Luka Modrić voted MOTM Friday night with a 7.8 SOFAScore rating in AC Milan’s 1-0 road win over Cagliari. Modrić played the full 90 minutes and completed 92% of his passes (3 key passes). With the win, Milan temporarily sit 1st on the Serie A table this weekend. “He continued his fine form with a fantastic performance tonight. He was always available, not just in the build-up but also as Milan moved to the final third. It just makes everything so much easier for his teammates. Furthermore, he had some good defensive recoveries. It was between him and Rabiot for the MOTM,” from Sempre Milan.
Joško Gvardiol may have serious injury. We will know more in the next 24 hours. He was subbed off in the 2nd half vs. Chelsea Sunday night with an apparent right knee/ankle injury. Manager Pep Guardiola on Gvardiol’s injury: “We’ll see tomorrow. It doesn’t look good.”
Hopefully it’s just a knock and he’s only out a few weeks. Hoping it’s not anything with the knee/ACL with the World Cup only 5 months away. 🙏🏻
Croatia odds of winning the World Cup CRASHING after Josko news
Odds down 8.333% from 1.2% to 1.1% since news earlier today
Market never lies
polymarket.com/event/2026-fifa-world-cup-winner-595
No doubt. Our Euro 2028 odds shot right up after that. We were 4th faves now favorites after the departure of 9, 10,14 and 15.
Bless you boyz
As a hockey fan I will second the comment below. Alex Ovechkin broke his leg at 39 with a shin on shin collision and was out 4-6 weeks for surgery and recovery. Then he returns 4 months later to beat Gretzky’s goal record. Witnessing that was madness and how tough he was. Then I read an article of another Russian defence (younger too like Gvardiol) breaking his fibula or tibia and out for the remainder of the season from February to until season started in September. It’s all speculation at this point. Gvardiol is young and can heal quicker. He also has to be careful and not rush this. Don’t want to jeopardize himself for future tournaments. He has all of January to beginning of May to recover. Is that enough? Perhaps and lots of factors to consider. Assume the worst and pray for the best is what I say. I will say I’m feeling funny with our team this year. Modric is still our best midfielder at 40, no starting games for Livakovic, our best player and defender is out, Perisic is scoring the most goals at club level at 38.
Depends on the fracture. Seen hockey guys skate in 2 months and play in 3 months but their different kind of animal and soccer doesn’t have a stiff boot unless they can create something that he can play in. Don’t know FIFA rules on ankle supports .Some are made out of piano wire and those are really good and could get him the support to be there. God willing. Yes, I know too much about ortho equipment. Been in the business so I’d love to know where the fracture is but I say Gvardi will be there.
But why rush him if not 100%. He’ll be 24 in weeks, he’ll have 3 maybe 4 World Cups and Euros with us
I certainly wouldn’t want to jeopardize his future to play with this group
Hope he doesn’t rush it and get back too soon only to have a setback for the Euro qualifiers. We need him fit and ready for that.
This tournament we’re still going to trot out 9,10,14 and 15 so it doesn’t make sense to rush back to play with those over 35 ers and cover for them.
Euros are where it’s at
Anonymous agrees 100% w you
If it’s an ankle sprain , max 4-6 weeks . I hope Gvardi does the right thing and shuts it down to May and then starts ramping it up for WC 2026. There is no way he wants to miss this . It’s always about the next contract and a good showing will getting him that. He knows, and MCity can stuff it , our guy is focusing on WC 2026- see you Gvardi in Toronto. I say he scores more than one goal in WC. Willing to put Ante K’s money on it.
It’s been confirmed to be a right leg tibia fracture.
He needs surgery and will be out for months.
Soccer wise this is not how we wanted to start the Nova Godina with Josko getting injured. As many have said “Thank God it was not his knee” He is very young so he will recover very fast is my belief and just in time for the world cup. Luka V will definitely be part of the playing team now in my opinion ( as pressure is off Dalic as stated by Maminjo” Let’s also hope that Mateo gets healthy quick and builds up his leg strength again and his cardio as he will be key for the link up. Let’s all keep in prayer outside of our family the Croatian Soccer team family. To je sve nasa rodbina.
it’s sad news about gvardiol. Wishing him the best recovery
I was often mocked for saying gvardiol is injury prone
Particularly by maminjo
But facts were facts and we could all have expected that in his Croatia career he would miss big tournaments
It’s a disappointing as if you look at this Croatia team and tried to find hope, it would be that the offense has all aged but the defense was up and coming.
In some ways gvardiol was the least dispensable of Croatias players
I would be shocked if he’s back for the World Cup
Side note, stanisic is also injury prone
Vida is not. He’s fit and ready to add to our average age. Provides great experience..
Lovren has 1000 min at Paok this season he can replace Josko
Lovren’s played 1000 min at PAOK this year
Dalic will call him up (he plays too much at club level but that is offset with the perfect age profile)
He’s not injury prone.
He’s been part of the squad since early 2021, and only missed two tournament games for us (the Nations League 2023 finals).
He’s played in every game in all other tournaments we’ve had.
