Goals from Modrić and Kramarić got Croatia past 10-man Malta Tuesday night in Zagreb to open up Euro 2016 qualifying. But shouldn’t we expect more from a team that fields players from the best teams in Europe? Let’s look at the numbers.
Croatia controlled ball possession for 70% of the match, had 23 shots on goal, but could only score twice against a 10-manned Malta team. Finishing, as always, was the problem with Croatia not moving up the field quick enough. The Vatreni did not have a first half goal and should have put at least four or five past the Malta keeper.
Although Croatia got the result they were looking for and got the kids in the match, they treated this as a mere friendly. Question is: Was Niko Kovač okay with this result after a poor result or should we expect this team to bury goals against weaker European sides like Malta?
My issue for the past 2 years has been attacking pace of the team. If they cranked it up another 10% running up field, more goals would be flowing. Let’s see what they come up with in October, when they travel to Bulgaria and host Azerbaijan.
Croatia 2-0 Malta – Highlights (09-09-2014)
Starting XI vs. Malta: Subašić, Milić, Lovren, Ćorluka, Srna, Brozović, Rakitić, Modrić, Kovačić, Halilović, Mandžukić in a 4-5-1 formation.
Euro 2016 qualifying begins Tuesday for Croatia, where they will face perennial European minnows Malta from Maksimir at 2:45PM (ET).
No game is ever a lock, and that was proven when Croatia drew Malta in World Cup 2006 qualifying and lost to Scotland twice last campaign, to name a few, but we should be comfortable with earning three points Tuesday night. In this watered down Euro 2016 format, where half of Europe will qualify (24 teams), it will be nearly impossible for Croatia not to make the cut. The top two teams in the group automatically go to France while third place plays in a two-legged playoff.
In a group which consists of Italy, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta, Croatia should finish in the top two with both matches against Italy ‘pride games’ as the Azzurri have never defeated Croatia.
The above projected lineup pins an extremely young midfield for Croatia consisting of 20 year-old Mateo Kovačić, 18 year-old Alen Halilović and 23 year-old Andrej Kramarić surrounded by the usual suspects.
Croatia will qualify for Euro 2016, but it’s how they do it what is more important to me. Will they throw fans on the emotional roller coaster like they did last year, or pummel through the opposition like they did against England in Euro 2008 qualifying?
The kids are ready to play with the seasoned veterans. What can the two sides cook up together?
@TO
ouch, leave the poor fellow alone
Ziva Istina Quote:
https://croatiansports.com/?p=10590
2nd to last comment
@Ivica
You seem to be in the early stages of dementia so the above comment was directed to you.
Lol
I leave the trolling to you. Go ahead deny it right after the WC. Your boy Repesa did you well at the tournament.
Go ahead and now post under another name you troll. 🙂
Submitted on 2012/09/09 at 8:18 am
“still developing”……..how many years has he been on the tour?????
If Cilic ever wins a grand slam I’ll reveal my identity.
~Ziva Istina
@ Ante B.
Don’t forget about Nick East.
@Tvoja Mama
Re: Your comment….
“Keep riding the Strinic train that broke down awhile ago. There is a reason he is in Russia and not playing in any other league.”
LOL! You guys are too funny.
So, you try to dismiss Ivan Strinic by saying that he plays in Russia (which he doesn’t, by the way), in an attempt to pump up Hrvoje Milic who is the one that actually plays in Russia!
First, we’ve got one guy telling me that Antonio Milic was playing yesterday, and now another one telling me that a player who plays in the Russian league is worse than another player who plays in the Russian league because he plays in the Russian league.
Isuse Boze!
@TO
Huh?! When did I say that about Repesa? Your comment doesn’t even make sense.
If you are attempting to troll me, at least make it sound like something I would say.
no croatia in fifa 15 waiting for fifa 16 then fuck you
@Tvoja mama
Thank you for the concern but actually enjoyed hearing his trash every week. Makes me smile everytime. Remeber ivica was the one sayng after WC that Repesa would show Kovac how coaching is done and we all know how that turned out.
Ivica stop trolling the poor guy. Every one of our defenders has gotten turned. Milic has pace, which can’t be said for any of our other defenders.
Getting turned once in a game is a win in my book. The fact that a scoring opportunity actually came to the left side is a miracle. Strinic probably wouldn’t have even been there to cause a play. Keep riding the Strinic train that broke down awhile ago. There is a reason he is in Russia and not playing in any other league.
Ante B. …. you are just a clever young man, keep up the fantastic work
Peter North loves to go South on the Far East girls with Randy West nearby. See what I did there?
Only thing you know. LOL
🙂
Y’all just jelly ‘cuz I know the difference between Hrvoje and Antonio Milić
Niko Kovac of course
Unlike you I don’t pose under other names and get called out by others on this site. LOL
🙂
@TO
when you say “Kovač” are you referring to Niko Kovač, Robert Kovač, or Mišo Kovač?
Just as an FYI, Niko Kovač is the coach. 😉
@Marko
I hear you only put it down because we are talking about some kid who hasn’t seen the field for the national team hardly ever yet you have these know it alls who will diss on him, Kovac and write a thesis on the subject. Just find it amusing.
They got the win, they have new blood playing and that is all we need from a first game. Kovac is slowly shaping this into his team and you gotta give him credit for that.
Yes. The Bulgaria match will definitely be a good test for us.
They’ll open up as they will want to win this match at home. We’ll be able to better gauge how well we can defend and how well we can create against a team that’s not just playing for a draw.
We’ll have Rebić, and quite possibly Perišić for the match as well (Perišić is ahead of schedule on his shoulder injury).
@Ziva, agreed with your comments about over analyzing when playing an opponent like Malta. If you win by a bunch, it’s because the opponent is a European minnow and if you just scrape by with a result it’s underwhelming because the opponent is…. a European minnow.
