OH MY! What has Luka Sučić done to score the first La Liga goal of his career?! The 22 year-old midfielder scored a phenomenal goal Sunday night; one-timing a pass from 27 yards out to beat a very, very good Jan Oblak in the Atletico goal. The 84th minute strike would equalize the match between Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid to chop the points in a 1-1 draw. The way Sučić plays, this goal was inevitable; however it’s still pretty to see with your own eyes. Sučić will supply a certain “swagger” the Croatian national time has not possessed this century. He’s never afraid to shoot the ball from 25+ yards out and his attempts on goal always look like they came out of a cannon. This will certainly be a goal he will never forget. Sučić received a 7.8 FOTMOB rating for his efforts vs. Atletico.
Mateo Kovačić scored two fantastic goals for Manchester City Saturday in 3-2 win over Fulham. When it rains, it pours for Kova. How many braces as he scored for City and Croatia compared to 1-goal performances. He received a 9/10 grade from 90min.com as the “The Croatian’s first was deflected and a little fortuitous, but his second was smartly taken and well deserved. Doesn’t offer the protection and safety Rodri does but few others in world football do.”
Joško Gvardiol got the start for City and received a 7/10 grade from 90min.com. “Distributed the ball well and rarely came out of a one-on-one duel on the losing side.”
Luka Modrić was credited with an assist following a corner kick in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Villarreal. 90min.com gave him a 7/10 grade as he “Floated about on the right and regularly came inside. Got the assist for Valverde’s goal and might have had one of his own on another day.”
Nikola Vlašić converted a late penalty for Torino in a 3-2 loss to Inter Milan.
Ante Budimir scored his 4th La Liga goal of the season in a 1-1 draw vs. Getafe. It was a wonderful, curling ball just inside the far post. We know Budimir can do it with his head, and this is a nice reminder he can score with his boots too.
Early Boban interview speaks about his love for Croatia
Sends shivers up Anonymous’ spine
***.instagram.com/p/DA2tGDAuha6/?img_index=1
From HNS.Youth on the Gram
U19, U17, U15 squads/fixtures y’day (U17 qualifying – others are friendlies)
Here are their 3 posts – one observation is how many of our youth are in some pretty impressive academy programs around Europe
Anonymous doesn’t have time to go thru name by name – pls do some on ur own time – and report back any interesting findings !
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hns.youth
Hrvatsku U-19 u predstojećim danima čeka nastup na međunarodnom prijateljskom turniru u Poreču!
Izbornik Siniša Oreščanin uvrstio je na popis kandidata sljedeće igrače: Ljubo Puljić (Bayern), Dorian Migalić (Stuttgart), Patrice Čović (Werder), Sergej Levak (Roma), Oliver Lukić (RB Salzburg), Antonio Rajić (Dinamo), Raul Bezeljak (Hajduk), Noa Mikić (Dinamo), Marko Zebić (Dinamo), Marino Skelin (Hajduk), Ante Utrobičić (Karlovac), Ante Sušak (Gorica), Luka Hodak (Hajduk), Antonio Baždarić (Lokomotiva), Matija Subotić (Lokomotiva), Tomas Baković (Dinamo), Jakov Bilajac (RIjeka), Šimun Butić (Rijeka), Niko Farkaš (Osijek), Miloš Jovičić (TSC), Bruno Durdov (Hajduk), Lovro Chelfi (Kustošija), Filip Živković (Osijek), Leo Rimac (Dinamo) i Sven Lesjak (Varaždin).
🇭🇷🇲🇽 09/10, Poreč, 12:30
🇭🇷🇮🇪 12/10, Poreč, 15:15
🇭🇷🇬🇷 15/10, Poreč, 11:00
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hns.youth
“Imamo odličnu generaciju, nažalost smo zbog ozljeda ostali bez nekolicine važnih igrača, ali igrači koji su tu dat će sve od sebe da dostojno prezentiramo hrvatski nogomet” 🎙️ Marijan Budimir, izbornik
Hrvatska U-17 u srijedu u Albaniji kreće u borbu za plasman u drugi kvalifikacijski krug za #U17EURO – sretno! 🤞
🇭🇷🇦🇱 09/10, Tirana, 15:00
🇭🇷🇫🇴 12/10, Tirana, 11:00
🇭🇷🇳🇱 15/10, Tirana, 13:30
Mjesto među dvije najbolje reprezentacije Skupine 3 tražit će Matej Grahovac (Osijek), Roko Vojvodić (Hajduk), Mateo Čupić (Hajduk), Karlo Pajsar (Parma), Lukas Murica (Rijeka), Nikola Radnić (Dinamo), Leon Jakirović (Dinamo), Borna Ivanda (Dugopolje), Roko Mijatović (Bayern), Filip Bokan (Hajduk), Pavle Smiljanić (Lokomotiva), Petar Nemet (Istra 1961), Petar Zvonimir Kostelac (Lokomotiva), Niko Horvat (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Luka Petrović (Real Sociedad), Patrik Horvat (Dinamo), Dražen Jaman (Osijek), Mateo Juričić (Hajduk), Tino Kusanović (Nürnberg) i Bruno Mišura (Hajduk).
