Joško Gvardiol climbed the ladder to head home a corner in Cit’y 3-0 win over Sunderland Saturday. With the win and an Arsenal loss, City now only trail 1st place by two points through the first 15 matches of the season. On the goal, Gvardiol showed his dominance in the air — which occurs on both the offensive and defensive side of the field. Gvardiol was given a 7/10 rating as he “Defended astutely to ensure there was no repeat of the mad second halves against Leeds and Fulham and played his part in attack. Chipped a pass to Haaland in the first half and then scored a second goal in three games with an athletic leap and bullet header.”
Josip Stanišić (above) scored an insurance goal for Bayern Munich Saturday in a 5-0 thumping over Stuttgart. He slipped and fell on a shot from 17 yards out that the Stuttgart goalie should have handled better. Nonetheless, it is Stanišić’s first Bundesliga goal for the Croatian right-back. He received a 8.0 SOFAScore rating for his efforts as Bayern keep their 8-point lead for the Bundesliga lead.
Luka Vušković scores a Euro back-heel goal as Hamburg defeat Werder Bremen 3-2! Absolutely unreal what this kid is doing in the Bundesliga this year at 18 years old after a fine performance in Belgium last season. What more can you ask for? It will be interesting to see what Tottenham do with him in the summer after his loan with Hamburg is over.
Luka Modrić and AC Milan take on Nikola Vlašić and Torino Monday 2:45PM (ET)
Ivanovic header assist !!!!!!
X.com/shaylan19991/status/1998850444559548756?s=46
Mourihno looks real happy
good
we need franjo altho matkovic is back and looking real fresh
Ghana-watch
Ayew w penalty for Leicester
Penanka
Nasty
x.com/goalpostx/status/1998846406249861127?s=46
Lmaooo who cares. What has Ghana done at any World Cup?
Qualified for 5 of the last 6 tournaments.
Robbed of a semi final berth in 2010.
But yeah I don’t need a daily Ghana watch lol.
I wouldn’t sleep on any of these 3 teams. Panama are decent too. Ask the USA. It’s not the same team England spanked 6-1 in 2018.
Ivanovic start vs Napoli
Orsic start vs Juventus
Pandur starts vs Wrexham
Pavlidis bench
Pretty sure that’s the first time this season Franjo has started without souvlaki on the pitch w him
Massive opportunity for Franjo – all anonymous wants for Christmas is a Franjo hat-trick vs Napoli
Sutalo 4th game AWOL
New coach hates him
Told you
Anonymous eye tests are best the world has ever seen !!!!
X.com/fabrizioromano/status/1998783305647284490?s=46
Hot take
Luka pulls an all world goal in this years semis
Pulls off the celebration of the injecting and I wouldn’t be personally mad
They try to suspend him for the finals 😉
he’ll get a pardon
Crazy article about Mario doping case…
At very least, interesting to read some of the detailed background around it
***.sportschau.de/regional/ndr/mario-vuskovic-verdaechtigte-hsv-aerzte-epo-gespritzt-zu-haben-doping,hsv-mario-vuskovic-100.html
Mario Vuskovic suspected HSV doctors of injecting him with EPO.
As of December 10, 2025, 9:05 AM
In the doping case of professional footballer Mario Vuskovic, the HSV doctors are coming under scrutiny. According to research by NDR/BR, the player initially suspected the team doctors of injecting him with EPO without his knowledge. However, Vuskovic later backed down from this accusation and did not take legal action against the HSV doctors. Why? Was the reason a deal with HSV to keep his contract despite his doping ban?
by Andreas Becker, Sebastian Krause, Hendrik Maaßen and Ole Zeisler
About a year ago, an ARD investigative team received a tip from a source who wished to remain anonymous. It concerned the doping case of Mario Vuskovic.
According to the source, Mario Vuskovic strongly suspected that someone in his circle had injected him with EPO without his knowledge, as part of a treatment with supposedly harmless vitamin injections.
Football professional Mario Vuskovic
Podcast Secret Doping – The Vuskovic Case
Mail from Vuskovic: “I am innocent”
For the ARD team, an extensive investigation began, during which they were given an email. An email written by Mario Vuskovic on December 15, 2022, with the subject line: “Please, can you help? I tested positive for EPO, but I am innocent – Mario Vuskovic”.
The email is addressed to four scientists in Norway. For years, they have been advocating for athletes who profess their innocence after a positive EPO test.
Football professional reports receiving injections from HSV doctors
However, Mario Vuskovic’s email isn’t just about potential vulnerabilities in the detection method. He also actually writes about injections he claims to have received from the HSV doctors.
“All year long I’ve been getting injections for better recovery from the club doctors, whom I believed when they said they were vitamins for recovery. So I also received several injections during this period. Because I was also injured and had been feeling unwell for eight months. They also increased the oral vitamins during this phase.”
Mario Vuskovic
CAS increases doping ban against HSV professional Vuskovic to four years (29.8.24)
This email reads like confirmation of the source’s tip. And it becomes clear that Mario Vuskovic’s suspicions weren’t directed at just any doctors, but at HSV’s own team doctors.
Their names are Prof. Dr. Götz Welsch and Dr. Wolfgang Schillings, and they reject the suspicion through a lawyer. They admit that Vuskovic received intravenous vitamin injections with a volume of 50 to 100 ml in the weeks before the positive doping test. However, they insist it is impossible that these injections could have contained EPO, even accidentally.
Doubts about a positive test result
But why didn’t Mario Vuskovic use the injections in his defense to cooperate with the DFB’s anti-doping officials and obtain a reduced sentence? He answers this question through his mother Sanja, who acts as a kind of manager for him:
The doctors assured him that the product contained only vitamins free of EPO, securely sealed, so that contamination or manipulation could be ruled out.
