Niko Kovač will play against Japan..

June 17th, 2006 | By: Soze | 42 Comments »

Over the past few days conflicting reports have been coming out of the Croatian camp about the status of our captain for the game against Japan. Today, after much anticipation, it was confirmed that even though his ribs still hurt, Niko will be in the starting 11 this Sunday. He hurt his ribs in the game against Brazil when he landed with his full weight on top of Adriano’s cleat. Ouch!

The game against Japan is a do-or-die. The winer will continue on to battle it out in their third game for placement into the second round…..the looser gets a set of steak knives.

Croatia is confident they can win even with the game changing tactics Zico is planning.



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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 42 comments.

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Username By Kern | June 19th, 2006 at 5:55 am
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Someone please help Prso! Please! Actually Suker! Start Training we need you!

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By Coaches Son | June 19th, 2006 at 6:44 am
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Don’t blame Srna for the penatly miss. He looked really nervous but still hit it quite well. Same can’t be said for his crossing or corner kicks though … too high … too long … to close to the keeper …

Blame the strategy for keeping 2 strikers up front by themselves with no help from the midfield. All credit to Klasnic for playing with 2 broken legs … there’s no other way to explain his match

Good enough to beat Australia, but it depends on which team comes to play … the one against Brazil or the one against Japan.

We’ll find out soon enough

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Tom | June 19th, 2006 at 6:56 am
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Even if they’d won 1-0, Croatia would still need to beat Australia to qualify, because the Aussies have scored more goals.

Without waiting for a new post, can any of you Croatian supporters give me a good reason why Croatia can score against Australia when they couldn’t against Japan or Brazil?

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Joe | June 19th, 2006 at 7:06 am
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Tom,
There is no good reason. I don’t expect much from Croatia against Australia.
I’m still a supporter though, they’ll come good – but not in this world cup.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By LuDiLo | June 19th, 2006 at 7:08 am
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Tom – luck. We had a a penalty, hit the bar and had a hatful of chances. We just couldn’t convert. Heres hoping we’re more clinical against aus. Montenegrin, your team may have (deservedly and shamefully) exited, but im sure their blog is still running. go preach there with your brothers.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Niko | June 19th, 2006 at 7:28 am
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It’s like Coaches Son said, Croatia can beat Australia depending on which team turns up to play.

We have a habit of raising our game against great teams and playing poorly against teams consdered to be weaker. Its psychological, and has proven to be a problem for us at tournaments more so than one off games or qualifiers.

If we play like we did against Japan, then I doubt we will beat Australia, especially given that they can play for a draw.

Having said that, man for man, we have a better team and we can only hope that will be proven on Thursday.

Posted from New Zealand New Zealand

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Username By Denis Susac | June 19th, 2006 at 7:41 am
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hello

Posted from United States United States

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Username By david bilt | June 19th, 2006 at 8:13 am
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The cros do not deserve to progress. Go Australia ! At least the aussie / cros fight !

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By CrnoGorac | June 19th, 2006 at 9:39 am
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Ive said it a million times. Croatia without Yugoslavia, is nothing but a rump austria. Enjoy never making the finals of a major tournament again boys………Maybe finally FIFA will stop allowing you into the easiest qulafying groups for major tournaments, and you can finally be put in your place in the footballing world.

And enough about BOBAN and SUker playing for pride, pride can only take you so far…..Their 1/4 at Euro 96 should have been the tournament that showed of their “Pride”…..France 98 was the tounry that showed Yugoslavias talent….

Just explain to me why Croatia has done so bad at all major finals except France 98??? Because they dont belong on such a big stage thats why….They always get the easiest qualfying groups (Top teams such as Bulgaria Euro 2004, Sweden 2006, Denmark 2000)and this is why they qualify. However thnx to this peformance, they will hopefully be put in their place for the next world cup. For Euro 2008 ure up agianst Russia under Hidding, and England……

CAO HRVATSKA!!!!!

ZA DOM SPREMNI!!!

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By red | June 19th, 2006 at 9:58 am
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crno gorac, u such a bum…
u dont have a girlfriend or did a croat stole your girlfriend
u got a problem man…enuff with you bullshit.for 3 weeks u writing the same boring shit
peace

Posted from Poland Poland

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Username By Milan | June 19th, 2006 at 10:19 am
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Fuck you Crno Gorac im already pissed off with the performance and i knew you would come to OUR blog and preach your Yugo bullshit. Nothing without Yugoslavia how about 98 you dumb fuck and NO Yugoslavia didn’t produce the players, we did.
Jebote Peder!!