Let’s see how the next match plays out on the road in Bulgaria.
Btw, what the fuck is Wimbleton? haha.
I dunno how many people I have heard call it that in my lifetime, always makes me laugh. It’s Wimbledon. Don’t fear, The Hedgehog calls it Wimbleton as well.
… And this is Milić’s FIFTH game for us. LOL.
Look TO, I’m sure you mean well, but at least watch the game and get an idea of who is actually playing on the field before you go off and dismiss others.
I’ll understand if you change your login name moving forward. 🙂
@TO *Hrvoje Milic is 25.
Antonio Milic of Hajduk is 20.
@TO
Milić is only 20?
I think you’re thinking of the wrong Milić. This is Hrvoje Milić and this isn’t his first game.
@Tvoja mama
Good post brother. Milic played well, some here have to understand this was his first game and he is only 20. Silly how some break it down here by writing 20 paragraphs of garbage.
Good for Kovac on his player selection.
Fala Bogu . No Problem ! Bog , Hrvati , USA , Hajduk , i HNS !!!
Ante, jebo te Bog, probudi se. Prvi dva idu na Euro2016. Third place goes to playoff.
crotaia will lose bulgaria n itlay proline
1/ italy
2 bulgaria playoff
3 croatia out
@ IvicA
Agreed on Badelj, it’s now or never for this guy. The DM position is there for the taking!
@ IvicA and Tvoja Mamma
Besides, Tonci Kukoc knows a lot of the Bulgarian players from playing in the league. He can give us the inside scoop on ’em. 🙂
@ JP
The only thing that breaks a bunker is a cluster bomb. And we had one in the form of Mario Mandzukic. Mario was instrumental in unsettling Maltese defender Borg and getting him sent off. This provided Croatia with a big-boost, as Malta were holding their own until the red-card.
@Antwerp
Well apparently Fiorentina really like Badelj and went after him hard this past transfer window, so he’s likely to start.
He won’t make his Serie A debut until this Sunday, but he already scored for Fiorentina in a friendly match against Lugano.
http://fansided.com/2014/09/06/milan-badelj-scores-sensational-volley-fiorentina-debut-gif/
He’s 25 and entering his prime. It’s now or never for Badelj to crack our lineup and assert himself as a serious DM option.
@Poglavnik and Bobby V …nice call in bunker breaking… I think Rebic could learn to be that guy too. Not the biggest Jelavic fan overall, but he’s a space eater that must be defended and him and Mandzo are big boys that create space… so it’s good for Kovac to have this type of varijant in his pocket.
I’d say that the next biggest and most obvious improvement is for Srna to be replaced. Lets face it, it’s horrible when he gets the ball. Lackluster throw in after throw in…Why? Because everybody knows his game and he can’t do anything about it. Bravo and svaka cast for all his efforts on the team, but he should now be a depth player for sure, like Jelavic, good for specialized situations, perhaps at other positions.
Gotta love the set plays that Kovac put in for the corners which almost gave Luka 2 more goals. It’ll give other teams something to think about and build an arsenal of set plays as he adds more. Anybody that doesn’t think this guy can’t coach is a complete moron. Clearly he can coach just by the fact that you can see his intentional changes. You may not like his decisions, but at least it’s obvious that he’s making some. He’s changing the lockeroom at a good pace too, which is necessary to get a complete team of “his guys”.
Anyway, don’t get me wrong, there’ll likely be a few more missteps during qualifying, but you can trust that Kovac is looking for the best, and that’s the first step in finding it. Might be good come France time. He’s got lots to figure out still for example how to use modric, halilo, rakitic, kovacic, rebic, perisic, and mandzo, all in the same team/game. Then again that’s a really nice problem to have.
Whadda’bout that kid Tonci Kukoc at CSKA Sofia for LB?
Recently scored a magnificent free-kick for his club, after which he issued a “Call-Me Up” plea to Niko Kovac on social media. Can’t fault da’kid for tryin’.
And bring Badelj in at DM, hopefully he makes a compelling case with fine performances at Fiorentina.
I’ve said it over and over again. Strinic is a solid player…I have no idea why all the hate towards him?
for me analyzing matches against teams like Malta is overkill. thee type of teams play one way and it is tough at times to get in a real flow. Only thing that matters is a the win.
Move on to the next game.
for me analyzing matches against teams like Malta is overkill. thee type of teams play one way and it is tough at times to get in a real flow. Only thing that matters is a the win.
Move on to the next game.
@The Anonymous1…..to your question if I think Ivanisevic is a jock sniffer for wearing a jersey with another mans name on the back when he wore Drazen Petrovic’s jersey when he came to a hero’s welcome in Split after winning Wimbelton?
Well, by definition that is a blatant form of jock sniffing. But, I cut him some slack on that day because I will take him on his claim that he was honoring a friend and he knew Petrovic. Plus, the celebration was all about him and Goran showed how unselfish he was by honoring a friend.
But, this is not the same as you clowns wearing a Petrovic jersey. Yu never knew him. hell, some of you probably never even saw him play. So, that would be jock sniffing.
Plus, Ivanisevic and Petrovic also share another bond. They both have made terrible choices in their selection of women.
@Tvoja Mama
Actually, Milic botched a scoring opportunity that was gifted to him. Also, you can’t really assess Milic’s defensive performance against Malta as being ‘good’, especially when that Malta team had almost zero possession in our half and played with only 10 men.
I’m not closing the door on Milic. I just think he was very unimpressive bringing that ball up on the left side, and judging by the formation we played, we relied on him to make a few runs on the left side.
Strinic may not be popular on this site, but it doesn’t mean he is a worse option than Milic and Pranjic. Before the World Cup, many were calling for him to be benched in favor of Pranjic. Now, you don’t hear that anymore.
