After scoring a simple ‘tap-in’ goal midweek vs. Borussia Monchengladbach, Ante Rebić is quickly returning to his World Cup form; coming back from injury for Eintracht Frankfurt. On Sunday, Rebić scored and assisted in Frankfurt’s 4-1 victory over Hannover. During first half injury time, Rebić would roll off his defender and set himself up for an easy shot home to make it 2-0. During the second half, Rebić muscled his way past the Hannover defense before making a cheeky pass to a wide open Jonathan De Guzman in front of goal. Rebić is heating up just in time for the England match on October 12th.
Rebić Goal 1:17 Assist 2:25
In Chelsea’s 1-1 draw vs. Liverpool on Saturday, Mateo Kovačić sent a beautiful through-ball to Eden Hazard which resulted in the game’s opening goal. Kovačić has earned his spot in the Chelsea starting XI as the club is yet to lose in the young Premiership season. Kovačić is currently on loan from Real Madrid but can make the move permanent in the summer. He was given a ‘7’ grade against Liverpool as “Has settled in so well to this Chelsea side that it seems he has been a part of this midfield for many years. A look at the calibre of player he is keeping on the bench shows how highly Sarri rates him.”
Kovačić Assist To Hazard 2:08
Ivan Rakitić had a rough day at the office on Saturday as Barcelona drew Athletic Bilbao 1-1; dropping points in their third straight game. Rakitić play all 90 minutes int he draw but was highly criticized for his play, especially from one Barcelona supporter. Here is the video he put up after the match. He had an off day in La Liga. You can afford that during the long season. You can’t afford it during the World Cup.
Sosa Own Goal
20 year-old Stuttgart left-back Borna Sosa was part of the most bizarre own goals in recent history. With no pressure in his own end, Sosa threw the ball in towards his keeper. Zieler wasn’t paying attention and the ball rolled into the back of the net; even after the goalie tried to clear it. Just bizarre.
Andrej Kramarić converted a penalty in Hoffenheim’s 2-1 loss to RB Leipzig. Mario Mandžukić, who retired from the Croatian national side after the World Cup, scored twice for Juventus in a 3-1 victory over a very good Napoli side. Is it time to get the petition forms ready?
@maminjo LOL @rakitic being more concerned with hugging each opposition player. so true
After the game against Spain, it is definitely time to get the petions going to BEG Super Mario to come back to the NT!
No for Coric @ Andrej L. Perisic has been our best player in Major Tournament’s statastically speaking since 2014. He has the most score involvement’s including goals and assists also most created chances. Ivan Perisic could have won the Golden Ball award.
That comment was in response to you Poggie
Ćorluka stopped being useful for us the moment his hair got more bouncy and started to date Franka.
He wasn’t even with the team during our late qualification moments. No doubt he’s a good guy, but I don’t think there was that much leadership there that needs to be replaced.
Srna was fine, but he’s been gone for a while now and we seemed to do fine without him in this past World Cup.
Subašić, honestly, I’m sure the guys love him but I’m also sure that a lot of them are happy he’s gone. His awful play in this World Cup is the elephant in the room. He may be a good leader, but those leader skills get diminished if you are the reason the team loses games.
Mandžo is a loss, and Modrić/Rakitić/Perišić will be the bigger ones over the next 2-4 years.
The good news is that we have a lot of very young talent in the pipeline doing well already. Remember, Croat footballers are LATE bloomers. So it’s always a good sign when you have like 20 youngsters already playing first team football in quality leagues outside Cro.
@Zlatan Hrvat
I don’t think Coric has even made the bench this year, has he?
@Toronto Croatia
Ummm… I don’t think anyone has ever said that in history, lol
But yes, I agree that Rebić looks like he will be a slightly more skilled and less incompetent Ivica Olić (but with more of an angry streak). Guys like this are contagious and are excellent for any team, if used correctly.
Coric and Halilovic regular bench warmers.
Petition form? Try apology notes from those who don’t understand winning soccer.
Mandzukic retired for one reason only. To say “fuck you” to the idiots who have been ripping on him for years. I can’t say I blame him.
He’ll be back if things fall apart. He knows how valuable he was, and wants people to see it. Kinda like when you first dumped your sweetheart who began to take you for granted, now she can’t stop hitting you up on facebook begging for your Croatian meat back!
Until then, just go Perisic–Rebic–Brekalo/Vlasic
Rebic is really shaping up to be a more talented version of Ivica Olic.
So those of you who may have said “we will never see another Olic again” … were wrong. lol
You’re forgetting Corluka Mandzukic Srna and even Subasic was influential and popular.
After Modric and Rakitic I see a lack of future leaders.
Rebic I’m hopeful for. His style of play is infectious. Even watching his teammates celebrate with him.
Vlasic is an exciting prospect too.
Even at Everton I thought he looked like a good player.
Vrsaljko’s injury problems over the years are a bit worrisome. If he can’t show up to the next games; I think Dalic could look at Josip Juranovic or Fran Tudor. Both are pacy and too old to play for the U21s. Worth a try to look at back up options especially for the Jordan game.
Rebic is a beast. Hopefully, Pjaca can continue to get playing time and match up with him. Perisic, Rebic, and Pjaca attacking trio could be real deadly come 2020.
@Poglavnik
Meh. It’s not like Modric or Rakitic are great leaders anyway.
