I can be optimistic right now and say Croatia got the 3 points they were looking for against Austria, but let’s be real here for a second. Croatia played like garbage and didn’t deserve the win if you ask me. Here’s a couple things we learned from the Austria game today.
Croatia is indeed still in a post-party hangover mode from the England match. It now appears that in beating England at Wembley and sending Croatia to the top of all European headlines, we might have done more harm to ourselves than we know regarding ego and how good we really are.
All those people who said we’ll be fine without Eduardo and will find other ways to score- WRONG! Eduardo’s ability to find the back of the net will be truly missed this tournament. Olić and Petrić did nothing as strikers against Austria. I understand coach Slaven Bilić’s reason for starting these two, but to substitute Budan in late instead of Klasnić has me confused. I would have liked to see him sub Klasnić and Rakitić in for Olić and Petrić around the 60th minute.
I’m content with the 1st half as Croatia dominated ball possession and tempo of the game. They however needed to pounce on the Austrians after the Modrić penalty and put the game away right there and then.
As much as I hate to go here, I now must because it was in fact a close 1-0 game. Just remember that we wouldn’t be having this conversation if Croatia put the game away early. Dutch referee, Pieter Vink, was as inconsistent as I’ve seen a referee. After setting the bar of the ‘foul calling’ with the penalty shot and yellow card to Austrian defender, Emanuel Pogatetz in the 3′ for arguing, Vink did not show Pogatetz a second yellow for an absolute mugging on Ivica Olić in the corner in the 29′. The thing I really hated about this is that Vink originally motioned towards his pocket for the yellow and then thought again about it when I believe he realized he had already given Pogatetz a yellow. This would have put Austria down to 10 men and absolutely destroyed their morale and composure. But once again, we wouldn’t be talking about this if Croatia blew the game out like they should have.
The 2nd half was dreadful for Croatia. Bilić looked like he was throwing in the white flag midway through the half on any scoring attack plan. Croatia played a lot of kickball and didn’t use Modrić and Kranjčar at all in the midfield. The Austrians had too many scoring chances in the last 20 minutes and the game could have easily ended in a draw. Let’s all thank Stipe Pletikosa for being on his game and bailing Croatia out with some nice saves.
If Croatia shows up like that on Thursday, they will not have a chance against Germany who beat Poland 2-0. I can only pray that the same team that prevented England a Euro 2008 dance card shows up against the Germans. The Germans are looking for revenge as Croatia knocked them out in the 1998 World Cup quarterfinal round in a stunning 3-0 game.
You can call me crazy for demanding more from this team or even argue that Croatia got the 3 points they must have had against Austria- end of story, but if this team is going to legitimately challenge teams for the EuroCup, they’re going to have to score goals, real goals, and not get away with robbery on a dicey penalty kick call against a 92nd ranked team who only qualified because they are hosting the tournament.
I know I promised you guys fan footage from the train ride from Zagreb to Vienna today but Denis had trouble uploading all the content in Austria. Apparently, internet cafes in Vienna don’t have picture programs, or maybe they just knew Denis was Croatian. Who knows. They’ll be on the site soon though.
Modern football like old football has not changed it’s primary objective since the invention of the game. With that said, Croatia scored one goal and Turkey scored one goal and then Turkey scored more goals than Croatia in penalties. Teams never win a game by playing better on the pitch… in fact, we all know and maybe we just like kidding ourselves because losing is never an easy thing to accept. But thank God that football hasn’t changed in that perspective at all.
Croatia played a decent game of football against the Turks but didn’t score when they should have.
Olic scores goals but he’s not a pure goal scorer. This is the game where it was shown how much Croatia missed the talents of Eduardo. And as much as one might want to deny that, we all know it’s true.
But there is hope. Hope which comes from abroad from far away lands… something Croatia is good at. Finding the lost sons of Croatia whose parents or grandparents have emigrated as so many have in the last century. Croatia got Rakitic from Switzerland, Dudu from Brazil and now there is another Croatian superstar hopefully on his way to join the Vatreni. Dario Cvitanich, the leading goalscorer in the Argentinean Clausura who just scored his last two goals against River Plate. Unlike dopey ex teammate Daniel Bilos, who by the way also played for Banfield in Argentina and was Dario’s teammate, let me be absolutely clear. Dario Cvitanich is the real deal. To be the leading goalscorer in Argentina is no easy task. He’s fast, skillful as all hell and he terrorizes defenses in the air, can shoot with either foot and most of all Dario posesses that killer instinct for GOALS!!!!!!!!!