I don’t think Strinic is a superstar, but he’s a stable option at LB for us. He’s also got a very decent cross that nobody seems to give him credit for. I’d give Vrsaljko a chance there too, but I think I’d rather try him on his appropriate right side first.
We definitely should not only settle for Strinic, Milic and an out-of-position Vrsaljko at LB. Kovac needs to do his due diligence and scout players in the HNL to see if there are any that could bring something there we currently do not have.
Kovacic is ineffective against anyone who plays a bunker – he neeeds room to run – excellent when we counter attack which obviously we could not do today.
Halilovic and Kramaric deserved to go to Brazil.
To break a bunker, you need to shoot from the outside or have minimum of 2 tall forwards to send balls into the box to. Stipe Perica isn’t ready to play against any decent team yet, but, he could have been effective today.
Need to attack up the middle of the field more – that’s where Halilovic and Rakitic shine when allowed to play forward more.
Both of our goals came from the few times our play came from up the middle of the field. Nothing came out of the crosses from the wings.
Are you guys serious???
Who is going to read any blog longer then 2 paragraphs. Writing a PHD on a soccer website is just a bit too much.
http://goo.gl/U0Bv1d
hope mamic be regret .. after his experience almost die!!
but wait even he wasn’t right there !!
Ivica:
Milic had a scoring opportunity, but his job isn’t to be an attacker. Our defense has always been weak, and aside from getting turned once in his first game, what more do you want from the guy? He tracked back and he played well as a defenseman. You want Strinic back in!? Pre World Cup everybody on this site was praying for anything other than him. He’s got no pace and he gets run past 24/7. He’s a solid big body, but his inconsistency has done nothing but plague his career.
Srna doesn’t have a left foot, and that makes it easier for defenders to play against him. Mandza gets lazy in there at times, and even if Srna floats in a good ball you can’t expect forwards to get to the ball every time. Along with that Halilovic, Rakitic, and others were providing awful service to the wing. He had 5 or more crosses where he kept the ball in play and saved it from being a goal kick.
I was happy with the fact that we didn’t rely on the cross, because we’ve tried to do that in the past and look where it got us. We did a great job of funneling the ball back in from the wing to create some dangerous opportunities. We might not be able to play the way everybody wants us to play because we don’t have the players that can fit those roles. Kovac has to work with what he has.
Bravo Kovac, samo naprid.
Horvat –
Those decisions were all from the last World Cup. What did he do that was wrong today?
You guys that say you know so much about football, don’t bring any knowledge to the table and you just bitch and complain about how bad we are.
If you want to talk about learning from mistakes:
1. Kovac has started more young talent in these past two games than any coach I can remember.
2. Moving Rakitic to CAM.. someone mentioned this above.
3. Taking out Kovacic from the game, and putting Jelavic in. Kovacic wasn’t doing much of anything, and even though Jelavic scuffed a few shots he made an impact with getting the ball back. He also provided the second assist.
4. Taking out Mandza. Mandzukic has a tendency be spoiled when the ball isn’t coming to him. He stops playing when he does this. Unfortunately, Olic did nothing when given the chance.
5. Starting Halilovic. The kid shined today.
Don’t go blaming him for not enough goals. This has ALWAYS been a problem with our team. Like Slavonac said earlier, the bunker is going to decrease the score drastically. Chelsea, under Mourinho, does it in the Premier League, and only a handful of teams have been able to score more than 2 on them. Those handful of teams have names like Messi, Ronaldo, etc.
We had A LOT of chances today, and unfortunately a lot of deflections. That’s the most corner kicks I’ve ever seen us take in a single match, and converting off those is something we need to get better at.
Put down your torches, and look at the positive side of things.
My thoughts on this game…
Milic and Srna did not work for us AT ALL on the flanks. I could count on ONE HAND how many good runs/crosses those two had in this game. We really missed Rebic and Perisic in this game, and Kovacic couldn’t provide what they could on the wing. We dominated possession but had nothing happen on the flanks all game to feed our tall forwards. Strinic needs to start over Milic, and we need to start giving Jedvaj & Vrsaljko some minutes at RB because Srna will only decline further over these next two years. I don’t care that Srna is captain, we have too many talented youngsters who can run up and down that wing. We need to start giving them some minutes.
It’s a shame that Rakitic is being played so deep. In this game, when he pushed forward, good things happened. He’s good as a DM, but he’s so much better when he’s hovering around the opposition box like a predator. He seems to find himself in the right place at the right time. He had a disallowed goal (which should have stood) and he had a sitter that was very luckily blocked by some Maltese defender’s head. It could have easily been a two-goal game for him today. We really, really need to bring in Milan Badelj to at least TRY to see if he can play DM for us with Rakitic being pushed in a more forward role. Not sure why this isn’t at least being entertained. I always wonder if Badelj keeps getting the shaft because he forced himself out of Dinamo. Kovac and Mamic are kumovi, so I wouldn’t be surprised.
Halilovic is gonna be good. He really did look a bit like David Silva out there. He missed a few chances, but he does something that none of our central midfielders ever do…he SHOOTS the damn ball. Even though he was apparently listed as playing on the wing, he played more centrally and made some darting runs inside. I like him in this role for us.
Kramaric is very good too. He may not run as fast as Olic or Mandzo, but he loses his defenders very easily with those quick turns. He always manages to create at least a half-chance even with a defender or two on him. He is an excellent first striker off the bench for us already, and has already had two good games in a row for us. I would keep giving him minutes like this.
Mandzo was excellent as always (though I didn’t like his flop for that Maltese red card). Modric and Jelavic were good. Brozovic started to come into his own as well. Subasic, Lovren and Corluka were decent, and didn’t have too much to do. Good to see Jelavic create chances today. Never seen him do that so much before. Maybe this is a bounce back season for him, but I still wouldn’t start him.