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Milan | June 19th, 2006 at 10:23 am
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Cico should be seriously sacked as coach after this world cup, hell he should be sacked before the Australian game. His experienced players (Kovac,Prso, Klasnic, etc) try to give GOOD advice and he ignores it. They are right about Niko Kranjcar he maybe a talent but his attitude costs your team too much. What Modric did for the 10 minutes he played is more then Niko has done over the two games. Just pathetic, if Croatia plays like this against Australia expect a thrashing. Next game I will pray Modric starts and Tudor is push into defence for Robert Kovac who is out due to suspension. Bring Balaban into the game as a third striker in the second half but not Olic, all he does is run and if Croatia’s passing game is off key he is useless.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By CrnoGorac | June 19th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
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“and NO Yugoslavia didn’t produce the players, we did.”

Whos “we”?? Ure an aussie Fascist……..No connection whatsover to Croatia lol….

Anyways GO AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Milan | June 19th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
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What the hell do you know of my heritage you worm, I am of Croatian Heritage and I am proud of it. You always enthuses that I am a Fascist but please tell me where I have written anything close to being fascist and you on the other hand are a lost Yugoslav communist. Your whole purpose is to be irritating, to stir all the Croatians and multi ethnic people here who wish to discuss football. If you weren’t posting here politics would never come up. I you know yourself everyone here dislikes you so why do you post? As I said just to cause trouble that’s all.
Yugoslavia is dead so stop preaching your propaganda.

To Bob or Soze what will it take before this fool says something really stupid and starts a massive upheaval. Ban this guy, most of his posts are negative and have nothing to do with Football

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By CrnoGorac | June 19th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
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AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
OI OI OI….

im now a proud Australian and am supporting the mighty ROOS against the has-been Croats…

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Coaches Son | June 19th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
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Why respond to crnogovno or whatever his name is.

The whole Austria, Yugoslavia, Boban and Euro 96 …. whatever knobjockey.

You clearly has nothing better to do, how much anger can you have on a 6-0 defeat … or a 6-1 as in Euro 2004. Move on & put some constructive input in your own blog.

Croatia might not get 3rd at a major tournament again for a while … they might not even get past Russia and England at Euro ‘08.
They’ve still qualified for every major tournament except Euro ‘2000.

Why does anyone here need to explain anything about the Cro side to you …. you’re still living in the 80’s.

If anyone needs to explain things here its you …. who’s gonna put 6 past your team in the next tournament … who’s gonna finish the hat-trick hey ??

Anyway, enough of this loser.

My tip is Tudor to replace Kovac (obvious) and I’m praying my dad gives me a rest and puts Modric in my place. I know I hit the crossbar against Japan but lets be honest … i’m the playmaker and did f*ck all for the whole match except missing the sitter in the 2nd half.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Joe | June 19th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
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CrnoGorac,
You’re really starting to make less sense the more you drivel on these pages that have been soiled with your unwarranted presence.

If the posrani jugosloveni contributed so much to the world of football, why then has Yugoslavia/Serbia&Montenegro AKA “Greater Serbia” done so shit since the dawn of time? They’ve contributed NOTHING. The only good players “created” by your jebeni Jugo Administration are all Hrvati! STA JE STOBOM??? NE SERI VISE MOLIM TE. DOSTA TVOJ PARTIZANSKO GLUPOST.

The regime you yearn and pine for lost 6-0: they couldn’t dream of creating players like Suker, Boban Prosinecki etc etc. Let go. Crna Gora is independent now. Break free from your Jugo shackles and celebrate your liberation like everyone else in Podgorica. Otherwise, change your goddamn name to “Srbin” or “Yugosloven” or “Majmun” – because you’re in no man’s land at the moment buddy.

I’m only trying to help you mate. We’re all slavic brothers so let’s be civilised. Slazes se “bre”??

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Denis Susac | June 19th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
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Croatia vs Japan = 0-0..

But Croatia will still win, cuz there is no chance Japan can beat Brazil, unless their government put a japanese Hit-man on the job to kill Ronaldinho, and adriona, and kaka, and…..

Croatia still HAS a VERRY Good CHANCE OF MAKING IT..

We just gotta beat Australia and we’re through, but if we LOSE againt Australia or tie them we dont really deserve to be in the world cup. So YOU KNow Croatia will bring their A Game, and beat those socceroos!!

YOu know how by Burnin them aliave ( Get it cuz the Croatias are the Vatreni!!)

