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Match Review

June 8th, 2008 | By: Mario | 18 Comments »

Wow, I imagine that wasn’t much of a match for a neutral to see. Also, I’ll be honest and say though I am somewhat disappointed with our team’s overall performance (which further emphasizes the great result we pulled out), I’m much more disappointed with the general reaction that seems to be common after the game.

A lot of negativity and criticism is being spread around and that’s something I can’t be content with. We WON. I remember on last WC in Germany, we played Brazil on the first day and lost 1:0. But that wasn’t the point, cause we played a good match and outplayed the Brazilians for most of the match. Despite the 1:0 loss, everyone was happy and optimistic. And here the situation is exactly opposite. Tough crowd to please? Hell yes. I dislike the negativity simply because it’s demeaning to our opposition, who were a good and determined side today. But not to stray too far, here’s my own, my precious, match review:

Lack of..well something:
With 47% of the ball possession, we simply failed to impose ourself on the opposition. We always pride on how technically gifted our players are and how we always tend to keep the ball on the ground. Well, despite having some excellent passers, we’re just not making use of it. Not as much as we used to during the qualifiers anyway. Like some key ingredient went missing and Bilic can’t retrace and find out what it is. Eduardo maybe? This is build-up play we’re talking about, so losing a forward shouldn’t affect this element in such a manner. But the fact is, we’ve looked shoddy all throughout 2008 and this coincides with Eduardo’s absence.

Match Highlights:

Some comments on individuals:

Pletikosa: confident. Showed good timing when rushing out and even initiated a couple of counter attacks through long throws.
Pranjic:looked lost on defense. Had trouble with simple marking tasks all throughout. He looked much more comfortable when promoted to a midfield role.
Kovac & Simunic: we conceded 0 so they couldn’t have been bad. But I wouldn’t say they were particularly great either. Austrians always looked like a threat on set pieces.
Corluka: struggling. Apparently he had sustained a minor injury a couple of days ago and still hasn’t fully recovered from it. Looked shaky and unimpressive throughout the match. His blessing was probably the fact that Austrians focused their attacks down the other side.
Kranjcar: reserved. Didn’t get enough of the ball to make a decent impression. Also struggled when defending our left side.
Modric: also reserved. Showed glimpses of life but these were very inconsistent. Went missing on a lot of occasions (something very atypical for Modric). Picked up our tempo on occasion or two.
Niko Kovac: usual stuff. He’s probably the only constant in this team at the moment.
Srna: excellent. Kept initiating our attacks and worked equally hard on defense. Fantastic determination from the man. Would’ve been MotM if it wasn’t for Olic’s decisive contribution.
Olic: MotM. Ran like the wind. A constant menace when Austrian defense had possession and always a threat when given enough space to run into. Great stuff.
Knezevic: Won a couple of headers when introduced. Adequately filled in our CB position once Simunic moved to our left.
Budan: static. After coming on as a late sub, showed zero determination to give the Austrian defenders a chase. Looked tired when brought on as Olic did when he was substituted.
Vukojevic: a few minutes worth of play. Not enough time to comment on.

I’m interested to see both Bilic’s and players reaction to this match, and I’m sure we’ll have a couple of quality interviews as early as tomorrow. In the meantime, to all you Croats out there. Don’t worry, be happy. We won! You ungrateful little brats! We f…. WON!

More biased reviews and silly thoughts to follow.

Tags: Croatia, Croatia Austria, Match Review

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Comments

By Adrian | June 8th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

Olic man of the match? Lol. Yeah, he worked hard…and that is admirable. But sheesh, he’s about as fast as a freight train…and much easier to stop. His step-overs look like slow motion…probably tries to make the defender laugh or something.

Posted from Australia

By Antony | June 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

You forgot about Petric but I can’t blame you.
His performance was worth forgetting about.
It seemed like the Austrian players were 7 feet tall and we couldn’t win one ball in the air.
We have to use our apparent technical skill against Germany and work the ball around on the ground.

Posted from Canada

By SD | June 8th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Totally in agreement on your take on the game. Somehow whenever Croatia plays they get a lead and think that’s all they need to do…case in point…They got the lead(contoversial as it may have been) and then sat back and let Austria ‘play’ while they watched…regardless of the 86 minutes left to the game. Disappointing performance…as most, would’ve preferred to see them go at it as they can the whole game and lose than win this way. Olic was a one man show…hats off to him…he wanted it thus putting his ‘all’ into it throughout. This team will have to figure out how to make successful plays as a team for 90 plus minutes…especially if they want to advance or even think of going up against teams like Germany.

By Miro Bezjak | June 8th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

It’s the first game and we came out with 3 points, that’s all that matters. Doesn’t matter how entertaining the game was, group stage against Austria wasn’t meant to be entertaining. I think we are going to have a great game against Germany, as we always play good against better teams. For now, Lets Celebrate the win!!!

Posted from Canada

By squiggy | June 8th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

I agree with Miro – and I ain’t Croatian. You don’t win for looking pretty. You bagged the three points. That’s what matters. I hate “attractive” talk.

But they’d better get into the next gear. Euro is not forgiving on slow starts.

Posted from Canada

By Milan | June 8th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Croatia had a average game there is no denying it, but at least it was against Austria and at least we won. I am shore that Bilic will be trying to inspire them further and change the line up against Germany. At the moment I think we should flood the midfield with 5 so with can pressure the German midfielders and hopefully stop there push.

