The days of Dalić playing two #8’s in the Croatian midfield (Modrić + Kovačić) must end. Sit Kova so we can play a true #10 like a Lovro Majer in front of Luka. I’m beating this debate like a dead horse. I understand that. I’m simply trying to figure out where all this Kova love is coming from and why all his lovers are so big on him in the Croatian midfield. Honestly, he plays more defensively than anything under Dalić. My proposal for Euro 2024 is to add one more attack-minded player in the center of the field, whether it is a CAM in front of Modrić or a supporting striker behind Budimir/Petković. Simple as that.
Why?
Although Croatia got to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they were shut out (in 90 minutes) in 4/7 of those matches: Morocco, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina. That’s not good. You have to find a way to score if you’re going to win the whole thing. I’m simply trying to find an equation where the Vatreni can add some attack without giving up anything on defense. And the common denominator for that exchange is Mateo Kovačić.
Look, Croatia have been extremely fortunate to win four straight penalty kick shootouts in back-to-back World Cup. That’s unheard of! And as much as I am a firm believer that luck has to go your way, you also have to control your own destiny. Dalić and company have spent far too much time at tournaments in extra time periods and penalty shootouts. Three matches went to extra time in 2018. The Spain loss at Euro 2020 went an extra 30 minutes. Two games in Qatar went the full 120. This is becoming a common theme and it’s only increasing Croatian players’ fatigue during these 1-month long tournaments. The Vatreni have basically played an extra match in two straight World Cups. It’s time to grab the bull by the horns, check your ego at the door, and make the right move: bench Kova.
Objectively, look at his 2023/24 season at Man City. I think we can all agree that we weren’t expecting many goals from Kova under Pep this season, but he’s a facilitator, and facilitators ASSIST. In 21 Premiership matches and four Champions League games, Kovačić has yet to score a goal OR assist. That’s a huge problem for me. Hopefully he proves me wrong and I have egg on my face from writing this in June…but I just don’t see it happening.
Croatia have been playing Possession Ball under Dalić since 2020. I think the entire team can afford to be more aggressive in 2024. Simple as that. And that comes with benching Kova.
=U= Livaja ..any chance of him returning…?
Can we for sure confirm pjaca is ok??
Can we just bubble wrap pjaca Perisic and orsic before euro and they can just practice with each other
Germanijak said he will be ready for Hajduk this weekend
Perisic came on in the 72 minute and Orsic came on for Trabzonspor in the 92 minute. We can only hope that they get more play time in the coming weeks to fully test their knees.
Disgraceful scenes at Poljud after the match with Torcida destroying seating and entering the field of play. Dinamo far too good on the day and Hajduk lucky that it was only 1 – 0.
Baturina hockey assist and Petkovic assist on Dinamo’s goal today
@Davor
More Pjaca “load managing” today (taken off after 65 minutes)
Marco beautiful assist / corner right on head of Smolcic for the winner
btw: did you see Luka Vuskovic’s world-class assist on Monday ? Nevermind his solid state @ CB while his team was down to 10 men
One of the best assists I’ve ever seen
Too tall it’s already been decided;)
Here comes perisic
I’ll be back. Will be interesting.
Perisic into the game.
Hajduk fans throwing stuff at Baturina while he is taking a corner… classless
They introduced the Mongoose to Hawaii to get rid of the rats. The Mongoose end up destroying 90% of the native birds on the islands.
Be very leery of simple answers to anything in life, where actions can sometime have consequences one did not intend.
Is it a very exciting idea to come out swinging with guns a blazing, if you like to leave tournaments early.
I argue, Croatia has punched above our weight , because we have always fought smart. Let’s continue to fight smart, whatever that means to each person. Seem to me Croatia has made defensive counterattacking a traditional soccer art form, way before WC Brazil 2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVVfJVj5z8s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcwJm87ycY4
Speaking of which , I left the wrong link, very sorry.
