Josip Brekalo scored the opening goal of the game in Fiorentina’s 3-1 victory over reigning Serie A champions, Napoli, on Sunday. He was given “Man of the Match” honors and a 8.3 rating from FOTMOB for his 73 minutes on the pitch. In the opening 10 minutes, the ball took a sharp deflection off the post and rolled right to Brekalo, who slammed a low shot right between the Napoli keeper’s legs. It is Brekalo’s first goal for Fiorentina and what a time to grab it. With Perišić out for the entire season and Ivanušec possibly out for this month’s Euro qualifiers versus Turkey and Wales, the left-wing position is wide open for the taking. Welcome back, Brekalo!
Roko Šimić is on fire in the young Austrian Bundesliga season! The 20 year-old Croatian U21 striker already has five goals and one assist in 11 matches this season (9 Austrian Bundesliga/2 Champions League). He scored again Sunday in RB Salzburg’s 2-2 draw vs. Austria Klagenfurt. With Croatia’s strikers dropping like flies, you would have to think Dalić would have to bring him up to the senior squad sooner than later; possibly next month during November Euro 2024 qualifiers. Unfortunately, Austrian Bundesliga highlights are nowhere to be found. Can anyone help in that department?
Petar Musa came off the bench in the 70′ Saturday and supplied the game-winning assist in 93rd minute injury time, heading the ball to teammate Antonio Silva following a corner kick. The win keeps Benfica one point behind leaders Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese title race. With Petković and Kramarić hurt and Livaja retiring from the national team this weekend, did Musa just become Croatia’s new #9 over night?
Mateo Kovačić was lucky not to be sent off Sunday in Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal. His 1st half tackle on Odegaard went to VAR but the original yellow card was not upgraded to red. Possibly the wrong decision in many eyes. This is now City’s second straight Premiership loss which puts them two points behind co-leaders Tottenham and Arsenal. Kova was given a 3/10 rating by 90min.com as he “Remarkably wasn’t sent off for utterly daft challenges in the first half.” Croatian counterpart Joško Gvardiol played the full 90 minutes and received a 6/10 grade from 90min.com as he “Almost scored early in the game. Defended well at the other end of the park.”
Luka Modrić got a rare start for Real Madrid on Saturday in a 4-0 win over Osasuna. He played 79 minutes and received a 7/10 grade from 90min.com as Modrić was “Intent on making a statement after watching the last two league games from the bench, Modric started practically every Madrid move and hounded after the ball out of possession as well.” He provided a hockey assist on Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the match.
I hate to add to all the injury problems, but Kova is really in a slump at City. Hopefully kum Modrić can help get his form back.
about Palestine vs Israel topic..
you will find both things happen
It’s not…
one side that is doing this!
on the other side is not doing it!
Trinity requires sacrifice of the brain cells
No it doesn’t. You should watch Sam Shamoun take Mohammedans to school. Mohammedans don’t even know their own book, it’s funny to watch.
do you mean this Sam Shamoun?
|| Explanation about the Trinity ||
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6gPvXukuqA
btw . . .
I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ
so when Jesus Christ was walking
was he teaching the people –>
gospel of Mark, Luke, John, Matthew
which was written later on?
which gospel was he teaching?
Lol, similar to what happened with Frigan, after Brekalo gets the NT call-up, he broke his duck for Fiorentina. Started the game and scored the first goal in Fiorentina’s 3-1 win at Napoli. If I’m not wrong, this is Brekalo’s first competitive goal in more than a year. Selected as MOTM by Fotmob.
Btw, if Petkovic is also ruled out, that means Dalic has to call up 2 forwards, right? Which I reckon should be Simic and Beljo? I’m pretty sure Frigan is unavailable as he’s nursing an ankle injury.
Simic wasn’t on the standby list.
I think they can only call up whoever was on the standby list…
Forwards: Andrej Kramarić, Josip Brekalo, Bruno Petković, Marko Livaja, Petar Musa
On-call: Duje Ćaleta-Car, Marin Pongračić, Luka Sučić, Nikola Moro, Martin Baturina, Dion Drena Beljo, Matija Frigan, Dominik Kotarski
Fortunately, Beljo continues to start for Augsburg, and he put in a complete game this weekend. He already has trained with the repka and should be called up. Nikola Moro already was called up, if I am not mistaken. Dalic probably put so many defenders on standby because Turkey and Wales both tend to be better at the front than at the back.
