Andrej Kramarić may not have played much for Croatia in 2020, but don’t worry, he is alive and well. After recovering from injuries and COVID quarantine, Croatia’s #1 striker returned on Saturday for Hoffenheim and played 90 minutes in a 3-3 draw against Stuttgart. Krama supplied an assist to Ryan Sessegnon on the 2-2 equalizing goal before putting Hoffenheim up 3-2 via penalty kick in the 71st minute. However, Hoffenheim would concede ‘at the death’ to chop the points. They currently sit on eight points from as many matches to start the season. Kramarić remains on fire anytime he put the blue Hoffenheim jersey on.
Kramarić Penalty
More from this later in the week in its own individual post, as it deserves the focus, but Dominik Livaković is officially on “RED ALERT!” After gifting Portugal the game winning goal at Poljud earlier in the week by dropping an easy cross in the box, Livaković did more of the same on Saturday as he misjudged a similar ball in Dinamo’s 2-0 loss to Osijek. It seems as if the penalty box is the moon to him and the mental aspect of the game has gotten to him. No confidence or awareness will high balls in the box. As far as Ićm concerned, the starting goalie spot for Croatia is up for grabs with World Cup qualifiers starting in March. Game on!
Livaković with another blunder (Thanks BEĆAR!)
Dejan Lovren scored an exceptional header for Zenit on Saturday in a 2-2 draw vs. Akhmat.
Lovren scores off a header for Zenit
Luka Modrić played all 90 minutes as Real Madrid drew Villareal 1-1 on Saturday. Ante Rebić returned to the starting lineup for AC Milan on Sunday in a 3-1 road win over Napoli. AC Milan currently sit in first place. Ivan Perišić came off the bench in the 2nd half for Inter Milan in a 4-2 win over Torino. Marcelo Brozović was unable to play due to testing positive for COVID.
“Most “professionals” do not understand simple muscle balancing techniques.”
Lol!
Most “professionals” do not understand simple muscle balancing techniques.
@ Poglavnik
You are making a great point.
Actually think Real Madrid has a Croatian doctor on staff.
On a different note.
Speaking of durable athletes .. what’s up my man Mandžukić?
He can run all day, jump over defenders and never gets injured.
Where is he?
Is he Russia?
I would take him back to the repka.
He can score and would thrive with all the wing attackers.
He is a 30/60 player if he comes off bench/starts.
@Poglavnik
I completely agree.
TFC have had the same issue with Altidore for years. Dude looks like a lineup backer instead of an athlete. And TFC has some of the best medical professionals available to the team.
Completely unsupported opinion but don’t Halilovic’s eyes look red in his Birmingham clip? Maybe the guy has addiction issues or something. Or maybe the real issue is the typical Balkan mentality that I’m right and everyone else is wrong…
Terrible news for Pjaca but only gives opportunity to Orsic and Budimir/Petkovic to solidify their spots on the roster come WC qualifying in the spring. Everyone should be happy that the national team coaches will not experiment anymore for those game.
Livakovic needs to work on high balls; I think Dalic knew that a long time ago. I’m just glad that everyone else seemed to have now realized that that we don’t have anyone better.
Do any Hajduk fans rec Posavec? I know he plays for a losing team, but he was decent when I’ve watched. The U21 keeper Semper has been playing very well but like Sluga and Livakovic, it’s in a weak league. Kotarski plays on a regular basis as well but it’s for the Ajax U23 team. It’s Livakovic’s position to lose imo.
^
Maybe his club should become professional and hire some physio and fitness people that know what you know?
Have you played at the highest level?
Pjaca needs to lay off the weights and work on his flexibility.
Pjaca out for a month with a hamstring tear. This guy cant buy a bucket
Hopefully Halilovic and Sunjic can form a nice Bosnian duo, and become the future of the BiH national football team.
🙂
The EFL is a tough league.
At 24.
Halilovic is now in his man body.
