The 2022 World Cup is less than 10 days away! Let’s take a look at five bold predictions for Croatia’s campaign as the tournament draws closer and closer…
- Croatia will show no hangover from the 2018 World Cup. Expect a quarterfinal appearance from the Vatreni at minimum.
After falling to France in the final, most Croatians thought they’d have to wait another 20 years for a chance at gold in a major tournament. However, thanks to a beautiful mix of young and old talent, the Vatreni’s 2022 roster is definitely stronger than it was in 2018. Sure, the team is lacking a world class striker, but Dalić didn’t have weapons such as Gvardiol and Sosa in the back, accompanied by prime Brozović and Kovačić in the middle of the pitch. Croatia’s bench is also much deeper than it once was, featuring players such as Sučić, Pašalić, Oršić, and Šutalo. With this level of talent coming off the sidelines in the second half, the boys will be ready to go hard for an entire 90+ minutes every match. The Vatreni proved to be top dogs during the most recent Nations League, and look ready to have no problem carrying that over to the world’s biggest stage.
2. Borna Sosa will lead all defenders in the tournament in assists.
The world isn’t ready for Croatia’s left flank of Perišić and Sosa. 24 year-old Sosa, already with 5 assists in 12 Bundesliga matches this season, will be one of the Vatreni’s most important players in the offensive third. Perišić’s unselfish ability to drop back and support the backline will allow the young left-back to send accurate crosses into the box left and right. If Dalić decides to push his outside backs up the sideline similarly to how he did with Vrsaljko and Strinić in 2018, you will see Sosa’s name on the stat sheet. There aren’t many wingbacks in the world that can find a striker’s head like Sosa can.
3. Andrej Kramarić will score a game-winner to silence his critics.
After his recent comments backing Brazil to win the World Cup and costing Croatia a ticket to the Euro 2020 quarterfinals with a terrible miss against Spain, 31 year-old Kramarić has a lot to prove to Croatians this winter in Qatar. As Hoffenheim’s all-time leading scorer, one would imagine that Kramarić would bring an abundance of goals to his national team, especially considering the creative midfield behind him. However, during the past couple of years, he’s had severe trouble finding the back of the net for the Vatreni in important matches. That is going to change once and for all on November 23rd vs. Morocco. He’s tired of hearing fans like us begging Dalić to start inexperienced strikers such as Musa, Čolak, or Livaja ahead of him when it matters most. For club, he takes over when he wants to. It’s about time for him to do the same for his country.
4. Lovro Majer will become a household name for every Croatian.
To the relief of many, Croatia’s new LM10 is here and ready to take over. After scoring a crucial goal against Denmark in the Nations League and recording some fantastic performances, Majer should be a solidified starter in Dalić’s eyes. Similar to Ante Rebić in 2018, Majer will only need one World Cup goal to sell himself to every Croatian around the globe. He brings a flare that the Vatreni have not seen at the right wing role in many, many years, and will work wonderfully up top with Perišić on the opposite side. He will be one of the breakout players of the tournament.
5. Croatia will beat Canada by 2+ goals.
Don’t let Canadian banter and awful journalism distract you from the fact that Croatia has 10x the squad that Canada does. An MLS heavy squad will be no match for a Champions League midfield, 100M dollar backline, and experience up top. Sure, they got some speed with Alphonso Davies, but one player will not win you games in a World Cup. Not to mention, a 2-2 draw against Bahrain the other day? We will be just fine.
Not sure if I missed this but does anyone have a good link to the Saudi Arabia friendly?
First aim is to get out of the group, that is why the match with Morocco is crucial.
We cannot afford to lose, because in previous World Cups when we have lost the first match, we did not get out of the group stage ( 2002 v Mexico 0 – 1, 2006 v Brazil 0 – 1 and 2014 v Brazil 1 – 3). We are slight favorites against Morocco, and I think that we will win by an odd goal.
Another thing, not all the favorites will win their groups. As with previous World Cups and Euros there will be upsets meaning that anticipated clashes in the round of 16 will change. Most people are thinking that we will play (providing we come 1st or 2nd ?) either Spain or Germany ? however, I would not write off Japan in group E they are capable on their day of beating Spain and Germany.
