The 26 year old winger has now bagged 2 goals in his last 2 matches (29 total minutes played) as a super sub for Italian club Torino. Replacing fellow Croat, Josip Brekalo, Pjaca has been a different beast lately. His combination of smarts, size and skill have allowed him to perform dominantly in recent times. The sample size of a mere 29 minutes is quite small, but might this be the re-awakening of a sleeping giant?
His first goal against Sassuolo came late in the match when he controlled a misplaced pass with his chest, took two steps, and calmly placed the ball in the bottom right corner… followed by his signature “joker” celebration.
Today versus Lazio, Pjaca receives the ball off a cross two minutes after being subbed on, and cleanly redirects the ball into the bottom left corner.
The Croatian National Team can certaintly use a tall winger/second striker with skill and swagger, and at the moment, Pjaca’s recent form is looking promising. It is no secret that there is a lack quality in the striker position at the moment, making Pjaca one to keep your eye out for.
Do YOU believe the HNS should be taking a look at recalling Marko Pjaca? Does he deserve it more than Brekalo, who is on the same team but is not performing nearly as well? Would his role be one of a secret weapon off the bench or does he start at striker?
Got to admit, It feels like we are all a year or two behind good ole BZ.
He said he would start Pjaca at striker for the NT last year prior to the euros. Everyone scoffed at the idea. I now see what he was talking about. With Pjaca playing with Vlasic Rebic Perisic Modric and Brozovic. Easy work of Spain. Sure Pjaca is slower (too slow for wing) but his link up play and ball skills are still there.
He also used to be the only one who did not put Brekalo on a pedestal, that took balls. Boy was he right, although we gave him hell for seeing Brekalo’s ineffectiveness for our NT before we all did.
He was always Rebic’s biggest supporter at wing. He never waivered, ever. Now Rebic lighting up champions league, while we all threw him under the bus. It is clear Dalic should be fired and Modric should apologize to Rebic, for bitching him out regarding a 53 second equipment malfunction.
That and his unwavering support of Mandzukic Rakitic, and Vrsaljko prior to the Russia wc, while we all were calling for a house cleaning…holy crap we almost threw away a silver medal bitching about Mandzukic, Vrsaljko, and Rakitic.
Ps I bet BZ still thinks Vrsaljko is our best RB by far.
Lol
BZ IS THAT YOU??
Does he like long walks on the beach and sunsets too?
Ok, now do me.
I want a fan letter too!
Write one that calls me out as being the first to press for Gvardiol starting for the national team so that he can be prepared for Euros (and not cap him during the actual tournament).
I think Dalic read my posts and did the opposite to spite me.
We can leave out any Brekalo stuff from me for now.
Great player to bad for his injuries… but if he stays strong and in form he is dangerous and much welcome back where he belongs in the NT… always thought he would take Perisics spot once he retires..
Its nice to hear that Pjaca making a comeback, and hopefully he continues to stay strong and healthy. His skill was never in question…only his health. He was just starting to get minutes for Juve and getting his promising career started when he got injured playing for the repka. If he continues to build on his form, and becomes a starter for Torino, then he definitely deserves a call-up from Dalic. Its still pre-mature to speculate, but this is a good-news story.
Ivan Juric:
“Marko Pjaca je nevjerojatan talent, zaljubljen sam u njegovu igru. Nastavi li ovako, čeka ga velika karijera.”
The coach is a fan. How does this help Brekalo?
Brekalo needs to shape-up or ship-out. Nothing like some healthy competition to up your game.
If both are in form, healthy and options for the NT, I’ll take Pjaca over Brekalo 9 times out of 10. Brekalo obviously has a lot of good to his game, but at the end of the day, he’s a lightweight 5’9” and more of a finesse player. Pjaca is that prototypical winger, he’s taller, built a bit more, good in the air, good finisher, etc. Think he brings more than Brekalo.
I just think about the Spain game in the Euro and yes, Brekalo was playing out of position, but do you think with Pjaca in that same spot, he would of been bodied by Morata and taken to the cleaners on that winning goal? I don’t.
