The Croatian national football team is one week away from knowing if they will be among 31 other teams at next year's World Cup in Brazil. In their way: a two-legged playoff with Iceland on November 15th in Reykjavík and November 19th in Zagreb. CroatianSports.com will dedicate the next week to covering everything you need to know about the players, tactics and what the … [Read more...] about Pictures worth 1,000 words
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Dream draw for Croatia: ICELAND!
By 303 CommentsNew Croatian interim manager Niko Kovač was all business Monday afternoon in Switzerland upon finding out who Croatia would challenge for one of four last UEFA World Cup berths....and it was the lowest ranked team in the draw: ICELAND. HNS president Davor Šuker grinned when the two teams were drawn. Iceland will host on Friday, November 15th, with the return leg … [Read more...] about Dream draw for Croatia: ICELAND!
Croatia lose to Scotland for a 2nd time
By 622 CommentsStarting XI vs. Scotland: Pletikosa - Vida, Ćorluka, Lovren, Strinić - Srna, Vukojević, Modrić, Kranjčar - Kalinić Mandžukić. It's true. Croatia not only lost to Scotland for a second time this qualifying campaign, but they couldn't even find the back of the net against the Scots in 180 minutes. Croatia only have one point in their last four competitive matches … [Read more...] about Croatia lose to Scotland for a 2nd time
Croatia 99% playoff bound
By 185 CommentsThe cardiac Croats are at it again. Since their March 2013 qualifiers against Serbia and Wales, which were both victories, Croatia has only earned one point from their next three competitive matches: 1-0 loss to Scotland, 1-1 draw with Serbia and 2-1 loss to Belgium. So instead of their fans booking tickets to next year's World Cup in Brazil, they are now holding their … [Read more...] about Croatia 99% playoff bound
What’s at stake? (pt. 2)
By 153 CommentsBarring a complete Belgian (or) Croatian collapse, the Vatreni will be a seeded team in November's UEFA playoff draw for the 2014 World Cup. In FIFA's latest rankings, Croatia dropped two spots to #10, which still keeps them in front of some pretty tough competition. Teams will still shift around with the last round of qualifiers in the next week, but as it stands, this would … [Read more...] about What’s at stake? (pt. 2)
Tuesday Night Funnies: Brazilian ball boy saves goal
By 29 CommentsIf Brazil didn't have enough problems with referees being beheaded and citizens protesting the 2014 World Cup, now they have to address this. During a division D league playoff match between Aparecidence and Tupi, an Aparecidence (white team) water boy hid on the right post and came onto the pitch in the last minute of the game to block a Tupi shot, which not only would have … [Read more...] about Tuesday Night Funnies: Brazilian ball boy saves goal
Croatia lose minimal ground in FIFA rankings
By 143 CommentsAfter a disastrous June that saw #4 ranked Croatia lose 1-0 to Scotland in a World Cup qualifier and then lose 1-0 again a few days later to Portugal in a friendly, the Vatreni have only fallen down to #8 in the July edition of the FIFA world rankings. Confederations Cup winners Brazil move into the 9 spot while Croatia's group A counterparts in UEFA qualifying, Belgium, round … [Read more...] about Croatia lose minimal ground in FIFA rankings
Rakitić bomb sends Croatia to victory in Skopje
By 377 CommentsPhoto: Sportske Novosti Starting XI vs. Macedonia: Pletikosa, Strinić, Šimunić, Ćorluka, Srna, Vukojević, Perišić, Modrić, Rakitić, Mandžukić, Jelavić in a 4-4-2 formation The cardiac Croatians were at it again- this time in Skopje, Macedonia. After going down early to a 16' Ibraimi strike due to a lapse in defense, Croatia composed themselves over the next 70 … [Read more...] about Rakitić bomb sends Croatia to victory in Skopje