Belgium will definitely be our toughest opponents, but so many Croatian fans have us second behind them. Why?
We have a stronger squad with more in form players, our recent form is much better, and we did better than them last World Cup. I don’t get the hype.
Stupid article……..quarter finals at least. We should qualify from group. I believe in 2nd behind Belgium. But it don’t matter if we finish 1st or 2nd in the group. Because round off 16 will between Germany or Spain. So you idiot who is writing this article believe we have already beaten Spain or Germany. This is a WC , not nations league. Or friendly. Against Germany and Spain, I give us a 20% chance to pass. This is not saying we are bad. Our team is excellent. Well coached. But Spain or Germany. Countries off 100m people. Much richer. Much better football leagues. Much better facilities. And compared to them, we are seljaks with less than 4million population. Stop setting the team up to fail.
Speak for yourself. The only “seljak” here is you.
Your “we are a small country” loser mentality is the cancer that holds Croatians back from achieving more than they could.
Why don’t you compare the squads, instead of the country populations?
Does your magnificent Germany have a creative central midfield trio of Modric, Brozovic, and Kovacic (with Majer off the bench)?
If they’re so great, why were they bounced by Mexico and Korea in the last World Cup?
Also, why did they desperately try to steal Borna Sosa from us?
Belgium is a relatively small country too, and they finished in a good position in each of the last four tournaments.
But you don’t see them being all overly happy about it. They wanted to win it all, and they are disappointed that they haven’t.
…and despite losing Hazard (to poor fitness) and likely Lukaku (to injury) they still expect to win the tournament, even though they are significantly worse than they are last time.
This is a winner’s mentality, that you should try sometime.
Croatia has great players and almost all of their key players are in form.
Germany and Belgium are good teams, but each game with them is 50/50 (not an idiotic 20% like you stated, ha ha).
So by saying we have a 20% change, you think that we’d lose to Germany 4 times out of 5?
Germans would celebrate that as a National holiday if they could achieve that feat against us (considering that we have a winning record against them despite playing them every time they had a golden generation).
I would say that (due to the dropoff in form from Hazard and Lukaku) I would actually consider us favorites for that game.
We’ll see how Germany’s form is right now, but I didn’t see anything special in Nations League.
Our unpredictable creativity is also very difficult for the methodical German mind to process.
We’re always a bad matchup for them. That game is also 50/50, but we probably have an edge in that game too.
But to be honest, I would be disappointed if we lost to either Belgium or Germany.
If we do top the group and meet Portugal in the quarters, I would also be disappointed if we lost to them too. I think they’re very beatable as well, especially since Ronaldo seems to be hurting them more than helping them.
These are all advantages for us.
If these three teams are all “contenders” whose players and fans expect to win a World Cup (and would be disappointed with anything less)…than why wouldn’t we be either?
Because of our country’s population? ha ha
Hahaha…you’re a complete idiot!
Marko Jurjevic, please report to the Fuck Off department!
Seriously fuck off, clearly marko hasn’t watched Croatia play since the euros ended… whoever isn’t absolutely fired up, I feel bad for your family, you prob just aren’t a happy person…
as the follower of truth – Maminjo, Dannyj, and Crcnovic
should not be too hyped and remember about:
1) how idiot Dalic is
2) the calamity Lovren
Marocco will punish us –> beware of this fact:
Dalic let the calamity Lovren loose in the yard
Who is our overall best dude right now for a header and to bang in junk?
I feel like even tho teams will try to lock down that left side it will be darn hard to
I still think we will have our opportunities from crosses and whether it’s a clear header or some trash we need that guy
I feel like it’s livaja right now
Sure you could say pasalic as he has shown this pretty well the past couple of years
Does anyone know what channel to watch tomorrow’s game?
It warms my black heart to see this site go from being anti-Islam to pro-Islam. As whites become minorities in most of our own countries, the political alliances that are coming will be completely ALIEN to today’s politics. CAN’T WAIT!
Did you think that “Imam Ali Nemam” was a person’s name or something? lol
In Croatia it is on NOVA TV.