Only those on the standby list? Yikes… okay, no Simic this time round then. Luckily as TGAD said below, Beljo is still playing a lot at Augsburg.
I think Musa will get the start.
Shame that Krama won’t be there (since I think he would do well with a big striker like Musa in front of him).
Hopefully Sosa gets some minutes, and we can create width with him and Juranović sending in crosses to Musa.
hypothetically, since spurs are first at the moment..if spurs were to win the title..would Perisic get a medal?
Yes.
Krama got one when Leicester won it and he was on loan.
Can anyone bring back Ziva Istina to this site or is he posting under a different name and I am unaware of it. I had no clue who Livaja was until he mentioned him years ago and said from the start that he was a player to avoid at all costs.
How are you, Ziva Instina?
ha ha
Ziva “look at me” Istina aka The Truth aka wanker
Livaja has done the right thing by quitting the national team, he simply is not good enough and never has been. Dalic needs to start playing younger players upfront. Time to call up Simic, Beljo and Frigan from the U21 for the upcoming matches against Turkey and Wales.
The optics are bad.
Dinamo kingpin (Dario Šimić) pushes his son into the lineup over Torcida’s favorite son (Marko Livaja).
Get the anti-Šimić signs ready!
Dario je kriv!!!
I guess that there were signs in Rijeka calling for Livaja’s death (umri Livaja?). That’s just horrible. I feel sorry for Livaja. Like him or not, he’s just a footballer. He’s also having a bad season, and I’m sure noone is taking that harder than himself. Probably doesn’t want to bring all of that negativity to the team, given Dalic’s insistence on positivity within the team. And there are other players coming up, of course, so Livaja might not get to play anyway.
Can we get Simic in at this stage or do we have to wait for November?
I don’t think he was on the standby callup list. So we’ll have to wait.
Standard Splican behavior. When the going gets tough, Livaja quits.
Instead of pointing out his behaviour is due to where is from how about just pointing out his characteristics are due to his own stubborn nature. Not everyone from the North is great either bud.
Splicani deserve the praise. Croatia’s best.
He has nobody to blame but himself.
A wise man on here once nicknamed him “Look at me Livaja”. Nickname sticks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyJFHnIKeyj/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Here’s the official Livaja news.
I’m happy today😁
I’m popping champagne as we speak
After Livaja
If we don’t summons Beljo and Frigan (from the list) we never will
Also – too late to call up Simic ?
I would also summons Sucic and Butarina (drop Vlasic or Majer)
We have Modric and Vida as super senior/experience to start – also Broz and Kova (as a sub) – that’s most experience than most teams have in their entire 11
Dalic learning a lesson the hard way – not to give the youngsters a chance when he had the chance / in an orderly manner – now he has no choice – there is now these “panic” call-ups – who haven’t been there before / done it
Simic scored again today – 5 Goals in last 6 Games for RBS
And he can’t even make the back-up list
For silly U21 – that mean nothing
Livaja torpedoed his own career by being a hot head. He is not up to the standard of the National Team. Good riddance.
Livaja gone petko hurt
Musa and simic in
Time to shine boys
Where is all this Simic love coming from?
Dalic only has the young players now, so you play who is scoring and both Simic and Musa are on an upward trajectory this season. That is where the Simic love is coming from. Who would you have picked??
Kid has a good attitude
Playing regularly in a Decent league and has been scoring regularly this year
I don’t think it’s all love but I think what most are saying
If we can try to keep pushing Livaja who clearly puts in average effort and not a great scoring rate for us overall
Why not try to roll out a youngster who clearly has much more of an upside
This could be beljo and of course musa who I’m sure needs more time and can become solid enough for us.
I think what others are saying as we know is we need to implement some youth even earlier
With the awful injury to Perisic and untimely injuries to petko and ivanusec
Livaja who could really step up now pulls shoot
I’m not shitting on dalic, but necessity has forced his hand
But fortunately we have a cushion, we have a great defence, midfield and Livaković is really pushing to cement himself as a very reliable piece for us
Now let’s hope one of these kids steps up
Simic with his pedigree, good work ethic, athletic(probably non smoking and drinking) body and solid results so far
Deserves a call up
I can’t speak for all but im sure a few would agree with my view on him
I agree I think that it has to be between those three players Simic, Musa, Beljo one of them has to step up for the National Squad. Ljubicic had a great start to his first season but he is now on a downturn. Sucic may also have an opportunity, despite his injury, of being called up. This is especially the case since Perisic, Orsic, and Ivanusec are now questionable to return.
