In case you missed it on Sunday, Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Džeko pulled down the shorts of Greek player Kyriakos Papadopoulos during their World Cup qualifier in Greece. Bosnia was up 1-0 at the time in the 76th minute, and with Džeko already on a yellow card, he without any hesitation dropped Papadopoulos’ shorts as he stood over him. Džeko was given a second yellow card and sent off for the incident. Greece would score in injury time to force a 1-1 draw.
Where does this rank in ‘crazy things that have happened’ in the footballing world? Surely, Luis Suarez biting opponents makes the list. Horrible flops. Three yellow cards to one player (Šimunić). But I can’t remember one man stripping another man in front of a full stadium.
What is the craziest footballing moment you have ever witnessed CroatianSports.com nation?
@Professor you use your substitutions late to kill the clock.
Its also a tactic to kill momentum of a team searching for a late equalizer in a close game-its not necessarily a bad idea.
Substitutions on a tactical level often depends on the situation in the game. Cacic likes to use his subs to kill a game off.
In football the situation, time is really little to do anything meaningful. what’s the point for doing subs over 80 minutes!
we need to break up a run of play.
I will take 52 minutes to replace the most an under performing player. then for 2nd and 3rd substitution, put the fresh pair of legs between 70 – 80 minutes to denied opponent’s attempt to tie or win the game.
why not use them to your advantage when you need them the most. Those substitutions are just used to buy time.
This is pretty outside of the box, but…. have Perisic, Badelj or Brozo ever played LB? Agree with BZ about talent left on the bench and wondering if there is another way to get our best 11 on the field at once…
I think the conversation is not whether we bench Badelj for Kramaric (which,to me, is a no-brainer) but rather
1)do we bench Badelj for Kovacic?
2)Replace the RW (recently Brozo or Pjaca) with Kramaric?
I say yes to both.
Cacic’s 433 works. Wish we had defensive speed to go 3-4-3 as it is sad to include names like Pivaric/Strinic/Leovac in our lineup, while names like Pjaca/Brozo/Kovacic sit on the bench.
@Soul Champ:
Nice posts buddy
Yea, I was just being dramatic.
I would definitely bench Badelj over him, despite Badelj playing CDM full time at Fiorentina. Rakitic is still better.
But starting Kramaric behind the striker is a MUST.
Dude has been on fire all season. He will provide us with the offense that will be missing with the absence of Perisic in this next game.
I will make you get clear about MOnster name Cacic
1) He will priority Mandzukic even though we have some good striker around Europe, one or two of them maybe become Top Scorer, playing for Barcelona or Madrid whatsoever. Mandzukic taking Rakitic’s role and make him stuck. I think when Modric or Corluka abstain, Mandzukic becomes a captain over Rakitic.
2) Cacic retains a lame formation with inefficiency LB
3) Cacic doesn’t need substitution players so much and lets them freeze on the bench, what’s the fucking point of doing subs after 80 minutes.
4) Perisic actually good player but inconsistent and Cacic still make him on the field for 90 minutes whatever he is gonna play.
5) Cop over Kalinic, Mitrovic over Lovren, Badelj over Kovacic, everyone over God of Halilovic.
@ Svima
I am beyond impressed with this last result !
Kramaric takes the start and goes into beast mode.
The squad players account for themselves well on the rise against a quality side.
@ Jim and Maminjo
Rakitic is barca centric.
He would be great in that badelj cdm role for us.
He is tough, reads the game well and has great vision and range on his passes.
He plays well for us he just plays better for Barca.
As far I am concerned if you first name is not Luka and last name is not Modric then you are moveable.
I believe Modric has another chapter to write in his career.
He has a Nedved, Totti, Zidane and Pirlo quality to his game.
4 more years top flight and 2 more after that if he wants.
Without him RM are vulnerable but with him they are the club to beat.
@ maminjo
i think rakitic has not been very good the past few games (although he did get the first assist against iceland). i’m a little slower to yank him though given that i thought he played some of his best football for the repka over the summer when he was pushed more advance
if rakitic time at barcelona is an indicator though, i think he’s capable of covering modric’s back in the same way as does for the barca trident. which is why i’d be curious of replacing badelj with him and pushing kramaric into raketa’s old role
The Elephant in the room is that Rakitić has been our least impactful midfielder in that role.
All of Kramarić, Brozović and Kovačić have been more useful in the central midfield and/or second striker role.
Maybe it’s time we just bench him.
i didn’t watch the game, just highlights
but what continues to seem clear is that kramaric is really good and cacic needs to find a way to get him on the pitch
he had an awesome pass to open up the first goal. then kicks the corner to lead to the second goal. and then scores an amazing 3rd goal
not to mention, even in his few minutes against iceland he had a great combo that lead to one of our best chances
how to get him on the field remains a mystery though….
cacic continues to respect seniority too much leaving mandzukic in the top forward spot
a growing argument could be made to drop badelj, drop rakitic back to that role, and let kramaric take rakitics in back of the forwards
rakitic had a few opportunities against iceland with space in front of him but was unable to acheive much as it just seems he doesnt have the needed pace
Hey laknat where is God of halilovic these days??
Not that I don’t want him to succeed but that’s all you we’re talking bout
You still have to make the talent work
Bottom line is we are winning games and doesn’t seem to be lot of negativity coming out of camp
do you know what!
Cacic is totally below average for his tactic.
He got lucky because our players are good .
they can win the world cup if we have Genius manager!
Modric ranked as the best central midfielder and Rakitic ranked 4th. I know Rakitic has disappointed more often than not recently, but he’s an important piece of the puzzle.