I’m no football aficionado but I always believe in strengthening a strength so I’d think deploying Majer as part of a 4 man midfield rotation would be better than playing him out of position at right wing. Also, since Kramaric isn’t an aerial player and we expect a barrage of dangerous crosses from Sosa and Perersic I can’t see putting AK at the #9 position would be a good idea.
So who plays right wing?
Vlasic, orsic potentially? Sucic potentially
Krama and pasalic we know dont really work there?
IDK my friend, like I said I’m no football aficionado, I’m just using my overall knowledge of sports and common sense to comment on those two specific issues. Ask ‘Maminjo’, Dalic might read his posts and be essentially using him as an unpaid advisor.
https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/bundesliga/policija-usla-u-vuskovicev-stan-oduzela-mu-mobitel-i-laptop-nijemci-tvrde-prijeti-mu-dugogodisnja-kazna-15275633
If Vuskovic is found quilty I have read that he could get up to 4 years.
When the Germans find out he’s unvaccinated, they’ll add another four years
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/moroccos-marseille-forward-harit-injured-ahead-world-cup-2022-11-14/
I’m pretty ignorant to their team
He’s pretty important I imagine?
The weather will play a factor
But having 5 available subs is new with this climate
With our what it appears depth this can be a deal breaker!
I googled Qatar weather: November you can expect warm maximum average daytime temperatures around 30°C (85°F), and for December you can expect warm maximum average daytime temperatures around 25°C (76°F).
With any luck, the weather won’t be too bad, and the heat will not be much of an issue.
Bah.
In the summer, Knin is a steady 90+ degrees of dry heat.
Borjan will feel right at home when he’s being pelted in goal.
I read that it takes 5-7 days on average for the body to acclimate to hot weather.
No doubt our guys have been through similar or worse, but I would hate to see it be an unusually high of 33 degrees Celsius on the first game. (Although by then they should be ok being in Saudi Arabia at the moment).
The reason is that I think if it’s a bit cooler, it favors our guys more who have been playing in colder temperatures lately. I don’t want us to just beat Morrocco, but I would like to see a goal differential being built up to help with getting to the top of the group.
Furthermore, continue to build the goal differential up against Borjan.
Whoever was in charge of calling up players when Borna Sosa got frustrated and looked into joining Germany should be fired.
How stupid can countries be when all you have to do is cap anyone with even the slightest possibility of becoming a star and play them in a meaningless Nations League, friendly or the last 30 seconds of a qualifier?
I 100% agree, HNS should be head hunting and communicating with any youngster that shows promise with only pop of 4mil you dont have much choice. I’m pretty sure croatiansports interviewed simunic about this topic who coaches u19s. Its crazy coz he himself chose croatia over australia.
Exactly!
That’s why hns fired some people Kustic became president pletikosa is technical director now and we have alot of diaspora layers thanks to pletikosa and simunic who is coach at youth level and scout.
If you go back to euro 2020 sosa should have been the lb instead gvardiol started got basically debuted at euros one cap v belgium freindly very sloppy selection then by Dalic.
I am afraid Dalic goes with Lovren at cb with gvardiol and the partnership v austria was shaky austria missed like 3 sitters.
Id go with sualto or erlic but we all know lovren is the cb i just hope it doesn’t cost us id rather lose with sutalo Gvardiol making mistakes then 34 year old lovren.
I think this will be team effort everyone will get playing time exect the 2 Goalkeepers i think when you at team everyone has a role imo kram petko livaja budimir will all get minutes imo. Majer Orsic Vlašić Pašalić Sucic will get minutes at some point.
I think Vlasic will be the RW to begin each group game we will not have same linuep i think we dont have a standard 11 maybe thats good maybe thats bad it will confuse opposite team as they will not know which lineup to scout
I have high hopes no wc hang over and alot of foreign journalist dont know that croatia have something others dont God And Team Unity on our side
The only thing that worries me about this tournament is bad calls. Just like S.Korea and other tournaments, an Arab speaking or African team will make a run. Someone from the region so they can further promote the sport, money etc.