Modric is a mouse who can’t hit a high-pressure penalty to save his life, and Rakitic is more concerned about his hairstyle and ensuring he hugs and helps each of the opposing players when they fall down.
The fact is, the skills of Modric and Rakitic are World Class. We need to replace that. Kovacic can do that to an extent, and he’s on the right path now that he’s starting at Chelsea.
Brekalo is also looking like a supertalent.
If Pjaca gets back on track, he’s another one to watch.
But we still have Modric for another couple years, and Rakitic for possibly another four. So we have some time.
Re: actual leaders and warriors…
We will always have a few warriors here and there like Perisic and Mandzukic. We already have one warrior in Rebic, and I can see Vlasic being one too.
I really love Vlasic’s confidence and competitiveness. Dude looks angry all the time. He will be exactly like Ivan Perisic.
Vlasic literally told his Everton coach that he is the Everton’s best midfielder. The coach didn’t agree and sent him out on loan. Now Vlasic is tearing it up for CSKA Moscow and every Everton fan is losing their minds as to why their midfield is so stale and why the hell they allowed for Vlasic to go out on loan, lol.
Vlasic is on a mission to embarrass Everton’s coach for not believing in him. Really looking forward to seeing him develop into the star that he is. He’s too good for Everton. I hope he never goes back there.
Fenerbahce is currently 14th in the Turkish first division and just lost today 0-3 to the 15th place team.
Dinamo’s victory over them looking less impressive. Fenerbahce not even a shadow of last year’s team as someone earlier pointed out.
I just worry the transition could cost us being competitive at a tourney or two. Rebic Kovacic Perisic Brozovic Vida Vrsaljko. These guys need to lead.
Also…the Nations League tournament has begun much too early.
We ALWAYS begin slow after the summer. We’ve lost to Ireland, drew Estonia, drew Turkey at home, drew Greece at home…even in our best qualification campaign (when we eliminated England from Euro 2008), we still drew Russia in our first game.
It’s Croatian tradition. I wouldn’t put too much stock in these results for our Euro qualifications next year.
@Poglavnik
You’re being cynical.
The transition won’t be bad. The guys I listed above are all 21 year-olds and they start for their club teams already. Some of them are already deemed star players for their clubs.
Mind you, these are our REALLY young guys. I’m not even talking about the other young guys in the 23-25 range like Kovacic, Rebic, Mitrovic, Pasalic, Pjaca, Brozovic, Barisic, and Jedvaj (yes, Tin’s been starting lately for Leverkusen).
I just listed 16 players in the 20-25 year old range who are starting for their clubs, and more than half of them play for top-five leagues in Europe.
Only two of these guys were actually relied on during the World Cup (Brozovic and Rebic)…so we are talking about already being able to pick and choose NET NEW talent to our current roster from the rest of this pool.
This doesn’t include the players who are not starting, but will probably develop nicely over the next couple of years for us, such as Davor Lovren, Nikola Moro, Toma Basic, Ante Coric, Lovro Majer and Marin Jakoliš…actually I just realized that Jakoliš IS in fact starting for his Austrian club as well. So, make that 17 young players (who are playing first team football in foreign clubs) to choose from.
Speaking of Borna Sosa, the kid has started the past two games.
The previous starter (some Argentinian dude) doesn’t seem to be injured either. I wonder what happened for him to lose his spot only a few games in.
Hopefully Sosa continues to start.
Borna Barišić looks decent, but he’s a stop gap solution. It would excellent for us if Sosa actually continues starting and plays regularly for a Bundesliga club despite being only 20.
Brekalo, Vlašić, Bistrović, Lorenco, Ćaleta-Car and Sosa already playing regular first team football in good leagues is a very good sign. Katić and Benković are doing very well, but that’s Scottish league though so it doesn’t count. 🙂
Rebić i Kovačić
All in with these two.
They need to start and play significant minutes going forward.
Rebić is our best center forward.
They are both in their prime for the next 3 major tournaments.
They both got great experience at the World Cup and both are playing well at club level.
There is another level possible for both as well and Dalić needs to facilitate that next step.
They bring power and speed to their respective positions.
Full faith their performance levels will evolve.
According to the rules of soccer, the goal would not have counted if the keeper hadn’t touched the ball lightly on its way in – it would have just been a corner to Bremen.
By trying to clear the ball, he mildly touched it and it counted as a goal.
None of this was Bornas fault. They won the game anyway.
Rebic excellent goal and fantastic assist. he makes it look easy. Welcome back ante
https://www.givemesport.com/1396622-barcelona-fan-makes-video-of-ivan-rakitics-woeful-performance-v-athletic-bilbao?amp
So shitty that the only Hrvat without a WC hangover (Mandza) retired from the National team.
Call me cynical but we’re going to struggle through this transition. Thankfully it’s easier than ever to qualify for the Euros.
Rebic with another goal
I’m almost done with sport. 1st Croatia lose the WC and now Collingwood get done in the GF with 1.45 to go after leading for 95% of game time. What next Davis Cup final?
Anyone see Srna playing for Cagliari?
Caught a few minutes.
Torcida scum
https://www.24sata.hr/sport/strava-na-poljudu-vatrogascu-topovski-udar-raznio-pola-prsta-592614
Mandzukic with a couple. Krama with a penalty. Mario unretire please! Haha
hepinizi yok edeceğim, pis kafirler
ANTE IS A YUGO