right on such short notice, Niko Kovač is the man for the job. Majority of Croatian supporters worldwide are excited for the switch. The players should be too.
Finally, we have some coaches without goddam music videos 🙂
http://www.index.hr/black/clanak/glazbeni-oprostaj-od-igora-stimca-s-postavama-san-se-kocka-sjebala-me-skotska/706676.aspx
Let’s face it, as a people & as a football team, Croatians usually punch above their weight class. That is something to be proud of.
There really is not that much “good talent” between ages 21-26: Rakitic, Lovren, maybe Vrsaljko, maybe Badelj…and I’ll admit to homer glasses. I don’t think Perisic or Strinic can be included as good talent…although this discussion is so subjective.
I hope Rebic & Halilovic deliver the goods. Mateo Kovacic is not in the 21-26 age group yet either, but he is a very exciting player. He should always be in the line up.
One would think Niko Kovac understands the young talent available based on his time coaching the U-21 Croatians, so hopefully he will integrate the players who are ready for senior action. It sounds as if the repka considers him to be more than just a caretaker for the playoff round, regardless of results.
I fear Halilovic will be our Bojan Krkic. Assuming he does stick with us that is. Bojan is still a fine player. However, during his ascent through the Barcelona academy everyone in the world was in complete agreement that he was a cant miss prospect, possibly one of the greatest players in the world one day.
Let’s say Croatia make it to Brazil. I bet you ANYTHING that we will be in one of the hardest groups in the WC. We are not as good as we think. Thank God for the FIFA rankings, Thank God we are seeded at least.
Halilovic might be one of those wingers, but he is a few years away (assuming he lives up to the hype).
Of the current players who have played for the repka, nobody fits into that modern wing player role.
All Niko Kovac can do for the playoffs is to change the atmosphere around the team. He can make an emotional difference, but there is not much he can do to change the tactical formation with only four training sessions before we play our first leg playoff game. We will probably play a style that we have played before. I don’t think we will see a 3-5-2 and what Stimac did on Friday. He played 5 defenders against a team that was going to sit and play for the counter. Placing defenders as wingers was not innovative, it was destructive.
If kovac is to get us back to our winning ways he needs to find 2 good wingers who have pace. That would get some qaulity crosses in for mandu.
Also just listened to redknamp interview on bbc podcast and he mentions modric as best player his ever coached.
Going on that he must be our captain.
@Ziva Istina
“damn, take the homer glasses off……I nearly choked when someone posted these names
Rakitic, Lovren, Perisic, Badelj, Vrsaljko
Outside of Rakitic, what have the other four guys done with the repka……..the easy answer is nothing.”
The question had nothing to do with what these players had accomplished with our repka. The question from Bobby V was….
“Other than Ivan Rakitic, name a Croatian player between the ages of 21-26 with good talent.”
The players mentioned have talent. If the question was pertaining to what they have done on a national level my answer would not have been the same.
Put down Index.YU and pick up a book.
Croatia will be alright. Yea we are playing like shit, but we could beat any off the unseeded teams in the play-offs
damn, take the homer glasses off……I nearly choked when someone posted these names
Rakitic, Lovren, Perisic, Badelj, Vrsaljko
Outside of Rakitic, what have the other four guys done with the repka……..the easy answer is nothing.
I understand all of us our fans and some of us are blind fans, but lets be realistic when debating the repka.
Porcelain Doll Illicevic is playing somewhere in Njemacka, still trying to learn Croatian and probably pulling a muscle as he rolls out of bed.
The problem with the team is two fold.
1. A lack of depth in squad. If we have an injury or a few suspensions we play players out of position or change our whole formation. If a key player is off form there is no back up.
2. Limited coaching options.Can anyone here name a coach that fulfills these criterea:
– Is Croatian
– Has experience with a big European club
– Has experience with a big national team
– Is not a former coach
I believe we all want a Croatian coach but even if we went outside we couldn’t afford the salary of a top manager. After Bilic got a raise he was on about 125 000 pounds a year- good money but nothing compared to the “big” countries, not to mention club football.
I am happy with Kovac- but only because he was a great leader as a player and has the right attitude, but we have no idea yet how good he is at managing. I wish him well – Ajmo Niko!!
Love the picture, would love to see the boys play with passion again. I have that same expression on my face when i have shit. Doesn’t matter who we play of against but there would be less stress if we don’t play France.
WOW, Mamic has had his fingers in HNS for longer than we think. Read this article, it long but states facts from beginning to end. Very interesting I’m pretty shocked I had no clue for a lot of the things mentioned. At the end it all makes sense. Check it out it’s all in detail in time frames from his beginning to now.
http://www.index.hr/mobile/clanak.aspx?category=sport&id=706467
ENJOY!