That and the heat. There is a reason MMA fighters go to places like UAE a month before a fight and it’s to get acclimated to the heat. We’re essentially playing Morocco at home and Canada, Belgium are not, let’s say, 100% homogenous even though they were born in Canada and Belgium they’re DNA is still suited to heat better than ours (given the diversity of their rosters from warmer climates) and that does not go away after 1 generation of your parents immigrating to N.America or Europe.
Dalic would know the heat situation better than anyone considering he coached in the ME although because leagues just ended there was not enought time to get there earlier.
Fingers crossed either way, on paper Cro should get out of the group, Bog I Hrvati.
Cmon man
Well, to put your mind at ease, Croatia has been one of the very few teams who have been respectful toward Qatar.
They are the only World Cup dark horse or contender who isn’t taking part in any of the social justice stuff that almost every single Western country is taking part in right now (even though these teams, oddly, are fine with taking part in the tournament itself).
They’ve also scheduled friendlies with Qatar using their U23 team, and they’re the only team that is doing what FIFA has been imploring teams to do (which is to just focus on the sport and not the politics).
I’m sure the further teams like England go, the more incidents will take place at the tournament. Fans will probably try to politicize things with banners and flags, and players will do so with fake media gestures.
If there is going to be any sort of conspiracy against teams with ball calls, I would assume the bad calls would be geared toward the FAs who were trying to politicize and sabotage this tournament.
Also, I wouldn’t put too much stock into weather being an advantage for these ‘Arab’ states.
The Germans and Dutch had no problem beating down Brazil in the humidity of South America when both teams took Gold and Bronze at the 2014 World Cup. Their players were fit, and that was all that mattered.
We’re also not essentially playing Morocco at home.
Their players are not (or have never) lived in the Middle East. Morrocco players are essentially diaspora players born and raised in Europe, who visit Morocco once a year while on vacation.
Besides, Morocco’s climate is essentially Mediterranean anyway. Mild rainy winters with dry warm summers. So, pretty much Dalmacija. Not like Qatar.
What will matter most is form. If a player’s form is off, then the heat and dehydration will exacerbate their situation.
We have a lot of fit players, but we will need to use those five subs wisely to sub out anyone who may be slowing down.
For example, I don’t think we should be playing Broz the full 90 minutes in that first round if he’s not at his usual self fitness-wise.
@CroatianPerson85, what do you mean by “diversity”? Can you be more specific on what people wouldn’t be considered “diverse”?
So help me God if you try to spin your way out of an HONEST answer.
@ Scipio.
Most players on the Canadian team are first born Canadians. Their parents are from the Caribbean, Africa, few Portuguese, South American guys etc. That’s what I meant when saying it’s hot in the Middle East and just because your parents moved to Canada, if you’re from Jamaica you would in theory have an easier time in the heat vs a Croatian guy. Belgium also has many African players. Your DNA does not change in 1 generation over a few years, I am not a rocket surgeon but it doesn’t take one to know this.
With the Croatian team, we do not have any players whose parents are from Africa or the Caribean or South America like we did with Eduardo and Sammir or ones that are born there and moved to Croatia.
Maminjo is correct about Germany winning in Brazil in 2014. It was also the first time that a European team has won a World Cup in South America or Mexico ever. South Africa in the southern hemisphere has average around 20 something degress celsius from June to August more or less. There is no comparison. That is actually the coldest time of year there.
Look at MART’s comment below, “Looks like the KO for the friendly tomorrow against KSA has been pushed back by two hours according to Nova TV? because of the heat?”
Also, Qatar is hotter than Saudi Arabia.
All I am stating is I think their will be funny business to push teams that are close to the Middle East to promote the sport in that part of the world and the Heat could play a factor.
It’s not like it’s a new idea that has not happened before in past tournaments. Either way, Bog I Hrvati.
YOU DID EXACTLY WHAT I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO: YOU SPUN YOUR WAY OUT OF AN HONEST ANSWER. BY “DIVERSE” YOU SIMPLY MEAN NONWHITE, CORRECT?
“Your DNA does not change in 1 generation over a few years”….
LOL! So you’re saying the European climate will turn blacks into white people far into the future?? LOL!
