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Croatia 0:1 Brazil

June 14th, 2006 | By: Soze | 45 Comments »

First, I wish to say that we Hrvati should hold our heads up high today. Our boys showed the world what we are made of. And a loss of 1:0 to the world champions and this years favourites Brazil is nothing to be ashamed of. We held a good rhythm, our defense did not make a single mistake and our counter attacks were superb. Our only problem was the lack of a goal. I guess it can happen to anyone (France, England, Sweden).

Adriano, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were essentialy taken out of the game. Sure ‘the chupa’ tried to wriggle through and create some chances, very nicely I might add..at some points it’s like the ball was glued to his foot, incredible…but Šimić, Robert Kovač and Šimunić were the masters of the back line, and even Pletikosa showed today why Cico had chosen him as the number one.

The Kaka goal was a thing of beauty. It was not a shot on net; but rather, after 45 minutes of looking for a crack in the back line, a finely placed ball right where it needed to be. No ones mistake, just the briliance of Kaka.

It was a very emotional end to the game. When the final whistle blew, 10,000 Croats where singing Volim Te, Hrvatska (I Love You Croatia) for a long, long time. Some even continuing after the players left the field. I have to say that if we continue playng like we did against Brazil, we are guaranteed a spot in the next round and the world is about to witness the next great Vatreni generation.

On to Japan.

HERE is a photo gallery of the match.

Tags: Brazil, Croatia

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 45 comments.

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By soze | June 14th, 2006 at 2:46 pm

Hey Guys, thanks for all your comments!!!

Bigone> Parreira said that, but he also said that he is amazed at the way Croatia played.We shut the Brazilians down.

Maxi> How can you be ashamed of loosing 1:0 to the world champions??..This is only the first game and if we play this way in the next two, that will be 6 points. And dont forget. Austraia and Japan have had their easiest game already, against each other, we have had our hardest….

Pedro P> I hope this attitude continues, the Croats are well known for dropping their game to ‘easyer oponents.

By Ballzic | June 14th, 2006 at 3:30 pm

Hey was it just me or did anyone else notice Radovan Karadzic sitting on the bench whenever they showed a shot of the Croatian coach? What a brilliant place to hide from the UN War Crimes Tribunal. Right under their noses!!!

Posted from Canada

By Binarybloke | June 14th, 2006 at 3:51 pm

Heads up Croatia you fought really hard against a gifted but lucky Brazil team. I wish you well in the next 2 games and hope you reach the play-offs.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Mike | June 14th, 2006 at 4:02 pm

A positive result overall … although I feel like Niko Kranjcar was always 1 second behind but he showed some flashes in the second half. Can he be blamed for the Kaka goal?? Robert Kovac is beyond world class and Simic definitely showed his pedigree … kudo’s to the back line. Babic’s legacy is that he embarassed a Brazilian at the WC (very Prosinecki) … he and Srna should be given free reign to attack more - these guys are fearless. Prso is a workhorse. Olic needs to slow down a bit and see the ball rather than run at 120% all the time.

Kranjcar did a good job preparing the game plan and the boys stuck to it. Not once did they get caught in a Brazil counter attack - and when the Brazilians sprung free … the back line stood tall! Well done.

Posted from Canada

By Euler | June 14th, 2006 at 6:33 pm

Congratulations Soze! I didn’t think your team would give us such a hard time. Anyway, I’m eager to dine at Porcão at your expense

I almost died yesterday!!! Argh!

By mm | June 14th, 2006 at 7:30 pm

I have several comments on the game from the perspective of a Croatia fan:
1. Croatia’s defense was excellent.
2. Croatia’s penetration on the Brazilian side almost always took place on the wings and never through the center. For years now we seem to have a week center.
3. Prso, perhaps feeling he could not be fed the ball properly, had to bring it in himself, often on the wings also.
4. Kovac leaving injured did leave Kaka unmarked. Kranjcar (son) was late helping out and Kaka had way too much time.
5. Very slow execution on passes by Croatia, which suprised me and too much static play.
6. Babic was impressive.
7. Srna impressed me less, other than on free kicks.
8 . My main complaint: it is fine to play well against Brazil, but when you wait 4 years to play potentialy only 3 matches, you need to go for points. As soon as it became evident that Brazil was not playing well, there should have been a change of tactics in the last 15-20 minutes, towards opening up the game and scoring. We could have done it and scored.