By jero | June 9th, 2008 at 1:03 am

Agreed, 3 points but below average performance.We always switch off after scoring for some reason.We have a problem with creativity, Modric and Kranjcar don’t seem to be at their best and Petric was a non factor today.As I said many times already I believe kalinic should get a game.He is a goalscorer, he might put a chance away.Petric didn’t contribute around the park either.Maybe Klasnic against the Germans because he knows them well.But Olic is a worker and didn’t even get a sight of goal today so we need an out and out striker.I’d also like to see Rakitic come in against Germany.Maybe move Srna to wing back??Kranjcar out and used as a sub for the last 30 minutes when players are getting tired.We miss Eduardo but truthfully even he wouldn’t score today because we didn’t create anything for the strikers.Time to mix the team up.One point against germany would be nice but I’d like to attack them, they looked a bit fragile at the back today.Did anyone notice Polands Brazilian player, he looked pretty dangerous.They weren’t a bad side at all.I wouldn’t want to have to beat them in the last game so I hope Austria can get a draw.
3 points, our best start for 10 years.

Posted from New Zealand

By Petar | June 9th, 2008 at 2:09 am

Petric is definitley not a starting XI player he makes his best impact coming off the bench for the last 20-30
Olic is a very quick player which ultamiltey creates pressure in the back line which is always a good thing to do
Hopefully Klasnic can get a run against Germany i am confident that even with his little game time he would make a good first impression
What about kranjcar at attacking mid?
3points was defnitnley vital first up it means well be more relaxed agianst germany and Bilic can maybe try one or two combinations

Posted from New Zealand

By jero | June 9th, 2008 at 5:34 am

I think pranjic is finished at left back after today.Defensively he just isn’t convincing.I would move him onto the left of midfield against germany and possibly use the back four that finished the match with simunic on the left and knezevic in the middle.Klasnic and Olic up front.Maybe Bilic will go for the 3-5-2 and stick Rakitic in but I doubt it or he would have tried him today.It was all about points today but the team is looking a bit slow.I’d like a bit of pace brought in but can’t think of too many really fast guys in the reserves???
They must be regretting leaving mandzukic out now.He’s unpredictable but he’s a goalscorer with a single vision of shooting at any time and playing for himself.Just what they need now.Dudu is like that as well, all real strikers are greedy.Except our current ones who muck around too much.

Posted from New Zealand

By ANte | June 9th, 2008 at 7:18 am

Bilic will go for the 3-5-2

PLETIKOSA

r.kovac Dario Knežević Vedran Ćorluka

Luka Modrić Darijo Srna Niko Kovač Danijel Pranjić

Ivica Olić Nikola Kalinić

By jero | June 9th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

Ante, there are only 10 guys in your lineup.I thought Simunic actually played ok, and I’m his biggest critic normally.I agree with Kalinic being given a run but maybe off the bench.Klasnic to start the match with Olic.I’m a bit worried about having only 3 defenders against germany.They looked dangerous yesterday against 4.Midfield needs more creativity, strikers didn’t get the ball in scoring positions at all.Rakitic in somewhere even if we play 4-5-1 for this one match???

By Petar | June 9th, 2008 at 4:59 pm

but whats more important in this match grabbing one point, or giving some players a run before poland and seeing how the team gel wells
i think bilic’s main priority at the moment is to get the strikers working together with the midfeild and SCORING GOALS

Posted from New Zealand

By Pawel | June 9th, 2008 at 7:56 pm

Play like that and not improve…for sure at least the Germans will win it 2:0 or more!

Posted from Canada

By Milan | June 10th, 2008 at 1:21 am

Kalanic I would love to see have a game but I would drop Petric. He scored quite a few goals in the german league so he knows his away around the german game. Kranjcar I pray steps up as I know he can.

By Milan | June 10th, 2008 at 1:36 am

This is something i just read so take form it what you will….

Bilic hinted forward Ivan Rakitic was close to making the starting lineup should he revert from a standard 4-4-2 to a 4-3-2-1 formation with Ivica Olic as the lone striker.

‘We have several alternative formations as options, we have used all of them before and Rakitic is a strong candidate to play a part against Germany in any case,’ he said.

‘We wanted to bring him on against the Austrians in the second half but the match took a course which dictated different substitutions.’

By torca | June 10th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Mladen Petrić back promleam

modric leg

srna meatally

By Denis S | June 11th, 2008 at 3:55 am

Bilic is going to use this formation against germany according to jutarnji.hr and other news sources….

………………..Pletikosa………………..

Corluka…….simunic……R.Kovac………..Pranjic

Srna…….modric…………..N. Kovac……I.Rakitic

…………………..Niko Kranjcar……………….

………………… Ivica Olic…………………..

4-4-1-1

I think this is good, kranjcar is a offensive player, with a great touch and has a very good shot from far away. He will be supplying olic with great balla on the ground. Expect nice through balls, and beatifull crosses. And we all know how dangerouse kranjcar can be when he starts dribbling. I think he will score some goals against germany. The reason why is MODRIC! Modric will supply, kranjcar with great balls, and kranjcar will not lose the ball as easy up front. Also expect olic to score too. Especialy rebounds from kranjcars HARD shots on goal. I cant wait to see the match. The new lineup looks very promising.

Rakitic will do great on the left side, especialy with pranjic behind him. I really belive our middfield will dominate.

With kranjcar in the center, we will have more passing in the center wich will enable us to pass more to srna, and rakitic on the outside.

By Joe | June 11th, 2008 at 8:58 am

As ugly as it was to watch, don’t forget that it was this brand of uninspiring football that saw Greece win the trophy 4 years ago.

Posted from Australia

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