Alright, that sucked.
It sucked because we were down 3-0 at halftime. It sucked because we were never in the game from the opening whistle. It sucked because we had our chances — some easy ones too — but still couldn’t convert to save our lives. Jebiga.
Like Ted Lasso says, “be a goldfish.”
Goldfish have a 10-second memory. That’s what this Croatian squad needs to be right now: a goldfish.
If I’m Dalić, I’m telling the boys, “Welcome to a 2-game tournament. You control your own destiny. Let’s go!” Simple as that. Argentina lost their first game at the 2022 World Cup and won the whole thing. Croatia lost to England in their first Euro 2020 game and still made it out of group. One loss to a very good Spain team is not the end of the world. So let’s move on.
Forget about Spain. Move on to Albania. Simple as that. Be a goldfish…without Pongračić. That’s a pivotal part of the goldfish process.
I’m already seeing VAR being used when it’s convenient for the elite teams.
Even though we got blown out yesterday, I find it infuriating to watch Carvajal shirt pulling ignored and his pile driver on Majer all unnoticed.
Today’s game with England and the Serbs also was not with controversy. No matter how much we dislike our Slavic neighbours they got screwed.
Mitrovic was shouldered from behind by Trippier, VAR wasn’t even considered on what would be a penalty shot.
If that was Harry Potter/Cane, that would instantly be looked at.
As we saw yesterday, they didn’t hesitate at all to use VAR on Bruno’s goal calling it back for encroachment, thus insuring no comeback.
Furthermore, how many clean shoulder barges did we get nailed for being a foul against Spain?
Lastly, as stated prior, I put all bias aside, all I want from every tournament is zero corruption and match fixing but after so many years of seeing the real TRUTH, I can only pray that God intervenes.
P.S. The Serbs still need to pay for shutting the lights on us in Belgrade.
Livako
Jurano – Sutalo – Gvardi – Sosa
Kova – Modric
Pasilic – Majer – Perisic
Budah
Ive said Dalic is idiot since 2018 world cup, he has no tactics or tactical sense. He just rides his rabbit foot, play 3 in the back with Gvardiol in the middle, Stanišić on the right and sosa on the left, that way Brozović can play his normal defensive half position like at Inter, and frees up modric and Kovačić to dictate the speed,width, and tempo of the game
I think Dalić is pulling the string’s of what make him successful. Brozović is not playing in a competitive league. Kramarić and Majer are not wings. Sosa must play LB and Gvardiol Cb. He needs to make changes is he wants to have any option.
That game yesterday was a disgrace ,those spanish are total coyotes and just go you when they sense weakness or naiveity, if key players dont front in the next game the Croatian run is over in this tournament ,and key players glory days will be over if there isnt a response from them they cant complain ,and the coach should also be replaced.
If they dont show some genuine desire in the next game and win it convincingly we are f#^$d and Dalic should walk ,if you arent performing as a player in a position no matter who you are you should not be guaranteed a start and should be benched.
Well said and spot on!
I feel like the Albania game will truly decide Luka and Broz’s fate going forward.
Another lackluster affair from both and the final nail it is.
Horror to think if we lose to the shiptars but it would be a youth movement line up against Italy if we are mathematically eliminated.
if we bring Orsic, but Dalic is so stupid shit.
even, He will not think of a 5 – 3 – 2 formation
. . . . . . . . Orsic . . . . . . . Kramaric . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Majer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Modrić . . . . . . . Kovacic. . . . . . . . . .
Perisic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Juranovic
. . . . . Gvardiol – Šutalo – Stanisic. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .Livakovic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I am usually upset after a game like that. But we got to look realistically at it. For two straight World Cups, we had a combination of decent play with a lot of luck thrown in. We won four penalty shootouts to make the medal round. I’ve always said you need three things to do well in a tournament – good play, luck and refs not to f— you. We had that in 2018 until the final, where FIFA had to step in. We weren’t as good in 2022, but found a way, again with a little luck. We didn’t really play well against Japan, but found a way. Brazil should have won, we got a lucky deflection, but then shit the bed against Argentina. This looks to be the end of an era. Modric, Brozovic, Perisic, Kramaric, this has to be their last tournament. We need to transition as we did after 2006 with the young players under Bilic. And Dalic has done great, but we need to move on. Not sure how the last two games go, but I don’t expect Albania to be as easy as most think, and Italy is always tough. I almost want Italy and Spain to tie, so Italy will sit back with 4 points, knowing they will be through to the second round.
Win the next six games and we win a gold medal…
We didn’t play that badly against Spain we had spells of magic but sadly at the last part the ball didn’t go in the back of the net. We had 3 really good chances including the penalty, it could’ve been 3-3 but it wasn’t.