Next game we need to bench Milic and put Strinic back in. If Srna continues to send in those poor crosses, then we need to look at Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, or Kovacic on that side (or play Halilovic wider than he did in this game) and give Rebic minutes on the left (we don’t need Strinic thinking he’s Gareth Bale). If we have trouble creating in the central midfield, then we have to push Rakitic forward and look at DM options to replace him back there. Hopefully Badelj has a good month with Fiorentina, and Kovac takes notice. We need to try more DM options, and he’s one of them.
You don’t know// absolutely you don’t know Guys !!
the problem of this team. . you just relying Modric Rakitic Mandzukic/ /
I am better to have alternative when these 3 players can’t shows a good perform .. Subs them.. or bench them!!
Kovacic can be subs for Modric/Rakitic!!
i don’t force this team with some out position players ..
like kovacic in the left side . .!!
Mandzukic really really annoying .. He is too weak looks like today and need to be subbed ,, you can subs him with Kramaric while Rakitic can move forward ./
Some of you guys are losing your minds on this website.
I don’t find it that shocking when we haven’t broken a 10 man Malta at half time of a game, but I wasn’t worried.
You have to let it play out.
Yet, more than ever shitty teams can hang with the decent.
Look at Cyprus, and the Czech’s today.
It can happen and we cant be so quick to pull the “get rid of the coach card.”
People are calling to can Kovac if we only had 1 point after 2 games are nuts. I hate seeing a coach get no leeway. This team has a ton of talent. Let’s let him try and figure it out before piling on the pressure.
The Italy game will be the litmus test.
Hopefully he’s figured out our best formation and 11.
I’d like to see a bit of credit thrown his way.
People were so quick to shit on his line-up before it was even announced and I liked his subs.
Jelavic is a good call in a bunker situation too.
And I have no problem with Pranjic for Modric late in a game that’s already wrapped-up..
Kovac is slowly putting his stamp on this team and I’m not complaining.
@Slavonac “I do think the system you’re talking about today with 2 forwards would have been a better option. From what ice been reading it seems Kovac is concentrating on width”
No we did play a 442 diamond/ 4-3-1-2 (In the second half). Those formations with Brozovic and Rakitic as LeftCM, and RightCM don’t really ‘concentrate’ on width. But i do think that formation does work for this team.
@Zagreb
I agree, tried some new things and got the win, i consider that a good start.
Great win today from the boys today and good way to start the qualifying. Played a number of new talent and kept a clean sheet. Keep up the good work kovac.
My comment is awaiting moderation?
not about wins, sorry that is the loser attitiude
you play to win, if you want to sing, go to a concert
Hopefully you’ll learn more details once you get older too. BBB started their own club with jedan clan, jedan glas model. So far one game down and about 5,000 fans. Oh what was that, it’s ineffective? Different owner, same results? Guess again dedo.
http://static.goal.com/453000/453000_herol.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fc2Mk0Ou7c
Bobby V, don’t turn into Skip Bayless.
Ziva, I want to know if you think Ivanisevic is a jock sniffer for wearing a jersey with another mans name on the back when he wore Drazen Petrovic’s jersey when he came to a hero’s welcome in Split after winning Wimbelton?
Marko- although I’m not sure I’d play Perisic up front with Mandzukic I do think the system you’re talking about today with 2 forwards would have been a better option. From what ice been reading it seems Kovac is concentrating on width and if I’m right, I think he’s trying to build a system and field today’s game for future games…ie….Italy and Bulgaria when the opponents are stronger. Today may have just been a dress rehearsal for the future games.
When you get older and wiser, you’ll realize it was never about wins or losses.
Enjoy what? They can’t even make Europa league or hold onto a lead with a minute left.
….in fact, I’m starting to believe that even if Dinamo had a different owner, the crowds for their games and the national team would be about the same.
Haha -Zagreb to soccer is what Los Angelas is to pro football.
Dinamo’s boycott has been ineffective. If you want a lesson on how you can overcome corpoprate greed/power, look up the events that just took place in New England with the Market Basket food chain.
The employees stopped working and the customers stopped shopping there until a well-loved CEO that was ousted was re-instated. Top level managers were getting fired and workers were laid off, but, in the end, they won out.
Dinamo’s fans are too unorganized and don’t have the corporate sponsors behind the club in line with them.
So, keep up your futile efforts. I’ll enjoy the sold out Poljud (as in vs. Dnipro) and the fans singing Dalmation songs. Right Cico?
Props to Ziva Istina for being one of the only guys who know what’s going on with the attendance in Zagreb. It’s reassuring knowing that at least some people understand the entire situation.
i liked the 4-4-2 Diamond formation we played with most of the 2nd half.
(Lineup from min 45-60)
——-Mandza-Jelavic———
————Halilovic————-
—Brozovic——-Rakitic——-
————-Modric—————
-Milic–Lovren-Corluka-Srna
Maybe in the future we could see this…
442
———Mandza-Perisic——–
—————Halilovic————
—–Brozovic——–Rakitic—-
—————-Modric————-
-Strinic–Lovren-Jedvaj–Vrsaljko
—————Subasic————
Probably Kovacic instead of Halilovic though.
BTW i believe in Brozo. I think an engine in the midfield like him is exactly what we need. We tend to be too soft, and need more power over finesse, and this is not to say he isn’t a good technical player, he is.
That Diamond midfield would also be constantly rotating. Raketa at the AM or DM, Brozo as a DM, Modric pushing up, all of them can cover the four positions (maybe not halilovic, so maybe Kovacic could start instead.
I also think Perisic would do well up top with Mandza. He’s got all the qualities to be a good striker.
The defense is just me wanting Charlie and Srna to move on, but i doubt they do.
SuperSubs: Kovacic(Halilovic), Rebic, Kramaric.
