It’s been all UFC, handball and Australian Open here at CroatianSports.com for the past week; but let me return you to our regularly scheduled programming- football. And although it was a slow all-around week for Croatian internationals, Mateo Kovačić had a snazzy assist for Real Madrid on Saturday.
Kovačić came off the bench in the 88th minute for Luka Modrić and immediately made his presence felt; dishing out a beautiful assist on Toni Kroos’ 89th minute goal, which made the game 4-1 in Real Madrid’s favor. Kovačić is capable of great things, but he may have to go to another club to secure a starting spot.
Kovačić assist on Kroos Goal
Ivan Rakitić played 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory against Alaves. Barca now remain 11 points ahead of second place Atletico Madrid. Dejan Lovren remained on the bench as Liverpool lost to West From in the FA Cup. $100 million transfer Virgil van Dijk has not impressed on the Liverpool backline thus far.
Mario Mandžukić played 90 minutes as Juventus defeated Chievo Verona 2-0 to remain one point behind leaders Napoli. Ivan Perišić and Int Milan continue to slide down the Serie A table. They have not won a game in over one month after another disappointing draw; this time in a 1-1 draw as SPAL scored in injury time. Marcelo Brozović played 86 minutes in this match.
Real Madrid and Inter Milan just don’t give a fuck any more.
WHo knows the politics involved but sure as shit pavic changes his mind both him and cilic obviously on fire
Swiss used to have Fed + Wawrinka in the singles, not sure about their doubles.
Also, as i said in other threads, Coric SHOULD be a real threat but i just dont know what’s up with him tbh with u. He’s channeling Halilokebab or something, perhaps, in terms of underdeveloping/underperforming
But yeah you’re right, that would be an awesome team. Let’s hope after we knock of Canada and get later into the tourney that Pavic comes onboard and the lineup u mentioned is the one we play with. Maybe he just doesnt want to play so soon after the Aus Open since he clearly had a full schedule. I know that’s a shit excuse but most big players kinda do that tbh.
Čilić, Ćorić and Dodig+Pavić in doubles would win the Cup easily.
Has any country ever had a better combo of singles and doubles players at the same time?
Maybe Sampras and the Bryan Brothers.
Yeah i cant explain Pavic not playing DC, no idea wtf is up with that, he really should be.. him + Dodig would surely be formidable
Brozovic looks as if he is headed for Sevilla. He would join former players Suker, Prosinecki, Rakitic, Jelicic and Mornar at the club.
As far as Kovacic, he would be a star in England, with the leagues up and down pace. Would love to see him at Liverpool, where there was previous interest. He could take over for the departed Coutinho.
croatia england will be behind closed doors bc uefa is still on that poljud swastika c0ck
bc hes a puss
why does our doubles tennis player mate pavic not wanting to play for croacia??
Hahah okies i won’t comment about it at all then 🙂
But welcome to the site Cro Canada!
Here you will just find peace, harmony and unity from all the diaspora !
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
@ Cro Canada,
I like that: who has had a better career. I will use that this week. Save the debate for tomorrow 🙂
Wassup boys? My bud just told me about this site. Liking what I am reading. He did tell me to stay away from one guy. He said the guy is a creepy stalker.
@Soul Champic- a-b, good player with a good National Team in him.
@Maminjo- Too late for Mateo to develop a Modric like shot. It would be easier for him to acquire more CDM skills.
@Bz- I see you. 3 starters on 1 team would be the shiznit.
@Iggy-you the tennis expert here? Better career when all is said and done, Cilic or Goran?
Cilic backing up for DAvis Cup in a few days vs Canada, very good to see! The Montenegrin is out for that game too which is nice. Will see if Coric can finally do something.
Truth Troll a juvenile idiot. Nothing remotely clever about the lame repetitive school yard names you spout
I guess i wouldnt mind if he went back to inter. as long as hes on a team where he will play regularly and in a top league. plus inter should make champions league next season
Kova back to Inter would be a dream. New favorite team by far. Perisic, Brozo, & Kova on same field, getting paid to polish their National team act.
Yup. Has all the technical skills in the world.
He just needs to be selfish and just put every chance (and half-chance) on goal and good things will happen.
9 out of 10 times, in that exact same play, he passes it harmlessly sideways for someone else to deal with it.
slalom goal…drops Pique…needs more clearly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14gy0TsS6cA
Would you guys be cool with a move back to Inter Milan?
———
According to Argentine journalist Los Blancos are set to sign Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi for £98 million this transfer window, saying:
“Mauro Icardi travels to Madrid at the moment to seal the move with the Real. An express offer of 106M € + Kovacic return would have convinced the leadership nerazzurra to let go of his maximum gunner in the absence of just 2 days to close the market passes.”