We tied Spain with on target goals. 5 for both sides. The difference is that 3 of those 5 attempts went in for Spain.
I think this loss should provide a new hunger for the team to win the next few matches. If you’re going to lose then do it early and move on.
Possession wise we actually didn’t look too bad other than that first spell.
Our defence and Brozovic were poor imo. Slip Gvardiol next to Sutalo. This way that shaky defence is cemented and Sutalo plays with 10x more confidence with a world class CB partner. Modric also a little gassed but he has to play at least one half. Not sure how I would play the rest but this would fix our main issue.
Always wondered how our greatest era of soccer at the world stage would end. I thought possibly with the height of a title of some sort but the reality will be Modric just saying I have had enough. I think this is the tourney leading to change. New coach to start a new run whatever that will look like. We were blessed to see a great period for Croatia- I just see fear of the unknown and fear of change with Dalic. Not a coach that can lead a rebuild- maybe not a popular opinion but this tourney looks to be the catalyst.
I wouldn’t say “we weren’t in the game from the opening whistle”. Yes the first 10 minutes Croatia was watching Spain pass the ball, but we started to grow into the game with possession and movement from the 15 to the 29th minute when they sprang us on the mistimed offside trap. Absolutely terrible goal to concede and the type of goal that tends to sink us. This game was a repeat of Argentina semifinal. 3rd goal just before.halftime was a complete disaster and the reason why the game was a write-off.
As per usual we had a slow start and play well when we’re down. I can’t recall the last time we scored first in a game against Spain. None if their goals were impressive. It was them taking advantage on our lack lustre defence. The first goal they were way too high and Morata found the gap down the middle. The second goal was lack of aggression and we let Williams walk right to the 12 yard box. No urgency and none of our back four played well. Thank god for Majer because he hustled back on every Spain attack. Our back four aren’t a match for Spain. We had our chances to capitalize. Simon is a top goalie but we were getting in the dirty areas to score like Spain did. The long attempts by Krama and Kova were dreadful. That was arguably the worst performance I’ve seen at a major tournament. Albania won’t be a walk over and anything less than a win we are finished.
Next to Polish coach – there is a nerdy assistant coach – with laptop out – already feeding back instructions to the coach based on data on the first minute
What do our assistant coaches do all game (Olic, Corluka, Mandzukic) other than pick their noses ?
Pretty sure he was just logging in to Uber Eats to order some perogies for halftime.
If ur going to blame Pongracic for the 3rd goal
Who u should REALLY blame is Lovro Majer who was “covering” Carvajal and let him completely stroll in w/out even as much as a touch (he should have been pushing / blocking him, etc)
Well at least Luka didn’t give one of his two jerseys to that journalist that gave him the Maradona replicate, lol
sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/euro/skupina-b/spanjolac-otkrio-sto-ga-je-modric-trazio-nakon-utakmice-imao-je-plan-ali-luki-nije-mogao-reci-ne-15472202
It’s true this was a foul
But – I have never before seen – a ref clearly in favour of Croatia by this margin – in the first half we got every single call in our favour – any slight touch on our player and the ref awarded us a free kick (e.g. there was a situation when Nico Williams simply pushed Pongracic with one arm very lightly and it was called a foul)
Again – we had the ref completely on our side y’day – it was unbelievable to watch
sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/euro/skupina-b/video-junak-spanjolske-poludio-i-zgrabio-majera-za-glavu-pogledajte-situaciju-koju-sudac-nije-vidio-15472227
Any penalty shot needs to be taken by Kramaric, who is our best penalty kick taker bar none. I was screaming at the fact that Petko was taking it.
If that was Krama it was going in.
This is true – there was very few chants during the game
Everyone put ur f*cking phone away during the match (even better leave ur phone at home) – pay attention to the game – and cheer
U won’t miss anything – u can watch the highlights afterwards
sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/euro/dnevnik-navijaca/dalic-je-odgovoran-za-losu-igru-ali-tko-je-kriv-za-nikad-losiju-atmosferu-i-instagram-navijanje-15472180
Mickey VDV not starting for Netherlands, lol
Fastest player in the PL ever
If he doesn’t play vs. Poland – he’s not playing vs. France – maybe he gets Austria
And we question our line-up decisions
Looks like Petko might be in the doghouse and was called out. Dalic in his presser said that Petko shouldn’t have taken the PK and that it should have been Perisic or Majer based on hierarchy. Their rule is that whoever caused the PK doesn’t take it. He also thought Petko should have done more to score on the play. I’d be surprised if he plays next game based on those comments.