The Vuskovics continue: Several renowned scientists they hired all confirmed that it was a “false positive” doping test, which was actually “negative.” Therefore, the HSV player didn’t look for any other reason. And the team doctors obviously did nothing wrong either.
Vuskovic seeks help from expert de Boer
In his written response concerning his mother, Mario Vuskovic omits an important expert report: that of his first expert witness, Dr. Douwe de Boer.
De Boer is a biochemist from Maastricht in the Netherlands who has been in the anti-doping business for 40 years, 20 of which he has worked directly in a doping control laboratory.
He is now independent and is hired by athletes when they have a problem with a positive doping test. One of his main tasks is then to be present as a witness and expert for the athlete when the B sample is opened.
De Boer was present as a witness when the B sample was opened.
And so it was on December 12, 2022: On behalf of Mario Vuskovic, de Boer traveled to the laboratory in Kreischa and observed the entire analysis. He was there from beginning to end, every three days. In an exclusive interview with NDR and BR, de Boer now explains that everything in the laboratory proceeded according to regulations at the time, and he could not detect any errors.
“Of course, they wanted to hear a different explanation from me. I believe that Mario Vuskovic is innocent, but I couldn’t find any other explanation for the EPO finding than EPO. And that’s probably why my expertise was no longer of interest,” says de Boer.
Laboratory director in Kreischa receives hate mail
In any case, de Boer will not be called as an expert witness by the defense of Vuskovic and HSV at the trial before the DFB sports court in the spring of 2023.
De Boer is convinced that the EPO detection method is good and robust – as is Dr. Sven Voss, the head of the doping control laboratory in Kreischa. In the case of the HSV player, the sample was clearly positive, says Voss: “I couldn’t have interpreted it any other way.”
The head of the laboratory recounts how he became a target of angry HSV fans during the doping proceedings. He received hate mail that he never would have expected in Germany. Even his family was threatened.
HSV: There was no agreement between the club and Vuskovic
Mario Vuskovic and HSV declined to be interviewed, as did the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). HSV’s team doctors, Prof. Dr. Götz Welsch and Dr. Wolfgang Schillings, are employed there at the Athleticum. The UKE refused to answer any questions at all, citing patient data protection regulations.
Mario Vuskovic
New contract from 2026 – HSV secures Vuskovic despite doping ban (10.9.24)
In writing, HSV, like Vuskovic, denies that there was any agreement between the club and the player at the time to refrain from mentioning the injections as a possible cause of the EPO test, and that in return the player would receive legal support from HSV and be offered a new contract after any potential doping ban. The club’s statement reads:
“Furthermore, it is not true that at any time there was an agreement between HSV and Mario Vuskovic’s representatives to refrain from citing any treatments by HSV’s team doctors or any other lines of defense as a possible explanation for the EPO finding, and that the player received support from HSV or a follow-up contract in return. The continued support for Mario Vuskovic is based on the serious doubts about the validity of the doping finding, which persist even after a thorough examination of the rulings of the DFB Sports Court and the CAS.”
HSV doctors: Treatment fully documented
The two doctors, Welsch and Schillings, point out through their lawyer that Vuskovic’s treatment has been fully documented. “Mario Vuskovic did not receive any undocumented injections from our client. On the contrary, all vitamin injections are (and were) recorded in writing.”
In the seven days prior to the positive doping test, the player received no injections from them whatsoever. The last injection was dated September 1, 2022. They provided no information about any other injections administered that year.
NADA chief surprised by HSV’s behavior
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) planned and conducted Vuskovic’s doping test, but then forwarded the case to the German Football Association (DFB). This is because, in German football, the DFB still manages the so-called results management in doping cases itself – unlike in many other sports.
NADA chief Lars Mortsiefer then accompanied the proceedings as a witness and expert and was also surprised by HSV’s behavior in supporting a player who tested positive.
“It was certainly unusual how actively the club followed up the proceedings, including providing legal counsel and the like. We haven’t seen that in other situations,” says Mortsiefer, who also asks himself: Why didn’t Vuskovic try to use the injections he received to his advantage?
A shorter suspension would probably have been possible.
In sports law, doping cases offer the possibility of cooperating, disclosing everything, in order to receive a significantly milder punishment.
Had he done that, instead of joining forces with HSV to oppose the detection method used worldwide in the fight against doping, he would probably be back playing football long ago. NADA chief Mortsiefer agrees. “You can’t see into the future, but in principle, cooperation would have led to a significant reduction in the suspension.”
Are the brothers considered to be both equally talented, if so, that will be a boost to Croatia in 2026, when the ban is lifted.
Certainly seems weird that he didn’t just plead guilty and take a lessened suspension
Either he is a stubborn son of a gun or he is really innocent or at least had no knowledge
But then why sort of stick with the team and also have his brother come there too
Luka said somewhere that his brother was treated well by the club hence a reason he wanted to go there
It’s a shame Mario hasn’t played but again at least it’s not a nasty injury. And surely he is practicing and playing how he can
Maybe there is some development slow down but i remember him being on a nice upswing before
Maybe the brothers can be reunified at the repka level one day
Gvardiol can slide to the right and all is well in checker land
A boy can dream
just wait till World Cup 30 when there are six hosts
PSV loss 2-3 to Athletico
BEAUTIFUL assist by Perisic
x.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1998510968301559949
BS penalty for Liverpool at the end
x.com/xKGx__/status/1998510660385386741
Sucic on for 8 min in Inter loss 1-2
Ghana-watch
Kudus scored his penalty today (zero chance the keeper could save it)
x.com/footballontnt/status/1998500615316545855
Wow
Atalanta beat Chelsea 2-1
Mario only came on for 3 min
Good luck getting back in the starting line-up
A friend texted me that they just saw Croatia’s group is being called the Group of Death for the tournament. I see a similar comment here as well.