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hns.youth
Pod vodstvom izbornika Sretena Ćuka, Hrvatska U-15 odigrat će u srijedu u Ludbregu prijateljske utakmice protiv @nkvarazdin (9:30) i @nkrudes (11:30).
Hrvatske će boje braniti Franko Pletikosa (Hajduk), Petar Tolić (Osijek), Lukas Vucelić (Kustošija), Jakov Barišić (Rudeš), Filip Pavić (Bayern), Christian Šimunović (AZ Alkmaar), Jakov Andrić (Rudeš), Ivan Pratnemer (Cibalia), Roko Marušić (Solin), Vito Sablić (Lokomotiva), Roko Šabarić (Lučko), Kai Nesfield (Devetka), Patrik Pilat (Rudeš), Frane Tomić (Šibenik), Dominik Herceg (Karlsruhe), Luka Kelava (Hoffenheim), Ivan Ćaleta (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Thomas Bradamante (Rijeka), Josip Cipar (Osijek), Juraj Zavrtnik (Dinamo), Endi Veljačić (Istra 1961), Jakov Vetma (Gorica), Luka Brnić (Eintracht), Patrik Šeda (Kustošija), Karlo Radusin (Rijeka), Ivan Vetma (Hajduk), Ivan Vrbat (Hajduk), Petar Jelavić (Istra 1961), David Badovinac (Kustošija), Jakov Prskalo (Lokomotiva), Ivano Mišković (Sesvete) i Mladen Mrnjavac (Varaždin).
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Watched both U17 and U19 matches.
U17 were the better team against Albania but failed to capitalise on some good chances in front of goal. Next match is against Faroe’s who lost 6 – 0 to Holland. It could come down to goal difference, so we need to win by a big margin.
U19 drew 1 – 1 with Mexico which was a fair result played on a poor-quality pitch in Porec.
Thank you Mart
Did Durdov play in U19 ? (Hopefully they don’t call him up to sit him on the bench…)
Noticed in U15 Pletisoka’s son (he has 6 kids) Franko has been called
Yes, he played for 60 odd minutes before being subbed. He looked dangerous on the ball and was taking the defenders on. He provided the cross for our goal, the ball deflected from a Mexican defender into the path of our player who slotted it in under the crossbar.
Did not know that Pletikosa had six kids and a son in our U15’s. Hopefully he turns out to be better than his dad Stipe ?
Yup – first name under U15 (Hajduk academy) Franko
Six kids indeed
https://shakhtar.com/en/news/2021/march/26_news/26_stipe-pletikosa/
All you guys that are stuck on statistics and percentages are missing the point of soccer and most likely about life in general.
There’s a reason it’s called the beautiful game and it’s goals like that contribute to that appellation.
Mi Hrvati are always bucking the trends and making mockery of your almighty statistics.
A nation of 4 million souls with limited resources has no business (statistically) to get to World Cup semifinals, never mind finals but guess what, we do it and we’ll do it again too. But we definitely don’t get there with computer nerds who cream their jeans when the statistics prove to be accurate and try to denigrate a great goal by saying it was lucky.
Truth, did you really write that that goal bores you? If that goal bores you why do you watch soccer? To be confirmed in your worship of statistics? Let me explain to you the reason that goal is considered beautiful… it is because it is UNEXPECTED! It caught everyone off guard (except for Sucić, he knew what he was doing).
Then you went on to pontificate about how Sucić will probably score a wondergoal for Croatia but it will be rare. Duh, thanks Einstein. Yeah, that’s why they’re called wonder goals they don’t happen everyday.
A beautiful, creative and perfect goal in that very particular situation. Let’s just appreciate the fact that we have yet another great young prospect moving forward.
Bog i Hrvati
Give him a break.
He thought Gvardiol’s career would be over now via injury, and thought Vušković was too tall to become anything in his career.
Now they’re looking like the backbone of an All-time great backline.
That’s on par with thinking Modrić will bust out at Real, then becoming an All-time great for them.
Yeah, anytime anyone has truth in their online profile name or their business, you are pretty much guaranteed that you will get anything but the truth. Just skip over the comments and save yourself some time.
