Nikola Vlašić had an absolute wunder-strike from 21 yards out today for Torino. I mean, he absolutely put his boot right through the poor ball on a missile that didn’t move until it hit the back of the net. Unfortunately, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was called back for offside. It appeared one of his Torino teammates was blocking the way of the Bologna keeper while sitting in an offside position.
Nonetheless, what a strike!
My immediate reaction to this shot is:
- Why don’t we see more of this from Vlašić in checkers? (in the limited time we have seen him played by Dalić)
- Why don’t we see more shots from outside the box for Croatia in general?
Since Rakitić departed from the national side in 2018, I feel the our boys really don’t test opposing keepers with any threats from outside the box. You will get an occasional shot from Modrić and even Gvardiol, but with Perišić out for the year, there really aren’t any outside threats. Luka Sučić will absolutely be on this list when he is fully integrated into the senior side. One thing I love about the kid is that he isn’t afraid to shoot the ball from distance. But neither is Vlašić.
So I ask this going into 2024: is anybody going to put on their “rocket boots” for Croatia? And if they are, who will it be?
We know Vlašić has the range…but who will join him?
That’s one thing I would have Dalić instill in the Croatian squad: start taking more shots from outside the box and be fearless about it.
Past few days roundup updates for our defenders and strikers
Roko simic and musa dropped to bench for a month and have not scored any goals since mid oct
Juranovic will have a chance to revive his career in the club with the coach around
Caleta car has been dropped to the bench for a month
Gvardiol is doing well with the assist. 2nd best player on pitch with Ake stressing him out.
Medic sosa on bench last match..only saw sosa started a match for past 6 wks
Benkovic is dropped to bench for a month
Dijon dropped to bench for two months
Bradaric is playing well
Erlic and pongracic doing well.
Kramaric will be back to form soon
Budimir will continue to do well
Stanisic will continue to play regularly but not in bundesliga..i personally feel he is more suitable playing against possession offensive teams like psg.
I seem to remember Vlasic scoring a couple of goals from distance when he burst onto the scene during EURO 2020 qualifying. Too bad it doesn’t happen anymore…
Who’s going to put on rocket boots for Croatia? I think Marco P might have a penchant for shooting from distance. His 4 HNL goals so far are from outside the box, although one of them is off a free kick that took a deflection.
Of his 2 goals in Conference League qualifying/playoff, one of them is that delightful chipped goal from outside the box against Lille.
I believe in an October friendly against Udinese that ended 1-1, he also curled it in from outside.
Baturina and Sucic are not shy. They seem to be comfortable taking long range shots.
Same goes for semi-young guys like Majer and Ivanusec. I wouldn’t be worried about our midfield in the the future shying away from taking shots on goal.
Jaksa thanks for your input
I have no clue what Ante is talking about, was Rakitic ever an outside threat?
I was actually quite disappointed with his National Team achievements, from 2007-2019, he had a total of 15 goals over a 12 year span, 106 games played.
How many of those goals were from outside the box? I honestly can’t remember, what I do recall is the Rocket being known for sending the ball into stratosphere like a rocket 🚀 lol.
Ivan Perisic 33 goals 129 games, had that issue of over hitting the ball in his early days but likened to Steven Gerard who did the same in his youth they managed to become quite lethal.
I often wonder if there was better options over the years regarding players but were missed due to coaching or other negative influences pulling the strings of the Repka.
Now I’m not arguing that Vlasic should be starting or on the squad but his stats are on pace to match the alleged Rocket, 52 games 7 goals.
Now, how many of those games did Vlasic come off the bench? From what I can remember, he’s had some amazing goals from outside the box or just within.
The one thing that’s always bothered me about the Repka is the fact that we held onto players way passed their prime, not giving the youth a chance or giving them a chance past 30.
I believe we have an abundance of talent at our disposal but sadly players are not given the proper service.
Also players going to domestic leagues where their not given any opportunity is also been a bone of contention.
Furthermore, how often have we seen past managers play players out of position for the Repka only to end in disaster?
We’ve all argued that players are doing quite well for their domestic teams but then get put into positions that contradict their natural plat style.
Lastly, I might disagree with Ante, regarding the Elon Musk Rocket, no harm no foul. I also don’t care 🤷♂️ for Epicless Broz but I digress.
All good counterpoints and great observations.
