It was a slow week for Croatians around Europe as La Liga resumed play after a 3-month COVID-19 break. However, Ivan Rakitić came on at halftime for Barcelona in a 4-0 win over Mallorca; marking the 300th game he has played for the club since coming over from Sevilla in the summer of 2014. It’s simply amazing what Rakitić and Modrić have done the past decade in Spain with two of the biggest clubs on the planet. Between the two of them, both Modrić and Rakitić have collectively won five La Liga crowns and 5 Champions League titles. Just amazing!
Modrić and Real Madrid got back to their winning ways Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Eibar. Modrić played 84 minutes in the win. Real Madrid trail leaders Barcelona by two points with 10 matches remaining in the season.
Over in Italy, Coppa Italia semifinal action commenced this week. Ante Rebić was sent off for AC Milan in the 17th minute with a straight red card. Milan couldn’t find the back of the net even with Ronaldo missing a penalty kick off the post. Juventus moves onto the final 1-1 on away goals. Marcelo Brozović had some good chances to put Inter Milan in the final bit did not look as sharp as he did pre-COVID. He whiffed on a few goal-scoring chances and will now see Napoli play Juventus in the Copa Italia Final.
Over in Germany, Josip Brekalo, Marin Pongračić and Wolfsburg blew a huge 2-0 lead against Freiburg by missing two penalty kicks and letting Freiburg equalize late to force a 2-2 draw. Brekalo only played 55 minutes. Andrej Kramarić came on at halftime for Hoffenheim in a 2-0 loss to RB Leipzig. Ivan Perišić played 88 minutes in Bayern’s late 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach. Bayern can secure the Bundesliga crown this Tuesday with a win over relegation candidates Werder Bremen.
Stipe, do you go to RedBulls matches?
Mandzukic said this was the best game he ever played after the game. I loved when he shut that pirate goalkeeper’s mouth with the winning goal after the pirate shit talked Mandzukic when he was down in the box.
@ Elviss
I agree with wrigley being a dump. People can say the same about Fenway park.
But those two stadiums sell out no matter how bad the teams play. Most of the fans go to Wrigley and Fenway for the experience
I know I am going to catch shit for this.
My friend went to a Crvena Zvezda Game. He said as soon as you walk into the stadium in feels like your in the 1980s. He said the graffiti alone is all over the place and disgusting . He hates the stadium but I guess Serbia’s Marakana has one of the most intimidating tunnels.
I heard the tunnel is ridiculously long. Somehow the tunnel starts “ outside of the arena “‘ if that makes any sense.
Wrigly field could be called a Dump
But I agree anything that reminds of us
of Communism should be torn down and rebuilt
You’re a fucking TRAITOR, fuck YOU! I haven’t been refuted ONCE in years, I’m going to butcher you lying rats.
I love the dump that is Maksimir!
You cant rebuild that character.
The most fucked up thing in the world is that a celtic-germanic people speak spanish.
They shouldn’t build a national stadium.
They should use the resources to rebuild Maksimir, and renovate Poljud instead.
The new Kantrida will eventually be built, and I believe Osijek is building a new stadium as well.
Playing our National Team games in those four cities (in upgraded stadiums) should be the plan (with an occasional friendly game in places like Pula or Varaždin).
The Vatreni deserve a state of the art facility not some communist era dump
@ ElviSS
My first baseball game was at Shea. I loved it. You know the joke between yankee and Mets fans that Shea stadium was “the dump”. Maksimir is embarrassing.
Most importantly is that we play well. But shit, like cmon
Had some good times at Shea Stadium.
At least we didn’t pay through the nose like
Today to see the shitty Mets
I would like to congratulate the lads
Who took to the streets today and told BLM
To fuck off. In the spirit of Torcida defend
Your country. Croatian Lives Matter
CLM!!!!
Rebic should take a knee
Back to the semi finals against England.
“The Game of Two Halves”
England dominated the first half. Rakitić had a fever.
I bet you during halftime. Modrić spoke up and said “ these guys are not as good as they think they are. Let’s do our job. Mandzo prolly said the the same thing. Modrić and Mandzo played in so many big games for their clubs.