“With the Croatian team, we do not have any players whose parents are from Africa or the Caribean or South America”…..THANK GOD.
Looks like the KO for the friendly tomorrow against KSA has been pushed back by two hours according to Nova TV? because of the heat? I would have thought that playing at 11 am would be cooler than starting the match in the middle of the day. Not sure how accurate this info from Nova TV is ?
Promijenjen je termin utakmice 🇸🇦🇭🇷
Umjesto u 11:00, početak je sutra u 13:00 po hrvatskom vremenu. Uz prijenos na
@novahr
Razlog promjene je velika vrućina.
#Vatreni 🔥🥈
#SaudiArabia 🇸🇦
#Riyadh
It is accurate and I for one am thrilled. It’s now a 7:00 am EST start instead of 5:00 am.
Just hope no one gets hurt tommorow. Most likely dalic will hide the 11 that will start in katar livakovic juranovic vida erlic barisic modric broz sucic vlasic petkovic perisic from what croatia media is saying
Looks like the KO for the friendly tomorrow against KSA has been pushed back by two hours according to Nova TV? because of the heat? I would have thought that playing at 11 am would be cooler than starting the match in the middle of the day. Not sure how accurate this info from Nova TV is ?
Promijenjen je termin utakmice 🇸🇦🇭🇷
Umjesto u 11:00, početak je sutra u 13:00 po hrvatskom vremenu. Uz prijenos na
@novahr
Razlog promjene je velika vrućina.
#Vatreni 🔥🥈
#SaudiArabia 🇸🇦
#Riyadh
Apologies for the duplication.
4. Lovro Majer will become a household name for every Croatian.
^^^^
To je to!!!!
LM is the closest thing to LM10 I have seen in the last 10 years. These dude has been gliding past the athletic french ligue with ease. He plays at a different level. He comes up big and we are on our way.
@ Svima
Is there a KSA vs Croatia friendly tv broadcast in the US?
This wc is in a great venue in qatar ..they have moral values..neutral wc site..not in fifa favored countries .. like Brazil argentina Spain Germany..etc.their fans wont be there in the thousands….It’s our team against maybe a few bad calls from crooked refs..vatreni talent will shine..maybe.It will be another magical exiting wc .Our vatreni are ready..can’t wait!!
GOD BLESS OUR TEAM.
Complaining about Qatar and their laws is like wondering why it burns when you piss after sleeping with a cheap hooker
One thing is for sure. This World Cup will be extra entertaining with controversy
You guys remember the woman in England who read magic beans or something crazy saying this will be a very controversial World Cup and Croatia would win!
I sure hope that comes true
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/sport/58980-2022-world-cup-in-qatar
Here it is boys and girls
Champs! The asparagus said so
Had a good chuckle at the beginning of your post. I’m rooting for all Islamic teams. Wish our Bosnian brothers were in tournament too.I recall Sportsnet which is a bias news source here in Canad predicted Croatia to win the World Cup. I’m sick and tired of hearing the Canadian media boast about the same two players. It’s a broken record. They’ll know what it’s like to face an actual force. Beating a mediocre US and a bunch of Mexicans in freezing weather doesn’t impress me. They’ll be tested against Japan in the last friendly. Japan who has played at Belgium’s velocity and were able to go up 2-0. Idemo Hrvartska. Get a win to kick off the tournament. The Saudi game will be a decent test.
Speaking of politics ..that serb goalie for canaduh said ‘Dalmatia is serbian’..no wonder the English canadian coach picked ..what’s that goalies name again..last pick on roster..who cares..let’s hope our true cro brothers pile the goals in behind this cetnik milosevic karadzic greater serbia shithead sympathizer.imo ..he implied he supports his killer serb leaders!!.fuck him and the boat he rode in on.
Speaking of politics ..can you provide a link showing he said that?
Dalmatia was part of communist yugoslavia, it was never serbian and no genuine serbian nationalist would ever claim such a thing b/c a nationalist by definition does not want to rule over another nation whereas the communist religion wants to rule over the world / eliminate nation states.
