In the Serie A ‘Game of the Week’, Inter Milan defeated 1st place Napoli 3-2 to shrink the lead atop the Italian table. Both Ivan Perišić and Marcelo Brozović got the start for Inter with Perišić heading home a corner a minute before the halftime whistle – that barely crossed the goal line. With the win, Inter now trail Napoli by four points for the lead in Italy.
Did Mario Pašalić and Lovro Majer read Zlatko Dalić’s article in Sportske Novosti this week? Whether they did or not, the two Croatian fringe players (Majer much more than Pašalić) had huge Saturday’s!
Pašalić scored twice and assisted once in Atalanta’s 5-2 victory over Spezia. The win keeps Atalanta in the top-4 of the Serie A table as their Croatian has finally found a home in Italy after getting the transfer ‘run around’ as a Chelsea-owned player for five years. When Chelsea bought Pašalić from Hajduk Split in 2014, he went on loan to Elche, Monaco, AC Milan, and Spartak Moscow before his final rental with Atalanta in 2018. Atalanta finally bought the Croatian attacking midfielder from Chelsea in 2020 for £12 million and the rest is history. Pašalić has scored 24 goals in 106 Serie A matches for Atalanta and has been a vital part of the Champions League club. At only 26 years-old, Pašalić is hitting his stride with the Croatian national side and could be battling Nikola Vlašić for his CAM spot with the team in 2022. Pašalić has scored six goals in 34 matches for the Vatreni since his debut in 2014.
Lovro Majer is riding the wave of momentum he created for himself prior to the international break with another goal for French side, Rennes, Saturday night. The 23-year-old Majer, who was purchased from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer, has solidified his starting spot for Rennes, who sit 2nd place in France and will be playing for a Champions League berth this season. In their 2-0 win over Montpellier Saturday, Majer found himself open in front of the net and volleyed a short header pass from teammate Gaetan Laborde into the ground and past the Montpellier keeper for his first Ligue 1 goal.
Luka Modrić got the start for Real Madrid on Sunday and played 80 minutes in a 4-1 victory over Granada. The win puts Real Madrid back in 1st place in La Liga. Modrić received a 7/10 grade from the TheRealChamps as he “made a stellar run off the ball and unselfishly tapped it to Vinicius Junior for Real Madrid’s third goal of the afternoon. The Croatian sensation continues to blow minds at the age of 36, and it is truly unfair to every other team in Europe how good he remains in midfield. By Modrić’s standards, this was just another day at the office. But for any midfielder, it was another solid display in a supportive role for the attacking pieces.”
https://dm-fudbal.com/the-big-name-is-coming-luka-modric-is-coming-to-seattle-sounders-where-will-he-end-his-career/
They all get jobs.
https://football-italia.net/official-mandzukic-the-new-assistant-coach-at-croatia/amp/
What a misfit cast of assistant coaches lol
Honestly lol
Brekalo with a screaaammmer
What a goal!
https://www.goalstube.online/2021/11/torino-udinese.html?m=1
Yes it was. I’ve been souring on Brekalo lately, but if he can turn a corner Torino, it’s really good news for us.
Hopefully we’ll always have a few guys on form. Rare to have em all firing at once
Modrić will have yet another year at Real Madrid to take him to 11 seasons!
He will have access to Valdebas to train his body to carry his genius through the World Cup.
He will also be involved just enough to keep him sharp but not over used.
His level coupled with his longevity is having him leap frog some of the best midfielders to ever play the game.
His joy for the game and his commitment to his team seems to be the fuel for his legs. Add his LOVE for Croatia and the legend continues to amaze.
He will have the greatest depth around him going into Qatar.
Squad selection will be the most important tactic that Dalic needs to get it right.
Out of form veterans need to be cut with ruthless compassion.
Head cases (including my beloved Rebić) need to align with the team or not be called.
That intensity against Russia needs to be the norm. That is who we are at core. ZDS.
Then we can display our football.
No fear of any team on the planet.
Fresh legs that get it done in 90.
Penalty takers need to be established.
Dalic is now a veteran with the repka. He should be able to see clearly and make the moves we all knows he needs to execute.
We need at least two styles of play with 4 plans within each style.
In match adjustments need to be seamless.
A legit center forward needs to be identified over the next 10 months.
I see the late World Cup date an advantage for all these young phenoms to stake a claim to a spot.
Apparently it looks like we should make pot b for World Cup after all??