On one hand, you may have an argument to make when it comes to the goals that Vlasic has scored in his time spent playing for the National Squad, and yeah I would agree that Rakitic was not entirely a threat when it came to goal scoring for the Repka as you say. For Vlasic it may also boil down to the fact of how he has been used potentially by Dalic.
On the other hand, I would argue that a defensive midfielder like “Epicless Broz” is not expected to score as often as an a attacking midfielder like Vlasic. Broz’s contributions are defensive so keep the conversation on topic. You should be talking about the job that the player is expected to follow based on their position. So you have is a bit unfair and a tad biased. Your comparing two completely different players it would be like I am comparing Gvardiol and Mandzukic in many ways.
While it is true that Vlasic has contributed offensively, he doesn’t contribute much by way of possession or defensively atleast from the games that I have seen him in. He is a bit oafish and a bit of a loose cannon. In fact, he is a bit like Rebic to me in many ways when it comes to this and can often loose possession of the ball.
So I kind of question whether he is a proper fit the for the team in this sense. Plus his form isn’t exactly stellar either, but that may all change with time. Dalic has made it clear that his philosophy (right or wrong) is predominantly possession based soccer. The problem is that he trophies and results that justify it.
@Mate1
Many good points that I totally agree with yet I never compared Broz to Rakitic, I only said, “ I also don’t care for Epicless Broz but I digress”.
My issues with Broz is his attitude. I often see him flailing his arms in the air, pointing fingers in traditional Croat fashion when his game has been seriously lacking.
Was it against Wales or Turkey that it seemed he was blaming everyone else on the team for the loss where his form was absolutely atrocious.
Someone here, mentioned that he seemed to lose a step going to the Saudi league and I would agree.
I’m old school and hate finger pointing and whining. Get up shake the dust of your feet and move to next pitch 😉
Matthew 10:14
Fair point, I would agree that he does have a habit of doing this which I also don’t like.
I just don’t think that we have another defensive midfielder in our pocket. Most of the midfielders now coming through the ranks are all offensive in orientation and preference. Sucic, Majer, Vidovic, Mario Pasalic…
Baturina is also a bit different but may be able to play that position.
I think the only one we have is Nikola Moro who is technically a CDM and most people on this site don’t seem to like the guy, I don’t know much about him. Plus Dalic didn’t seem to want to sub him in either.
So it leaves a bit of an issue. Plus it would be helpful to Broz to have some competition for that spot I think.
The other guy as well is Misic from Dinamo but again I do not know enough about him either.
I would think that both Slavonac and Maminjo have a bit more knowledge about these two individuals of Moro and Misic to weigh in some perspective.
What are your thoughts on them both??
@Mate 1
100 percent agree on all your points, especially on who can replace him?
Unfortunately the only football I can watch from Hrvatska is on DAZN and its usually only catered to the senior squad.
I’m not aware of how else to watch the domestic league or under 21 etc.
From what I can remember a few years ago here in Canada, I was able to watch the under 18, I believe. It was showcasing Moro, Caleta and Brekalo.
After I had seen them play and dominate that tournament, sadly losing in the final, I truly thought that Brekalo and Moro were the future.
It’s disturbing to see players with such promise literally disappear into the cracks.
I will say from my decades of support and love for footy theirs always a key factors for a players demise.
One, lack of 1st team football.
2nd injuries, Pjaca most recently and shout out to former great Boksic.
3rd the wild card drugs, sex and rock & roll. The ultimate destroyer of any player.
I grow up a huge EPL and Liverpool fan I watched my favourite striker for the club, Robbie Fowler disintegrate due to cocaine. His first 5 seasons were lights out and his 100 goal pace was uncanny, then it all fell apart.
Micheal Owen was equally spectacular, I still remember the goal he scored against Argentina in 98.
Yet too much football, tore his hamstring and the one trick pony was bust.
Lastly, all the above factors are huge causes but I would argue my first point as the biggest issue for the national team.
To many times are youth go abroad to sit on the pine. They develop amazingly get transferred for the big pay day and poof 💨 disappear.
When Luka went to Real from the Spurs, I was terrified, it almost 😅 went bad.
His first year the Spanish fans and press were all over him until he won them over, hence he’s the GOAT.
When Kova followed suit,I was not happy. He didn’t develop at all in Real, sat on the bench and whatever potential he did have was lost.
How often has this happened? Too many times to count. I find are players are always best to develop in the Bundusliga or lower tier leagues, as opposed to the EPL or Spain.
To this day, I believe the SPL/Real hurt Luka from his true offensive potential. How often have we seen him make runs for the give and go only to have the selfish Spanish players never to return the ball.