If he does well at Birmingham City, I would keep my eye on him.
It’s a fast paced action packed league with many matches and minutes to be had.
I saw Halilovic for Las Palmas, and before a bad ankle sprain, I was impressed with his maturity.
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Well, Croats with Žiger last names are from Varazdin area (near the border with Slovenia).
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So that bodes well for Karlo Žiger being a good goalkeeper. 🙂
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/13052266/chelsea-karlo-ziger-goalkeeper/
On Halilovic:
https://www.marca.com/en/football/premier-league/2020/11/23/5fbbf64e22601d52198b45fc.html
https://mobile.twitter.com/SkyBetChamp/status/1330923885047508997
Mateo Kovacic 7
Drove through midfield on numerous occasions to break the lines and open up Newcastle’s defence.
Also did you see the Ante Rebić run and left footed assist to Zlatan.
@ Pero
We are aligned that Livakovic is nice boy who is not on the level.
I am looking for ZDS beast mode who runs out puts his knee in your chest when that 50/50 cross comes in.
Also why not be good with your feet as well?
We have the best technicians on the planet and out goal keeper looks so so with his feet?
Also need someone to set up our CB’s who lose their minds every so often.
If Livakovic is 6 2 then I am 7 foot 10 inches
Stop fuckin around
This is obviously a Dinamo ploy to sell off the useless kid
The sham is up
I’m related to him down the line, get the family Xmas cards. He’s an Artuković on the other side
The Dulcich kid on UCLA is a croat from socal. He has the flag and the correct spelling of his last name in his instagram which is cool i guess. Im actually familiar with him because his uncle is a famous classic car guy and has posted about him on his instagram. The uncle has posted stuff about Croatia, they are from Hvar and are grape growers
@Soul I’m curious as to where you found the stats on reach and hand size for keepers?
Also everywhere I’ve looked livakovic is 6’2” and oblak the same height, in fact I’ve found Oblak listed at 6’1” on some sites?
My point was a guy 6’2” is not too small to be a great keeper, the greatest keepers of all time were that height or shorter-lev yashin -Dino zoff were 6’2” or shorter.
Let’s not “trump”facts to make a point.
I do agree he has no command of the box or is athletic enough.
Robo Rog always has a spot in my squad.
Give all potential Badelj minutes to him right now.
That steel is always an asset.
Brozovic has some super hero lungs that allow hin to run all day.
His ability to connect the D to the offensive FLOW is still under rated.
He is probably the best #6 in the world.
Both players support the effectiveness of Luka Modric.
I still haven’t give up on Halilovic.
Maybe the elf will do well in the ELF?
Great Anonymous Doom is spot on. Great analysis Doom and nido. Rog is missing link to greatness. A transcedant player as bjelica say. Brozovic need to sit his bitchass down. Brozovic’s flukey ass run during world cup russia was dumb
Kramaric rules. Guy is hot in the blue shirt. Some sites be like- the only impressive game Croatia played during the Nations League was with Petkovic playing the false 9 against the shitty ass frogs. I say Fuck Petkovic. He don’t do shit at dynamo. Dude only showz up for the country team
Is anybody else think halilovic a god too?
@ Pero
Oblak is 6’2”, long arms and big hands.
Livakovic, 6’1”, short arms, small hands.
Yes he lacks dynamic movement and personality like Navas, but he also is smaller than Oblak.
That extra reach is the difference.
You can be his height but need to be super athletic and own that entire penalty box.
Compared to Croatian athletes, Livakovic is a small dude on many levels.
@ Becar
Bradaric is the goods.
His ascension was worth the entire UNL saga.
Super quick, dynamic left footed, hungry young baller.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5EaJWn_4a/?igshid=20etpq043ub5
^^^^
Bradaric is “him”, obviously, lol.
I just watched the last 30 minutes of Lille’s game. The British announcer was heaping some pretty high praise on him. He mentioned how good he was on both sides of the ball, especially considering his age.