@Stari
👍
If few more guys pan out to be world class and rest are solid we will have a chance at another World Cup or Euro final sooner or later..
—(Ljubicic)—(R.Simic)-(Beljo)—(Rukavina)
————-—Matanovic—Matkovic——————
————-—(Vrbancic)——(Lukic)——————
(Biuk)-Baturina(Zvonarek)L.Sucic-(Mikic)
Durdov—————Kovacic—————Stanisic
-(Bradaric)—(P.Sucic)—(Jakic)—-(Pasalic)
———-Gvardiol—Vuskovic-—Sutalo————
——————(Prpic)—(Perkovic
I’m afraid if we stick w/ the hard #s re: Luka Sucic goal than the truth2 is leaning in the right direction
The xGOT was 0.05 (i.e. shouldn’t go in 95% of the time)
As comparison the Akanji goal last yr that was also a 0.01 xG – the xGOT was 0.38x (i.e. shouldn’t go in 62% of the time)
The inference of the xGOT model is that they keeper should have been on his line still (he was a few yards out) and should have saved the shot 19 times out of 20 (Anonymous assumes the model has discounted to such a relative low xGOT bc the shot was “lobbed in” instead of a thunder-blast, so more time to react)
Moving away from the #s, why Anonymous used the word “phenomenal” is his “Cole-Palmer-like” approach to the shot/goal i.e the quick release “lobbed-in” nature of it (Cole Palmer is known for this as opposed to “thunder-blasting” them in) – this is a marked difference from:
– Blast vs. Italy @ Euros (xG 0.02; xGOT 0.26)
– Blast Apr 2022 vs. Rapid Wien (xG 0.02; xGOT 0.47)
– Blast Aug 2021 friendly vs. Barca (can’t find the #s) for that)
It’s good he is adding to this new skill to his set (beyond just thunder-blasting the ball) – probably picked it up watching Cole Palmer (so many footballers are these days)
Here is a different (really cool) angle from perspective of just behind Sucic on field (who can se the “lobbed in” trajectory)
x.com/asiento_127/status/1843623987332763918
Maminjo mentioned it would be good if Sucic could do one of these shots per game – Anonymous agrees – not so much bc he will score often from them (as the trust2 suggests) – but w/ the threat of Sucic doing so out on the field (and no goalie wants to be scored from such a distance) – it will force goalies to play more “honestly” and stick to their lines as they don’t want to be scored out so far away) – so that’s a pretty big advantage in context of the rest of our offensive build-up, etc towards the goal i.e. opposition defence needs to play deeper / closer to the goalie on the line (all else equal), etc etc etc
Palmer looks like a retard. Haircut doesn’t help
Harsh
Here’s his goal vs wolves last month eg of his “lobbing it” in
Luka has for sure been watching his goals
Luka’s is much harder though (further out, tighter angle, keeper not as far off his line)
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/video/palmers-genius-lob-vs-wolves
Sucic is a stud, the guy has a shot and skill. To say it was lucky is such a load of crap. That shot is what he does not only with shooting but also crossing. Remember that cross against Italy which led to the modric goal it was difficult to defend he knows how to curl them he constantly has lethal crosses.
Croatia already has a world class player in gvardiol and I believe sucic will follow. He’s only a few games in a top 5 league and if you watch he’s defending has already improved and his pace of running has already increased. Once he fully becomes the man and gains confidence that a single mistake here of there won’t affect his playing time he will grow into a star. If by some miracle Durdov, pasalic and some other wingers can continue to improve we will be really good come WC 26. If I was Dalic this is what I would be drawing up in my head for 2026
………………………….Livakovic……………………..
……..Sutalo …… .Erlic or Dcc……….Gvardiol….
…………………P.Sucic…Kovacic………….
Stanisic…………………………………………………..:.?
……………..::..:……….….Sucic……………………………..
………………………Baturina/ ?
I dont love Sosa as a guarantee will see what happens over the year and the main striker is wide open. I like Baturina to replace kramaric in a 3-5-2 system. And I like matanovic but he’s by no means solidified his place. I would like to replace Sosa with a player with more of a threat. Hopefully we can be like 98 where one of our wingers was a defender like jarni and the other was a more midfielder like stanic. We’ll see what happens.
I think the sucic goal and out of the box shots are a worthwhile discussion to continue
Let me first say, that some didn’t like me saying the Sucic shot was lucky. But it was.
This doesn’t imply there wasn’t skill. When a golfer hits a hole in 1, it required a ton of skill but it was also lucky because the outcome was in the deep tail of the distribution. Same thing for the Sucic shot. The amount of times he’ll hit that are rare.