PS 3 more caps till Olic retires.
i think slavonac should coach us…you have my vote…slavonac why not try Badelj as a destroyer? free up the midfield a bit…Radosevic isn’t ready…we would be much more creative.
Other than the Cameroon game, I can’t remember the last time we scored 4 goals…bad bet Ziva!
I’m just happy I didn’t bet on is game. I was planning to take Cro and a win by four goals or more. For some reason my lunch ran long and didn’t get back in time to place me bet.
Brozovic is only in there ’cause Mamic needs to sell him.
Here are some decisions that were obviously bad and were evident to many people.
Starting Jelavic against Brazil. The guy is a one trick pony. He can score goals when given the service. He wasn’t even doing that well at the time. The guy has no speed and cannot dribble. That’s not the guy to play against Brazil when the strategy is to counter attack.
Insisting on playing both Rakitic and Modric so far from the opponents net when one of them could have been better utilized behind the loan striker to create scoring chances for our forwards.
Starting Sammir over guys like Kovacic, Vukojevic, or Badelj.
Pushing Brozovic into the linupe.
Insisting on Pranjic playing as a left back especially after Vrsaljko showed he could defend well in that position. Any moron knows the guy cannot and could never defend.
Starting Milic over Strinic or Vrsaljko.
italy buffon chennini damiam pasquel bonnucci
germany has best midflied kroos ozail muller swenger ext
croatia has 2 seconf best minfleid pesisic ratikic modric hailovic kovavic ect
itlay has best de fence zaza ciro immbolie amazing
croatia wont qualfiny itlay buglria will move one croatia cause of betting
I find it odd that no one noticed that in the second half Rakitic moved to a CAM position and that’s when things started opening up.
I think Kovac was doing some additional experimenting and it starting working.
Well done to the boys.
Well done Hrvatska and Kovac. Good selection by Kovac. Just can’t please some on this site.
What the hell happened to Bosnia as a bunch of you were saying they were better than Hrvatska and Lost today.
Horvat- so far today you’ve expressed your dissatisfaction with Kovac and yet you haven’t identified a single reason as to why?
mate- ok buddy, whatever you say!
Slavonac.
You have no idea about football.
We only played once modric scored and they gave up.
Before that we were shit.
Go hang out with ur buddy suker
I am excited about Kramaric.
I can see why his style is being compared to Suker.
He is not very fast, however, he can dribble, make plays and score goals with both feet.
I hope Kovac is someone who learns from his mistakes.
People who don’t know anything about soccer are not able to see why so many of Kovac’s decisions are foolish.
Even Stimac showed more common sense when it came to choosing players and formations than Kovac.
He has the most talented crop of players and the greatest depth Croatia has had since 98.
If he doesn’t start learning from his mistakes, the team will suffer for it sooner of later.
I am not a negative person. I was optimistic about Kovac at first.
I am the first one to say that hein sight is 20/20. It’s easy to say what should have been done after the game is over. However, some of Kovac’s decisions are so bad that many people shake their heads as they are made, not just after the game.
I was optimistic about Stimac and Bilic. They showed more common sense when selecting players and lineups.
Interesting, our boys last 3 wins have come vs 10 men red carded teams.
Armada- yes, I’m just like you as well, I always think we should score more and create more but the fact is, although we don’t necessarily do well in tournaments, we are still considered a very good team to the majority teams we play. Its like any sport…when you know you can be beaten by talent, you hunker down and play a strategic and defensive game….especially at this level!
I’m reading that the Croatian median says we didn’t play well…I’m not sure what they expect to see?
@ Slavonac
well put as always my friend… great points
they did have almost all their men behind the ball, which does make it tough and Malta are no Faroe Islands or Gibraltar where you can expect a 5-0+ thumping… They give it a go vs. good teams.
I also get that its easier to defend in some cases than it is to score, but the homer in me has faith that our talent and coach can out strategize them and put the game away early, rather than have a 1-0 scoreline intact vs. a clearly inferior team going into the late stages of the game.
I guess I’m one of those fans that think we could always do better? Pa jebi ga…. plucking at straws here though but all in all, 3 points, let the boys do there thing at their respective clubs and onto Bulgaria in Sofia in a month….
@Slavonac from Canada
You are so right dude! I could see someone crapping all over Kovac even if they had won 6-0 for the formation he used, the “style” they played, the colour tie he wore, etc.
Crazy how myopic a bunch of you are….you are talking about an opening game qualifier in September from most players who don’t even want to be playing this game, in front of a nearly empty stadium for Gawd sakes!
Armada- I’ll tell you from experience that even though Malta is an amateur country and team, soccer in the majority of countries has improved. teams have learned how to play a “system” to defend, which is far easier that a “system” to score goals. any disciplined team defending should do well, as long as they are united and understand the strategy!
even though we have great players there’s always different elements that effect the outcome of a game, one of them is penetrating the middle…its harder than you think. when a team believes they can play with you…as in match you, they may not be as defensively minded but when a team knows they cannot challenges you and the only hope is from a counter attack or set piece…all they do for 90 minutes is defend!
a team like Norway may get a better result than us against Malta because Malta would play them differently and believe they could match them…does that mean Norway is better than us?
Armada.
Talking about breaking the bunker down vs actually breaking it down is a lot harder to do. You also have to remember the coach is switching up players every game. We’ve always had trouble scoring, even against teams that don’t bunker. Be happy that we had so many chances on goal, and that our offense actually looks dangerous again.
Those Malta defenders saved their goal keeper a million times today.
There were a couple of bright spots such as Modric’s goal, and a nice showing by Halilovic and Kramaric. But other than that, I wouldn’t take too much stock in this match. This was 10-man Malta for cry in’ out loud.
So Kovac hasn’t proven anything. We will get a better assessment of Vatreni’s level in a tricky away match against Bulgaria.