Look it up. He still says Serbia Dalmatia. Is where he was from….knin….he will receive 5 komada
https://youtu.be/hicfD9FQ5oA heres the link billy
FIFA has rightly told all the countries to concentrate on Football and leave politics and social issues aside. I’m sick of these so-called western countries imposing their ideologies on the rest of the world.
Everybody knew that the WC was going to be held in Qatar, yet none of these countries (Denmark, England, Australia, USA etc.) put their hand up and said we don’t like how they treat their workers, homosexuals etc. and as such we will not go there. They all could have pulled out of the qualifying rounds for the tournament, but they did not. I hope that FIFA comes down hard on any countries wearing tee-shirts with inappropriate slogans or messages.
There’s totally going to be incidents where Canadian or American fans will bring trans flags into the stadium, and the arrests will cause an international scene.
I normally don’t watch CONCACAF, but I watched the MLS Finals last week and also saw some Team Canada highlights, and it’s impossible to not see multiple rainbow and trans flags in the crowd (quite a few actually) in every single game.
I find it hard to believe there won’t be any fans smuggling these flags into the stadiums just to instigate something in Qatar.
Did anyone see the US national team put the gay shit on the American crest? What a true disgrace to your country. That’s why Croatia has the best passion. We don’t kneel, wear rainbows, or cater to the women mob. I hope the Qatari government punish them. Wouldn’t come as a surprise to me if Canada pulled that shit. I’m rooting for Iran to make it out of that group. Not to mention, we provided a coach to help bring them to the World Cup. Iran all the way. ZDS. Hope Qatar makes it out too.
Woke mob*
I dunno, I hope that Kramaric can showcase himself but he has had many opportunities I would like to see Livaja or Petko personally have a shot at it again because they have done more with less time.
Personally I think Livaja is the best option out of the people picked but I know that some of the people on this site may disagree. We will have to wait and see what Dalic will do, and who will fit the role best.
And how will the officals dick us over in this tournament??
What happens happens lers just not lose like at last 2 euros get out of group and choke
i highlighted the other day, how surprisingly challenging this group is for croatia and people are quickly catching on.
Once again to reiterate… African world cup qualifying is generally a bloodbath. Out of 10 groups, there was only one winner who emerged undefeated and that was morocco at 6-0 and +19 goal differential only giving away one goal.
That put them into a playoff where 3 of 5 other playoffs ended tied and were settled by away goal rules or penalties, 1 match was one 1-0, and morocco easily sailed to a 5-2 aggregate.
Arguably Croatia has been paired with the best team in africa, best team in north/central america, and the best team in europe.
Five thirty eight wrote about groups of death this year and had Croatia’s group as third toughest based on ELO rating. But, I think this is arguably understates the strength of this group and lacks recency
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/whats-the-2022-world-cups-group-of-death-its-tough-to-pick-just-one/
Croatia still has a puncher’s chance here… But lets just acknowledge a few things
1) Croatia was good last world cup but
2) Extremely lucky
3) They very easily could’ve been out in the quarterfinals
4) Croatia is good again this year but
5) Faces stiff competition
6) If Croatia doesn’t win, I don’t want to hear nonsense about how this team has no heart, doesn’t try for croatia, lacks the will of the previous team
7) You guys bashed that team constantly for lack of heart before wc 2018, and if schmeichel had saved one more modric penalty kick you would’ve done the same after last world cup
Lets’ keep things in perspective and hope for some luck again to have a fun thanksgiving week and holiday season
If Morrocco is challenging for us, then they’ll be challenging for Belgium too.
I’m not convinced by Belgium.
If any team gets hurt by the two athletic underdogs in our group, it’s Belgium and their aging backline.
I don’t think Morrocco or Canada have the depth or balance to play above their heads for all three games.
We probably have the most depth and balance to be consistent across all three games.
If Morrocco and Canada do exceed expectations, then all three of Belgium, Morrocco and Canada will lose points to each other.
This is exactly what happened for us at the last World Cup when Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria all hurt each other and we coasted through the group.
Yeah, Marocco’s group in African qualifying was very tough too. 2 Guineas and Sudan, it’s frightening that they went undefeated to those soccer powerhouses.Thank God we have you to lay all this out for us so clearly.