Now I agree that Sucic does have a strong leg and several threatening shots. In a season, there is a big question of how many of these shots can anyone ever really hit. And the answer is few. And ultimately, if you depend on this for your goals, you’re probably in trouble.
Back in the day when I had my analysts do training by doing soccer analytics, we did some work on the efficacy of outside shots. What you generally found is outside shots themselves were not overly effective as their success rate is so low. This is standard analytics and why outside shots attempted was declining for a while. But there was a potential second order effect where the mere threat of shooting could bend the defense a bit and open up other opportunities. Additionally, if you didn’t shoot, you may not get a better shot. With the advent of AI, this second derivative might be able to be assessed better now.
This is a decent article from fivethirtyeight back in the day that grapples with some of these issues. My current conclusion is that the Ante’s of the world and many are still obsessed with outside the box shots and maybe they have become slightly undervalued, but they are simply not the way to consistently win soccer games. So if the hope is it will take Croatia to glory, think again. The Sucic shot was nice..but lucky and doesn’t mean a consistent bright future.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-soccer-wrong-about-long-shots/
As soon as you write the goal is lucky, I stop reading. Why would I keep reading if someone posts such absolute drivel and nonsense.
Ugh. Nothing worse than writing a long post and have it stuck in moderation.
Diego Simeone, coach of Atletico Madrid, on Sucic goal:
“I don’t think (their goal) was a lack of our concentration, it was a great goal from 35 metres,” Simeone said.
“There was a loss of the ball, but they hit us from almost 40 metres and he scored a great goal. We have to improve all the small details, but you can lose a ball because it’s part of the game. We have to congratulate him for the great goal he scored.”
What exactly is Dalić job the rest of the time?
He has the boys what a month a year?
All he has to do is watch games
Anyways, during these posts we found out luka sucic is a fluke
He was like an Inch from taking us up against Italy and again as others commented on his two killer strikes against Madrid
If I had a dollar for every time broz kicked a field goal for us…..
Fact is sucic obviously has a nose for goal. Perhaps a more offensive rakitic with similar quality strikes
Kova obviously getting more confidence as he has Been scoring much more as he grows in his career similar to how luka started scoring
Love to see how the two Lukas and kova do with more time now that broz is gone
We are bound to start scoring more as a whole
Dalic eventually gets it right…but he takes his time in doing so.
Marco Pasalic will likely see the field against Scotland, which is good because Scotland is known to pack the middle and struggle to defend the wings. Germany destroyed them at the Euros simply by making some wide runs. The wingers created all of their chances that game.
It would have been nice to use some real wingers at the Euros (we would have definitely done better if we did).
Now that it looks like Dalic has made peace with calling up Marco Pasalic to the squad (and Orsic also being a recent addition) we will FINALLY have some width.
We will need guys like Pasalic, Orsic and Pjaca in the Nations League and World Cup qualifiers, to give us what we’ve been missing. These guys aren’t some elite talents, but they are guys who know their roles and will do their job.
From a talent perspective, we will probably need to call on guys like Durdov and Vuskovic by the time 2026 World Cup rolls around too.
Hoping we have enough time for Dalic to give these guys playing time (when our offence becomes stale) so that we’re ready to go for WC2026 (as well as a Nations League playoff run too).
I’ve been noticing that ever since 2021, Dalić has been trying to limit the number of new players he integrates at a single time. There is certainly some merit to that approach, and it yielded a World Cup bronze medal and a Nations League Silver. It cost the team a better result at the Euros, but if it results in a Nations League gold for Luka Modrić and another World Cup semifinals run, it will be worth it. So far, injuries have forced Dalić out of his comfort zone this fall, but the second half against Portugal and the match against Poland showed that these players adapt to each other more quickly than Dalić previously imagined.
I don’t think there is any correlation to limiting the number of new players and the bronze and silver medals at the last World Cup and Nations League.
Dalic is a relationship guy. He’s similar to Slaven Bilic in this personality trait.
This is good in the sense that they’re cool headed guys who are very diplomatic…but they also become a prisoner to the veteran players who may feel like they have seniority (which should not apply in a results-oriented industry) and very easily lose control of the team.
The poor results at the two Euros are directly the result of this.
At Euro2020, he didn’t integrate the young guys early enough and treated the Nations League games as basic scrimmages.
He integrated younger players (like Petkovic and Vlasic) when he was FORCED to do so (when Raketa and Mandzo retired, and Strinic had a career-ending injury)…but otherwise he just opted for the vets (like Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, etc.). When it clearly wasn’t working, then he panicked and experimented with guys like Juranovic, Ivanusec, Gvardiol into the mix DURING the actual tournament.