We got the Group of Death for 2026? I know it wasn’t until afterwards in 2022 that everyone realized we were in the Group of Death. But again?
Our toughest opponent to date has been Czechia unfortunately so we have not been truly tested for some time. Fortunately, only 16 teams don’t move on. I would think we would need a minimum of a win, tie and lost to get thru, along with favorable scoring head-to-head differential numbers.
None of the UEFA teams have been truly tested for some time – it’s not just a Croatia thing (save Norway v Italy and Spain v Turkey – the rest of the groups were one strong team)
Mark Kweon talksport was saying it’s not fair England (best team in qualifying after Norway) has to face Croatia (3rd best team after Norway and England) after going 8-0 – so English ain’t happy about it either
If USA had not shared the world cup hosting effort with Canada, Mexico, Croatia would have been in Pot 1.
Hopefully, Croatia will be doing the killing, it is the main reason it is the group of death.
It’s official
Bipolar Vlad legally blind !!!
Anonymous eye tests are the best !!!
x.com/24sata_hr/status/1998332707986632756?s=46
Any updates WTF Musa and Marco doing next 3 months b4 MLS starts again ? Loan an option ?
At least if they ain’t playing they can’t get injured which is good
News that HSV have list of 30 forwards as they want to sign 1-2 in Jan
Imagine if both Marco and Musa join Vuskovic- would be magic
MLS Training camps start in about 4 weeks. I doubt they will go on loan.
Bara PR in full-court-press – saying Arsenal are signing Fruk !!!!
Wonder how he came up with the name of his company
I think he was trying to spell Nigga but it came out Niagara
Nikola Vasilj, son of Vasilj who is part of
Squad for croatian NT in 2002 world cup. If only he plays for croatia instead of bosnia..he is in top form now.
https://youtube.com/shorts/RLSEH8oqj1I?si=KDnmkTuLettxDQdx
His dad was on our ’98 team.
But, yea, it would have been nice to have him…but he’s the same age as Livakovic, and Liva is our first choice keeper this Summer no matter what.
I understand why there may be some Vlašić hate (as he seemed like he could become a top midfielder for us when he broke out onto the scene for us during Euro2020 qualifying and was scoring every game for us).
But he had a great WC2022 for us, and I think he could fill that bench role nicely for us again.
Remember, he scored two key PKs for us in shootouts (and he did it with ease).
He also started the run for the Brazil equalizer, by finding Orsic on the wing (who then found Petkovic in the middle for the goal).
We’re going to need depth at every position, especially since we’re relying on older guys like Perisic or Budimir (who could end up being Doctor Jekyll one game, then Mister Hyde for the other).
Having in-form guys like Orsic, Vlasic, Jagusic, Musa, Pasalic (both of them) could make or break our World Cup.
Hopefully Dalic uses his subs well as it’s usually a weakness of his.
Cart b4 the horse – we don’t even have a clear #1 #10/AM !
I guess Vlasic, Fruk, and Jagusic top candidates – as of today -hopefully Baturina imposes himself in next 1/2 year
We also don’t have clear #1 striker or forward options that are better than Perisic, Kramaric and Budimir – also GK we’re all praying Liva gets to DZ (no certainty)
Many holes in first XI nevermind bench/sub options
Dalic and nosepickers best be following every game and look long and hard to find solutions
Tough route this year, but I have a sick demented mind. We are the best in the world until proven otherwise. The insanity re-sets every 4 years.
I am as bad as an unbiased AYSO parent. Volunteer bad officiating is usually the cause for failure. With good officiating it is all ours every day of the week.
Sad case for semper..he has been consistent and won a few motm..he got flu two weeks and was replaced by scuffet..this wk despite having recovered, gilardino continues to put scuffet.
Its tough for foreign player to get injured and play badly for a game.
Similarly pasalic has been playing as a backup recently since juric has been sacked..one mth ago he was a captain still.
U need a coach that trusts u and hopefully someone of same nationality to guarantee u a spot in starting 11. Unless u are really a standout performer
I’ve said it time and time again, Croatia is not and has never been as good as the top top teams
But they have been good enough that they could get lucky and stumble into a semi finals or even finals
A key component of that is to take the air out of the ball and kill the game with possession. In doing so, you allow the game to move to more 1-0, 1-1 type of outcomes where a lesser team has a greater chance to win rather than if you get into an open field fire fight with Brazil
Unfortunately for Croatia, the 48 team tournament makes repeating results of the past ever more unlikely.
The additional games reduce the luck factor to reach the finals. The finals teams are now overwhelmingly likely to be true top 5 teams which croatia is not and never has been
I know that is blasphemy to many and i have loved every bit of the ride as i am the biggest domoljub out there but it’s reality
The 48-team set up was to get rid of pesky Croatia and the fear of having to have to broadcast another Zagreb Marko Thompson led concert to the world, with their pesky nationalistic Christian pride, so as not to ruin the Centralized European Sharia law governed final vision, so be aligned to the final solution.
You’re right, they were lucky against England in 2018. They dominated the second half and extra time and England had zero shots on goal after their goal in the first five minutes. And they were lucky in the final to get a nobody ref to screw us over while we all over France. I guess we were watching two different tournaments. And while we’re at it, I guess they were lucky against Portugal in 2016. And against Turkey in 2008. And Spain in 2012. Do you even watch these games?