Maybe some of the Croatia players got a lil nervous in the first half. Plus the free kick goal in the 5 min shocked a lot of our guys
I bet other players make fun of Maksimir to their Croatian teammates. It really is a dump. How does Makedonija have a nicer stadium????? Even Serbia Maracana is nicer looking.
A British guy who works for me told me something I never noticed. Maksimir has flood lights inside the stadiums. He told a lot of stadiums don’t have that.
They need to do something with Maksimir. It’s truly a dump. It’s equivalent to what Shea stadium was in New York
@ Razbijač – you’re right it was the 4-1 loss to England.
@ BZ Definitely a high risk-high reward move, one that either makes a player look like a genius or a complete maniac.
Dario Srna did something similar in a qualifier for WC ’10, when he used the high boot to tap the ball passed the defender, and then ran into acres of space to set up Mandzukic for Croatia lone goal in a 1-4 loss.
It takes a high degree of skill and timing to complete such a move.
Brekalo off today, last week he was better…
Maminjo-As Rebic’s biggest supporter on this site, the foul was reckless. Straight red, but the Juve player absolutely milked it.
Harkens back to Argentina, but in that collision, at least it was a 50/50 ball with the other guy reaching for the ball also.
I know he’ll learn from this, and I hope we won’t see it at the NT.
Huge game for Wolfsburg at home today. 2-2 tie in 87th minute in a game they should win.
Brekalo started and was quickly yanked at the 55th minute.
Brekalo is getting blasted in the Wolfsburg forums. One Croat commenter wrote, “I think Rebic had a better game than Brekalo this weekend.” That gave me a chuckle.
The Rebic kick is nowhere near as bad as they are making it out to be.
@Raz-Yea, agree it was a high risk high reward move out of frustration. He literally didn’t get the ball played to his feet once in the first 16 minutes.
The press only works when you have wing and midfield support, otherwise it is a waste of energy. This is why our WC 18 was so beautiful.
We had Mandzukic flanked with Rebic and Perisic (2 incredibly talented defensive wings.) Then we had Rakitic and Modric filling the lanes.
Your press is only as good as your weakest link, which is why Kramaric doesn’t fit as well as Petkovic (our best 2 performances since Mandzukic retired, by far, were with Petko in the qualifiers.) Still need to see Petko vs a top team, but nothing wrong with having Brekalo and Kramaric coming off the bench in games where we are forced to counter.
BZ, the lack of service may very well be true. But I think the game plan was for Rebic to use his “animalistic powers” to press the opposition and play on the counter.
Also, the Kung Fu kick was a gamble, had he gotten to that ball first, tapping it past the defender, he woulda had acres of space to unleash a dangerous counter-attack.
And Halilovic’s loan ends the 30th of this month, does AC Milan plan on recalling this guy??
Leave AC right now Ante
Bad foul by Rebic, but even worse coaching by ACMilan.
Even when Milan is at full strength, Rebic is only guy who can create anything on the wings.
Rebic was placed at striker, without Castillejo, Ibra, and Theo, there literally was never going to be an opportunity for Rebic to touch the ball.
Game was over before it started. Rebic just cemented it.
Rebic still twice the player Brekalo is. Goodnight fellas.
Rebic je pravi ludak hahaha
Good on him
Rebic (0): Nothing to say really, barely got a touch and then got sent off right after Donnarumma saved the penalty for a stupid lunging kick.
Man talk about lost momentum from Covid 19!
Funny, had long week of work/family and finally get to sit down to catch part of the second half and I don’t see my man Rebić?
“Be like water my friend ..”
That Bruce Lee doc got into Rebić!
Who does that 70 meters from your own goal?
I have never seen a center forward get a red in his own defensive half like that?
Jebi ga that is what makes him good.
He needs Tai chi training to smooth out his strength.
Be like water my friend ..
I thought Mamić stole the entire transfer amount, and it’s the reason why we don’t have a foreign coach running our National team.
Ante Budimir should feature for Mallorca vs. Barcelona.
Forgot Olmo transferred to Leipzig..
So where’s that big transfer fee going to? The new Maksimir hopefully? Better that the city or country dont foot too much of that bill.
Does anyone know if the new stadium will still be called Maksimir?