Alen Halilovic signs with Birmingham City who are currently 17th in England’s first division.
I agree with Niđo that Rog is very effective, overall, at the destroyer/ball recovery role. Hopefully we see that put to use more in the future. Also agree with Soul Champ that Kramarić is our PK taker. He also does a great job of drawing legit penalty calls with those quick feet. I’m a big fan of Kramarić. I just want to see him get the service! If he had been our 9 against Portugal instead of Pasalić, maybe we win. The goalkeeper question is unfortunate. Let’s see this Grbić guy in a friendly. Keylor Navas was the backup to Gustavo Munua at Levante before anyone had even heard of him. A team like Atletico would get a good backup, with the kind of money and potential they have.
Boy did Bilic and WBA get hosed yesterday what a joke!!
Give the Osijek keeper a look- he made some nice saves against Dinamo- and he seems to have a loose personality -happy go lucky. he can actually catch the ball and not let it loose – I’m sure Livakovic is a wonderful young man and really loves his country but it just seems the Euros are too big of a spotlight for him- he’s a small stage keeper and the Euro is definitely not the stage for him
Why do we make excuses for livakovic being “too small!”he’s the same height as oblak and taller than navas.
This guy lacks the ability to actually track the ball in the air and catch it at its hi point without bobbling it…if he actually gets near it.
He is terrible at attacking the ball in the box something all great keepers do.
This dude is done!
All in all I think this nations league was a joke we were never full strength for most games. And with rebic kramaric brozovic coming back get a set back 4 and keeper Dalic needs to choose i only see Lovren and Vrsaljko if ever healthy are starters in D
All you hate on rog but he played well until the yellow card v portugal and was good vs turkey.
Attack isnt a problem imo we score goals but conceed too many modric vlasic rebic perisic kramaric pasalic brekalo kovacic petkovic budimir all capable of scorinh just need to stop bleeding at the back
Livakovic too many kiks i dont know i was always high on him one day being number 1 keeper but he needs to learn more and i think leave that toxic dinamo atmosphere post bjelica
Kramaric is our most effect player in the final third.
He is our best finisher and is able albeit usually not willing to set up assists.
Is he our only big league, club level, designated penalty taker?
I too love seeing farca lose.
Rakitic gave them his prime world class years.
And they try to bounce him out for the last two of them.
Mes que en club??
Speaking of under appreciated central midfielders .. Kovacic was good yesterday again for Chelsea as they compete for the EPL and the CL.
He will get meaningful minutes as he ready’s himself for yet another opportunity for major tournament coming out party.
I’ll say this about my man Mateo, he has had more chances than anyone in HNS history to step his game up.
At some point do you just tell yourself it’s my time to dominate?
Wasn’t de Jong suppose to fill in over raking too
I savor Koeman’s Rakitic-free Barca losses like no other. How did that Grietzmann transfer work out?
Lol evo ti kurac
The NFL and NBA has been taken over by blacks so of course they believe niggers will take over the world.
Governor Cuomo declared BLM won! Because they looted Department Stores!
I’m here boys relax
Just give me the call and I’m there
Maybe reserve keeper when penalty shootouts come around
Seriously what is suba doing these days???
Re: goalkeepers…
I would just scout all of the keepers in the HNL and give the best one a try.
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Grbić and Kalinić don’t play for their club teams, and both Sluga and Šemper are definitely “kiks” goalkeepers.
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Ivušić and Kahlina should definitely be looked at since they’ve been playing regular first team football in the HNL. I don’t see what Livaković has achieved that they haven’t.
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I would love to see what Grbić has, since he’s already on our squad and maybe Dalić would change something up for a friendly. I doubt we see any new keeper callups anytime soon though.
Dulčići are Croats from Hvar. This kid is probably a son of one of the San Pedro Dalmatinci.