Posted from Netherlands

By Croatia | June 14th, 2006 at 9:32 pm

Hy! My name is Valentina, I’m from Croatia. I like your post very, very much. I think that are boys played a great game yesterday and we can be pride. I think that best players was Prso and Babic but Kaka give as s nice goal. Are supporters was great and I like they singing I love Croatia. Ia lmost cryed when i heard them. If you now speaking croatian please tell me so I don’t have to kill my self with this words. By!

Posted from Croatia

By Soze | June 14th, 2006 at 9:48 pm

Valentina, Dobro si pisala. Bilo je tako lijepo kada su navijaci pjevali. Fino se culo na televiziji. Gdje zivis u Hrvatskoj?..Ja zivim u Kanadi i jako je lijepo cuti iz domovine.

By CrnoGorac | June 14th, 2006 at 9:54 pm

Najlepsje je bilo kad je onaj mali trciju pod terenu u 75 minutu ahahaahahaha

Im surprised they allowed flairs.

I valentina, bas si fino pisala englski

Posted from Australia

By Krešo | June 14th, 2006 at 10:00 pm

Brasil,˝ Croatia˝ from south america

By kapcro | June 14th, 2006 at 11:25 pm

The boys did us proud. We put a real scare into the Brazilian team. Just a little bit of luck we would of tied it. We look good for the next two.

Valentina, pisi kako zelis. Volimo cuti iz Domovine.

Soze, I didn’t get your E-mail, but ATT messed up my DSL and won’t put me online until next week. Send it out again next week. Our home network is all down, so I come to my wife’s office for now. Euler can gloat now.

Posted from United States

By Kern | June 14th, 2006 at 11:31 pm

” Volim Te, Hrvatska”…Wow, as heartbreaking as it was, I was left with a sense of pride that I hadn’t felt since 1998 when that game was over. In 1998 we lost 1-0 to Argentina, Argentina at that time beat a team that out worked them and surprised the world when they were not blown out. Prso in his own way reminded me of the great last gasp of Davor Suker. Remember this is Prso’s last international tournament, Ide Prso! Ide Hrvatska Ide!

Posted from Canada

By Frankopan | June 14th, 2006 at 11:53 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nUVjWuOOWs

Posted from Croatia

By Denis Susac | June 15th, 2006 at 6:41 am

do you guys think if KOvac still was in the game uninjured that brazil would of scored???

Posted from United States

By rick | June 15th, 2006 at 8:16 am

Yeah Denis Sucker they would still score hard head they r better than your side

Posted from United States

By dubrovcanin | June 15th, 2006 at 12:05 pm

Great game, shame we end up without at least a point.
Japan game is going to be even more exsausting (3 p.m.!!!), but i think we got a fair chance of wining it, and so we will!

Posted from Croatia

By Tomislav | June 15th, 2006 at 2:22 pm

25th min, the Croatians on mass were singing the Ozusko pivo (beer) add song. That was MAD

Frankopan, thanks for the link.

Posted from Australia

By Just_a_girl | June 15th, 2006 at 2:52 pm

I am so proud that people all around the world support Croatia! Thank you for your comments, I think we deserve to win Japan and Australia and go further.

Ballzic: LOL, that Karadžić-alter-ego is Martin Novoselac. And you’re right :))

By ProudtobeCRoat | June 15th, 2006 at 8:55 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nUVjWuOOWs

-absolutely beautifull. This shows how proud we are with our team. Best supporters ever..

Posted from Croatia

By Marco | June 16th, 2006 at 7:05 pm

napred!!!!!!!!!

Posted from Canada

By Michelle | June 16th, 2006 at 7:10 pm

I think Brazil played a very fair game against Croatia although there was a lot of pushing a triping…Kaka’s goal was the BEST!!I love Brazil with all my heart and by the looks of it Bazil is so gonna win!!

Posted from United States

By dubrovcanin | June 16th, 2006 at 9:32 pm

japan beware!

Posted from Croatia

By LiverpoolFC | June 17th, 2006 at 12:26 am

We will see who should beware of who?,soon enough. Bring on Japan vs Croatia and Australia vs Brazil. At least we know one team will be making an early EXIT after this round and it will be down to a 3 horse race for the 2 qualifying spots

Posted from Australia

By John Dong Sik | June 20th, 2006 at 10:57 am

Socceroos will be the next champions

Posted from Australia

By justin s | November 3rd, 2006 at 12:27 pm

I believe Croatia Will win 2010 FiFa world cup.

Posted from United States

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