Written by Ante Baričević
After an improbable win against a relatively depleted Villarreal team, Dinamo Zagreb will face Greek side PAOK FC today at Toumbas Stadium in Thessaloniki. Dinamo now sit atop the group after one game and could very well leave Greece with a victory and three points. Dinamo’s newest addition to the team, coach Vahid Halilhodžić—nicknamed Vaha—has resurrected the Blue Lions of Dinamo Zagreb in under two months time. Implementing a strict regime that has not been seen in Zagreb since the late 1990’s, Dinamo players have responded surprisingly well. Fueled by the performance against Villareal that would even make the most ardent nun sweat in church during mass, the once written-off dynamic duo of Ante Rukavina and Sammir have been finally finding the back of the net and scoring goals as if they had stolen something.
“I’ll be god damned if you only have a Hajduk reporter.”
-Ante B. to CSR
“Dinamo Zagreb coach Vahid Halilhodžić has warned his players they will have to handle a hostile Greek welcome if they are to build upon their encouraging Europa League start.”
Rukavina has scored four goals since his July debut against Rijeka which is a breath of fresh air for the most successful Croatian club in history. The late-summer signing of Portuguese defender, Tonel, provides even greater depth in defense, joining experienced Argentine national Cufre and team captain Igor Biščan. Youngsters such as Kelava, Kramarić and Barbarić will once again have an excellent opportunity to prove themselves at a reported hostile environment in Thessaloniki.
HOW FAR CAN VAHA TAKE DINAMO?
History will once again be against Dinamo as it has yet to win a game in Greece.
Dinamo’s most passionate supporters, the Bad Blue Boys, will not be in attendance due to an on-going boycott of the team until Executive Vice President Zdravko Mamić decides to step down and abdicate his thrown. Additionally, UEFA has deemed this game as high-risk so visiting supporters will not be allowed to travel to Thessaloniki or Zagreb. It will be a shame since PAOK’s supporters, led by an Eastern Orthodox priest, would have been a worthy adversary for the Bad Blue Boys.
As for PAOK and its players, does anybody really care?
I naprijed Plavi! Nema predaje!
Thanks for good stuff
hey ante B
i just emailed you so feel free to ask whatever you want.
By "we'll talk later," I can only assume we're going to discuss the six-figure salary, full benefits, and stock options you're going to offer me for the Dinamo writer/correspondent position. Patience Svircicu.
Prediction:
Dinamo 2 (Rukavina and Sammir)
PAOK 0
@Ante B,
Nice post. I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't expecting your email last night regarding "accepting applications for Dinamo writer", However, I am happy that you applied. We'll talk some more later.
Yes, I will be updating the site with Dinamo screenshots.
Predictions for this game?
I say 1-1
Re: Ante BBB
you can ask me here if you want, that's no prob? As long as its not politics as i;ve had a belly full of that this week.
I do have a HNL1 blog but its not very successful. Its got about as much interest as a Backstreet Boys B Sides Album i;m afraid. If you want me to post something up there i'm not sure it'll be worth it because only Ante, Denis, DinamoZagreb Blogspot, Jordan will read it. Have you heard of Dinamo Zagreb blogspot. I think that guy might be better to contact if you want to post something up. I think he's got a bigger audience. I have no idea who it is who does it, but he copies my reports now and then so he must be around here somewhere.
I have tried to tone it down on reports lately as been working more. I've not got that much time. If you're looking for somewhere to stay in england during a trip unfortunately i'm moving in with my parents cos we decided to rent out where i currently live. Unfortunately Ante i couldn't really let you stay with my parents 🙂 That'd just be wierd. If its none of the above then i'll try to email at weekend if i have time. My brains elsewhere this evening.
Rookie mistake.
I was going to write noon PST. Dinamo's game always appear to start at either 20:45/21:05 Croatian time which translates to 11:45am/12:05pm in California.
Question-will you guys be doing the updates for the Dinamo game (screenshots, analysis,etc.)?
@ Ante B.
Just want to tahnk you again for coming through with this post. You didn't think CSR was biased, did you?