I agree with the boys on the post game podcast, I really hope that Dalic sits Broz and lets him stew a bit as he played like shit. Pongracic must sit…either Erlic back in or Gvardiol back in as a CB, although it’s more important to play him there against Italy and if he played as a LB against Albania it wouldn’t be against it.
I like the idea of Majer as a 10, Krama back on the right and a proper LW in Perisic/Pjaca. I was a bit disappointed in Budimir as well as he doesn’t press at all. He’s the only option for the next game as I highly doubt Petko plays. Maybe Pjaca as a no. 9? He has size, still some speed and fits the bill of us playing guys out of their natural position. lol.
Above all, we came out flat and our play was lackluster in the first 15 minutes…it set the tone. We were incredibly unlucky and whatever could go wrong did go wrong. Regardless, we still do need to find another gear and pick it up for the next game or we are done.
What kind of random rule is that? Haha.
Also, if you Majer ranked high up on that PK hierarchy then you need to be fired.
Thought that same about their pk ‘rule’ but that was the quote. Problem was at that time Modric and Krama were already subbed off…no one else to really take the PK.
@TheTruth2
“Once again they were the first team to out possess Spain since 2008 yesterday”
lol
That’s a NEGATIVE not a POSITIVE
I thought u were a data and math guy ?
Let’s look at the data from 2022 WC
***.fifatrainingcentre.com/en/community/fifa-research/possession-analysis/part-1-1-the-relationship-between-possession-and-winning.php
Fig 1.1 – out of 64 games at 2022 WC – the team with LESS possession WON more games (26) than they lost (23)
Fig 1.3
team w/ 30+% less possession (e.g. 30% vs. 70%) WON more games (5) than they lost (4)
team w/ 15-30% less possession (e.g. 40% vs. 60%) WON more games (14) than they lost (9)
Conclusion: based on data and math – we should hope that Croatia had less possession y’day to give a higher % chance of winning – pointing out that they were the first team to out possess Spain since 2008 is a NEGATIVE
Math lesson over
Did anyone watch albania italy i was too pissed off to watch it how do rate italys play and Albania?
They deservedly won and it should have been by a bigger margin, however Albania had a great chance in stoppage time to equalize but the ball hit the Italian keeper and went wide. To me their defence looks strong and it won’t be easy to score against them. We’ll see how they cope against Spain. My worry about this match is that both teams will be playing for a draw having won their opening matches.
I hate to agree .. BUT .. we just do not have good enough CB’s to have Gvardiol at LB.
Plus Sosa will do well against Albania.
Need to see all the young legs against a fit and fiery Albania.
Must win match.
I need to see Perišić from the start and have him go 60+ minutes.
Brozovic has Saudi no sharpness.
Modrić played well but needs more support around him.
I like Juranovic for RB against Albania with Stanisic off the bench for him.
I want to see 5 subs in early and often.
I thought Erlic has been good?
Plesne give all of fans something to cheer about this Wednesday!!
Gvardiol is a cb not lb for croatia we are not man city pongracic sutalo are terrible back line.
I cant believe im saying it id rather have a vida Gvardiol partnership hahaha.
Sosa Gvardiol Sutalo Stanisic/Jura back line imo or Erlic what happened maybe he is still hurt played v Makedonija then v portugal nothing.
Its funny been a cro die hard since 1992 and all i know is when we beat a big team the next game use same lineup we lose dont believe me look at the history
Luck runs out. Dalic has been dipped in shit with a 2nd and 3rd place at two World Cups. Croatia generally played well enough not to get beaten and a bit of individual brilliance did it. We were pretty average at the 2018 World Cup and when we were playing well in the final got robbed by the refs because France had to win.
In this game we fluffed our chances in front of goal. We continue to play players out of position and others that should ride the pine. I could point out a bunch of Kova stuff too but I’m not even going to bother. Our defense is shaky and we continually play the ball back to a goalkeeper that just blasts a 50/50 ball forward. Dalic and the rest of the coaching staff of good ole boys are not exactly a dearth of football knowledge so I don’t expect much there.
The goldfish analogy is perfect because they need to forget they had their pants pulled down and beat Albania if they expect to make it out of the group stage.
Ridiculous nonsense.
We were the strongest team offensively at the 2018 World Cup.
Outpossessing, outshooting and outchancing all of our opponents.
If you say so your highness.
Once again I’ll be the rationale head. Just like i wasnt one of the fan boys predicting finals, i won’t shout that the sky is falling and change everything
Once again, Croatia was extremely lucky in its world cup runs. Today they were unlucky
Once again they were the first team to out possess Spain since 2008 yesterday
They had 2.6 expected goals vs Spains 1.9.
They actually created some quality looks but just couldn’t finish anything whereas Spain finished really well
3-0 is an unkind score line relative to the performance