We have actually out played france twice, once in 98′ and in 2018. We figured out away to lose in the end. Thuram never scored a goal again.
truth 2 are you ok?
Since 2017 we’ve beaten Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, England, Spain, France, Netherlands…. but of course as the truth2 says and I quote ‘Croatia is not and has never has been as good as the top top teams’.
Yeah, in a way you’re right we haven’t been as good as the top top teams, we’ve been BETTER on numerous occasions.
Nobody stumbles into the semi finals or finals of the world cup.
Bog i Hrvati
Why are people posting predictions about something starting 7 months from now ?
What’s the point ?
A lot can happen – who knows what injuries or whatever, etc teams will face b/w now and then, what players won’t play for their clubs, etc etc etc etc
Every team has lots of variables – it’s really silly to “predict” anything
Time is better spent elsewhere
WC doesn’t start today – it starts in 7 months
So
2250′ is the magic #
Math lesson starts
So far this season, Vuskovic has played
1560′ = 1200′ club (11 league + 2 cup games) + 360′ country
What’s left this season for Luka ?
2250′ = 1890′ (21 league game) + 360′ country (2x March + 2x June)
That is, there is still 60% of total minutes to improve Luka (game reading, positioning, anticipation, decision making, body shape, agility)
It’s up to Dalic to use those 2250′ effectively – what he and the nose-pickers should be doing – if not already – is after every Luka match:
– Dalic calls him with feedback
– Corluka calls him with feedback
– Gvardiol should be watching every one of Luka’s matches and providing him detailed feedback – he has the most incentive as he will partner with him
– Modric should be watching every one of Luka’s matches and providing him detailed feedback – he’s a freak that watches every single football game that happens (10-20 at a time if needed) so I’m sure he’s doing it already
– We know brother Mario is for sure trying to help his brother (he obviously has all the time in the world) but he’s limited in experience let’s be real
PLUS: a collection of other ex-players, in particular CBs, call Luka, possible names include:
– Slaven Bilic (he has lots of time, at least until he’s appointed to manage Czech for the PO)
– Tudor (he has lots of time, after being fired from Juventus)
– Lovren (he has some time, sure he’s played 1000′ for PAOK this season, but he’s wasting time posting on social media about Mo Salah “injustice”)
– Vida
– Dario Simic (he must have time, as Roko’s career is floundering)
– Robert Kovac (he has time, sure Dortmund takes time, but he’s just conjoined to Niko anyways, so can find time – a bit tricky as Dortmund will face HSV again – so there is a conflict there – but Croatia should come before silly Dortmund where they’ll eventually be fired)
– Jerkan (what’s he doing these days?)
Anonymous doesn’t care who specifically watches Luka but there should be a COORDINATED EFFORT to keep improving Luka based on available Croatia brain power/experience/institutional knowledge available
The point is – there are 2250′ to keep improving Luka and work out the niggles/gremlins – there are no excuses – if they collective brain power is not able to do that – than they have failed – they can’t let 18 y/o Luka figure it out all on his own with, with all due respect, 2nd tier coaching staff at HSV (or F-ing Olic and Kranjcar at the U21s)
Again Anonymous will repeat – the focus is on: game reading, positioning, anticipation, decision making, body shape, agility – those are the items that can be further improved (some will just come naturally from playing more games)
Math lesson ends
Again lets be real a starting 11 of Livakovic Stanisic Vuskovic Sutalo Gvardiol Modric Sucic Kovacic Krama Budimir Perisic isnt winning a world cup nor medaling imo. Daj boze grijesim
I never _expect_ anything going into world cups or euros tbh.. you just have to get out of your group and then see what happens.
Before 2018 i just had this horrible ill-fated feeling about our team (euro 2008 and 2016 anyone??). We’d always have some bad luck or something would go wrong, i mean 2016 getting Portugal in the round of 16 was such bad luck given the way their group went. Honestly before 2018 i wasn’t sure i’d ever see us in a semi final again post ’98. Point is you just never know really, you dont know what’s going to happen in our group or other groups or anything but as long as you get out of your group you have a chance to go on a run, and that’s really all you can ask.
Ask any Croatian we have been pushing above our weight come on lest be real 2018 we had good team.
2022 was nit expected at all and anyone who says they expected a semi final are delusional imo.
This team is not for the finals unless we pull a greece 2004 or spain 2010 strong defense and 1 0 scores thats my opinion.
Spoiled yes top 4 finishes for a country of 3.8 million a below average league stadiums
That’s an absolutely amazing goal by Vuskovic by the way, all class.
Why did Vlasic allow Saelemaekers to get the cross off for the 2nd goal ?
Really lazy how he strolled over there and was just to slow to close down the man
This is not how a captain should behave on the pitch – more effort/dedication required
Right… so 1 goal and 1 assist by Vlasic but one strike against him for not doing enough to prevent Milan’s 2nd goal. Still I’m glad that on the whole Niksi is doing well although Torino is going to be in trouble soon if they don’t start winning.
What a bummer reading about Grgic’s injury. Please God can we have no more major injuries this season? Not only does Grgic’s absence hurt the U21 qualifying campaign but yes, the bigger fear is Olic might come crying to Dalic for Jagusic and Vuskovic in March!
Fruk now with Andy Bara – ETA till Jagusic does the same ?
Anyone know when tickets come out for the Colombia game in March or when the date/location is? Trying to make it a trip and see a Rangers game too.
Is the Colombia game still happening?
Since Colombia is our likeliest R32 knockout opponent, I figure it might jeopardize the friendly.