Whose this Dulcich kid I just watched score a TD on UCLA
@ Elvis
Kepa is under Chelsea contract after a huge transfer fee. We don’t owe any scrubs a spot.
Livakovic is too small and not dynamic enough at his size.
So what Grbic is back up to Oblak.
Give him a chance.
He probably is getting better even as we speak.
They train at Athletico and Oblak is world class.
I am sure he is learning.
We got a solid crew with Modrić having these precious few games left.
What better time than now to reevaluate?
Livakovic is officially in Lovre Kalinic Land. It’s all mental. He’s in his own head and he can’t do the simple things.
He has been absolutely rock solid in Europa for Dinamo but maybe giving up 3 goals/game for the Vatreni over the past 3 months has wore on him. Who knows?
The next few months leading up to WC qualifiers in March will be interesting. The #1 goalie spot is officially open and look at what World Cup finalists Croatia have as options:
Livakovic: Struggling in the HNL
Sluga: Starting but playing the English 2nd division
Grbic: Riding the bench in Madrid
Flip a coin, boys.
Is Pletikosa still available???
Livakovic too many kikseva. Dalic and mrmic selections at keepers is strange call kalinic who is on bench
Ivusic kalhina from hnl deserve calls
I see Pandur as a future keeper aswell
Im not sold on Livi.
Kotarski is back up in ajax maybe he has future
Semper is also a kiks keeper
Posavec is also lila
Sluga not sold eitherr
Grbic has potential but is a back to the top 5 in world
So i dont see Dalic changing livakovic but he really needs to leave dinamo but at this rate i see why clubs dont want him
We are pooched boys for the euros.
Our only hope is maybe somebody steps up for the World Cup
That’s very disturbing to watch…he has the Airial instincts of a groundworm..it’s time to pull the plug on the dirty bath water that is Dominic “leave it in the back of the net!”
I think kepa Livakovic is either cross eyed or has head noises
And may have been butt raped as a child too
Bećar
Yea that was pretty bad. Not sure if Dalić will make a change at this point.
Livakovic Is our Kepa.
https://www.goalstube.online/7013
Watch a flat footed Livakovic on the 2nd goal. Terrible….
Iggys got a lady? Let’s see the pics!
Brekalo with another invisible performance and gets subbed off as is becoming customary
Lovren scoring for Zenit but can’t do squat for us
Iggy’s let’s get jiggy lady is in my top 10!
Mateo’s Chelsea on top!
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This list really should include Vladimir Petkovic at (or near) the top. Not sure why he was excluded.
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Glad to see all the hype for Bjelica.
He would be a good successor to Dalić.
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I was afraid his firing at Dinamo would result in him just going off to some foreign league and never be heard from again. Very happy he signed with Osijek, and they’ve been undefeated since he took over (despite having a worse roster than last year). Bjelica is a talent.
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Also, this ranking is pretty disrespectful toward Zlatrko Dalić, lol. What the hell did Ivan Leko ever do?
I like Bišćan, but he’s still a prospect. Not a top coach yet.
Ranking per Index.hr…
1. Bjelica
2. Kek
3. Jurić
4. Bilić
5. Bišćan
6. Leko
7. Dalić
8. Kovač
9. Halilhodžić
10. Prosinečki
Not even top 10 that must hurt…he has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Maybe his my way or the hi way type of coaching shall mellow in the future.
If “failing” means winning the DFB Pokal and becoming Deutscher Meister… others would love to fail too.
Monaco beat rhe mighty psg 3 2.
Niko Kovac i think as a coach only works wirh youth players like in frankfurt and now monaco and under 21 played well under him
He failed with a strong bayern and croatia with experienced players so i would give kovac another shot with croatia in future when a bigger rebuild is needed because hey he was put in too soon for A team.
Also they had a poll who best balkan coach
Bjelica kek bilic juric leko dalic biscan prosinecki tudor Halihodzic was from one to 10 in voting