Surely you are getting paid as a football analyst as your soccer wisdom is so staggering.
I especially liked where you pointed out Croatia faces stiff competition… who would have ever dreamed that we would face some stiff competition in a World Cup.
Joj meni!!!
Ajmo do finale!!!💪🇭🇷💪
Bog i Hrvati
The Xbox says you are right on a lot of it
But we are there to play
And what will happen will happen
We may not win it, but I feel overall we are in much better shape in euro barely a year and a half ago
Sosa Borna goal needed some luck and assistance, from the leg of god, for Hrvatska to qualify. We dream with hubris, but believe in our providence. We hope one day, our dreams and reality are unified according. During that wait, win or lose, we always remain the most blessed. This I believe. Blessed, we are the winners, irrespective of this temporal outcome.
Croatia will go one better than 2018 there more speed have excellent strikers! Every thing is in Gods hands !! Go Hrvatska
Im predicting quarter finals we will play either portugal swiss serbia or uraguay imo. Then then what happens
The U.S. team AS GUESTS are going to Qatar to tell the Qatarians how THEIR society should be: it should be just like America’s “multicultural” society: a Political Correctness Theocracy where freedom is a myth, the founding population is deemed inherently evil and therefore targeted for annihilation by assimilation, and little children get gay groomed and sexually mutilated.
And of course, the toady pawn U.S. players will be portrayed as being “courageous” by the establishment while the establishment rewards them for “taking a stand”.
What would be the reaction in the U.S. if Iranian players demand the U.S. be more like Iran and allow free discussion of the Holocaust?
Off topic Usa change its logo to pederske colors ajme ajme. What world we live in bog i hrvati never change please its shit like that pisses me off take a knee of criminals and fight for pedofilija uzas majko mila thank god i left usa to live in croatia might be bad pay and stuff but ill take it
Life under Biden…all virtue signaling, but whose virtues are these?
Petko dva protiv kanadu =U= Ustasa te zovu zovu
Nas Hercegovac ce dat dva protiv Kanadu Ajde momci =U= Za do Spremni , Rob Nikada Poglavnik AP
I’m staying cautiously optimistic about this team. I’m hopeful that Modric sets the environment in the changing rooms to be positive and everyone is happy to be a part of this experience.
Over the years we’ve all praised and criticized Dalic’s selection but I have to say I’m satisfied with what we are bringing to this World Cup and I hope every player on the team plays with 100% concentration…for Lipa Nasa!
I’m even happy to see guys like Pasalic…a guy that I’ve never really supported but I know he can play a role for us and he can do it well! I’m also hopeful that Vlasic has a fire under his ass and can produce some good performances.
I’m hoping for an unsung hero…someone that’ll rise at the right moment. Every tournament we see someone step it up…last World Cup I felt Perisic and Mandzo added that EXTRA we needed to keep advancing. This World Cup we have some good options and even some bench strength. If we can set the tone early and have some internal healthy competition for playing time, people like Stanisic, Sutalo, Majer, Orsic, Livaja…can all have their chance to do whet we’ve all seen them do when their at their best!
Lets hope for the best!
Kramarić???
There’s a better chance of Livaković scoring on a goal kick.
Majer man of the match
Bourigeaud and Kalimuendo may have got the goals, but this was an advert for why Majer is a player to watch at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. The Croatian left-footer can really dictate games, and if Zlatko Dalic can work out how to get him and Luka Modric playing their best in the same side, the nation could go far.
Lovro setting himself up for a big team move and contract
Adding one to the HOT TAKES – Livaja will be top goal scorer for Croatia
Hoping you are right
And hoping we don’t get 1 goal in three games;)
I do feel livaja also is a guy with something to prove and truthfully he has put himself in the right place in the right time for us. Let’s hope he can do more of that
I hope so. It would be a pretty good story considering his father just died.
and to think, there were people on this site suggesting that he would only make the team because of his father passing.
I think what I personally like about livaja Over petko
He just has that bit of fight petko is missing
If petko had some of that mandzo fight. He could have been something truly special
Dalic just finished his press conference, the team will depart for Saudia Arabia (17:00 hrs Cro time) later today. Good news according to him is that all the players are fit and ready to play.