Now, if the Croatian Federation approaches Dario, who is going to play his football with Ajax of Holland next season, Dario has already expressed his great joy and interest to be called up for the national team. Bilos on the other hand, advised by his agent Hugo Issa of Argentina that he would surely get a call up for the Argentines in 2006 and also his girlfriend who attended a meeting at the Croatian embassy in Buenos Aires didn’t want Bilos to go to Europe because she feared losing her meal ticket. Well, now she can have him!!!! Because we all know what happened in 2006. The Argentines played him for 18 minutes in one match in 2006 and said thanks Bilos and then he was sold to St. Etienne from Boca Juniors who then laid him off to America in the Mexican league and is now at second tier club San Lorenzo in the Argentine league as a substitute. I don’t feel sorry for the guy at all but I’m sure he questions all that great advise given to him.
Dario Cvitanich has the advantage of knowing all this information and will not make the same mistake. Croatia need Dario Cvitanich… and I’m saying that not from articles I’ve read but actually watching him play in league games in Argentina. He’s the real deal and only 24 years of age. With Dudu and Dario up front…. Croatia’s goal scoring problems would be a thing of the past. Dario already has a Croatian passport and is waiting for the call. Slaven Bilic should visit the young man in Amsterdam and by the way, Dario also has a reputation of being a great person and very down to earth… so Croatia must use all of it’s strengths in football…
And one of the main strengths that Croatians have is that their diaspora is wide and far across the globe… for as long as the sons have been lost… they are out there… waiting to be called home and play for the land of their forefathers and ancestors. We should always be on the look out for such talents because they are out there… Croats excel and so do their sons and the sons of their sons… because in the end OUR BLOOD IS STRONG!!!!
And if that wasn’t true we would not be around to even cheer a national team… think about it.
Slaven, don’t wait too long. Dario wants to score!!!
ok…i feel a bit better about the situation now….and on the brighter side….at least were not in italys boots right now!! 😉
arsenal…we do have a striker that can score and i think you are very familiar with him….but weve known for months that he wouldnt play and bilic had plenty of time to figure it all out….the second half was as un-tactical as it gets….croatia couldnt use modric,srna, or kranjcar in the middle….they started playing for the 1-0 win with 40 minutes left…defenders just playing kickball back to the austrian defense….we snuck out 3 points in this game….very lucky the way we played….but yes youre right….it wasnt soccer…but i think eduardo will be back for you guys soon….possibly even fore the beginning of the season….
Croatia has been known to play down to the level of their opponents which has gotten them in trouble in the past. The game today however was very unlike Croatia’s typical playing abilities. However, the reffing made the game very erratic, which in turn makes it very difficult for a team to establish a rhythm. I dont want to make excuses they played awfully and having a striker who could score goals would be helpful to say the least. Overall the team did not play traditional soccer in a sense that the whole team moves up and down the field together. Croatia failed to play the ball through the middle which lost them control over the game and without a midfield a team should lose. Croatia got lucky but we will take the 3 points and pray they get things together for thursdays match.
jp—
i appreciate the comment and hope you stick with us through euro 2008 and further on down the road….please check out the Match Stats
austria had 8 shots on goal to croatias 3 and had 64% possesion…if u saw these stats and how croatia played in the second half….i would think austria won….but we all know croatia plays to there opponents and will show up on thursday….i just wanted some insurance goals for goal differential just in case germany gets their 9 points….that way we might only have to draw against the poles to go on….hope to hear from you soon jp
I am Sorry if my comments offend anyone, I mean them with the most utter respect.
JP, Noone does like a team that peaks in the opener [example Austria]
BUT, blowing out Austria would have no been peeking, a game against austria should easily go 3 to 4 nil, but the strikers bilic played with are just garbage together, and then not only that he added Budan, Wth is he doing?!? Put in Ivan the Killer at least.
The last thing i did not understand was the missing substitution of Ivan Rakitic, I thought thats a no brainer in the second half, I guess I was Wrong.
JP, Look at the match stats, look at the highlights, Croatia had what 3 chances tops?
You can’t come out saying the Germans will have a handful after barely beating Austria 1 nil
dude’s, love your blog, but you guys are all really harsh in your appraisal of the game today in my opinion.
who wants a team that peaks in the opener?
they showed a lot of poise today in a very hostile environment. Germany will have more than a handful on Thursday. As will Poland with Austria.
with what i saw today….im scared for thursday…
we played well the first 40 minutes. The 2nd half was nothing but defense and I hate that style of play. If it was any other team but austria they would have scored on us.