In a way this could be a great thing to give some of the younger players a chance to play together since it will need to happen anyways.
I am still hoping that Majer can salvage his season here, because I think he needs to become a crucial player for us, we could use that Majer back in his first season with Rennes.
https://x.com/croatiannews/status/1711025119559057421?s=46&t=tqKhM4idNWs96tKnQSyglQ
Halftime in Amsterdam.
Sutalo and Sosa not playing. Ajax looked very poor in first half.
Medic is in the lineup.
Good.
People are quick to jump on Sutalo here, and you can see it’s more of an Ajax issue than a player issue.
They’re going to lose today regardless of who is starting in that backline for them.
Regardless of the lineup we field vs Turkey, it’ll make for a much harder game for us with these injuries. Our front line was starting to play better with Petko in great form and Kramaric scoring goals, while Ivanusec looked to be turning a corner.
It’ll be sad if it goes from a Perisic-Petko-Kramaric front three to a Brekalo-Livaja-Pasalic/Vlasic front 3 which is likely what Dalic does if Ivanusec can’t play. Vlasic should be dropped in favor of a younger player (Baturina/Sucic). Hell, even give Pjaca another shot.
We really are in a bind. If we had experimented more with a 3-5-2 this would be the time to employ it and have Sosa and Juranovic as the wingbacks with Gvardiol-Sutalo- Stanisic holding the back. Then you could have Musa up top with someone like Pasalic given our limited options. Although Musa really hasn’t showed much with his limited chances thus far, it’s still far too early to form an opinion. At least he’s scoring and playing regularly.
I feel like what looked like an opportunity to qualify well in advance is going to create a typical qualifying campaign for us where it goes down to the final game.
It won’t go down to the wire, since we’re in first place with a game in hand (and a three point cushion to qualify).
Even if we finish with 1 win and 3 losses in our final 4 games, we very likely finish at least second place and qualify automatically anyway.
In this scenario, Armenia and Wales would still have to win 2 of their 3 final games AND they still have to play each other (meaning one of them loses points to the other). Even if one of them manages to pull it off…it would result in only tying us on points and relying on goal differential or head-to-head to surpass us (which still may not be enough to progress).
These next two games is moreso about securing first place and a top seeding at the Euros.
We’ve already qualified for the tournament.
@MART
I’m reminded once again Perisic is such an important player for us. Our best winger and when situation calls for it, also our best leftback (Gvardiol aside).
It looks like from now till WC2026, we have to continue to rotate between Sosa and Barisic, but given Barisic’s age and also he’s an average player to begin with, I highly doubt he will still cut it for us on the NT 1 to 2 years down the road.
So maybe we have to consider Bradaric or Robert Ljubicic as alternatives in future… but Bradaric’s team Salernitana is quite shitty and can easily drop to Serie B while Ljubicic is not a genuine leftback.
Anyways, a couple of sites are predicting Sosa and Sutalo will start for Ajax in the big clash vs AZ tomorrow. Let’s hope our guys will do well!
***
Frigan who is on the stand-by list is also injured (ankle) so if Petko is unavailable, I think Dalic has to call up Beljo.
***
Musa with a nice header assist in Benfica’s 1-0 win at Estoril. Came off the bench in the 69th min and assisted the goal in the 93rd min. Dude remains in fine form.
https://twitter.com/SPORTTVPortugal/status/1710769129400004743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
***
LUKA je najbolji!!!😀
Managingmadrid.com:
Luka Modric—8.5: The 38-year-old put in a fantastic shift. Played 3 key passes, including a threaded ball to Carvajal inside the box who played the wall pass to Bellingham for the early opening goal.
Luka Modric (7/10):
Completed the most passes in the match. Floated about and did lots of pleasing things on the ball.
Spremni
Anyone who accepts that God can exist and not exist at the same time is mentally unwell
2-1 Rijeka today.
You heard it here first, boys.
Wrong again Armada (as usual).
It was 1-0.
Most important thing is we won and are in 1st. And all the tovari on this site can suck a fat one.
Wonderful hockey assist from that Luka guy for the 1-0.