I’ve heard no updates for the friendlies in the states in March for us. They play Brazil at the end of month but no confirmation on anything. I was anticipating Ante would know.
Rangers play in Orlando ?
Learn something new every day
Make you need to do better with your sarcasm input. You realize Colombia play us in New York. Which is hockey season.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_OwoDpNTpqw
Interesting take, the Group L is the group of death too many. Ideally, it will be the group of life for croatia, and the group of death for the other members.
Leon Grgic terrible knee injury
That’s three young strikers busting a knee (Frigan, Crnac)
Terrible
I’m sure Olic will now def cry to Dalic that he needs Vuskovic and Jagusic in March (even more terrible)
Regarding Vušković;
How many times do we need to say to ourselves, “Let me see him to do that again, that is not possible”……. before we believe he is any good.
Vuskovic has scored many goals in his young career also in his debut for Tottenham in a friendly yet they loaned him again. Why is that?
He scored two goals since joining Hamburg yet the noise isn’t that loud in Croatia for him to be viewed as a starter, Why is that?
Why is it that people in Cro portals aren’t like many in this website?
cause he can give you a goal every 5 or 6 games and there usually a highlight. But at the same time he’s a bit of a unique skill set that unlike many describe he isn’t dominating anything except headers.
I don’t see him have any assists? Or contribute to build of plays. He’s a great threat In the opposing box as a striker.
If his overall play was dominating with the goals everyone would be yelling for him to start in Hrvatska yet no one is.
Again I find it weird people mention Barcelona want him and dortmund want him, last time I checked he’s owned by Tottenham don’t they want him?
Jagusic deserves a spot best hnl player imo
Vlasic is playing well i don’t understand all the hate
Anthing is possible its tournament but we have beeb spoiled last 2 world cups i think quarter finals is the goal then its extra is lottery
Spoiled?
We haven’t won a damn thing
We are the envy of many countries. Only two nations have made the last 2 WC semifinals, Francia and Croatia. Even though we haven’t won the championship, we have had an excitement from the Croatia team that is priceless. Enjoy the ride while Coach Dalic and his assistant, Luka Modric are still around. Viva Zlatko!
Come on man.
Medals still count for something, lol.
If we didn’t have the success of ‘18 or ‘22, this blog site would be as popular as a Bulgarian, Romanian, Macedonian, or Serbian site. We have been spoiled and hopefully we will be spoiled again at this WC. Viva Zlatko!
That’s a pretty significant “IF”. 😂
England hasn’t even been to the semifinals since they fixed the World Cup for them back in the 1960s.
Let’s just erase something that’s only ever happened to 13 teams in World Cup history. 😂😂😂
England made the semifinals in ‘18 of happy memory. We all obviously want a WC championship, but with all of you experts out there, another semifinal appearance would appear to be incredible. Viva Zlatko!
Hey brother In my opinion coach Dalic greatest win was against Brazil 22 what is Dalic greatest win to you man
Vlasic also just put in a penalty v Milan
Anonymous eye tests !!!
Zlatko now has Jagusic ahead of Majer, Baturina and wedding boy
No mention of pecking order v-a-v Vlasic and Fruk
360 minutes of friendlies March and June should sort that out
https://x.com/croatian_footy/status/1998073495918723302?s=46
Barcelona & co thinks so too
Amazing goal 100% That no one can take away, super skilled in opposing teams box. However, how do people envision Luka V role on the repka?
1- Currently he plays a sweeper role. He is generally positioned safely 10-15 feet from anyone else. Which is his safe space. In a back line of 4 you cant play like that, back line of 3 no problem.
2- His recovery and anticipation isn’t great. Can and will it improve sure but both of werder goals highlight this. Goal #one midfielder loses ball not Luka fault however his recovery is slow lots of time for werder player who himself wasn’t fast. Goal #2 Luka to sitting way to back and at the time of pass from werder player in box Luka should have been 5 feet higher. He literally did nothing that whole sequence on that goal from center field to 6 yard box. The goal isn’t solely on him but he’s not doing enough as well.
Again not saying he’s not good or skilled. More importantly I just have a hard time seeing how he will play in repka. The way we play you cant have a CB just chilling maybe I’m wrong and in a back line of 4 he could do very well. And i admit its not like currently we have a back 4 that’s so stable. But with the teams we will be playing in WC which was a terrible draw, and with probable slow lineup from Dalic i think he would have a hard time.
vlad, I don’t know the game well, and not near as well as some of the others, and I am not 100% sure how the defence should play that first goal. But as I recall that goal one, it is maybe not so much his recovery was slow but he was concerned about the other Werder player breaking open to his right. The goal scorer was coming toward the net and across the middle of the field but I think there is another Werder player shooting down the field on Vuskovic’s right and it is basically a 2 on 1 with Vuskovic back as the lone defender. If he charges the ball carrier too early, the pass slides across and that other player is in home free. I think he is not so much slow, but he is probably trying to play the odds and the angles and part of that includes not committing too early to challenge the ball carrier and preventing that pass from going across. That was just my memory and view of that play, and if you or others say I am dead wrong I accept that.
I can’t recall the second goal. Drawing a blank.
His recovery and anticipation is solid. He breaks up so many plays, clears the ball well. I think he will make some mistakes, but he is one of the highest ranked defenders statistically right now in the Bundesliga. At 18 and a rookie.
Question: do you think he could be as good as Gvardiol was in WC 2022? That is a good comparison and a good question to consider. He will be a year younger than Gvardiol was in 2022 . . . but it looks like he can, at least potentially, be as good in 2026. . . .