I totally agree. If they were both fit and in form, I would take Pjaca over Brekalo. I just HOPE that Pjaca continues to be fit and continues his comeback to form.
He isn’t likely to start at Torino because he is still Juventus’s player, whereas Brekalo is Torino’s own (correct me if I am wrong). But if he can continue to be this efficient scoring, something will change, whether it means Torino purchases his contract or he returns to Juventus to be a super sub there.
He’s on loan from Juve. Crazy to think he’s been loaned around for the last 4-5 years without really going back to Juve.
If I were him and he does finish the season on a higher note (no injuries and good form), I’d try and move to a club where he would be guarenteed minutes.
Or maybe if Torino continue to play well and Juric stays, hopefully Juve and Torino work something out where he just transfers over to Torino?
Really like him as a player. Fingers crossed he stays healthy and can get back to the NT fold.
Depends.
He may fit quite well at Juventus, but I think Allegri likes slower buildup play, rather than pressing and counterattacking football.
Not sure how Pjaca plays now post-injury.
Is he still an explosive and fast player who uses his strength and speed?
Or does he rely more on his passing and technical skill?
I haven’t watched any Torino games, and his goals looked like a combination of both.
The first being all skill in the box, and the second one looking like a header off a counter.
No point in getting excited just yet, until he scores more for Torino.
It does bode well that he has Ivan Juric as his coach.
Since we’re going through the Lost and Found bin…
Here’s a good article about Halilović and how his dad ruined his career:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/platform/amp/2021/9/23/22662352/alen-halilovic-how-the-croatian-messi-ended-up-at-reading-fc-royals
He will make the NT. Believe in him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkIHqn7h2Vo
God Speed -0 0
Marko Pjaca !!
We owe him for that @ Estonia career ending fiasco pitch.
Šuker special.
He looks strong and healthy.
When you go through double knee injuries like that and come back then you bring a mental toughness.
Rebić needs to be called up against Russia.
5 subs.
Need all the attackers we can get.
Love to have an athletic #9 lead our line.
I’ll take Jurić to lead us to the World Cup.
Be careful here boys, we don’t want to be fooled by fools gold. It’s incredible that in 2016 Euros vs Spain, this kid now man was best player on field and destined for a great career, a fluke injury during a friendly sidelined his career…is this second coming??? My bigger question is what will happen Luka Sucic, what club does he go to and with 14 months til WC will he represented ?
If Sučić does get capped, I expect it to be in the opening game of the World Cup with little to no preparation.
Good to see.
But unfortunately for Pjaca, his position (Left Wing) is our deepest position.
LOL, it’s so deep, that he can’t even start on his club team because there is a Croat already playing there ahead of him in Brekalo.
Now, if he can play in the spica role up top, then things would be interesting. But he hasn’t been playing up top at his club team, so it would still be a total experiment. If he keeps scoring, then he’s worth a callup.
If he can keep up his good form AND stay healthy, of course he should be called up. Super sub might be his thing. When he starts against fresh and rested opponents, he hasn’t looked good. When he comes off the bench against tired and worn down opponents, he seems to be able to exploit them. That header today was possible because the player defending him was probably too tired to stay close enough to get in the way.
I’m not ready to call Pjaca yet but he’s definitely on my radar. On that note, Brekalo is off the list, I want Rebic to apologize so we can get the shit behind us….and dragi Bog, please find us a striker….I don’t know how much longer I can watch Livaja at striker….we are a third tier team with him up top!
I’ve always had faith he could make a come back
He showed quality before and Maybe he has lost some speed now
His talent and obviously good attitude to come back from such bad injuries is only showing character
He has had to earn his shot again
Maybe he is great for a Half
Him, orsic and I guess brekalo could all be difference makers if we are stagnant on offence
But his size is something others don’t have. He is thick for a soccer player
Why not try him? Especially if he keeps hot, I think he has earned a shot from the HNS ruining his knee playing that bloody game in Estonia or where the heck it was
Keep it up young man, I hope the best for him and of course cause it may help us
Also, cue in the pee ass a comment