Mateo Kovačić is trending upward and is on a trajectory to become the player we were all taught he would become. Looming in the shadows of Luka Modrić – both at Real Madrid and the Croatian national team – Kovačić is perfectly timing his climb up the football ladder as Modrić throttles down at age 36.
Kovačić has cemented his place in the Chelsea midfield and is playing wonderful football for the reigning European champions and current 1st place club in England right now. Kova has been dancing around defenders on the pitch and supplying endless through-balls as if he’s playing FIFA with his friends instead of top-flight football.
As a facilitator, Kovačić is hitting the top of his game. However, he has yet to master his shot from 18-24 yards out. And when/if he does, he will become unstoppable in the midfield as defenders will be forced to guard him higher outside the box. This was the exact same predicament Modrić was in during his first few seasons at Real Madrid. He could pass. He could dribble. But he would bounce the ball three times before it was eventually scooped up by the keeper.
Modrić learned his shot and Kovačić should as well. At only 27 years old, Kova is playing amongst some of the best footballers in the world and will only get better over the next five years. Will he get close to being the player Luka Modrić is?
Take a look at the following stat. Kovačić is currently one of the most “in form” players in Europe. Not only will his play get better, but his confidence will grow as well. It will happen at this pace. Mark my words. Unfortunately, it won’t at 100% efficiency for the Croatian national team until Luka Modrić retires and Kovačić can call that midfield his own.
Kovacic out, Perisic in doubt with groin injury and we still have many of our players involved this weekend and the next, plus European club matches mid week. Lets hope no more injuries, however in all probability there will be another one or two players dropping out for the WC qualifiers.
Pasalic to the rescue. No prob
Cheslea is 100% trying to coerce him into not playing. My guess is he’ll definitely miss the Malta game then reevaluate his situation before Russia. Let’s see what he’s made of.
Off topic, but I see Kramaric has a goal today. It would be nice if he carries some of this into the NT.
I have never liked his very open coast to coast dribbling style. Never gets a shot off, just pushes the ball down the field and drops it off with the opposing goalie. All bark, no bite. Zero nose for the goal.
Lol.
It’s so true. He’d be a good “football” player, taking it to the end zone.
Andddd. Kovacic got hurt at training so hes gonna miss our qualifiers. great.
We just have to go back to our tried and tested Broz-Modric-Vlasic trio and hope that Vlasic will play better back in his original position.
I can see Vlasic doing well against his Russian coworkers back in his original position in the middle (and not on the wing).
OF COURSE you can improve your shot at 27!!
Kovačić doesn’t need to be the next Modrić for us as we are way better and more balanced then much of Luka’s prime (which was mostly wasted with poor coaching).
Kovačić has been dynamic with his passing in the attack for Chelsea this year.
With Brozovic at a world class level and a promising back line with real full backs there is support all over the pitch.
Kovačić can be the #8 he is meant to be.
It’s the 10 and 9 that we need focus on.
That is where we need our explosive goal scorers.
We actually need to think about life after Perišić as well.
I always wanted Perišić to make that Ronaldo shift from #7 to #9.
He can finish with both feet and his head.
He will not lose his athletic power and underrated technique.
That hard running on the flanks will start to go.
Sučić is the goods as a potential #10 with his sweet left foot and technical ability but not sure how explosive he is? He may be a Modrić type #10 for us?
Vlašić needs to maul Malta to get his mojo going again.
Can’t see him improving his shot. He has been with Inter, Real Madrid, and now Chelsea, training under some of the world’s best coaches for the past 8 or 9 years. The coaches have all seen that his shot is terrible, so they have obviously been working on it, and still, his shot sucks. What can be done to improve it that hasn’t already been tried? Would be great for Croatia if he became a threat from outside the box, like Vlasic, but I just don’t see it happening.
To be fair Luka was always calling for his greatness
Let’s hope to 6 years of running our midfield like a boss
Does sucic style go well with Kova potentially?
Kova broz sucic when luka retires?
Luka at age 27 was not as good as he was in his 30s.
Hopefully Kovacic can be more aggressive offensively, and become a poor man’s Modric for us.
Kovacic has played some phenomenal football recently and his through balls leading to breakaway goals have been top class. Unfortunately, can’t see him improving his shot. If he can’t shoot at 27 years old, he never will.