Luka Modrić and Real Madrid were in the UAE this week to represent Europe at the FIFA Club World Cup. And as expected, Los Blancos won it for the third time in four years. In the semifinal round, Real Madrid had to come from behind to defeat Al Jazira 2-1. Modrić assisted on the equalizing goal to Ronaldo before Gareth Bale put away the winner int he 81st minute. On Saturday, the reigning La Liga champions defeated South American champions Gremio 1-0 behind a fantastic Cristiano Ronaldo free kick.
Without scoring a goal, Luka Modrić was awarded the Adidas Golden Ball (Best Play of the Tournament) ahead of teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice. Modrić has been collecting silverware left and right the past few seasons. But will he get the trophy he wants this summer in Russia?
Modrić assist to Ronaldo
Dejan Lovren is back in Liverpool good graces after a goal and clean sheet performance in a 4-0 win Sunday vs. Bournemouth. Lovren was given a ‘7’ grade as he was ‘targeted by the home side with some longer passes for the forwards to race onto, but held his own with the first couple of tests despite a free-kick wrongly going against him. Lovren also showed his courage at the other end to launch himself into a diving header and score from six yards out to double the lead for the Reds. Caught out once or twice with through passes from deep, and when asked to cover across in the channel.’
Lovren Goal
‘Super Mario’ Mandžukić was also on the score sheet Sunday with a beautiful chest trap to himself which resulted in a sharp left-footed finish. The goal would help Juventus to a 3-0 win over Bologna, moving them to second place; only one point behind Napoli.
Mandžukić Goal
Atletico Madrid defender Šime Vrsaljko had a beautiful assist to Fernando Torres on the game’s lone goal in the 74th minute Saturday. Vrsaljko one-timed a sharp, low cross across the box which only Torres could get to. It was the form we have seen from Vrsaljko recently against Greece and Ukraine; and if he keeps this up, Croatia will e in good shape.
Vrsaljko Assist
i think if freeza can get resurrected twice..why not?
Idemo do u think it’s good if perisic ends up at man u after all?
Oh oh Vrsaljko to Napoli rumors
Don’t like it one bit he’s cup tied and there is a nice rb there already
Be careful croop, it’s only me and you here that think that
Saric 27 points
pjaca and vlasic both need to go on loan
Peruvian flute band
maybe a smaller college stadium..since there arnt a million peruvians everywhere like there are those damn mexicans
@BZ noob
mihktariyan to Inter Milan rumors gaining lot of traction
@ BZ
I am taking the whole family and would love for my son to see the “D” team!
There will be some legit talent on that D team.
They will also know they are competing for a World Cup spot.
Goku, only noob is you. I posted 2 hours before you, old news by the time you posted.
I know the city of Miami was confirmed, but has there been a venue picked? Hard Rock Stadium(home of the Dolphins)? Marlins Park (hate baseball venues used for nogomet)? Or a smaller college venue? Looks like Suker got bored spending the HNS’ money in Vegas, so why not give South Beach a shot.
&croatiaperson85 we on the same page more/less
Šuker told me he LOVES Miami …
All good I’ll be there!!!
its not on croatiaweek yet so thats why you noobs probably dont know but friendly is confirmed
https://www.24sata.hr/sport/priprema-za-argentince-peru-na-vatrene-23-ozujka-u-sad-u-553168
See yall in Miami on the 23rd. Hopefully we send ourD team to exhibit our young talent.
Not saying he is bale but I will insert the mandzukic argument on that great Bayern team. He was great there but a number of above average strikers would have similar numbers
Disclaimer I love mandzukic for what he offers Quality goal yesterday. I just don’t want us to mess our World Cup by forcing him in if he isn’t in form
Maybe we can talk bout this. What sort of striker do we need against Nigeria and Argentina? Mario could battle the Icelanders but maybe a guy like kramaric can make more happen in the tight spaces
Let’s pray kramaric gets in form cause we have seen he can get hot and score in bunches Pjaca and perisic I feel will put some fear down the wings which was so missing few years back. Let’s pray pjaca gets in form
Do u guys think pjaca would be best off with a loan or move in the winter or will he find playing time??