Also I noticed when they couldn’t break down Malta’s bunker, when all else failed, they would just give the ball to Srna and he would heap a cross into the box.
I would have like to see them break down Malta through the middle. If Rakitic played CAM he could breakdown that bunker with some clever runs and incisive passing.
some definite positives….
Halilovic and Kramaric are definite parts of the future. Mandzukic with a typical solid showing. Nice to see Luka take it to defenders a few times…
now seeing Milic/Strinic/Pranjic play in our last games (going back to the WC) Strinic has my vote all the way for our starting LB for the immediate future. Just solid on both ends, nothing special, but I trust him the most. Milic will do fine as a sub. This nonsense of playing Rakitic as a holder has to end…
@ Slavonac
but it is telling when you can’t break down a 10 man Malta bunker and it takes until Malta run out of gas in the end for us to put it away….
I know looking at teams on paper means nothing (see WC 2014 result) but jesus christ, we have a team of starters from RM, Barca, Inter, Atletico, Liverpool, etc. vs. a 10 man Malta team, with almost all its players from the Maltese 1st division!!!!
We should of bagged an early goal, completely took the wind out of their sails, notched another goal by the half, taken out guys like Modric, Mandzukic, Rakitic and then bagged another goal or two for shits and giggles and called it a day…..
Meanwhile, if the Maltese defender didn’t try to punch Mahir, I bet you anything it would of been 0-0 going into the 70th-80th minute. We just were flat most of the 1st half vs. an amateur team more or less… We play like this vs. even Bulgaria and they’ll take points from us….
the amount of criticism is quite funny and ridiculous! Kovac made changes to this team, maybe they weren’t the changes you were looking for but overall they look much more creative than they did only 2.5 months ago…granted, the teams they’ve played are weaker. with that said, we have seen some change and I’m not disappointed overall. If I saw Pranjic, Jelavic start, Sammir and a few others I’d most likely be disappointed.
Kovac has opted to bring in newer and younger players…this test today wasn’t as easy as many of you uninformed, sofa experts think it was! you’re never satisfied…fuck, your lives must be a complicated!
Milic played well on the left. Jelavic for Kovacic was a good move. Halilovic looks very promising. I wish Srna had a left foot.
Kramaric should of had #2 there…
Brozovic is not yet ready for prime time.
well deserved by Andrej… sucks that he’ll be out of Rijeka before the winter break but he’s going to be a nice piece for the NT
Nice patience by Jelavic there. Great to see Kramaric put one in. Well placed.
and that should do it
Phenomenal run into space by Kramaric. Well done!
someone needs to explain to me what in the hell is Olic’s hairstyle?
Cyprus is beating Bosna 2-1
Jelavic actually having a decent game for the first time in two years…
There’s the Jelavic we know and love.
Wow, footwork from a forward! First time since Suker/Boksic! Bravo Kramaric!
Mighty Bosnia losing to Cyprus 1-2.
Ooooohhh Kramaric, so unlucky.
Dominating? 1 slip up and Malta gets us on the counter and its 1-1 then it doesn’t matter how many goals we “should of” scored… We should of made this 2-0, 3-0, taken out Modric, Mandzukic, whoever else and called it a night…..
Bad luck for Kramaric. Would have been real nice.
Still waiting on Srna to put two good crosses in today…
Modric with #2 almost…
Brozovic couldn’t have been more anonymous so far.
Croatia dominating second half, should be 5-0. Typical over reaction by these posters.
Smocito- really? have you ever dominated a team that has bunkered? lethargic?
Italy looking good on the road tiday.
Also, only 6 more games until Suspension Joey can play again.
Well I love Luka the player, always did and always will… but my wife and I always loved the name Luka/Luca (she’s Italian remember) as well as Luke in English. Add in that I’m a huge Star Wars fan (although Luke Skywalker is not my favorite character) so I like that shout out as well. We had already decided to go with Luka not Luke/Luca, but when Modric scored against Ukraine back in qualies in 2009 and my wife went into labor soon after (few hours) that it was definitely confirmation we picked the right name & spelling 🙂
I’m really pumped for the season premier of Sons of Anarchy tonight….
Hey honey, guess what….I want to name our kid after someone I have never met.
Why? Lethargic Croatia didn’t show up to the game till there were only 10 of them.
Modrić out, Pranjić in 😉
guys…why are you talking about losing? I’m pretty shocked at these comments…fill me in…whats the problem?
Rakitic is so unlucky. He’ll forever be the Croatian version of Frank Lampard. Great for club, nothing special for NT.
Kramaric, Olic and Pranjic warming up.
Good for you Nepoznet. Don’t pay any attention to ziva, the “king of all jocksniffers.”
He wants a goal so bad.
We’d have to lose two games against weak opponents in order for Kovač to get canned.
If we lost against Italy, or Bulgaria in Sofia, they’d just say that they lost to a better team and how we still need some experience and some more running, etc.
just wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide by the little Bosanac
first time I can remember Modric getting physical with someone and pushing them haha
Kovac has no common sense at all.
I hope we barely win today and lose to Bulgaria.
Maybe he will get canned.
http://sportska-tv.in/hrt2.html
Where are people streaming from?
@ Armada87
My wife said “Wow who is that drunk? He looks rough.”
“I name my first son after that man”
so where does that rank on the jock sniffing scale?
@nepoznat????????/ you really named your kid after a person you never met or don’t even know?????? I hope that was a celebratory post and not fact. Because if it was, well that just may be the worst form of jock sniffing known to man.
Zuti looks does look rough today… looks like he just wrapped up a day of day drinking and showed up to the HRT studios
Nice….game over with that goal. Sure helps to shoot on amateur keepers. If Serb Subasic gave that up, we would kill him.
Pletikosa gave up goals like that and it almost killed his wife 😉
I named my first son after that man
LUKKKAAAAAA!!!!!!! What a GOALLIII
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was Modric offside there for that goal too?