Pjaca got hurt today on the beautiful hnl pitch in zagreb so update will be goven apprently his knee again
Nah
Pjaca okay (they took him for MRI to hospital as a pre-caution) and already cleared / ready to go vs. Hajduk this w/end
This is why “load managing” Pjaca b/w now and June 15th is imperative
There is love for Kova because he is far superior than Brozovic who for some reason gets his boots licked by everyone here. And is a lock to start in the NT when he shouldn’t be anything other than a bench player.
The real question here is why the love for Brozo.
I was against Ante’s views here, until I looked at the stats. We’ve been very slightly more successful statistically in matches where Kovacic hasn’t played for us, with 57.1% won out of the 35 matches where he didn’t play due to injury or not being selected. That’s compared to a 55.6% win percentage in the 99 matches where he has played for Croatia according to Transfermarkt.
That isn’t much difference statistically – until you compare it to the stats for Brozovic. On the same basis we won in 57.9% of the 95 matches where he’s played, compared to ‘only’ winning in 53.6% where he didn’t play over the same period. That’s a 4% difference which points to significantly increasing our chances of winning when Broz plays. That’s not the case for Kovacic who actually reduces our win percentage very slightly when he plays – which really surprised me.
Many of the matches were friendlies or games where we had nothing to play for so they could skew the statistics for either player. Even so, when you look solely at winning percentage stats – always very dangerous to do for lots of reasons such as who else is on the team, who we’re playing etc., maybe Ante does have a point here about Kova.
Let’s at least look at the arguing over the line-up as a good problem to have. And, it gives us something to talk about. We have a few players getting hot right now. Hopefully, we’ll have someone step-up big (like Livakovic last tournament).
@ Eric
Interesting how he fits into Berlin’s lineup unless Bjelica plays 433 again like at Dinamo. He’s been using a 352 since taking over at Berlin. Left side is Gosens.
@Svima
Kova is what he is.
Like most know – it just depends on the days tactics to beat your opponent. He serves the purpose of possessing and distributing but with an in-form striker and hungry wingers it would be a shame to just knock it around without any real intent to score a bunch. Jebiga, Ajmoooooo
Brozovic is far from “expired”…yes he did fuck up to few times in the friendlies but he is a beast and still a top 5-8 DM in the world. All this nonsense about benching Brozo is insane! In regards to Kovacic…he has to be deployed for certain games where possession in the midfield is vital…(ie Spain) but the games against Italy and Albania, we should play Majer. If we go up 2-0, you sub Kova in and clog the midfield.
Know thyself, we should not try to be something we are not, to our own demise.
I think both Kovacic and Brozovic are good counterbalances to the potential weakness of an overly aggressive offensive defensive line.
The goal in boxing, is to knock out your opponent, without getting knockout first, by playing solid defensive, and opening up when the opportunity appears. It is important to strike the right balance between attacking and covering up.
I think utilizing Sosa, on his better days, leads towards more defensive crossing opportunities and works well with Budimir, our eventual selected striker, but at the same time Sosa is a potential defensive liability. Using Juranovic on the other side is potent, and Gvardiol is no push over as well offensively speaking. They all like to come forward and press.
At some point you lose the balance.
We should have won in the whole tournament in 2018, but we had to open up to France, because of two bad penalty calls.
Far from expired ?? He has never been “fresh” to even have an expired date. LOL.
Tell me why he should be a starter over Kova or anyone else.
Full respect to the inquiry here as all these extra time tournament matches take its toll.
Kovačić > Brozovic and needs to be in the first 11 albeit not as an 8 for us.
Mateo’s best asset is his speed.
Which over all we lack as compared to title favorite national teams.
He is stronger defensively now at his physical peak than he was 10 years ago.
The article should be about dropping Brozovic and adding an attacker and sliding Kovačić to the 6.
Choose one tall defender and pair him with an athletic CB partner with speed like Gvardiol.
Actually we probably should align the entire attack around Budimir. He leads La Liga in goals with 16!
Next article:
Best formation and 10 starters behind one Ante Budimir?!
Petković comes off the bench to work his lazy ass magic for 20/30 minutes.
Nice thoughts!
What ET?
The Tunisia match went straight to PK’s.