At Euro2024, he had a top scorer in La Liga (Budimir)…and opted to not start him. He had decent wingers (Pasalic, Pjaca, etc.) who could give the width we needed, and he opted not to play them at all. He had a very poor performing veteran (Broz) that he refused to substitute…and even subbed out others like Modric/Kova instead of him. Players like Sucic, Budimir and a couple of wingers were clearly needed…but Dalic refused. He’d rather play existing vets out of position (like Krama up top during the critical Italy match) than give someone else more time.
His hand was forced in these Nations League with Broz and Vida retiring and Perisic being injured and without a club…but we all know Vida would be playing over Duje Caleta-Car if he didn’t retire…and Petar Sucic wouldn’t even get a callup if Broz was available.
We are very lucky that Broz and Vida retired. Perisic breaking down, is another positive (as we cannot really be considering a 37 year old ACL-torn winger as an option for the 2026 World Cup).
We now have only a few vets (Modric, Krama, Budimir, Petkovic, Kova) who are all playing well and are likely still good for 2026.
But at the same time, we’ve been given the opportunity to continue to go through the growing pains and build chemistry with a collection of youngsters like Gvardiol, Sutalo, Stanisic, Baturina, P Sucic, L Sucic, Pasalic, Matanovic…and possibly a couple more in Durdov and Vuskovic (if they get the callup). We’ve got two years to build with this group, and we are lucky that Dalic’s hand was forced. LW is still a big issue, but hopefully Orsic can show us he belongs and be that sixth veteran for the 2026 World Cup.
I don’t think there is any correlation to limiting the number of new players and the bronze and silver medals at the last World Cup and Nations League.
Dalic is a relationship guy. He’s similar to Slaven Bilic in this personality trait.
This is good in the sense that they’re cool headed guys who are very diplomatic…but they also become a prisoner to the veteran players who may feel like they have seniority (which should not apply in a results-oriented industry) and very easily lose control of the team.
The poor results at the two Euros are directly the result of this.
Sučić has come back stronger from his knee injuries.
His left foot is special.
He compliments Modrić and Kovačić excellently.
He has that quick trigger that seems to catch folks off guard.
Gvardiol
Majer
Both have it as well.
Maybe it’s a left foot thing?!
Dalic – we might call up Vuskovic (17 y.o.)
Olic – we can’t burden Durdov w/ Senior or U21 (16 y.o.)
So long as they are talking about them, I’m happy.
It means they are on the radar, and they will eventually be called up.
Does is surprise anyone when you have these two coaching geniuses making contradictory comments. The HNS is full of bone heads. The thought that Olic will eventually coach the senior squad is frightening.
Tough match coming up against Scotland on Saturday. According to the BBC they have a dozen players unavailable due to injury. We also have quite a few and now that Pongracic is also out and Sutalo in doubt we are also close to missing ten players.
All of a sudden, we are short of CB’s. Luka Vuskovic is playing great at the moment, but I’m not sure that he is ready yet for the seniors? he made some mistakes in the last U21 match against footballing super power Faroe’s and was partially to blame for their goal in our 2 – 1 win.
Interesting to see what Dalic will do? obviously DCC, Gvardiol and Erlic will start if fit, Jakic can also play as a CB.
Dalic is pretty predictable. If something works the previous game, he will Copy & Paste it for the next game. Doesn’t matter who the opponent is.
I expect our starting lineup to be the exact same one as the Poland game, but just sub in replacements for any injured player (like Erlic for Sutalo or whatever).
…and I just read a quote from Dalić now saying he’ll play the same three at the back, with Erlić subbing in for the injured Šutalo.
Ante / team –
Will you do a preview of Scotland and Poland squad news ?
Unlike Dalic – lots of new faces (incl. previously uncapped players) and players dropped (bc lack of form) and of course injury
Would be good to get the update on both opponents
Maybe Dalic can use it to pick the squad (seeing as we know he doesn’t even watch his own players playing and thinks Petar Sucic played vs. Bayern)
Olić on Bruno Durdov:
“A bright future lies ahead of him. We are happy with every young player who comes in and quickly gets into the focus of the national team. It’s up to him to continue.”
“From my experience, it would be best not to put the burden of the senior national team and U21 on him because if he continues like this at Hajduk, that will be a normal progression.”
So your saying there was thought / discussion of him being called up to Senior team already (not just U21)
Got it
Anonymous comments on the expected goal number for sucic is exactly why that goal bores me
I saw everyone excited about the goal and i went to check it but unfortunately it was exactly what i didn’t want it to be
Some lucky shot from long range
To say it was pure luck is harsh as undoubtedly sucic has a strong foot and there is skill in it
But the reality was it was a 1 percent chance of success…maybe if sucic is incredibly talented it is 3 percent for him
Bottom line is this is something that is a fluke rather than can be depended on.