World cup finals draw is April 1 2022.
UEFA world cup qualifying round 2 /playoffs is in March of 2022; therefore, I assume that the games played up untill the end if March 2022 will be included in the updated rankings used for the pots in the draw?
If that is true, Croatia will need to do well in the March freindlies in order to retain or move up in the FIFA ranking.
Italy, Portugal, USA, and Mexico have yet to qualify, so there is a buffer, but I would rather see us continue to win and stay in pot B for sure.
Uruguay, Colombia and Sweden all fell below us in this month’s ranking. It’s the reason why we are currently a Pot 2 team.
I think (but not exactly sure) how much buffer we have.
These three teams are right behind us, and Wales is also not too far behind us as well.
I think if two (or more) of these teams pass us in the rankings by April, then we go to Pot 3.
Good news is that Italy and Portugal are already ranked above us, and are in the playoffs. If the miss it (or qualify) it takes away two spots from the teams trying to pass us.
One of Sweden or Wales will very likely miss out (maybe even both). However, I think both Colombia and Uruguay will probably qualify, and since they each have 4 games left in the COMMEBOL qualification group, they may end up surpassing us with some wins.
We essentially have to cheer against all these teams above, and see what happens lol.
I agree that the buffer is not very big.
The thing about CONMEBOL is that Ecuador is close to taking the third direct qualifying spot, which leaves one of Columbia and Uraguay out – forced to take the long route through playoffs and harder to generate points due to losses and playing weaker teams in playoffs to get there. Seems like good parity amongst the teams in the middle of CONMEBOL, so it wont be easy for both Columbia and Uraguay to qualify.
Mexico is tied for third with Panama in CONCACAF and Canada has surprised both them and the USA (if one of the 2 fail, a spot opens up).
In UEFA, 3 more teams will qualify- money is likely on Italy, Portugal, and Sweeden; however, the odds that all 3 make it is not very good. Wales is not a big concern in my mind (43 points away from us)
I figure 1 of Italy, Portugal, USA and Mexico will shit the bed, which gives us a 2 placement buffer, and if I am wrong, then at least then count Sweeden out (all 5 making it is higly unlikely)
That leaves 1 of Columbia and Uraguay that can pass us and the other one to worry about (we hopefully see Ecuador help us out there with continued momentum).
Super high odds against IItaly, Portugal,, USA, Mexico, Columbia, Uraguay, and Sweeden all qualifying.
Regardless of what others do, there’s no doubt that it is not a time to experiment, but rather a time to play good teams that we can tie or beat (perhaps teams who don’t need a win as bad as we do). Less points are awarded for good results in freindlies, and more points against better teams, so we need to choose wisely amongst what is available to us and play well.
We will see what the UEFA playoff draw does for us if anything – perhaps Italy, Portugal, Sweeden, and Wales will play against one of the others and help us out?
P.S. I really like your plan of cheering against all these teams!
How good is Perisic at the near post from corners
Phenomenal really
One of Croatia’s greatest
The man intelligence is supreme
He used to listen to his coaches growing up I bet
Folks still doubting Kovačić ?
He is an excellent #8 that plays for the reigning CL winners and top EPL team?
Depth is what we have been missing.
Now we have it.
All will play there part.
Modrić should not be called till August/September.
Kovačić was playing lights out before over use hamstring injury.
Kovačić will have Modrić fresh for the money rounds at World Cup.
Either with him or spelling him.
I remember that video circulating around 10 years ago of Lovro Majer being interviewed as a child progidy.
He was like or something, and he had some serious skills.
Can’t seem to find it now.
Luka was great again today for Real.
May luka play till 40!!
He will.
Modrić (along with Ronaldo and Ibrahimović) are superhuman.
Everyone thinks Modrić will retire after the World Cup. I’m not so sure.
Luka Modric—8.5: The Croatian’s class was on full display. Anytime it looked like he trapped, he managed to wiggle his way out of pressure and put his team on the front foot.
If Majer keeps playing like this, I say he should be staring for the National team now. Not on the wing either, but as a #10.
I’m not saying he’s better than Kovacic yet. He is far more effective in the final third though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZQSMQUxK-c
He’s not afraid to shoot
Remember when kova used to shoot when younger
It took luka longer to get that goal scoring blast
I hope lovro continues to play well in France and then develop to an even higher league
He looks so dynamic on that video
If duje plays well enough this next year
How would he not be considered close to veteran status
Only cause he continues to play lovren and duje doesn’t get the chance to become the veteran presence on the line
Beauty, unselfish assist by Modric just now.