He really needs to step it up for Barca and Croatia. Cacic also needs to find a way to get the most out of him. He had a great game against the Czechs in the Euros, we need to see more of that from him.
iggy,
He’s 24 and is probably the best player from Rijeka. I believe he was a youth player at Hajduk.
http://www.espnfcasia.com/blog/espn-fc-united/68/post/2986441/espn-fc-100-real-madrid-star-luka-modric-is-ranked-as-the-best-central-midfielder
i have to confess i had never heard of Bradaric before this game, where’s he from?
Perisic such an arrogant player that like to be selfish!
We need selflessness player on the field. We know stupid Cacic won’t change Perisic on the field even if he suck >
so for the next 2 games, we gain 5% chance of winning.
we were blessed by that red card.
N. Ireland-Croatia 0-3 – Croatia was technically impressive.
Croatian Line up was
Kalinic
Jedvaj Mitrovic Vida Leovac
Badelj Rog
Bradaric Kramaric Cop
Mandzukic
Kalinic: not a lot of things to do but he did well.
Leovac did great as LB, I think he’ll start against Ukraine
Jedvaj : showed that he could be our great player for us one day, but also showed that he doesn’t play much at Leverkusen.
Mitrovic: surprised me. The first goal came after a great opening from him. Very decent.
Vida : outstanding
Badelj : again very good
Rog : didn’t impress me
Kramaric: great goal, great pre assist too. He should be in the team against Ukraine. Far more dangerous than Rakitic by now.
Bradaric: adapted very well. But of course Brozovic is still better.
Cop: no doubt, he will replace the suspended Perisic against Ukraine. A goal and an assist. Very good game.
Mandzukic : a goal and a decent game.
It’s obvious that coach Cacic is doing very well. Significant was that he brought goalie Vargic in the game after 80 minutes so he could earn a cap too. Players like him and that pays off.
Makes me smile every single time
The best way to get over that is to look at recent history! Oh and this absolute beauty………..https://youtu.be/CAgfdKUz1LY
Those Greeks
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3934864/Greece-FA-apologise-Bosnia-Herzegovina-fascist-banner-displayed-qualifier.html
Brkic,
It’s usually the remainder of the game and just one game post red. Either or, that Ukraine matchup will be a good one.
Hopefully I’m wrong about two matches. I thought a straight red meant a 2 match ban, but hopefully it’s only 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LK6Hi4-H-c
Kramric played well, I think it was him that played that original splitting ball (gorgeous) for the first goal looked great
Jedvaj not much to say, but personally he looked physically weak, got bounced pretty easily twice
Stipe,
I watched that game in San Pedro at Cro Hall when I was 18. You know how I got over it? When we beat them 2:0 in Zagreb. Plus Dinamo beating fartizan 5:0 was a good primer.
TWO qualifiers?
Why is it two games?
@Ante B
Unfortunately, friendlies don’t count for the suspension. I believe Perisic will miss the next 2 qualifiers.
I strongly believe they should adjust suspensions more often on appeal. In the case of Perisic’s Red, it was a soft Red. Being sent off was probably enough of a punishment without any add’l suspension. However, the reality is that they don’t like to second guess the field ref in these situations. Ideally the ref of the game would look back at video of the incident and reduce/increase the ban based on severity.
I think the most embarrassing thing to happen to Croatia was when we tied Yugoslavia for qualifications for Euro 2000. 2-2. Not only did Mihajlovic score both goals against us or assisted on both, I forgot. THAT WAS BADDDD. The WORST thing though was when Mirkovic got sent off for grabbing Jarni’s nuts , that faggot. He fucking walks off the field being sent off towards the tunnel holding up the three finger towards the crowd. If we won that game I would not care that he did that. But then watching these Chetniks celebrating in Maksimir cause they qualified, we didn’t. That broke my heart. I remember I was 14 years old watching that game at scorpions in Astoria queens New York, and I cried, I’ll admit it. SO FUCK MIRKOVIC, FUCK MIHAJLOVIC, THE PROUDEST SERB IN THE WORLD WITH A CROATIAN MOTHER. I like Dejan Savicevic, the Crnoa Gorac. That muthafucka was niceeeee. Good player, and he was Boban’s buddy when they played for AC Milan, they won the champions leauge against Barca. Savicevic score do the nicest goal you’ll ever see. But again. FUCK SINISIA MIHAJLOVIC AND FUCK ZORAN MIRKOVIC. FOR GRABBING JARNIS NUTS AND THROWING UP THE THREE FINGERS. THAT WAS THE MOST EMBARRASING CROATIAN MOMENT EVER LETTING YUGOSLAVIA CELEBRATE AND ADVANCE TO EURO 2000.
Is Perisic’s red card now cleared after this game, or does it have to specifically be a qualifying match?
I saw the replays of the goals, but missed the game. Any commentary on performances from those who watched? Anyone stand out as especially impressive? How did Jedvaj look? Who played LB?
Our rank should jump a bit after demolishing Iceland and Northern Ireland, no?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmgkNN-Jc0c
Wow what a rip fom Kramaric
sweet, i just woke up and we’re winning 2-0
That reminds of when that Serb grabbed the Kurac of Robert Jarni!
There were also fights after the match. One Mujo got sent to the hospitial.
Greek fans showed the worst class ever by mocking the murder of unarmed civilians and young boys ..srebrenica.As a good cro ..I hope there’s a burning torturous hell for all the perpetrators of crime against us/our ancestors of croatia ..I mean past and present.Pulling down dirty girks shitty laundry means zilch.