LOL and Jelavic in. What a terrible swap.
Would have rather Brozovic off, but Kovacic has played like garbage as well. No idea who plays left winger, but I don’t think formation matters at this point.
So, Kovacic out…..this wont help his confidence with his recent play for the repka if you count the WC.
in this game, why blame Suker or anyone else. the facts are pretty obvious, Malta is playing a very stubborn but disciplined bunker…we are constantly attacking and in their end…they have 10 men behind the ball, in their end…its not as simple as you think!
@Sepp……that chick was average. Calm down. She was a 6, maybe 7
in other nogomet news…
Balkan powerhouses BiH tied 1-1 with Cyprus
@Sepp……no, not always. Malta may fly back today charter, but our guys from ZG fly back to their club tomorrow morning. If the game was in Osijek or Rijeka, that would mean the players would have to drive to ZG or catch an earlier flight in the morning to get to ZG so they could get their flight out of Cro.
By the way……who give Zuti tips on clothing. he looks like a mess and always in the same blue jacket.
Should of thrown cash at Vladimir Petkovic to coach this side.
We need to put Čilić in.
He’ll score the winner for us.
time to submit me as the NT coach !
@Ziva,
Will you reveal your identity if we lose to Malta today?
One a separate note, who is that hottie they panned in on in the first half.
Brozovic out Kramaric in.
Unlike Jelavic, Kramaric Can do more than score goals.
Jelavic is a one trick pony. He would do nothing to break through the bunker.
@Ziva,
So you’re saying all the opposing players fly in/out of Croatia on separate commercial flights? I think you might be wrong on that. I’ve flown in and out of ZG on game days, and the opposing teams charter plane is always parked at Pleso. I think they fly back together to whereever they came from before going back to their respective clubs.
wow we have a lot of work to do.
Never fails to impress me how bad we play. I keep forgeting how bad we are. I pray kovac has a good plan.
@Ivica……since you raised the issue, I’ll expand on it. I still think we will score and win today, but lets say we do tie and then we lose to Bulgaria, would you guys be OK with that if it meant the finely groomed Kovac was let go. It would be another short term pain for long term gain.
The only problem is we still have Puppet Suker, but maybe that is what we need for him to remove himself from the post. Another short term pain for long term gain.
What say you croatiansports.com nation.
I’m pretty sure our players outran Malta’s.
We should be up by 5 goals according to that stat.
This team has no chemistry, doesn’t matter who coaches, this team is not a winner.
Jelavić is more useful against bunker teams than any of type of team. He’s not bad with his head and he won’t have to run.
Speaking of which… If we don’t win today, will that “running” statistic be brought up again?
😉
IvicA – completely agree on your Olic point. Would make no sense putting him on in this situation.
Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss Eduardo. He could have played the left side. Kovacic just doesn’t fit there at all. So non-existent.
you know who’s even better against the bunker?
Nikica Jelavic….
isus krist…
Olić warming up?
What for? He’s useless against the bunker.
Kovacic had a good chance in about the 9th minute. Just grazed the cross bar on a corner.
Haililovic with our first chance of the game…. Nice shot from just inside the box ……………. at the 42nd minute mark
Olic, Kramaric and Jelavic warming up.
This does nothing but disappoint.
Fire Kovac now. Jelavic was warming up.
That was no offside.
Bullshit off side call. Should have been a goal.
That offside was BS where Rakitic scored at 40 minutes.
Rakitic was slightly on. Could see why the lineman though he was off, but damn I’m that desperate for a goal right now.
Halilovic come on…..that was a sitter.
I hope for Brozovic out and Kramaric in.
@ Slavonac
Good point. But cmon… its literally the same garbage everytime up, Srna just crossing into the middle, no creativity, no movement off the ball – granted, they have 10 men behind the ball, but we can’t at least get one in to take the pressure off?
So, if we draw a red carded Malta and lose in Bulgaria next month… Does Kovač get fired?
I fully expect to win today by two goals, but I’m just curious as to how protected Kovač’s status is as coach.
This team desperately needs a defensive mid. Rakitic and Modric can’t be as creative when their so responsible in covering the field in defense.
@Slavonac……..I always felt that when a team is playing all bunker like Malta is doing right now, a red card doesn’t real give us an advantage. They still drop the same number back.
No, but we expect to out shoot Malta at this point by now
@Anona……one of the reason why is because the other cities have airports that lack international connections. Outside of Split, you still have to end up in ZG on the morning you want to leave to get back to your clubs. So, one of the reason is for logisitics.
the game is 90 minutes…I’m really surprised at so many of you…what did you expect 6-0?
Is Halilovic actually passing the ball?
Interesting.
.
Fuckin play acting. I don’t care who it is that does it, it is uncalled for. Gotta get rid of that garbage.
Mandžuka just bailed Kovač out
Well played by Mandza.
I’m sure part of that halftime speech will be to inform the players not to talk to the media about what was said at halftime, if he wants to replicate what he did at the WC.
Man, the Malta defender is a fool, but Mahir Mandzuka is no better than a Potugese soccer player.
Malta gorilla shown red.
Both deserved the red
ok boys time to wake up from your nap….
Mandzukic punched in the face by a Maltese defender after a little tie up
Red card
Game over
Resume nap
Both deserved the res
Mario the instigator Mandzukic deserves a round of applause for that performance.
I wonder what Kovač’s halftime speech is gonna be if this game stays tied at 0-0
Fuck this shit.
Time for a coach whos old and experienced and not cro.
Serbs have done it and l bet ya they overtake us.
I would give Vrsaljko or even Jedvaj a Shot over Pranjic or Milic any day
@Ziva – I always wondered why games vs these types of opponents are not given to Osijek, Pula, or Rijeka…..