I believe our boys will turn it up regardless of who we play. If you recall, last year before the Turkey playoffs we were in the same situation. We were playing brutal (drawing sweden,norway, barely beating estonia) and finishing behind greece in our group. then we found another gear and qualified. also, judging by the facebook posts from mandzo, lovren, and rakitic, they are all ecstatic to play for kovac. we will win and qualifty for brazil
@Majstore hahaha too funny, thanks for sharing that!
Croatia needs to help their young players get better, if they want a good future for the national team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw0kFkqDG70&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Funny.
I’m going to cross my fingers and hope for the best and support my brothers through thick or thin.
The biggest problem for the future of Croatia isn’t the soccer team but the amount of debt the EU piles on us. We could have a great soccer team like Brazil and have the majority of people living in shanties like they do. I’d prefer we play with pride and always provide a challenge for the opposing team and also have a country worth living in. Just saying.
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Are we forgeting post 1998 to 2003 that was bad period. Lack of talent. As for this generation from 21-25 that team under 21s in 2009 thats the 87-89 generation guys havent proven anything pther than rakitic lovren 2009 under 21s looked like this 11 Kelava Tomecak Lovren Vida Jozinovic. Jajalo Badelj Oremus Rakitic Kalinic Kramaric. Yeah that generation wasnt productive but the 90s players look promising. Remeber hajduk dinamo are not just croatia.
@Andrej L
I did not put down the names of Strinic and Kalinic in my response as the question from Bobby V had the words “good talent” in it.
@All-Scroll up and look at the pic of Kovac again.Look at his emotion and what he is doing.This man is a proud Croat.
My newly adopted son-Ziva ,arrives tomorrow in Sydney on the long haul flight from LA.
I will be a firm but fair step dad.The boys re education into a man starts tomorrow.I am apprehensive and excited at the same time.
Although he states that he is the best Croat,currently young Ziva could never pose in such a proud way as Mr Kovac and display the emotion of Mr Kovac.Give me some time my Americano friends,I will mould the boy into a better man.
Strinic, Lovren, and Rakitic are all within that gap. Kalinic and Badelj should’ve been a national team regulars at this point are in that gap too. Also within that gap,does anyone know what the deal is with Ivo Ilicevic?
I’m really happy about this pick up for the national team. Hopefully, he brings some professionalism to the team. If we make it to the WC, maybe Rebic might get some good experience.
i’ll repeat that halilovic comment one more time. 20 YEARS!!!!!! that’s how long that guy could play for. seems worthwhile for a call up even if he’s not ready to secure that
@ Denis
in terms of players giving their all, I think you gotta include Luka. I am always so impressed by his play. the dude is working as hard as he can on both sides of the ball. to me it always seems like he is playing the hardest which i find so shocking cause he’s also the most talented
Cap him and trap him
I gotta say it one more time. i don’t care if cro wants to play for cro or not, they should have capped him and secured an asset. would a team not take lebron james on their team when he was a 16 year old even if he wasn’t good enough to play , if it meant they would get the next 20 years of his career!!!!! of course they would. foresight people
@Bobby V
you make a very valid point there, but i dont see it a major obstacle. Now is the time to start bringing in the young players while we still have the experienced older heads we can rely on, it is not dissimilar to 06 where we prolly were reliant on some older dogs and Cico was reluctant to introduce new talent for personal reasons. We could have a good mix of experience and inject the youthful exuberance with the right tactics and motivation, that can be a recipe for success.
Like others here i dont really care who we draw, most of the teams are hoping they draw us, which would be foolish because i have a feeling that with our backs to the wall we will fight like true warriors, afterall we as a people are warriors and Niko is the man to get that out of the players.
Time to see who wants to bleed for Hrvatska and those that dont can have their papers stamped
@Bobby V
Rakitic, Lovren, Perisic, Badelj, Vrsaljko.
We have many players on the bubble of 21 and 26. Mandzo is 27 and so is Corluka while Modric just turned 28 and Rebic is 20.
Vrsaljko and Lovren–enough said. Period.
And fear not Bobby V, we got plenty of talent fermenting at the U-17 and U-21 levels. Now not to many national teams can say that.
Spoke with my Uncle in Zadar today about the national team situation. He brought up a real good point:
Other than Ivan Rakitic, name a Croatian player between the ages of 21-26 with good talent.
He called this gap, the worst 5 year black hole in Croatian soccer history. Most good national sides have this age group as their backbone.