Assuming he misses this World Cup, it will be the first time he’s ever missed a World Cup or Euro tournament match.
Agreed he plays so much soccer that I wouldn’t say he’s injury prone either.
Without Josko
Demand for Croatia tickets just went down 90%
Most will think we have no chance without Josko what’s the point (which is true)
Some tickets FIFA marketplace already 20% down since it reopened – expect people to reduce their price further to face value (plus 15% fee to FiFA) to get rid of them
By the time the matches are here should be able to get tics at less than face value
The only positive is Dalic might as well throw in next gen Vuskovic, Jagusic, Biondic, etc to get some experience before euro qualifiers
Why is it over? We have the best defender in the world ready to take over. Everyone says Vuskovic is the best so we can just replace gvardiol with Vuskovic. Simple I don’t get why all the doom and gloom. I know I’m blind but we lost one great defender but we can replace him with one great defender straight swap.
Because many probably don’t have faith in Dalić doing the right thing and continuing with guys like Duje and Pong.
This Gvardiol injury definitely takes the pressure off Dalić though, so he might just go ahead and play Vušković after all.
All of CBs Duje Pong Sutalo and Erlic look ten times better next to Josko than they do next to each other
Josko and Vuskovic would have been a perfect pair / complement
Not fair Vusko has to play next to one of the beta CBs
What’s going to happen is Sutalo will be at fault for the first goal and wave his arms at Vuskovic like it’s his fault and Vuskovic will go punch him in the face (rightfully so) and Croatia will get kicked out of the tournament
It’s all over and moot now so no point discussing any of it
When did any of those guys play next to gvardiol as a CB? Sorry I’ll grab the glasses to make sure.
Every major game it’s been Sutalo next to one of three Dcc, Elric or pong.
Oh I forgot it’s make believe time, Dalic will quit as he’ll be to scared to coach without gvardiol, Bilic will get hired and play vlasic as a lone striker cause that makes sense and Vuskovic will scores a goal one game in overtime but Bilic with his so called superior mental knowledge will go
Crazy and jump all over the field instead of calming the boys down which will lead to the opposing team scoring and we lose in PK. Bilic will get fired and years later a guy named anonymous will say he’s the best coach in the history of soccer. Oh I forgot before he gets fired Bilic will be the only coach in modric era to miss a tournament oh wait that actually happened.
Vuskovic training with Vlasic’s tata to get faster and fitter !!!
Bipolar Vlad legally blind!
4 to 6 month injury
I’m just relieved it’s not his knee.
But his World Cup is in jeopardy. It all depends on how well his surgery goes and how clean or messy this tibia fracture was.
Usually takes a minimum 90 days to heal before you can even begin to play any sports. But it usually won’t fully healed for 6-9 months.
Same injury as Isak just got by a Micky VDV tackle
6+ months best case scenario
If Josko can’t play will he at least be in the stands w Lu Mastrovic?
https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/josko-gvardiol-update-man-city-63903228/?utm_source=x&utm_medium=organic_social
4-5 months if full 5 months he’ll be out of shape for WC. That’s ok we have Vuskovic he’s basically same level as gvardiol from what I read on the hype train.
4-5 months he’s out
Guardiola: “josko out for 2/3 weeks”
Croatiasports site: “omg the world is ending”
#drama queens
(To be fair I was extremely worried too!!! 😊)
Where are you seeing 2-3 weeks bro? I looked on 24 sata and it says WC is questionable
He broke his shin bone.
He’s out for a minimum three months from doing on field training.
Depending on how messy his surgery is, it could extend to 6-9 months for full recovery.
Even if he’s ready for the World Cup, he’ll likely not be 100 percent in form.
I’m just happy he didn’t injure his knee.
In terms of our goaltending situation. Has there been any confirmation on Livakovic going back to Dinamo? Even if he did, does that mean he’s confirmed to be number one? They are top of the table. Semper has good stats with Pisa despite being bottom of the league. He’s let in less than a goal per game.
-22 goals conceded in 16 matches.
-4 clean sheets.
-top ten save percentage in Serie A
Let’s just go with him or someone else. I’m tired of this entitlement and favouritism towards Livakovic. He is our top starting goalie and great at saving penalties but need a mixup. Pandur is playing in a lower league and so is Kotarski. We shouldn’t cave into him and move on. Take some gambles Dalic.
Brate, Livakovic gets the start based on Qatar and his play in qualifying, end of discussion.
Just because of his past achievements he gets the number one? He has played a GAME so far. He’s ice cold.
Where is the genius who told Anonymous they would be better off joking about Gvardiol getting injured rather than providing sensible Ghana-updates ???
FAFO
If this injury is as serious as we are assuming it’s over our chances. He’s on of the best defenders in the world right now. If he’s not back around May then we are fucked. No way we can handle England or even a team that level without him. Vuksovic would get all the attention and pressure from media but he’s 18 and no experience at national level.
Let’s pray he’s only out for a bit and this doesn’t require surgery. If so, our defence will fall apart. He’s our only chance to have stability.
https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2008146649831362568
Argh. What’s the diagnosis?!