Would’ve looked a lot better on TV
Manzo is taking a beating. Working like a mad man, but damn he goes to the ground a lot.
so far its been for the first 15 minutes:
pass to Srna, everyone stand around and watch and let him cross into the middle
Good save by Serb Subasic early. Could have been some bad mojo if we gave up an early goal.
Props to the Zagreb public for not showing up. No need to show up for games like this in ZG, there are better things to do than sit in a crappy stadium for an unattractive opponent. They should alway play these type of games in other cities.
Kovacic looks so uncomfortable on the left side. Rebic really picked a bad time to get suspended.
if we keep pushing everything through the right flank, its going to be a snoooooooozer and a 1-0 win or something like that… what happened to running at defenders
also that left side is a mess, Milic and Kovacic can’t get anything going…
FYI, it’s on ESPN3 in Spanish.
sloppy play early on….
Millc already looking like a liability. Jesus…
aside from two Malta players, this is a Maltese domestic league team…. with our new ‘attacking philosophy’ and new pieces, no reason this game should be close….
Anytime I see Suker on the screen, I can’t help but think of Kermit the frog. Must be a puppet thing or something….
Solid center backs are hard to come by. People calling for Corluka to retire are out of their minds. Yes he’s slow, but he was solid in the WC. Made several vital stops against Mexico, before the implosion.
Interested to see how Brozovic does in the attacking mid spot. Ivica is totally right about other players being better than him. Can’t see how he starts over Kovacic, when Perisic is healthy.
No Pranjic or Olic in the starting lineup. Beautiful, I’m a believer in you Niko Kovac.
shocker, Maksimir looks empty watching the pre-game with Zuti and Vlaovic
So is Brozović actually going to play forward?
Finally.
He should never be playing DM. But he’s likely never going to start for us as AM anyway. We have too many youngsters better than him who can start there. He starts because Rebić and Perišić are suspended and/or injured. Otherwise, one of Kovačić or Halilović starts there.
need a link to watch the game online in canada,
Can anyone help?
Jersey Cro – I agree. Corluka has been a solid player for the NT but it’s time for the up and coming youth. I don’t mean to completely discount Malta, but it is Malta we play today. Get this core of youth (particularly Halilovic and Jedvaj) ready for summer 2016 with minutes in these qualifiers.
Halilovic is now locked up, everyone can STFU about him switching to Bosna
I just feel like he gets burned to easy…
Brozovic and milic are In
Lineup:
23Subašić(GK)
4Milić
5Čorluka
6Lovren
11Srna(C)
7Rakitić
8Halilović
10Modrić
14Brozović
20Kovačić
17Mandžukić
halilovic and kramaric im most excited to watch for in this game both look good but cld get really good if coach shows confidence in playing them more and same with rebic great youth players with nice potential
why ask Hrgota to play for us when he was already on Sweden’s bench? I don’t want him anymore and I could care less to hear about him again, just like Sertic…they aren’t here so why dream about a guy thats not within the mix of players?
@Mr. Black
True. This is his official cap.
But considering he does not have a BiH passport (nor did he even bother to get one over the past few months) was the biggest signal that he is committed to Cro.
On a related note, it would be interesting if we called up Branimir Hrgota since he wasn’t capped in Sweden’s qualifying match yesterday. Put him on the spot, lol.
@ nepoznat
Thanks!
The most important thing today would be Halilovic playing for us today. Then he can’t switch to Bosnia anymore.
Jersey Cro- whats your beef with Corluka? what exactly could you say he’s not done well, during the WC or any other time he’s played for the team?
and for those of us in USA / SAD the game will be on http://www.espn3.com
also I believe it’s on ESPN Classic TV channel on Wednesday evening
here you go jm:
http://sportska-tv.in/hrt2.html
here we go boys, another round of tournament qualifications is under way!
Ajmo Vatreni!
@ nepoznat
do you happen to have the link off that site for the cyprus game?
Corluka=slow as a pig in govno..please get off the team and retire with Stipe
Step Over Ola and Losa Frizura Pranjic…..
can’t wait.
Jedvaj?
come on guys, he’s just appeared with the team for the first time and he’s just recently had a few games as a started….I think we have to hold off a while and see how he does. I’ve heard first hand info that he’s gonna be world class (Simic told me last year) but he needs a little experience and games.
if Pranjic plays at left back I can tell you that he’s going to create animosity amongst this team, its pretty clear that Pranjic has pictures of Kovac humping a midget…theres no other explanation for him insisting on Pranjic as a starter.
………………………..Mandzukic………………………
…..Kramaric………….Rakitic………….Halilovic….
Strinic……….Modric…………Jedvaj………….Srna
……………….Lovren………..Corluka……………….
Hopefully Rakitic plays further forward
He probalby feels that Malta aren’t much of a threat and wants to utilize him for his attacking capability on the other side.
As far as Olic on RW, I certainly hope that Halilovic starts and Olic makes a late appearance as a sub. Olic should not be starting there.
Olić on RW is a disaster. Pranjić on LB is even worse.
If this lineup is for real, Kovač hasn’t learned shit and we’re doing nothing for the next two years.
its only againts Malta >
while the experiment should kick expired player:
such us Pranjic ..
I understand that Perisic is hurt, but, how does Kovac explain that he brought the right players to Brazil when only 2 months after it’s over, both Kramaric and Halilovic are now starting?
Where are some of the subs at Brazil that have not yet retired at?
This qualification is a joke. They should invite all the teams to the Euros and have the minnows show up a week or two earlier to knock each other out.
Then, you can have the World Cup every three years instead of four if the other federations do the same.
Wasn’t the Maltese minnows, the team croatia couldn’t beat a few years back??
No Tin jedvaj? He seems like he is going to be a quality player for Croatia in the near future. He’s got an Olic fighting spirit. Maybe?