I wouldn’t mind if Dalic tried playing Kova and Badelj together with Perisic, Modric, and Raktic in front of them. Worth a try in exhibitions games.
Kovacic has elite technical ability and his slalom runs where he just pushes forward keeping the ball alive is amazing.
The problem is when he gets to the opponent’s third, he just doesn’t do anything with it.
His attempts on net are always very weak, and it looks like he is trying to ‘pass’ the ball into the net. He looks gassed half the time too. He’s also too safe and passes horizontally a lot. Even that “awesome” assist last game, was him passing it back and it was the goalscorer who did well to score that goal (not the Kovacic pass).
If he ever learned to drill that ball on target at the end of those slalom runs, he would be incredibly dangerous.
He gets limited minutes with the Repka and it’s hard to get a Rhythm that way. I agree that it’s the greatest showings from him.
But watch him play for RM (back to back champions). Arguably the best team in the world. Who do you guys think subs in first in the midfield for Casemiro, Kroos, or Modric? It’s not Isco or Asensio. The guy is good. Just needs to stay healthy.
Kovacic needs minutes. And somewhere fast.
@idemo
I agree that he has his moments and flashes of talent, but he has to consistently string those performances together game after game and it’s obvious playing at Real, won’t let him, as someone previously stated.
I guess it depends on what people deem “world class” is. To me, a “World class” player has the ability to grab a game by the balls and dictate it to their liking and usually starts on the field, not the bench. Very few of those exist in nogomet at any given time and we are lucky to have one in Luka.
nk susak
100 percent right
but there are glimmers and glimpses of raw talent…..down hill runner….something many can’t do…..no end product tho I’m with u
Other than the Iceland playoff game in Zagreb, Kovacic has done absolutely nothing for the national team. Watching him at times, reminds me of a bunch of 4 year olds that all run to the ball and crowd the field. Im sorry, im just not seeing what a lot of yous see in him.
Truth – your half right.
@ soul champ
I was broke when I wasn’t rich
Kova is in a tight spot playing behind some of the best midfielders in the world for both club and country. Last year, he was playing almost 1 game per week for RM due to their tough schedule. I know he messed up in the El Clasico but it was no coincidence that he started that game. His defensive game has really flourished over the last year as well. Definite world class player. That last injury just took him out of his rhythm especially since he was playing a lot.
You ain’t lyin maminjo!
Lots of Croat callups on that BiH national team.
Tomić, Zakarić, Menalo, and Šarić all started. Plus, there were a few on the bench too.
I don’t mind the callups, but I don’t want to compete with Žuti for young players that could potentially play for us.
None of these guys were that young, but one of them (Marijan Ćavar) is only 19 and plays for Eintracht Frankfurt.
We have to be careful and keep tabs on young players with potential.
Vrsaljko was playing at a World Class level before serous knee injury last spring derailed his trajectory.
Back to health and will be vital for us at RB.
@ Svima
My question is a belief of potential for Kovačić.
Anyone can critique what was ?
I want to know who has the vision to see what is possible for our talented players?
The UEFA nations league will catapult us in becoming a footballing power.
Žuti 1-0 as BiH manager.
Man the USMNT / MLS is WEAK.
BiH league all stars produce result in LA.
I manipulate names with my potty mouth on this forum to loosely interpret my feelings about people. Am I just a clever idiot or what?
Not saying that Kovačić is a bust, but I don’t see him playing anywhere in our midfield other than in the pivot.
He can’t play too far forward, and has a non-existent shot (similar to Badelj) but at least Badelj has solid experience playing that CDM role and Brozović actually flourishes in a more offensive (behind the striker) role where he regularly puts shots on net.
It’s this reason why Kovačić has become a depth player for us.
I hope he can suddenly be some solid offensive player for us, or some defensive stalwart, so that we can try him out with Rakitić and Modrić but both his weaknesses and strengths are too similar to theirs. Which makes him more likely to be a direct backup to one of them.
Where my Vrsaljko world class guys at?!
coming out party at WC?
he better have a coming out party before if he wants to play at wc
@Zee
@Soul Champ wants people to get “Off the fence around Kovacic.”
If you want to sit on the fence that’s fair enough, but it’s not about proof, it’s about offering your opinion!
I chose, “A- World Class talent that fulfills his potential for Croatia and club career.”
I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t fulfill his potential.
He is already a good player.
Where is the proof anon? He is a good kid but no minutes. 5 will do do it? Ok. I take your word for it. God i hope you correct!