I want him to play and get on his game again
Sorry for the long messages. Just trying to get some if this good convo going
Laknat we are all waiting fir the god of halilovic to grow up and say I’m not Messi and clean up his attitude. Take his number of god given talents and work on them and then he may have a perisic like or even better career
But he has to eat a whole lot of humble palacinke pie first
Everyone here wants him to become the god of halilovic but even god humbled himself
Sorry I forget who said perisic made bad club moves…do u think he should have went to Man U? Those recent reports saying how they chose to stay at inter… in the summer it seemed so money related
If icardi leaves in summer so should perisic and maybe brozovic then
Call me an idiot but I would think perisic would have close to the same numbers as bale had at Madrid
The God of Halilovic is the answer!
I will now enumerate every power and ability of him …
-Immense strength
-Immense speed & reflexes
-Immense durability
-Immense defense
-Mass destruction
I’ll take 3 more like Perišić right NOW!
Actually spend all my HNS time looking to see who can step up to his level out of all the younger kids.
He truly is a dynamic player that has made some poor club moves in his career.
Two footed player with power and pace that gets to where he needs to in the attacking third.
He is right behind Modrić in who needs to be catered to this World Cup.
Counter attacking beast mode against Nigeria and Argentina.
Smh
Idemo I have to get disagree with you that being selfish in soccer is stupid. Sometimes you rather have a guy shoot or take people on when it normally wouldn’t be warranted unless that person has better odds of scoring or making something happen vs giving it to someone who may be in a better position but more often than not will not finish or do something as productive. Being selfish when somone has a sitter or tap in, I completely agree with you.
Selfish is when there are clear open better passes/options and one continues to try to do something more which is tougher for no reason being selfish in soccer is stupid
One must be clinical
This conversation about Perisic is perturbing, but maybe I am deluding myself.
Perisic is not selfish. Ask Icardi. Icardi might get a huge contract/transfer, and should send Perisic a nice present for being the elite passer that he is.
I will admit that Perisic has taken a few ill advised chances for the NT as of late, but do not delude yourself, this man deserves to take a few haymakers.
@Pog-To add to your point. Perisic is not even that direct. I’d say he takes it to the corner just as much as he goes toward goal. Keep the defense off balance. All the great wingers do it.
Exactly Poglavnik good point. Every team needs someone whose a little selfishness. Usually the best strikers are and we lack someone who will do that.
I see Perisic’s “selfishness” as a positive. Who else on our team is a threat to take guys on and shoot from distance? Brozovic maybe but he doesn’t get in the positions that Perisic does.
Perisic gives us exactly what we need.
Although having said that I’m glad we don’t have 11 players that play that directly.
@maminjo
Hezonja situation is hapless, needs a move…..Gordon is injured so he started , when they are at strength hezona has been a DNP
What control and what finish by Mandzukic.
@ LAknat
Nice use of the word “delude,” your English is growing.
It’s all in relation to who supports Modrić.
Perišić brings power and attacking presence down the left flank. This creates space for Modrić to create more options
Spaletti is burying him out a bit using him as wing back. Better as an out and out winger.
@ Maminjo
I always wanted to see Kukoč come into a bad team and start and grow into his game.
Kevin Durant with the Seattle SuperSonics played the 2 guard and had the green light to bum it up. Now he is too 5 on the planet.
Hezonja may be a punk but his Magic minutes have stunted his growth.
He has the same tools has the kid from Phoenix Booker. But that kid has played every minute from the start of his NBA career and now he is legit.
Hezonja made a mistake not playing at EuroBasket.
Bender scored 17 too.
These guys just need to be force fed minutes.
The NBA is unique in this way, where these young guys simply develop with in-game minutes and a lot of growing pains.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was garbage in his rookie year, and now he’s a young LeBron. Same as that French kid on the Knicks right now. Terrible… But you know he will develop into a good player.
Hopefully, Orlando continues this with Hezonja.