The other question is: if not Vuskovic, then who? (The Tottenham sites are raving about him as a prospect, and the rumour mill has Dortmund, Barcelona, and other teams making inquiries . . . )
A Tin U
Again I think there’s a lot to like about Vuskovic which is good for a 18 year old. Unfortunately there some things that are concerning. And I don’t know if the concerning parts will be corrected enough.
I am not the one who has set the bar on him, so when I criticize it’s not that I think he’s terrible it’s just he isn’t t dominating and all worldly.
1- I don’t think he can have the same affect gvardiol had In WC 2022. It’s ridiculous to even put luka V and gvardiol as equals. Gvardiols scores great goals as well on a consistent basis but also is very involved in a lot of the build up and is great defensively when it’s a big game day and he knows it’s serious time. At the moment our best defender after gvardiol is stanisic and it’s not close. WC 22 many people had gvardiol as the best defender in the tournament.
2- If Sutalo gets back to form he will start. He had a slow start to the season after his injury and it seems he’s injured again but if after Christmas he can regain form from last season he would be starting. People have to remember playing CB for the repka in the WC is really difficult at the moment dalic asks a lot from the CB in terms of covering and high line.
People assume because he’s slow and tall he a good balance to gvardiol. what are they basing this on? What proof do they have what tape? Again do people watch him play. He’s playing sweeper that’s a big difference going to playing sweeper for a low level bundesliga team to the WC playing CB and not hiding.
3- I’m sorry rumour and stats don’t mean much to me that’s for people like Anonymous and Z to get their panties wet. Barcelona I don’t see it they play a very high line and Luka would struggle mighty. Luka is tall which is great for the headers and again like I stated he basically plays as a sweeper not a true CB his role isn’t t to support the fullbacks as cover the other two CB do this. His is to clean garbage In the middle so his numbers will be high.
To sum it up I hope I’m wrong and he’s great and plays for Madrid. But the good thing people he will one day play in the repka and not play sweeper and mask his weakness and be asked to cover for stanisic when he goes up but also cover for gvardiol and will see how the great luka V will do.
I picture Vušković as the nucleus of our CB pairing, with Gvardiol as the electron that orbits around him.
Yes let’s stack Croatian Nobel Physics Prizes now that we are at it while we are trying to crack the soccer world.
2025: Martinovic -Quantum Computer Working Model
2026 Maminjo Dynamic molecular structure of a shutdown defense.
Ghana-watch
Kudus over the weekend
He (along with the rest of their front-line) will be a problem
x.com/giooThfc/status/1997377921309147318
I’m reading talk about Modric getting fatigued and it’s laughable. He’s going to flourish in the glow of his farewell and the crowd in North America will be out to honor our greatest player of all time. If we lose, it won’t because of Modric. I expect to see the young players playing their hearts out for the King of Croatian soccer. He will show another gear even if he doesn’t have it for long. Samo Luka!!!
Didn’t Robbie Fowler get a fine and 4 games suspension for the coke snort celebration ?
Not sure it was smart of Vusko to reveal it related to his brother
He should have left it ambiguous / everyone guessing
DFB can cite the Fowler precedent if they want to screw Luka now
Argh
Solution ?
If he doesn’t have a tattoo somewhere right there on his tattoo sleeve – he needs to go THIS SECOND to his tattoo artist – and get initials MV or Mario or something added in that spot
That was they say he said it’s about your brother – he can say yeah I have his initials/name/pic tattooed right there and say it has nothing to do w doping
LUKA go get an insurance tattoo there this second PLEASE !!!!
The last footballer to do the celebration was Pogba at Euro 2020
Ironically, he was mimicking the NBA “ice in my veins” celebration, of course, he was subsequently banned 2 years for doping
crazy how a guy who didnt play in nearly 2 years is currently croatias best available center defensive mid.
who?
Was the Vuskovic celebration where he taps his left veins with right hand to convey
a) he has ice cold veins
b) referencing his brothers doping ban ie saying ironically you probably think I’m doping too but I’m not
c) other
Yeah I wondered if it was his brother
He did the same celebration in 2022 at Hajduk
***.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/zsouck/hajduk_split_4_2_schalke_luka_vušković_71/
He said after the match today the celebration was for his brother
While I love it, the reality is he is playing with fire (he shouldn’t provoke DFB – he should know not to trust them)
https://youtu.be/RubXiAsuhLw?si=0RCKcY-b5coryyKO
25 seconds in
That’s some puskas shit
I’ll tell you who is not playing like a bust
It’s this guy
Remember when ziva was saying he is too tall to do anything
Sure we can say his sample size is small but he’s destroying every where he goes guys
Everyone talking again how old we are
And literally our back line if vuskovic gets in and P sucic can keep developing and somehow jagusic keeps going nuts
People will be wtf is this shit now
A boy can dream
How does vuskovic not start right now????
Vuskovic is otherworldly!
I still can’t believe that goal
I’m assuming Our Toronto game the stadium should be 80% checkers considering our numbers in southwest Ontario and Philly I’m thinking at least 65% but Texas with England I’m guessing 40% at best..then again with all the ticket sale prices and shenanigans who knows what truly happens in the end.I feel that we will get screwed somehow with ticket allotment for the England game?
The Africans are already mobilizing for the Philly match look at social media (not just Ghana all Africans in the US)
Yeah, can we get scalped tickets ?
I’ll apply as soon as they open but I feel like it will need to go black Market
I’m doing all three group games
I was born in 81, watched us since 96
Heck I remember bloody yugo team in 1990 when I was there before the war
Finally I get to watch our beloved vatreni
My only thing on my bucket list
After that, I couldn’t give a shit about going anywhere else
LUKA VUSKOVIC BACK-HEEL GOAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG
Amazing stuff!!!