Turski mediji tvrde da Mislav Oršić ima novi klub: Želja je Hrvata koji ga obožava
https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/turski-mediji-tvrde-da-mislav-orsic-ima-novi-klub-zelja-je-hrvata-koji-ga-obozava—841110.html?itm_source=TopNews2&itm_medium=Dnevnik&itm_campaign=Naslovnica&_gl=1*pq9x7w*_gcl_au*MTY5NDk3MDk5NC4xNzA1NDIyNDQy
It looks like Bjelica is trying to get Oršić to follow him to Berlin! IMO this would be a win/win for everyone (except for the turks).
Glad he has a few well deserved fans, nice!
There is the Rakitic era.
The is the Post Rakitic era.
There is the Brozovic era- Euro league.
There is the Brozovic era- SA club med.
These all affect our thought processes regarding the appropriate role for Kovacic during these changing landscapes.
Also, Majer has been a bit of a disappoint, and hasn’t found a permanent home outside of Croatia. If Majer had a bit more stronger track record, it would be an easier question I feel. I’d ponder Sucic, but that is speculative as well based on a lack of track record.
Additionally, no one wants to deal with the elephant in the closet that even though we have the highest paid defensive men on the planet, we are susceptible to counter attacks and getting burned on break ways all the time. Therefore, having a more defensive midfield may still be essential til we get that figured out. We don’t need our defense to get continually poster-ized by the likes of Egypt, or Tunsia, let alone Argentina.
The reason Dalić has Kovačić in there is because we have a good but VERY slow backline. Watch the counter-attack from Argentina in the WC semi’s that led to the opening goal.
Removing him from the starting lineup would leave only one defensive midfielder (Brozović) and exposing ourselves. Apparently, Dalić would rather play for a 1-0 win or Extra Time, despite knowing we have no offensive firepower.
Saying Kovačić will replace Modrić once he retires is inaccurate. Totally different types of players and different roles.
Agreed that Kovačić does not create any scoring opportunities for Man City, but that’s not why he was brought in. He does do a good job of tracking back and clogging the midfield for the opposing team that Pep likes and maintaining ball possession. They have a ton of attacking midfielders on that team.
Although I am fine with Majer starting in Euro 2024 and Kova coming off the bench, the Egypt game should not be the gauge to do it, where it was exhibition matches. Majer has not been a stud every time he’s put on the National Team jersey.
Best lucid comment to date. I would ideally start playing Sucic based on who he might potentially be. Not a proved entity quite yet.
If Majer does not score, you have lost a lot of defensive insurance.
Agreed.
If we want to talk about potential “replacements” for Modrić, it would have to be Sučić, who always seems to be injured and immaturity in question.
Lovro’s looked good in some games, average in others and poor in some. Unless Rakitić comes out if retirement, we don’t have a true answer before Euro 2024.
Pjaca and pasalic has surely earned a bit more of a look in
The next friendlies
I think we will be fine on the wings if we get orsic back with pjaca/orsic bumb knee connection
With gvardiol there
The right side seems solid too if JJ can get his form back
Stanisic, the two pasalic boys, kramaric, then into vlasic and majer if need be
I think we are probably better off now then at World Cup besides obviously missing the legend Perisic
Kramaric has shown his consistency and hard work/teamwork and it’s been a valuable piece imo
Petko has grown since World Cup as well and has shown he can Deliver
While we may not be able to run and gun. If dalic puts the right guys out, scoring shouldn’t be as anemic as it has been in qatar, even set up playing for a draw
Who will be best to deliver crosses into the middle to Budimir?
Really what kind of delivery or setup does budimir need to be most effective?
I imagine the setup with petko will need to change
Let’s throw out some sample lineups if you have them
Do we use gvardiol as more of an offensive sort of lb or keep In the middle?
Will sutalo be effective again to hold down the fort in the middle say with erlic
Pongracic is catching on, but I can’t see him being anymore then a spare
I agree with ante no MBK if you want offense and fast play.