Sucic will eventually score a wundergoal for Croatia as well but it will be a rare occurrence
What do you mean by lucky shot? It was his intent to curl it far post and to catch Oblak by surprise and unprepared for the shot. Sucic executed the shot perfectly. That goal, and the two shots against Real Madrid that hit the post and bar shows he can be dangerous in different ways. First shot was a rocket from a bouncing ball, then a roll into the corner, then a bit of magic for his first goal. Skill and power. Zero luck.
Luka roofs goals like this pretty regularly.
His shot against Italy at the Euros (that Donnarumma barely saved) is pretty standard protocol for him.
If he can give us that once per game (which seems like it is the case) then we’re good.
Bruno Durdov does a similar thing on the right side when he cuts in and roofs it with his left foot.
He does this often for Hajduk, and yet it goes in at a decent rate (he has three goals this season from this exact type of goal).
This is what makes these two prospects so exciting.
Dalic:
“Unfortunately, we’ve lost Pongračić, and we don’t know what will happen with Šutalo. We will react accordingly.”
“We have defenders like Vušković and Prpić coming in. We have solutions from the under-21 team. We’ll see what approach we’ll take.”
“In agreement with Ivica Olić, we’ll see if we’ll bring in another defender to the A team.”
“During the day, we will assess the situation with the others. I hope there won’t be any other issues.
“We are looking at players who we need and who are available. Matches against Istra, Varaždin, and Slaven Belupo are not a true measure. We are monitoring, and players who prove themselves will get a chance. I do not underestimate HNL, but that’s the reality.”
Anonymous
MIC DROP
For all those who didn’t believe Anonymous Dalic could call up Vuskovic
And got fooled bc he put Prpic on the Mickey Mouse “standby list” that doesn’t mean anything – sad that most of u fell for it (and than argued Prpic > Vuskovic lol)
Just listen to Anonymous – and learn – or don’t – Anonymous doesn’t care either way
Dalic on Baturina and Sučić
“After the Bayern match, people thought they weren’t good enough, but after Monaco, they were seen as outstanding players. That’s our reality. They are gems, they need support. There will be fluctuations and weaker performances, but they are recognized as potential talents.”
“The match against Monaco was excellent, and I hope they continue in that way with the national team. They need time. I believe they will soon become key players for the national team, not just for Dinamo.”
lol
Is Dalic even watching any matches / following the players ?????
Peter Sucic DID NOT PLAY vs. Bayern !!!!!
If he actually watched his players – especially his beloved Dinamo (the only team he wants to pick from) – he would understand the reason Dinamo lost is bc of no Sucic (Dinamo lost every match when Sucic was out) – now Sucic has returned and Dinamo has won/tied every game
Unreal
Dalic on fire today
Some gems
“”The rule was that it was difficult to enter and exit the national team, but that has now changed.”
lol – he just told us that was the rule a month ago ! Flip flop one month later.
Luka Sucic goal is phenomenal
Fotmob reports xG of 0.01 on the goal i.e. 1% chance of scoring
Unfortunately Fotmob only report xG to two decimals (i.e. xG out to 3 (e.g. 0.006) or 4 (e.g. 0.0051) decimal places can round up to 0.01 at two decimals) – if we had more decimals we could rank it / amongst “lowest xG goals ever scored”
By reference Man City scored 96 PL goals last season and score 1 goal at xG of 0.01 and 2 goals at xG of 0.02
Buda
Orsic. – Krama – Susic
Kova. – Modric
Gvardi. – DCC. – Sutalo. – Jakic
Livako
Three Luka will start at the World Cup
Ajmo!!!
Like the three kings
5-3-2
…………….Budimir……….Kramaric………….
………………………..Sucic……………………….
……………..Kova……………Modric…………..
Sosa…………………………………………Jakic
……………Gvar……DCC……Sutalo………….
4-4-2
…………………….Budimir………………………..
Orsic……………Kramaric……………MarcoP
………………Kova……….Modric………………
Gvardiol…………………………………….Jakic
………………….Erlic….Sutalo………………….
What a stunning late goal by Luka Sucic in 1 – 1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
His first goal for Real Sociedad.
Incredible.
Watched it over and over and still stuns me
Erlic MOTM today on Sofascore.
But….FOTMOB has him as the 5th best player on Bologna…..
0-0 tie with Parma.
Anybody see the game?