There’s much politics that go on that we do not see. I had read years ago that Alen Halilovic was experiencing this on the Barca B team.
The Spanish kids didn’t want to lose their potential spot to a foreigner, thus never passed to him.
Anyway, sorry for this long winded response but It’s been a long time since I’ve had chance to chat 💬 nogomet on a forum with honourable people.
The internet is riddled with gutless keyboard assassins, so I thank you for having an intelligent conversation.
Bravo 🎉
Kovapologist !! Lmfao.
I am #1 on the list.
I see Kovačić for who he is and not who is not.
He is a #8 and has had great games in big matches over the years.
When Modrić retires, the squad will not need a world class #8 to carry us.
Prayfully Kovačić can just connect through the middle and support the attack.
Just some more Kovapologist firewood to keep stoke the fire, out of character, I think Kovacic was a scoring machine recently when he scored two goals in one game with Turkey, simply by being aggressive and picking up the loose rebound goalie action. It was a pretty impressive game being a hawk opportunist like mandzukic, and Olic use to be.
It was an aberration. He’s scored a total of 5 goals in 97 games for Cro including those 2 against Turkey. Neither passes the stats test or eye test.
The Bila persecution team rests its case, but the Modric & Kovapologist United defense team wants a plea deal for early parole by the Euro ’24 tournament, in what capacity, Dalic will determine.
Pretty much any player is better than Kovacic but there’s too many Kovapologist’s around here that can’t admit he sucks. He’s worse than Pranjic who was terrible.
If he is as bad as you make him sound, he is the best business/salesman in Croatia history, which might not be such a bad thing after all.
That’s absolutely true. He’s made a hell of a career for a guy who’s stats are worse than a defenders. He doesn’t pass the eye test either when he goes on a run he either loses the ball or passes backwards or laterally, he hardly ever puts in a dangerous ball. He has a weak inaccurate shot, sucks at penalties. He showed some promise early in his career but has regressed. Can’t stand watching him play I’m glad I haven’t had to watch him play for the repka lately, he’s soft as butter.
LOL, Bila, There is probably an elephant in the room, and no amount of spiked Croatian whiskey Irish coffee will make it go away either. I think Rebic and Kovacic are somehow related maybe 2nd or 3rd cousins.
Vlasic is a bench player at best for the national team. When Kramaric retires we have Majer, Mario Pasilic & Susic to take over as attacking midfielder.
Orsic is only 30. Expecting him to make a full recovery and take over LW. Imagine having Orisic and Marco Pasilic on the wings. Dalic has seen the writing on the wall. No one wants to watch a team that cant score and the only tactic for making it deep into tournaments is to dominate possession and take the game to penalties.
That sounds like a potentially good combination Orisic/Pasalic. We could fly with those wings. Orisic a real different player than Perisic but keeps us in the discussion as a top/middle tier team, with the ability to remain a giant killer.
Not sure if Dalic has seen the writing on the wall yet.
It’s always taken him a lot longer than necessary to play Orsic, and Orsic has done nothing but deliver every single time. He was one of our most impactful players at the World Cup, and barely even played.
The moment he stops playing first team football at Southampton, Dalic immediately cuts him from the team.
Dalic is always going on about how it takes a long time to make the National team, and how it takes a long time to leave the team…but he was far too quick to cut Orsic.
The guy deserved a lot more leeway after what he did for us in the last two tournaments.
Dalic would have been fired after that poor Euro2020 performance, had it not been for Orsic (who came off the bench and singlehandedly tied the game up against Spain).
We needed him for that Nations League Final, and cutting him in June probably lost us that title.
Yeah, I see Dalic as a “Thomas the Train that Could” type, who had good people believe in him, and that made the difference in his career. It would have been nice if he saw those qualities in Orsic, and had gave him the same opportunity.
If there had been a Ballon d’or award for not starters in 2022 WC, it would have gone to Miroslav Orsic.
Oršić gives supporters of every London team PTSD
Miroslav at an English Pub; ” A round of Hat Tricks on me, bartender!”