How can a CB in the “English 2nd league” step into Man City ? Mart???
Good news for Pandur – their fixture vs. Watford was postponed due to frozen pitch – so he won’t face this boy on the reschedule
We lost uefa nations league final to spain bcoz there is no gvardiol..we cannot afford to lose him
Looking like an ACL tear for Josko. Bad news.
wtf.. so he’s outta the world cup? fuck sake..
AI is saying it’s an ankle injury and that he is out for a few weeks. Do you have an article??
Just hoping it’s not serious.
Watched the TV replay a few times, and you could see that he twisted his foot/ankle before falling. We can only hope that it is only a minor ankle injury and not his knee?
Ffs Gvardiol injured… praying it’s not severe
I saw that when he was subbed off when half time started. It’s an ankle ligament injury. Maybe it’s a strain. Better to happen now than later. But unlucky. Kovacic won’t be back until next month too.
Might be a tear.
This is the worst possible thing that could happen to us.
Jesus Christ
I was just watching a YouTube on him yesterday
We need him bad obviously
If we will go anywhere he will need to be there and at his best
Relax
I’m sure it’s not serious
Bog wouldn’t deprive us, the World and especially Mr T of Lu Mastrovic’s presence at the World Cup as the hottest Croatian girl and WAG of all time
In Bog we trust
Sunday 10:00 EDT
Hull City (4th) vs. Watford (3rd) place
Winner can move into 2nd and automative promotional place!
Two National Team keepers starting: Pandur (Croatia) vs. Selvik (Norway)
That’s right an “English 2nd tier” keeper with 5 caps with Norway (who’s stuck behind 35 y/o Nyland with 67 caps on the NT – who identical to Livakovic – is only a back-up at Sevilla – and the the only reason he’s still starting for Norway is because of “history/goodwill”)
So you will be watching two starting World Cup keepers today
Ok but really besides not playing this year
Has livakovic even after the World Cup made any real blunders?
If memory serves me right has made some legit saves during the qualifying campaign when called on
I’m not saying pandur isn’t in real solid form, he certainly seems so
Seems like semper doing solid as well
At least it’s not like liva hasn’t shit the bed for these two years and dalic keeps rolling him out
Like that very well may happen
I do agree, I wish he could find an ok team in a good league that can pepper him with shots in game time
Keep him sharp and really test him
Sounds like pandur has had this and has really helped secure his team
If they get promoted and a big part is him
How can you ignore that?
For sure he’s well on the way to being our starter tho if they promote and he can stay and be impactful in the PL
Ivanovic..forever a bench player..there is no way he will play as long mourinho is manager as he favours just one striker
Matanovic..forever a bench player too
Baturina: paz not playing but he is not even sub in later on.
Pasalic: not playing much for a mth since juric is sacked..he didnt even sub in in last match. Always in the bench except one match where there were suspension. His goal assist has dropped alot this season
Ivanusec: expecting more assists from him..hopefully he will step up from brekalo downfall..
Budimir and kramaric: i hope their recent drop of form is only temporarily.
Gk: i am not too concerned on this..we have ivusic semper pandur letica labrovic
Mario Pasalic was playing every match when Juric was the coach, now on the bench. Sadly, his father passed away recently.
Agree with you about Ivanovic at Benfica.
Semper with another good performance for Pisa overnight.
https://rusg.brussels/en/news/forward-mateo-biondic-joins-union
Anonymous must have been asleep at the wheel
And completely missed the two Bilic vs. Modric podcast episodes
If you want to understand why Butter-Tart, Wedding Boy and many other players are struggling to impose themselves and seemingly are fluttering around life watch Bilic explain it beautifully from 18 minute mark
Just watch Madrid’s face drop when Bilic “psycho-analyzes” to that Modric, Eduardo and Corluka were all “copy-and-paste” when they arrived at the U21 team together – Modric’s face drops as he looks inward to realize what Bilic is saying is true but has never realized/connected until presented to him
***.youtube.com/watch?v=g4nXkV5Un3M
Anonymous love Bilic and his psychology/man management ability – once you’re able to assess what makes players tick from a psychological perspective – you are able to than able to get in there and feed them what they need – that’s why Anonymous highlights Bilic single-handedly made Manzukic’s career by “getting in his head” (who was probably the most difficult character to deal with out of all them)
Saturday
06:30 EST Butter-Tart Baturina, Smolcic, Cavlina AND NICO PAZ bench vs. Lovric
09:00 Semper
10:00 Sevelj & Dolcek
10:15 Budimir
13:00 Franjo
14:45 Mario P.
Poor Bati – even when Paz is benched (for the first time this season) – Bati can’t get a start – folks assuming Bati will replace Paz when he leaves – are the same people who assumed Wedding Boy would replace Zubimendi when he leaves – how did that work out?
King Modric will carry this momentum to Dallas, Toronto, and Philly.
Haha i was about to post a comment about Luka MOTM and 1-0 win that takes Milan top but you beat me to it and posted a story of it. Great minds something something !
I got you Iggy. 🙂 Hope you are well my man and Happy New Year!