Croatia - Argentina: 3-2

niko kovač had been substituted in the 84th minute, he did not kick the corner shot. and it is darijo srna, by the way.

frankly, i do not care what others think about the croat national team. the title is ours!

Posted from  Germany

yeah, i’m so happy and proud to b croatian
we had max accuracy and we won!!!
i’m a bit concerned bout our defense but we played with our heart and won!! dario srna is the man without a doubt!!
like i said to my friends , i’m sure 100percent that on the 13th of june we win against brazil 2-1!!!
r.

Posted from  Poland

come come now my craot friends…….it was a good victory, full credit to the Croatian national team, but let us not get carried away….it was a friendly…..I think this talk of beating Brazil in a world cup and of winning the title is a little too much

Posted from  New Zealand

kiwi, and why would that be too much?

the croats have a tight team and just as the others have the same right to claim they can take the title, so do we.

but thanks for your concern.

Posted from  Germany

Anything can happen. Kiwi is right, dont get carried away. To win a friendly match is one thing, to win the World Cup is another.

If this victory get to your players head you’ll se disaster in the making. Bad history will come to your team. Don’t let this result intoxicate your players… I’ve seen this before.

Good luck!!! (just not against Brazil, of course)

euler,

fans are fans, that’s my point — the coach and the players are very down to earth and i don’t worry the least about their attitude. we’re not talking a single victory here, anyway — apart from ireland and portugal, the croats have not lost a game since kranjčar took over.

the chances to win the world cup are the same for everybody, whether you like it or not: it’s zero points for every team before the tournament begins.

western stereotypes are western stereotypes, however and i don’t really pay too much attention to them (after all, i live in germany, so i know what this crap is all about).

for instance, everybody and their mother always pushes england and even spain as favorites to win a football tournament, but on what grounds? that’s beyond me, and i daresay kiwi would not tell a brit that talking about england winning the world cup would be too much. it’s marketing and broohaha. the czechs are always listed as darkhorses, but have a look at their players … nevermind.

i root for croatia, but i want the team that plays the best and most attractive football to win, to be honest (where’s nigeria, dammit?!). under otto barić’s rule, i knew they wouldn’t get far, because he is simply a team manager who hasn’t successfully adapted to modern attacking football.

the chemistry is right this time around, and we have all reason to be confident (regardless of trashtalk, which is part of the game, mind you … or would you try telling me anybody in brasil would consider anything else but the title a realistic option? we’re southerners, too, you know). i like a lot of the teams that will play, but there are three-four that i like a little more than the others.

so, to sum it up, yes, i consider them capable of going all the way. whether i will be right, only the matches will show (and that’s the beauty of it).

viel erfolg zurück (aber nicht gegen kroatien, haha)!

Posted from  Germany

I guess you guys might be right.anyone can win the world cup……in theory……on a different note.that Lionel Messi had a pretty good game..whatever happens to argentina in the world cup…I think Messi will be one of the brightest stars to shine in this world cup…….

Posted from  New Zealand

Tomislav, I didnt say that Croatia can’t win the World Cup. I just said that Croatian people should not be carried away from this win over Argentina. To win the World Cup is an Herculean job always.

I am Brazilian and nobody here seems to be so optimistic. It is very important to keep our foot close to Earth when the big event starts.

I said many times here in our blog that anybody can win. But it’s not easy. I’ll be eating my fingernails when Brazil plays any other team. Let’s hope the best team wins.

euler, i’m sure 90% and i can bet and i will bet money that the first game against brazil ,we’ll win…croatia for ages now in mundials euros etc always win against the ”best ” team in the group…and if u remember brazil always in the first game in mundials plays shitty football.and we play in berlin (tons and tons of croats in this city:))…that’s my theory…talk to me on the 14th of june …
i’m more afraid of australia or japan…but if we pass the group we going at least to the quarters baby!!!
r.

Posted from  Poland

Croatia is going to beat Japan, and Australia but we will not lose to Brazil. When we make to the final game we will beat Brazil. The 1st world cup title will be going home to Croatia where it belongs!!!!!