Amazing tic, tac toe goal….Benz, to Luka to Vini and voila, golazzzzzzzo.
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/theprideoflondon.com/2021/11/17/chelsea-mateo-kovacic-numbers-drastic-improvements/amp/
A good kova article for anyone who likes to geek out on stats
To think we could potentially have still played with an ever evolving kova and even rakitic if needed
A midfield factory indeed
If Majer continues playing like this, he might end up putting Kovacic on the bench until Modric retires. He’s a true #10. His playmaking and goal scoring abilities are priceless.
No chance.
Not enough “lead time” until the tournament.
Dalic is a bit old school in these ways. Even though Majer is playing hot right now, it will be tough for him to usurp anyone in the regular rotation (even if he continues this form) until he puts his “time” in.
Perfect example was the Russia game.
Majer would have been a perfect sub for that game, especially with his offensive form right now…but Dalic subbed in Livaja (of all people) instead.
Dalic needs 5-10 games before he allows you to break into the lineup as a regular. It goes the other way too.
He’s stated before that it is very hard to break into his team, and it is hard to break out of it too, lol.
This backfired pretty badly at the Euros when Dalic was dragging his feet when bringing in new players, and when it was painfully obvious that his vets were not in good enough form…he panicked and made a bunch of knee-jerk last minute moves (throwing Gvardiol in the starting lineup, bringing in Juranovic and Ivanusec mid-tournament, etc). Capped like three new guys into the rotation, during the actual tournament ha ha. All this, after burning two full UNL tournaments (and our reputation) with nothing to show for it.
Hopefully Dalic actually uses these 10 games leading up to the World Cup, to ‘fine tune’ the existing squad and try to see what formations and strategies work.
Continuing to play guys like Majer, Stanisic, Duje… in these games should be pivotal, as they are all on an upward trajectory right now, and could be first options over the next year.
Can’t do what he did last time and be dead-set on his predetermined set of starters…then dilly dally over the next year having fun with random lineups and obscure callups just for fun.
His incompetence and (I assume) overconfidence crippled us at the Euros. I think he may have come back down to Earth this time around, gave himself a good cry on the bench, and will continue to take every preparation game seriously from now on.
I think these are all pretty accurate statements
I sure hope he uses these ten games or so of prep to really solidify a couple of good potential line ups for World Cup
Whether it’s different formations and how guys do in them or different personnel altogether
Lots of prep time
And if Majer doesn’t get a shot if continues this it will be utter bull
Kova was given the longest leash ever and Majer what will have to win French league player of the year to start in League of Nations
No shade being thrown at kova
Just stating the obvious
For years people have been calling Kovacic a bust.
Now all of a sudden he’s irreplaceable?
Who is saying he’s irreplaceable?
He’s solid, but very replaceable.
Majer for me Got lost with the majer moro Marin
Would just hear about all of them and its like who is who
Seems like Marin is overall finding his game again
How about Moro now?
Moro’s good.
A ceiling was put on his career early when he blew his ACL. He would have been a better player today, I think, if that injury never occurred.
But he’s still good.
Unfortunately for him, he’s a midfielder in a midfield factory.
He’s doing well in Russia, starts every game. But in order to make big transfers at the club level, you need exposure at the International level.
He can’t crack our squad. He’s gotta just sit and wait for an opportunity. He should eventually get a callup, but guys like Majer, Sucic and Jakic recently caught Dalic’s attention more (due to their recent form, or due to their transfers to bigger clubs), so they’re ahead of him right now (even though Moro is arguably better than a couple of these guys right now). It’s tough.
A big Dinamo guy on Facebook
Not sure if he posts here
He told me that majer was injured in I think 18-19 season
Then really wasn’t played by bjelica
Last year he started playing regular and he has caught on the progress he should have had
Obviously so fat fitting well In France Let’s hope he stays consistent
I thought the livaja call off the bench was cause he is a split boy
I agree surely we have someone else who can score
I would think a displaced orsic could be more effective when needing to make something happen
https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatia-to-play-10-matches-before-2022-fifa-world-cup-the-schedule/
We’ve discussed this quite a bit already, but this article gives a good snapshot of what is to come in the next year.
Melnjak callup coming?
I think he just needs 7 more starts. The first 7 were just a warmup.