Don’t understand the discussion here
If Vlasic best position is #10 / central attacking midfield
And we have better options than him already in that position
And he can’t play on the “wing” (which he can’t btw – he isn’t nearly fast enough to play on the wing – think Saka, Brennan Johnson, etc)
Than there is not space for him on the national team
Simple as that
Neither Everton nor West Ham played him as a central attacking midfield (combination of manager, formation, better players in that position in the in pecking order) – so he was being “played out of position” on the wing (but he’s too slow to play there esp. in the premier league)
If he was really such a great #10 / central attacking midfield he would be playing that position by now (an e.g. of a great #10 is James Maddison at Spurs – his creativity, quick first & 2nd touches (although not quick in “pace”), ability to drive forward, pick out passes, vision, football IQ, shot/ability to score goals at range, etc – I can assure you Vlasic is not some marvellous #10 that just happens to have bad luck playing out on the wing – reality he is probably isn’t even “average” at #10)
He’s had his 50+ caps for us – time to move on
There is nothing for Vlasic to learn.
You may ask why he doesn’t do this for the national team. Well, if you actually watch him in Serie A the answer is easy. He doesn’t play the same role for the national team as he does in Italy. Dalic has used him on the right side and he is rarely behind the forward.
I remember clearly Vlašić for the C team against Mexico in LA. He ran them into the ground.
Vlašić should always be in the squad.
I do wonder with our formation and lack of striker presence over the years if we even create space for a real 10 to operate?
Modrić is 8, Kramaric is a second striker. Neither player ever brought explosive speed.
We have no RW for decades.
Kovačić gets open all the time and shoots once in a blue moon and scores almost never.
Vlašić always provides that thrust at the 10 even when he is not in form.
That highlight sums him up, hustle and bustle. That time it clicked.
Full respect as he keeps coming after a two failed attempts in England at Everton and West Ham.
At 26 he is heading into his prime.
His father trained him a bit too bulky. He needs more agility and quickness training as he gets older. That extra bit of timing in the final third comes from a different type of body-mind synergy.
Marco P on the RW is going to provide a lot more space in the attacking middle.
Sučić looks more powerful after knee injury. Sometimes that kinetic chain gets stronger during that type of rehab.
I wonder if post Modrić we will ever see new formations that favor the attacking third while still keeping our solid play from the back?
Budimir at least creates some type of space with his size and industry.
You can get away with Pasalic on the LW if Marco P is going at the defense on the RW.
But it sure does seem like we see these outside attempts more from the guys at club then for repka
Is it that they worry ? Or are they being instructed to keep the passing/control game up to allow for a more close range play/goal?
It’s simple, he’s an attacking midfielder and we have played him out of that position for the last 3 years. That is why he can’t do it for the National Team as often as you want.
Beautiful, Nikoli got it all, and more. The most untimely of injuries was Orsic’s I believe. Croatia National team could have used Orsic immensely, with subsequent loss of Perisic. Orsic does not have the powerful leg of Perisic, especially 4 years ago, but he had a superior deadly placement from far distances. His moves toward the goal seem more predictable and repeatable that Perisic’s though.
Projecting the future, Sucic seems to be the man if he can keep healthy as you state. You can only glue Croatian pottery together so many times though.
Losing both Perisic and Orsic hurt us.
Orsic was the perfect stop-gap for us until we get another youngster in there.
I still believe that if we had him for the Nations League Final, he could have made the difference. Dalic cut him too quickly.
Was expecting him to do well for us at these upcoming Euros and World Cup. Not sure what his injury status is, but hopefully he can bounce back to where he was.
Just checked.
Orsic is back in Zagreb and training on the field at Maksimir.
Just some light non-contact training, and will still need a few months (how many months is unknown).
Still under contract with Trabzonspor until 2025.
That’s great news
Was it an attitude thing in England? Or was he just outclassed?
Or just bad timing?
I too called for much more minutes from orsic
He was always in a bad spot being behind Perisic then ya dalic let him go too easy when he wasn’t playing in England
But nonetheless here we are
The lb Perisic and orsic at the lw needed to be tried
I hope both can come back and be reasonably fit for euros
I still want to see JJ tried out as a more of a rw type
New pasalic we have to see more as well
But right now it’s slim on the left
Like others have said. Why not try majer on the left with his left footed cross
I also feel If dalic wants to keep doing gvardiol on the left then maybe sosa as a left wing if he can find his cross we will be in business if he can start to hook up with budimir regularly
If Orisic was cut, based on not having a starting position at his club, even before his injury, I think that is a bad decision. At the 2022 WC, Orsic already proved his worth.
1. Provided the back pass to Petkovic @ Brazil, the most amazing moment in Croatian soccer history.
2. Had the best PK of the Brazil tie breaker.
3. Provide the winning Bell ringing goal off the back post
The must be worth something.