Ahh…its Just a little joke I always tell.

Well..Croatia will probably Go through the next round, and when we get there..our next opponent will be Italy or the Czchecs..

LETS GO CROATIA ALL THE WAY!!!!!

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Dennis Susuck | June 19th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
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Croatia SUCKS! they couldnt even score against japan, how sad is that? good luck beating the socceroos, im sure they will play very defensive and go for the tie so you guys can go back home and cry just like Mr Dennis Suckass. good job missing that penalty kick too :) . If you guys dont like these type of comments i would consider consulting Dennis here to stop going into other blogs and completely disrespecting other countries. you guys dont suck – i was just playing, but you could really use a davor sukur up front. best of luck to croatia, im sure most of you are not as disrespectful as dennis.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Kapcro | June 20th, 2006 at 1:18 am
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Crno you’re back and in such “fine” form. I’ve had quite a chuckle with your silly little attempt at insulting the team and its fans. You’ve decided to grace us with more of your awe inspiring football knowledge. I was thinking that back in March when I labeled you a cretin I was being much more complementary than I should have been. Croatia may not advance and we live on. It is a game after all. Now, you feel that we are a “rump Austria” and that is so cute. Speaking of rump I’ve been thinking that like the Dodo bird Yuga is extinct and it was a rump when we last heard of it. So it would only make sense to put a picture next to the entry for Yugoslav in the dictionary. A picture of big rump would do just fine. You and your Yu associates can pick out a big red one out from your friends for submission. Seeing as how there is now a hole where the last of Yu used to be since the vote, we can also put next to the rump picture a picture of a hole. This way everyone can look up what truly portrays a “yugoslav”. I hope this post has entertained you as much as it has the Croatians that post here. There have been some teams that have played less than expected in games and minnows that have impressed us. That is sport and there is always another game and another tourney. Win or lose Croatia has been at this one and played good teams. Good luck to Australia and expect the game to be a good battle.

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Euler | June 20th, 2006 at 2:16 am
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Life or death match against Australia!!! Too bad I can’t watch the game. Good luck Soze!

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Username By Bigone | June 20th, 2006 at 3:08 am
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For Croatia to have a chance to beat the Aussies they need to do the following:
1. Replace Niko Kranjcar with Modric immediately. Kranjcar is too slow and off the pace of the game. He simply is not up to world cup standard. With him it is like playing with 10 men. We need a decent ATTACKING midfielder and this is where Modric comes in.
2. Olic seems to just run and fall over and then run and fall over………………again and again. Why did we bring Balaban if we are not going to use him? We should have picked Eduado.
3. See point 1.
4. Bring in Vranjes for R. Kovac and put Tudor back in defence. Our midfield needs more speed, Tudor & the coaches son and too slow.
5. See point 1.

thank you.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Bigone | June 20th, 2006 at 3:14 am
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I am sorry to say, but Cico is just playing Niko to improve his profile and therefore get bigger dollars for him from Big Europen clubs. But, sadly this is going to back-fire on him, and those clubs will see what a dud his son really is.

Cico has done well with the team, but his only mistake has been blindly picking his son when his form doesn’t warrent selection. For this alone, he should be sacked after the world cup.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Coaches Son | June 20th, 2006 at 3:37 am
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Bigone … I don’t how big you really are but I reckon you’re pretty much on this money with this one.
The Aussies won’t score against Croatia, they don’t have the firepower and Tudor is good enough to stop them. He should never have been in midfield. He’s a stopper through and through. He’s not the Tudor that played for Juve but experience makes up for the speed.
The Aussies can’t counter quick enough to catch the Croats off guard.
Only problem is going to be putting the ball in the net. Its no good giving the ball to Prso out wide hoping he’ll beat 3 defenders to set something up for guys who won’t follow through and commit. Too many times against Japan he was asked to do way too much.
If Cico takes Niko out of the shop window for a minute and goes with guys who can do the job then a result will come.
Sadly, I think he’s too selfish to see it.
I’m no Nostradamus but we’ll pretty much now the result once the team line up is out.
Niko in for a pathetic and lame 0-0. Niko out and Cro does what Cro does best – gets enough to get by.

Posted from Australia Australia

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Username By Ivana | August 14th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
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It’s sad that croatia didnt make it to the next round,but hey theres all aways next world cup. Exspecialy since were getting new coach! I was glad when Niko was able to play on the 11th.

I love Croatia!!

ZA DOM SPREMNI!

ubjo ubjo za narod svoj

Posted from United States United States

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