4 3 2 1 is much better for us Modric Broz Majer Krama Ivansuec/Vlasic and Budimir up top.
Then you have kova off bench which isnt bad at all.
Has anyone noticed how kramaric has been one of our best players for national team since that miss at euro 2021
28 caps 15 goals since october of 2021.
He’s somehow taken another step after he hit 30.
Seems like a lot of players do this for us.
Modric, Broz, Rakitic, Krama and Budimir are some recent ones that come to mind.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Kovacic and Petkovic took another step too.
Until Mr Dalic fails at a World Cup, I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. Not irrationally as it seems to keep us in every single game we play. Viva Zlatko!
We were incredibly fortunate to win 4/4 penalty shootouts. I wouldn’t call that failing. But this team also hasn’t been controlling their own destiny. I’m simply trying to put together a better strategy that will allow us to control our own destiny better.
Unlike the past two tournaments, we have a couple of in-forms strikers now.
It would be in our best interest now to probably play with some actual wingers (to feed Budimir) or offensive oriented guys like Krama or Majer to work with Petkovic (if we go with him).
I don’t mind Kova playing. I’m more concerned about not using proper wingers (if we decide to go with Budimir up top). This will have a much more negative impact if he’s up there by himself trying to get into position, and we have guys like Vlasic and Pasalic playing on the wings and veering into the middle.
I think Dalic will go with Gvardiol and Juranovic as the main offensive threats coming up that left and right side…and relying on guys like Broz, Kovacic and Modric to play more defensive and cover for them.
How bad does Croatia lose to Brazil with Kovacic on the bench?
Not sure we can open up and have success in Germany. I’m not a big Kova fan but I feel we need him more than Broz. Broz expiry date is very close. Opening up with Italy plays into them . We need a few more games like we played with Brazil.
Broz will step up against Italy.
He’s a legend there and all those Serie A players on Italy will have panic attacks on the field with him.
I agree
He will have a point to prove especially this match
God willing. We beat Italy all the time and if we lose once, I’ll never hear the end of it – ciao Italia-mi smo Hrvati
…Also, our last game is against Italy. We open against Spain.
Dead horse indeed.
Also, Brazil did not score a goal on Croatia in 90 min, despite them being Tourny favorites.
Im guessing Pep better be worried about his job since you know how to use Kova better then he does? Kvartuc, not everyone can chop the wood, someone has to carry the water too. Have a look ay what positions Wolfsberg uses Majer. Seems to change from game to game. Compare that with Kova.. https://www.transfermarkt.com/mateo-kovacic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/51471/saison/2023/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/281 His job at City is CDM. His job is not to score goals or provide assists, its to bring the ball out from the back and provide link play. You cannot compare the two players, they serve different roles. Dalic has done well with what we have, nore succesful then most coaches around the world.
You’re alluding to a point I’m going to make later in the week. Standby.
Honest question: what grade do you give Kova at City this year?
https://www.manchestercity.news/25m-man-city-aces-kovacic-masterclass-v-newcastle-was-proof-that-he-shouldve-started-way-more-this-season-opinion/
just about sums it up
“His job at City is CDM”
Pretty sure CDM is Rodris job at City. Sure you can play Kova CDM like you can play vlasic RW, but i think we can all agree kovas best position is CM. We already have modric at CM and brozo at CDM so unless our gameplan is to play it safe/possession we should add an attacking player instead of kova. No one is saying kova sucks, it just depends on our gameplan and who our opponent is.
“Dalic has done well with what we have…”
like putting brekalo RB versus Spain instead of vrsaljko? Playing CAMs at wingers? Or refusing to play Orsic and Budimir for years? etc
Like Silver and Bronze at the World Cup when before Dalic we struggled to get out of the Round Robin. I never critisize a coaches lineup selection. You have no idea as a spectator as to whats going on with the players and what they have shown during the weeks practice and who he has available. Yes the coach can make a mistake or two ( Brekalo ) but its only a mistake once it fails. Most teams fail against Spain the last decade. You complain about Dalic but what if we were the English FA who has done nothing for half a century. Be thankful for what you have had.