Good to see our guys making progress. It seems like we may have a great combination of very effective veterans coupled with
tournament ready youth coming together in time for Qatar?
In my mind a top 10 ranked team again by that time (whether recognized as such by FIFA or not).
If youze are ever in need of an ‘editor’ for your posts, I’m here to help.
Would you like to write an article?
good comeback
Offer stands.
You guys do the hard stuff (reports/interviews and so on) very well and kudos! I guess I just sometimes assume that spelling is the easy part. Boring of me to point out, and not a big deal.
To be able to call up a still very good rakitic if shit hits the fan is a damn good feeling
Nice finish by majer
This kid may be a difference maker even next year for us if he continues his pace
Pasalic doesn’t score the nicest goals but he has a nose for goal
That is not easy to find, still improving as well
Agreed. What an incredible “ace” up the sleeve we have if we need him. From the looks of following Raketa in La Liga, he still has the goods.
Imagine going into a penalty shootout and Dalic subs in Raketa in the 119′. Legend.
Majer is a bigger ace up the sleeve.
Not sure if he will be a starting player for us (he should be) but if he isn’t, he needs to be ahead of f’n Livaja or anyone else off the bench.
I know we’re all loving Dalić right now… But it was a travesty that Livaja was first offensive player off the bench when needing a goal.
Terrible coaching call. Terrible substitution.
Also, I won’t comment on the Brekalo at RB mistake again, lol.
Maminjo you’re a cocky prick but I do appreciate your insight and totally agree with your livaja sentiments.
Did anyone think Majer would explode in such a short period of time, it’s shocking yet so promising this kid is obviously a stud.
Rakitic came off the bench to secure 1 point with a goal. Lopetgui is a fucking idiot to keep him on the bench.
Congratulations to Majer scoring his first goal for Rennes
Hopefully this good young man can take his game to the next level
Raketa did so much for us. He’s a legend, and we should follow him, and cheer for him as long as he’s playing.
Agree
Yes we ought to care about all croatian players
I still care about rakitic in particular as Sevilla is currently sitting on top of the la Liga table
Would be phenomenal if rakitic would win the league for Sevilla
A big fu to Barca that would be on how he was under appreciated
Plus, he’s our wildcard in a heaven forbid type situation for the World Cup.
Every player who is in form and dedicates himself to national team is welcome no egos breathe as one thests the only way to get result. Good keeper luck God and team work
Sosa is smart player and shoukd be the lb all the time imo. Juranovic has earned a position as rb its on vrsaljko to apologize and be team player.
Same goes for lovren vida no egoes more lovren causes problems kick him out simple no body is above team. Thats why modric is a king too me since 2006 never bitched in his clubs just shut up and earned a spot
I think if just kick Lovren off the team, then the sky’s the limit for us
🙂
Hahaha. I think we dont need him at this point next year older slower and more kiks ability hopefully cc continues play well and we have a future cbs pongracic develops and uremovic im not giving up on jedvaj sutalo cousins vuskovic. I still think lovren will be on team dalic likes gvardiol lovren combo youth and experience
Am I the only one who isn’t really interested in guys who are done with the NT?
Rakitic with the tying goal 90+2.
Vrsaljko starts for Atletico👍
Pasalic, 2 goals and an assist.
Could he play forward for us?
Said it before, he’s big enough to play forward. Deserves a spot on the starting 11
Pasalic ties it for Atalanta !
Bradaric got start for lille i hope he gies on loan and plays him he has potential to be good lb fast and aggressive
We have so much future talent on that left side with Gvardiol, Sosa, Bradaric, Brekalo, Biuk, Marin
Looks like Sosa has been playing on the right side as an attacking midfielder the last couple of matches at his club
That’s good sosa can move on the other side
Gone are the days we are trying to repurpose guys for LB
Now we have to do it for the right side;)
I think someone will emerge and take that right wing position
I was gonna ask if kacavenda could play there?
If we will ever have a teenager make an impact at word level it’s him;)
Just wishful thinking
We’ve got so many CAM type players, I’ve lost count
One of them has to be good on that right side.
Actually, we do have Ivan Šaranić who is a right sided player. He’s also a CAM but I think he plays on that right side for Dinamo II.
If he does pan out then he will fill a huge need for us.
What’s the story with him(Ivan saranic)?
Im sure he was covered by the guys on the prospect lists a while back but can’t remember what they thought his potential was