Also, what are you talking about noon games?
Thanks guys.
In their infinite wisdom, Dinamo apparently believes it's against the law to show a game before noon. For those of who work, this isn't ideal to update this post with screenshots, game analysis, etc. I'll kindly leave that in the hands of the Ante and Denis.
Olly, I assume you're Dinamo fan because nobody writes a response like you my man. I heard through the grapevine you have your own Dinamo/HNL blog, could you please shoot me an email dinamozgbbb@hotmail.com? I have a couple of questions for you.
Other than that, enjoy the game! I NAPRIJED PLAVI!
Anonymous
Sivonjic is with Lokomotiva. We'd like to have sent him and Dodo to Zapresic, but I think there has been a breakdown in relationship between Zdravko Mamic and Inter Zapresic because they didn't sell Matej Delac to him and sold him to Chelsea instead.
Since then business between Dinamo and Zapresic seems to have ended which is a shame as they helped the progress of Modric, Eduardo and Corluka. I also think since we started sending rubbish to them like Guilermo Suarez they've decided to give us the two fingers in return.
Its a shame as Zapresic was the right club for Sivonjic and Dodo and they should have never left there and ideally need to go back. Mamic obviously must have been up to something when he made those signings.
We could do with resolving our issues with Zapresic as Lokomotiva is supposed to be for our young guys like Situm and Kramaric to go and join their fellow youth teammates like Pivaric etc. Lokomotiva isn't supposed to be the place where we send our scrap.
I think Mamic thought he won the Zapresic dispute when they started the season poorly, but they've come to life now. If you look at there signings though they are trying to use the Delac money to go it alone and apparently Aleksandr Trajkovski was a recommendation from Chelsea.
About Barbaric I meant to say he always plays poorly in Europe
Olly:
Kramaric needs to go on loan because I actually think he has some talent. Barbaric, I honestly don't see much in him, he always plays in Europe and the HNL really doesn't matter. HNL doesn't have many good young defenders, but I think Maloca is better because he has pace, while Barbaric seems clumsy
Slepicka needs to go, Mesaric should have never been signed in the first place, Dodo needs to go too. Etto I think still has a place in the team, more for depth reasons, he can still play in the HNL
Sivonjic is with Inter Zapresic btw; from Lokomotiva I would like to see Antolic and one of the young defenders (Bagaric/Pivaric) with Dinamo
For Dinamo to make the big push in Europe this season and next season, they need to keep this core of players, sign a capable goalkeeper (still don't trust Kelava) and one more creative midfielder, preferably a winger. With Vaha at the helm, I have a new confidence with this team. I still don't expect to qualify to the knockout stages, but for once its actual real hope, unlike it the past where it was wishful thinking
What time are the games today PST?
Are they simultaneous?
Nice job Ante!
Barbaric and Kramaric won't get a look in. Talking of players who need releasing or selling – Miroslav Slepicka has vanished completely.
We're seeing less of Etto lately as well (am sure someone suggested him for the national team).
Keleva – Vrsaljko, Biscan, Tonel, Cufre – Ademi, Badelj – Sammir – Tomecak, Morales – Rukavina is likely to be the starters and to be honest i love that line up.
Chago, Beciraj, Callelo, Ibanez, Etto could make an appearence from the bench. Actually we've got FAR too many players.
Slepicka, Dodo, Mesaric need to go. Kramaric and Situm need a loan to Lokomotiva. Sivonjic needs releasing and being allowed to move to anyone rather than clogging up Lokomotiva.
PAOK are butt buddies to Partizan Beograd.
It is probably best BBB do not show up, due to the fan violence that would more than likely occur.
I doubt Barbaric will play, in fact if I were Dinamo I'd release him, he isn't any good. There are better players at Loko (Bagaric and Pivaric)
This will be a tough match, I'll be pleased with a draw. Realistically it will take about 9-10 points to advance in this group. Even a loss would not be a disaster, but that would mean Dinamo would have to sweep the games at home and take three from either Brugge or Villarreal away