Posted from  United States

BC: “where it belongs”???

You are now starting to sound just like Gaston Cufre. He said glory bolongs to Argentina.

http://brazil.worldcupblog.org/group-f/the-argentinean-affair.html#comments

Euler you think it does not belong to Croatia? We will see what happens in July, but I am worning you don’t be suprised.

Posted from  United States

I just don’t think it belongs to anyone. Not Brazil, Not Croatia and not Argentina. It belongs to the winner.

If Croatia advances and Brazil leave the competition, do you really believe that there are no other nation that can grab the title but Croatia? Or you are very brave (and have a crystal ball) or just fanatic and fool.

The trophy belongs to anyone who deserves it, that’s all I’m saying.

You are right there is not a place it belongs to put it in words there is a team that deservise such as Croatia. Being that close 8 years ago and not geting that just gets the Croatians fired up. The Croatian team is younger and they get along just great. The game between Brazil and Croatia is going to one of the best games played that is not a world cup finals game.We have recpect towards Brazil and we know that they’re the best in the world but that doesn’t mean anything since people play differently when they play for their country. We will have tons of fans in the crowd since Croatians also love a good football game. Like I said before we will see who wins in July.

Posted from  United States

[...] Yellow card to Croatia fans. A friendly win against Argentina does not automatically hand you the World Cup trophy. Your team is good, but let’s wait and see what happens once the real games start. [...]

Argentina is a good team that is true, but a win was not accidental! It takes talent to get to the World Cup, and all the teams that are playing are talented so its anyones game. Now I don’t see why you’re so suprised that Croatia just might win the Cup. We have many great players that play all over the world for some of the best teams out there,and don’t forget that the World Cup will be played in Germany…

Posted from  United States

bc,

while i pretty much share your opinion, i could with the same confidence say that there are at least five to six teams with equal if not better prospects to win the cup, judging by their team rosters. football has (fortunately, i might add) become like handball, where everybody can beat everybody.

euler, chewing fingernails? come on, i feel you, but give me a break — the brazilian players are not stupid: if they avoid injuries, it’ll be a hell of a show they’ll put on. i hope robinho will get his chance, the guy’s ace. and i look forward to juninho’s shots!

brazil, one or two african teams and the croats, that would be a nice semi-final constellation to me.

cheers,
t.

Posted from  Germany

I have mixed feelings about this World Cup. However, I don’t doubt that 2006 will be a lot better than 2002, it’s played in Europe, the atmosphere, the climate, the fans everything is a lot different than Korea/Japan 2002. There will be few surprises in this World Cup, I sincerely believe that the Czech Republic will take the 3rd place, not because I am Czech, but we have a great team, wonderful talent and good dose of dedication and readiness for this World Cup, but I cannot say we can go all the way. On the other hand we are forgetting the hosts who went to Finals in 2002, they will sure want to be in the finals at home, and I believe they will be. Than there is Brazil, Argentina, England, and Croatia - these 4 will fight to get to the finals, and I personally think that the best chances has Brazil but it will most likely be Croatia, yeah that’s right Croatia. There is something about 1998 that is very very similar to 2006, they didn’t “successfully” finish off the business in 1998, they played a better game than France in semi-finals, and because of two if rememeber little mistakes that got two goals by Thuram, a defense player that scored these 2 goal for the victory. Lastly, I would just like to add that there is nobody out there who plays football as much for their country and Croatians and Brazilians, you can see that, you can feel that. As you all guys say let’s wait till July and see what happens.

Posted from  Czech Republic

Czechpride i do agree with you in many aspects. Croatia came so close when no one thought it was possible. We were the first team ever to have entered a world cup as a new nation and make it that far which was third place. Yes the team on paper we are not as talented as the squad in 98 but we have players which i believe will play amazingly and grab the worlds attention such as Dario Srna, Dado Prso, Ivan Klasnic, Butina and Bosko Balaban. As a croatia of course i believe my nation will win but i think it is more factual than fictional.

Posted from  Australia