Erlic had a disappointing season last year. Maybe he will turn things around this season and get back on track?
Maybe…but with Duje Caleta-Car playing the way he has, poor Erlic has likely lost his spot on the National Team.
Add the fact that Luka Vuskovic is looking like a generational talent, where even Dalic won’t be able to avoid calling him up for World Cup 2026…and it looks like Erlic will be one of those fringe callups on the pretpoziv list for the rest of his career with us.
“Erlic had a disappointing season last year.”
Yet managed to get on a champions league team? I think you mean Sassuolo had a disappointing season last year. Erlic has been solid in Italy for the past 5 years. Above average CB. We need one of either DCC or Erlic starting every game.
Ivanovic has just scored…..this guy is on a bit of a roll. A nice goal too, beat the goalie cleanly…..1-0 USG leading Brugge……
From what I have seen this year Ivanovic has improved a lot from last year. He is physically stronger and is quicker and importantly he is scoring goals. For the upcoming crucial U21 qualifier against Greece if I was Olic I would start with Ivanovic up front with Beljo who is also in good goal scoring form.
Thanks Mart. I see what you mean, Beljo has been scoring goals in Austria (4 goals in 8 starts) but maybe it has not received quite as much attention here as it probably deserved…..I know I missed it….buried, I guess, in all the other news. I think we must have 12-15 guys going now in just the Belgium and Austrian leagues combined, not to mention all the players in all the other leagues…..and then there is the HNL……a problem keeping up with it all, but it is a good problem to have for a Croatian nogomet fan. This site, with the insight and expertise of you and the others, is much appreciated and sure helps…..
Igor on the bench against Bayern Munich. Frankfurt on their heels but have tied it 1-1 with a Marmoush counterattack early in first half. Hopefully Igor gets subbed in and sees some action today….
Someone asked about Bradaric the other day. I watched his full game for Verona against Venezia this weekend. Started at left back (Verona played four defenders). I saw him start at midfield for Salernitana last year but he was the left defender for Verona. He crossed the ball well, and seemed a little like Sosa in his ability to cross and service the Verona attackers…..early in the first half Bradaric launched a picture perfect long ball cross from about 35 yards out and the Verona attacker should have put it away but just missed with the header. Bradaric took some of the corner kicks for Verona, he has a very good left foot. He had one hard shot on goal from about 25 yards. He played well, not a star in the game but played well, and seemed to have found a fit with his new team…..not sure that he could ever be an impact player with our national team, Gvardiol has the left foot and our defence is shaping up to be among the best or perhaps very best in the world. But Bradaric looks to my untrained eye like a guy who might be on his way to developing into a solid player for Verona in Serie A, and might possibly provide some solid extra depth for the national team somewhere down the road….
Maybe one of those late bloomers that fly a bit under the radar and become serviceable or even more so
Ante taking orders from a serb Nebojša
lol
Branimir supports Kamala
***.instagram.com/p/C9sjcyOScaa/
lol
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Reprezentativno okupljanje u nastavku kvalifikacija za Euro 2025 zbog ozljeda će propustiti vezni igrač Dinama Luka Stojković i napadač Osijeka Anton Matković.
Izbornik Ivica Olić odlučio je stoga uputiti novi poziv – reprezentaciji će se na okupljanju pridružiti Moris Valinčić, branič Istre 1961.
#####
Olic already called up Frigan
But Valincic wasn’t even on stand-by
Shows him / Kranjcar continue to do work / monitor a wide selection of players
And these standby-lists are silly as they don’t lock u in
U can just call up whoever u want anyways
Modric with assist
Kovacic with double
Budimir nice finish
Pasalic playing full match with no goal and assist despite team scoring 5 goals.
Sosa on bench
Orsic subbed in 73th min
Perisic injured and sub off 46th min
Vlasic pen
Roko simic on bench for whole match
Majer, stanisic and juranovic long term injury
Vidovic no idea what happened
Vuskovic getting rave reviews on internet from Tottenham fans after his two goals.
Kova with two key goals today for City. The second was a great goal, took a pass from Bernardo and stepped around Fulham defender and fired a hard shot from about 18 yards, beat the goalie who went to his right to get it but had no chance. I see some Chelsea fans griping, saying that they should still have Kova in their midfield and they gave him away too cheaply. 3-2 City.
Vlasic on a penalty kick in Serie A. Had come on late in the game. (Torino was down to 10 men most of the game against Inter). The Inter goalie guessed correctly and dove left but the shot was just too good. No Sosa. Inter 3-2 win.
Budimir also scored in Spain today but I did not see that game and no details.