Hezonja dropped 28, why so much hate
https://m.sportskeeda.com/football/liverpool-agree-stunning-real-madrid-mateo-kovacic
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/5159626/mateo-kovacic-manchester-united-real-madrid-january-transfer-news/
I’ll believe it when I see it. Just rumours but who knows.
Would you guys rather have Perisic at Man U, Vrsaljko at Napoli/Liverpool and Kovačić at Man U/Liverpool or have them all stay at their current clubs?
LAKnat – If you’re looking at the last few qualifiers we tied or lost than maybe there is some creedance there but aside from that Perisic was one of our biggest contributors from 2014 WC to 2016 euros. So much so Man U wanted him and still wants him so I don’t think most people would agree with you saying Perisic’s sellfishness is a hindrance to us, just a thought.
Soul Camp.
you delude yourself by saying Perisic as a superb player.
for me, he is just a hindrance because of his selfishness more than Kramaric in NT, look again how he even can’t
manage shoot well. I guess you need to look at player contribution in NT, not in a merely local club.
Happy for Lovren.
The only cure for momak midget disease is to go through the crucible of adversity on the pitch.
That goal was the soccer gods smiling on Lovren.
@ BZ
Pjaca on the bench before Christmas break ?
Sretan Božić !
@Idemo- nice one
Lovren scores goal, why so much hate
summary:
Mandzukic, another nice goal, and another nice game until he got injured. Why so much hate?
Did anybody else notice Pjaca in the bench? I did
Kalinic part of Milan’s demise, why so much love?
Strinic back from injury, leading Sampdoria to a 1-0 loss.
Why so much love?
Bz with another good post. Why so much hate?
I know my comments about Kalinic are not popular with the Hajduk fans here but the truth is he is horrible!
Ya was nice goal. Budimir got a goal too. Mandzo is out now with an injury.
Nice gol Mandzukic!
@ BZ
Cue the world class debate …
But before his knee injury he was beasting up and down the right flank.
He is key for us at RB.
We should create The Who can maximize Modrić crew (MMC):
Every player in the selection pool should be rated on a scale of 1-5 on how well they can compliment Modrić. Plus the coach !
Dalić – 5, Čačić – 2, Kovač – 1, Bilić – 4, Štimac – 1.
Vrsaljko – 5+!
Mandžukić – 3.
Brozovic – 3.
Rakitic – 3.
Perisic – 5.
Kovačić – 4.
Strinic – 4.
Etc …
So it looks like that American consortium (led by that shady Glover character) who bought Istra Pula is just one big scam.
They haven’t paid their players since the beginning of the season. Guys are dropping from the team, and Dinamo players are donating cash to the unpaid players.
@bz. Good point. Like anon said vratija se Sime dije bija!
Hey Soul- recovering Vrsaljko has two world class game winning assists in 2 weeks for a world class team. He is close to becoming World Class again. Some World Class teams trying to poach him from Atletico.
@soul champ. Absolutely correct. Best midfieder on earth!
Kramaric lost favor with coach cause one of his teammates (forgot his name, the black midfielder) complained that Andrej is selfish. A big joke. Nothing f’s up your confidence like thinking you need to pass up a good shot, so your dumbass teammates will be happy.
http://twitter.com/brfootball/status/942153234805936128
Modrić is a national treasure !
Read a poorly translated gernan site. Sounds like he just has lost confidence it seems
Croatian paper said he may get transferred to Everton
Sure hope kramaric gets his game on again…do u think he is out of favour with coach or just being out of form causing him to sit? Needs a move to Frankfurt with kovac and rebic haha in all seriousness would be good to create some chemistry
Nice to hear on sime
Benfica I believe plays tomorrow waiting to see how krovinovic does. Read online they want 30m for him. I know times have changed down in past few years but man what a bust Luka was at 30 mill!
I’ve been translating some Portuguese sites and they sure talk like he is something special…let’s hope so
Sime doing well while kramaric warming the bench
Sime with another assist
Back to back starts
James
luka golden boot
Anyone on here going to Russia?
I’m having a real headache trying to sort out accommodation.
Idemooooooooo