A. What anon?
A.
@soul. He needs minutes somewhere to showcase his talent. You might be correct but at this time it is unknown. Just because he made a fantastic pass in 5 minutes of play is not good enough. But that being said you might be correct. Need more proof. England I think is a good place for him.
D – World class skill set yet to live up to the hype. Stuck on too good a team to get meaningful minutes to develop said skill set.
@ Maminjo
Full respect to your opinion.
You will own up to view points once Mateo Kovačić has a coming out party this June ?
Brozovic over Kovačić ?
@ Svima
Off the fence around Kovačić :
A- World Class talent that fulfills his potential for Croatia and club career.
B- Pedestrian player who is a perennial role player.
C- “ Bust”
I am just curious where we all stand ?
Maminjo
Is majer worth watching
@Maminjo- lol, love the realistic view regarding over made up blond heads faking dopey guys out. Not that I am saying Kova’s wife is that (don’t recall ever seeing her.)
…but to say Kova’s only chance to start for us is when Rakitic & Modric retire is somethingI don’t agree with. He can easily replace Brozo with a few good showings.
There are only three starting central midfield spots and Modrić, Rakitić and Brozović are (and should always be) ahead of him.
If you want to change things up and a dedicated defensive midfielder, he definitely doesn’t start over Badelj either.
Can’t put him on the wing over Perišić or Pjaca. Even Kramarić and Vlašić are ahead of him on the wing or behind the strikers.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Krovinović take this spot in a couple years from now.
Kovačić’s ONLY role for us is to be the direct replacement to Modrić or Rakitić, once one of them retires a few years from now.
That’s his only chance to start for us, and even then, there is no guarantee.
Will and NEEDS to start for us.
He’s actually not a starter for us..
Mateo Kovačić is a World Class talent.
Injury was a set back.
That assist shows he is gaining his timing back.
He is a starter for Croatia and will be a starter for a major club next season.
Real Madrid was on an historic run over the last two years and he still earned some meaningful minutes.
He is peerless in the Croatian talent pool when it comes to the next generation.
Zidane better have him in the mix over the 180+ minutes with PSG.
Modrić has reached his peak with Real and he needs to take a move for the next chapter in his legendary career.
Real Madrid would be crazy to lose Kovačić as well.
But they let Morata go and stuck with Benzema ?
@ Svima
Put your name to the Mateo Kovačić will become a world class player list.
Because just like Luka Modrić 4 years ago they were many cynical non believers that have faded to black.
Adrien Thomasson from nantes fc is looking pretty good so far this year. two goals from last game at 2:53 and 4:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRV1IKPTa7s
I’m not into overly dolled up chicks but she is definitely above average!
Hrgovic is going to be a star!
His wife is average.
You have to look beyond the makeup and the Instagram photos.
Bod is nothing special, and face is completely plain with a shit ton of makeup to make her look above average. It’s really just the blonde head of hair and the ‘doll’ look that is fooling everyone.
The pass was nice.
The commentator and Kvartuc’s headline make it seem way better than it was.
Truth Troll trolling with his 4th grade name calling yet again. Grow up sine
Looks like a disappointing weekend for Croatians in soccer
Andrej “me-first,” kramarshit continues to fade into the background
Lovren doesn’t even see the field
Marko pee ass a rides the pine even with dalic coming to see him play
I don’t even have to look. I’m guessing Marko rog was riding the pine too
boxing news, hrgovic won today
Maybe hes content. Hes got a hot wife, making good money, and winning major titles without playing much. Pretty good deal
You’re bang on maminjo about kovacic. He needs minutes. My opinion he needs to get out of real. Italy Germany anywhere for that matter. He rotting in Madrid.
Younger players on our National Team are already at Kovacic’s level and/or are more impactful than he is.
Marko Pjaca is already more valuable to us than Kovacic.
For now, Brozovic has surpassed him too (and he was never supposed to be anything special).
It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if another youngster (Vlasic, Brekalo, Rog, Moro, Majer) makes some strides over the next couple of years and pushes for a spot in our central midfield.
Kovacic is no longer a young prospect after this year. This is it for him. He’s been exactly the same player these past couple years. If he doesn’t step up, then his career is being a good player off the bench. Nothing else.
Kovacic is turning 24 this year.
It’s time to show what he can do.
He needs to either go out on loan to get regular minutes, or he’ll just be a depth player for both club and National Team (as he currently is).
the pass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj_TQrEOwEQ
sublime assist by kovacic just now, about 30 seconds after coming on.
There is soccer going on???
Who knew! It’s all tennis and MMA here still hehe