I see that Vidovic did not play again for Mainz. He has not seen the field this Bundesliga season after playing quite well for Bayern Munich in pre-season friendlies. Is this expected? Doesn’t the team that loans the player out and/or the player’s agent get some kind of idea that the guy will see the field before making/agreeing to the deal? How does that typically work? Can someone explain that process? Or is it just that it is early in the season and Vidovic is getting acquainted with a new coach and system? If he had gone back to Dinamo he would have already had two Champions League games under his belt with several more to come. Yeah, involvement in the 9-2 Massacre at Munich would not have been ideal, but at least he would have been playing…..anybody have thoughts on Vidovic? I really thought this had the makings of a break out season for Vidovic….
Majer is still injured and did not play for Wolfsburg. A shame, he started the season so well, and easily looked like Wolfsburg’s best player….
Perisic got injured today just before half time, I went and watched the reply, and it is not his knee. He got a knock on the ankle and did not come out for the second half. Not sure if he will be fit for NL matches ?
Vidovic was at Dinamo on loan from Bayern and at the end of last season had an option to buy him for 3.5 million. Dinamo was willing to pay half the amount, but Bayern refused. I have written on here before that Vidovic lacks pace and in modern football that is a huge handicap.
With Dinamo he was playing as a left winger and that is not his natural position. He is an attacking central midfielder, playing just behind the forwards. In an interview before going to Mainz, Vidovic said that the coach promised him that he would play him in his preferred position in midfield. He is new to the club, and I guess he needs to convince the coach that he deserves a spot in the starting 11.
He stood out playing for our U19 side in midfield, however he has not shown much playing for our U21 side in recent times all be it playing mostly on the left wing. We’ll see if Olic will use him in the upcoming U21 qualifiers against Andorra and Greece? however, due to lack of playing time he will most likely be on the bench?
I saw someone invoke my name regarding vuskovic the other day
A couple things
1) he’s still just 6’4’’. Remember it’s at 6’6’’ that things become unworkable. Let’s pray he stops growing
2) at this size, it’s tough to assess what he does in the Belgian league translates to the highest level. There are many incredible big men in college that become non viable in the speed of the nba
OK I am officially done with this place and Anonymous’s wank.
Have fun, all.
— Ned
Cleaning up all the trash this weekend. This guy is done. All good.
Sorry. Traveling today.
Thanks for the tip on Pandur. I haven’t noticed him before. We need a new GK soon!
Do we?
Livakovic is 29 and will probably be our keeper for the next couple of tournaments.
Fuck I love (copy/paste) Jarrod Bowen.
Only reason I visit croatiansports.com.
Ante clean up this trash before I start sharing my shit.
F-yeah, Jared Bowen scores!!
Kovacic with brace. I can’t say I’ve watched it, but why that BILI WHATEVER HIS NAME IS disappears all of a sudden?
Internet warriors. Life is great.
Kovacic goal
Not sure why Gvardiol wasn’t given an assist
It’s more or less the same as Frigan to Vuskovic y’day 2nd goal (where Frigan got an assist – even though it hit him randomly and bounced to Vuskovic) – in this case Gvardiol deliberately chests it back to Kovacic
PL clearly trying to keep Gvardiol stats down…
1st half verdict Crnac
The same as previous games
Not a lot goes to him on right-hand side
Most of the offensive is played centrally / down left-hand side
U have internationals a few years older than him running the show for Norwich Josh Sargent (USA), Borja Sainz (Tunisia), and Marcelino Núñez (Chile)
They don’t really get him the ball / play to him on the right
Unless the ball comes that way (somehow e.g. a clearance) he doesn’t even get a touch
TBH – surprised Olic has called him up to U21 – yes he’s playing for Norwich and every game (which is great) – but not really affecting the game – when I compare to Frigan (who has been called up from standby) or Franjo Ivanovic (who was really imposing himself vs. Kortrijk i.e. he created / scored all three goals
Crnac just seems a bit lost out there on the right flank
Obviously the coach is happy w/ his performance – otherwise he wouldn’t start every game – maybe he just needs time until it clicks (e.g. like Brennan Johnson – slow start – now 5 goals in 5 games)
Today (EST)
Some fixtures – check for completeness and confirm time
07:30 Pink Pandur vs. Crnac – both STARTING
10:00 Antonio Tikvic vs. Middlesbrough
10:15 Budimir vs. Getafe
12:00 Mario Pasalic vs. Genoa
12:15 Roko Simic vs. Genk
12:30 Gabriel Vidovic vs. St. Pauli
12:30 Vida & Robert Ljubicic vs. Panaitolikos
14:00 Perisic vs. Sparta Rotterdam
14:45 Sosa & Vlasic vs. Inter