Absolutely sensational!!!!!!!!!!
World-class finish from Bowen (who Croatia will face June 17 😘)
x.com/AleshaWick79974/status/1997690569834021270
Dude duck off with the English propaganda
No one cares
They are good yeah, they have money yeah
Where are their placings like us
Kurac englezi
Like it’s not even good trolling
If you’re gonna troll
Say luka blew out his knee as per usual two weeks before it starts
Croatia is a diminished side relative to previous iterations
I am going to give a positive though…that when it doesn’t matter at all after harping on it so much comes back to look foolish. Just like everyone emphasized how short Mexicos defense was in wc 2014 only for Mexico to be the one to score a header…. But here goes
These games are not played in soccer stadiums but football stadiums. As a result, the pitch is narrower. Such a set up hurts fast paced winger teams and helps technical ball control sides (think Croatia).
dalic needs to proceed with the same euro greece possession type style of previous tournaments.
Abandon hope for goals and just take the air out of the ball with grinding possession.
That looks like
Perisic budimir kramaric
Kovacic sucic modric
Stanisic gvardiol sutalo jakic
Switch vuskovic in for one of those defenders possibly
Petra Marčinko wins Dubai (2nd straight ITF title) beating menopausal Zvonareva
Now 82 rank
Full match below:
***.youtube.com/watch?v=S7kAtjI798w
Interesting comments in forum below – to get up to speed
***.tennisforum.com/threads/dubai-w100-f-4-marcinko-def-wc-zvonareva-6-3-6-3.1429949/
HNS will have 8% of the stadium’s capacity for the Croatian sector
09:30 EST Sunday
Vuskovic (start) vs. Patrice Covic (bench – sadly)
Patrice Covic 2025/2026
275 min Werder 1st team + 441 min Croatia U19
Decent (but not great) – at 18 1/2 yo he needs to play MORE
Patrice best continue to work hard
Otherwise he could end up like his brother Maurice in the 4th tier in Germany (SV Babelsberg 03)
We need to be on par and even better than the squad in 2018 to have a chance to progress deep in this tournament.
We need a mandzukic in our striker department..in WC2022, we are lucky to have defenders and attackers like orsic stepping up and scoring goals to help tie games. For WC2022, we rely more on defence with the experience of lovren and superb gvardiol to bail us out time and time again.
But in current squad, i dont see any striker like mandzukic striking fear in opp defenders. We need dalic to utilize the strengths of strikers like budimir and musa.
Similarly for CB to replace lovren and vida, we need a defender who is less error prone and is a no nonsense defender. Vuskovic is not on that level yet.
For midfielder, we have lost brozovic and rakitic now..modric is ageing and cannot play 3 full matches in a week. Kovacic is iniury prone and needs to step up. Sucic is not yet at brozovic level yet. Brozovic and rakitic are classy midfielders bringing stability to centre of park.
At the same time i hate the fact we are in last grp which means we start our first match 5 days later. If we can progress to subsequent rounds esp as runner up, we dont have many days to rest esp for our ageing players. Similarly we do not have many quality of players on bench. England is more in advantageous situation as they can afford to send 2nd team or rotate players more often given that we have 8 games instead of 7 games in WC now.
If we lost first game, it means we have to win nx 2 games while many pot 1 teams would have sealed qualification early.
Again, it also depends on luck. In WC2018 we are fortunate to meet russia who knocked out spain in QF. We are also fortunate to meet japan in 2nd round in WC2022..so in the end, luck also plays an important role.
Many good points. We don’t have the attacking striker we once did, we have to accept that.
There is always some luck involved anytime a team wins a championship. It almost always plays some role.
But we can go deep, and on the right day we can beat anyone. That is the key: on the right day we can beat anyone.
It will require our players to hit good form and have good health, we will need to peak at the right time.
Goaltending a worry right now as has been noted by others. Livakovic has to play starting in January 2026 but where and with who and how does that unfold, that is the question.
Everyone will have to chip in with goals, we will have to win some tight games.
We will have to get goals from our back four. They will have to contribute, on the other hand they have perhaps never been so capable of contributing goals.
I think the lineup partly depends on Sutalo, if he can find last season’s form? Right now the Dutch media is pushing him to be transferred from Ajax. I guess it depends if someone is prepared to pay their price. Will he move, where will he go, and can he find his stellar form from last year? Right now it is not going well.
Perhaps we will find out more from the few friendlies that are played. If yes, and he gets on a good path, then if you have Sutalo and Vuskovic in the middle, you have Stanisic and Gvardiol joining the attack up the right and left sides. Both have attacked up the flanks for Bayern and City in that way, Gvardiol knows the role he had it most of last year. I think The truth2 probably has about the right idea for the lineup and you go with Vuskovic who has the ability to score goals, great example today of his killer instinct around the opposing net with that heel kick. He is a goal scorer.
If Sutalo cannot find his form, then Jakic on one side, Stanisic the other and Vuskovic and Gvardiol in the middle.
On set plays and corners, Vuskovic and Budimir are big targets. They should get their heads on a few.
Sucic, Modric and Kova in the middle with Majer off the bench first. . . Probably replacing Modric early in some games if possible to avoid Modric getting too fatigued. Majer was one of the highest rated midfielders in the French league a few years ago. . He will have to regain his top form after a terrible go with injuries, but he looks to be on the right path now.
We will need some luck, we need Kova’s injuries to heal well and everyone to be in good health, and we need everyone to find their form and peak at the right time. But we can beat anyone.
Anyone know brother Radicic the Indiana University kicker?