For the match against Saudia Arabia on Wednesday he said that some players will be rested, referring to players that have been playing regularly for their club sides. He did say that Modric will play, and so will Brozovic who needs time on the field to find his form. I’m guessing that there is no need for Gvardiol to play, why risk him? Perisic and Vlasic should be on the bench and if need be, they can come on in the second half. Both have had heavy workloads at their clubs.
A right wing with majer there will bring substantially less press and width to croatia. If it doesn’t work, everything will look lifeless
I think that Vlasic will start on the RW against Morocco. Majer is more suited to midfield and will be on the bench.
So long as Pasalic doesn’t start over Majer or Vlasic at RW, I’m happy.
The ‘Pasalic at RW’ experiment has to stop.
So does the Vlasic at RW experiment needs to stop, Pasalic and Vlasic always go missing there.
The big pickle is my ace in the hole this WC!
I think he will have a great tournament.
Geez. I only now realize that you’ve been referring to the Vlasic pickle company.
I was distracted by the fact that Nikola’s head and body shape is similar to that of an actual pickle.
on top of that Marocco will punish us
once stupid Dalic put Lovren on the field!
Honestly, this sounds like that Lovren sucks guy all over again…lol. enough is enough man stop posting the same shit over and over again.
I hope that Dalic and team Croatia can pull off some magic again. I hope that Livaja becomes a force for the Croatian side based on the numbers I think in he needs to be the one.
Ajmo vatreni!!!
Id go with livaja up to for me. I hope krama isnt a rw like in euro 2021 vs england.
Vlasic i have a feeling will be motivated and have good tournament imo he and majer should be thr rw position for me. Vlasic was down at westham but torino fans and media are praising him they cant believe he was a epl fop like i said maybe he not cut out for epl.
All in all excited my 3 worries are
GK. Will Livakovic be phycologicaly ready for task i think Ivusic Grbic are better than him prove us wrong like ladic did 1998.
Cb partnership who will Dalic go for Gvardiol is a lock who is his partner sutalo erlic or lovren. Vida will not play unless we are leading in knockout fase.
The number 9 will be mix match depending on team we play i think all our Strikers will get minutes lets see who takes advantage.
All in all i love how people saay aging croatia our average age is 27 thats beacuse of modric perisic lovren vida over 30 plus. Other wise good squad age.
Every country has a right to dream big we did it in 98 debut team went far so i see canada thinking to make splash.
They think moroko for them is a w hahaha moroko has a good team champions league experience.
My prediction croatia belgium moroko canada
The average age thing doesn’t matter if your two older stars (Modric and Perisic) play like they’re 25 years old.
The rest of our over-30 team members (Vida, Lovren, Budimir, Krama) are not starters and will largely be non-factors for us anyway.
The majority of our starters and key rotation players in our most recent Nations League games have been 24 and under (Gvardiol, Sosa, Stanisic, Sutalo, Vlasic, Majer, etc.)
Expecting a big World Cup from both Sosa and Majer. They have the most to gain from big performances in Qatar…and bigger paychecks.
Kramaric, I just dont see it happening. The guy has fallen off the map. I hope he scores a goal but the dude hasn’t scored a goal on over a month.
I think Sosa will be huge for us.
Majer will do well, but in central midfield.
I would like to start him, but he’s done well only when he’s in the middle of the field.
Not sure if there is there’s enough time for him in that crowded central midfield (if we’re hell bent on starting Kovacic).
I think that’s a potential now or even down the road mistake dalic or whoever is coaching does
Hangs on to starting kova too long when majer is willing and able to take that spot…
I’m fully in support of kova really coming out this tourney tho as he has had more and more inspiring performances for us the past couple of years
But like others have said I think majer has that little extra to perform on the big stage. At least that’s my hope
Sosa majer vlasic need to have strong tourneys. If they do then that would make us that much more dangerous
Provided everyone else plays to their level
If modric broz Perisic play to their level… bye bye Canada
Yeah Ante, I fully agree it has to be Livaja or someone else.