He’s from Dallas County, think he can put up about a 100 brothers around mid June next year?
And with the biggest Croatian flags on hand Dallas County has ever seen..
Family was involved in croatian community in San Jose then I believed he moved and lived in zadar most of his youth then came back. Said he didn’t know football…he will be drafted in nfl.
Oh right on. Thanks . Yeah he’s pretty good
I’ve been watching some of the England pundits. It’s disgusting how smug they are, harping about how they got an easy draw. They figure England will brush Croatia aside, and they are already plotting their way to the final.
Ljutic on the podium in Tremblant
she finished 2nd
Sutalo not on the bench for Ajax. Both Taylor and Sutalo not in lineup due to a “lack of match fitness.”
Not injured . . . . What does this mean, a “lack of match fitness”.
Taylor and Sutalo were arguably two of Ajax’s best players last season. Both have been subjects of transfer rumours. Is it possible this has to do with transfers being considered?
Inter v Como: Sucic comes on the field with 5 minutes to go . . . No Baturina or Smolcic.
2 games in a row exclude sutalo – interim manager knows he’s responsible for all the loses and goals against
Wedding boy Sucic unused sub (at least he’s back on the bench I guess)
OFFICIAL: Croatia’s schedule for the group stage matches of the World Cup.
June 17, 2026: Croatia vs England (Dallas)
June 23, 2026: Croatia vs Panama (Toronto)
June 27, 2026: Croatia vs Ghana (Philadelphia)
OFFICIAL: Croatia’s schedule for the group stage matches of the World Cup.
June 17, 2026: Croatia vs England (Dallas)
June 23, 2026: Croatia vs Panama (Toronto)
June 27, 2026: Croatia vs Ghana (Philadelphia)
Meh
Adds costs
I’m gonna try for all three cities
Would have preferred two in Toronto then last game in New York as I always wanted to go there
So how i understand now tickets open back up for team specific on the 11th
Otherwise got to try to go scalped way ?
I hear you @Dannyj.
I’m going to hit 2. T.O. for sure and I’m debating Philly or Dallas.
newsroom.bankofamerica.com/content/newsroom/press-releases/2025/12/bofa-offers-exclusive-fifa-world-cup-2026–custom-card-design-an.html
A nice goal by Majer this morning. Like about a hundred other times this season, he broke toward the net and got himself in the clear . . . But this time the pass came through, and he made no mistake, put it into the top right corner. Goalie had no chance. He seemed pretty pumped afterward.
Overall he played well. A few unforced errors and giveaways that are not typical for him, but he was solid and maybe the 3-1 win at home (Wolfsburg has been terrible at home) and the goal will help set the tone for him heading into 2026.
Sounds great, the more midfielder options we have, the merrier. Just in case Petar Sucic drops down the midfield pecking order over at Inter… at this point in time, it seems like Zielinski and Mkhitaryan are slightly ahead of him in the contest for the 3rd midfielder spot.
Prpic played 90′ Thursday in 1-3 loss in the Cup
Anyone watch him ?
Would be good if he breaks-out and becomes an CB option/upgrade over the next 6 months
Here are highlights 1-3
Prpic not responsible for any of the goals (for the 2nd goal it’s #22 who gives the ball away – Prpic is #21)
***.youtube.com/watch?v=auAybpuxQfc
Ground duels (won) 7 (5)
Aerial duels (won) 6 (4)
I didn’t. But you’re absolutely right about a hopeful break-out.
An upgrade would be greatly appreciated.
Ghana front-line watch
Ayew and Fatawu both played 78′ today in Leicester’s 3-1 victory vs. Derby County
Neither recorded a G nor A
If Leicester get promoted back to the PL
They will have FOUR front-line players all PL players
*They = Ghana
Hull 1-4 Middlesbrough
4 goals on Pandur on 5 shots on target
Here are the lowlights
***.youtube.com/watch?v=RTmknA6jjAI
Out of the 4 goals – there is no keeper in the world that would have saved first three goals – perfect strikes/placement – but the strikes happened in the first place because the Hull City defence was shambolic/collapsed
The forth goal – although again the defence was again terrible – Pandur should have been stronger with his leg to save the shot (I guess)
One thing I’ve noticed – definitely on first and second goal – is for some reason Pandur is full extending his arm in his attempts (even if late) – I suspect he’s doing that as he’s gauging if the ball will go over the top of the net or wide – but as these goals show his “judgement” is a bit off (as the balls have gone in) – something to work on
Bad look for Sergej – was a major 2 vs 3 place tie that Hull needed to get points, if not win – with the loss (and other mid-week results) Hull back down to 9th place (for now)
So to recap the keeper situation
Liva – still no minutes at Girona (although still on the bench)
Ivusic – out indefinitely bc of public bone issues
Kotarski – facing threats from Danish fans (Anonymous condemns) due to poor performances at his club
Pandur – Hull back in 9th place (for now)
The keeper situation remains a MAJOR concern – whoever we face in the world cup – out of the other names people have mentioned – hopefully someone – just one of them – please stand on their heads and become a Donna-clone b/w now and the World Cup
*for some reason Pandur is NOT full extending his arm in his attempts (even if late)
Liva MUST not play for Girona until the winter break – I don’t care what he has to do to make it happen but he must get his a*s back to Dinamo in the winter break – the problem is he is on the bench every game – all it takes is one red card on the playing keeper (or injury during the match) and he would have to come on and play
Girona has some Ukrainian keeper who played the one time Gazzaniga wasn’t an option. I imagine Livaković, his agent, and Girona management have discussed the situation and made an agreement to make sure that he leaves the club in condition to play at his next stop
Liva is the man, don’t worry.