Some expert opinion…..

June 22nd, 2006 | by: Soze |

It is general consensus among the people that Cico Kranjcar is doing us a dis-service by continuing along these lines. He needs to change things in the tactical formations.

Here is what some homegrown “experts” have to say on our situation:
Ivan Katalinić (ex-coach of Hajduk, previous assistant coact of NT in 1996 – 2002 and candidate for NT coaching position before Cico was chosen): A very phisical game that will require strong mental focus. This game will be tougher on us since Australia only needs a draw, and they have shown ability and a willingness to win. There is also Guus Hiddink, a brilliant strategist who will be ready for us. Croatia can win, but realistically, it will be very tough.

Elvis Scoria (ex-coach HNK Rijeka): Australia is a team with quality mixed with agressiveness, but actually, Hiddink will be our biggers obsticle. We have always expected that the games against Australia will be the deciding match and we have trained to that effect, but still, I think the team that scores first will be the winner.

Otto Barić (ex-NT coach 2002-2004): It is no longer time for analyzing and criticizing, now is the time for a little bit of luck! (And people wonder why he was fired)

Eddy Bosnar (An Aussie Croat player): Croatia would be favoured if Niko Kranjčar would step up his game or if Cico would replace him with Luka Modrić. This would surprise the Aussies, who untill now have shown better. Croatia also lacks their fighting spirit.

It does not seem like the population is very confident in a favourable outcome for this game. Whatever happens, I know that Dado gave it his all.

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 34 comments.

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By matilda | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:10 pm

They certainly don’t suck, not by a long shot.

Crazy game and just so tense. Bad luck Croatia because Group F ended up being one of the toughest.

Posted from Australia

By mm | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:12 pm

2:2 score
I dream of the old days. It is not so much that we tied and won’t go forward, we a are a small country and have put up a competitive team. However, what bothers me most is an evident lack of passion, skill, vision in our players. We need to say goodbye to Tudor and Robert Kovac and invest and encourage a creative game and creative players. It can’t be that every other country can put together a string of competent passes, can move the ball accross the field and can find open players. We do not such thing at all, to the point where it is astonishing. Australia deserved to win this match, they outclassed us, but more importantly, they showed superior skills and talent and this is what hurts. I’d rather Prosineki at 38 on the pitch then the players we have at present. The future is bleak.

Posted from Netherlands

By Croatia and Susac GO HOME! | June 22nd, 2006 at 11:24 pm

“When it comes to seriouse games croatia handles the pressure really good.”

Ha ha ha how funny is that you had 2 men sent off and totally cracked under the pressure.

Thankyou and goodnight.

Posted from United Kingdom

By bye bye SUSAC! | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:23 am

poor little dennis susac, dont you ever learn?

when you talk too early, it usually comes back to bite you in the ass. when you talk shit on a country and completely disrespect them then you dont even deserve to watch the one sport that is supposed to unite a world. you are a disgrace to your country dennis. you deserve this. and now even worse, i hope you will be punished even more by watching the team you keep bashing on their way to a third world title.

Posted from United States

By Coaches Son | June 23rd, 2006 at 1:22 am

As an aussie of Croatian heritage I’m not sure who I wanted to win. Certainly the best team deserved to win based on tonight and the previous 2 matches. Cro was beaten by a team with less technical ability but double the effort and heart.

Croatia has got a real problem now. Dado is 31, Niko K is 34 and guys like Igor Tudor are the oldest 29 year old i’ve seen in my life. I hope Cico gets the ass and some serious rebuilding starts.

We need a coach like Hiddink who has a strategy and plays to it. We need a coach who isn’t under the gun to get immediate results, because it will take time to build a good side with young players. There’s some good young guys in that squad, but someone has to build a good team of 11 players and stop hoping that one of 11 players is going to win matches in the future.

Maybe even Niko Kranjcar will be one of these future stars when he doesn’t take his place in the side for granted.

We gotta stop talking about the team of ‘98 & accept the fact that more hard work is needed at this level to progress. Teams like Japan and Australia are catching up & even overtaking us.

Overall, it was disappointing watching 11 guys playing against one team. No wonder we couldn’t break them down.

Posted from Australia

By Marko | June 23rd, 2006 at 1:57 am

The game was taken from us. Kewell and Viduka where clearly offside. Even the English-Scotish commentators on ESPN admitted this fact. The goal should not have stood. Croatia should have won.

Posted from United States

By Bigone | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:15 am

Lets stop bagging players, coaches and refereeing decisions. That was a fantastic game and the best team on the night won the match – no complaints.
Croatia to their credit played a great game. Their play at this world cup has been of high qualiity and entertaining. Croatia is not the team of 98, but we are a far improvement from the Jozic & Baric days. Cico has transformed us into an attacking team, and one which can compete against even the best. Don’t forget, we gave Brazil a real run for their money. We played well in this world cup and all through qualifying and should be proud of our teams acheivements. For a small nation of only 4Million people we should be proud!

Posted from Australia

By Niko | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:19 am

Marko,

I agree. We did enough to win. That goal should have been ruled offside. The linesmen and the referee lost control of a game that was always going to be physical and competitive.

We could of course have played better and put the result beyond doubt with 20 minutes to play.

Posted from New Zealand

By LOKi01 | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:26 am

Marko you must be dreaming.

Croatia was outplayed pure and simple, and the Aussies had two penalties not given, one for a
rugby tackle on Viduka and the other for handball, and the last goal disallowed.

If it wasn’t for our goal-keeper being so useless, you would be lucky to score.

How about supporting Croatia #2 now and get behind the Aussies.

Posted from Australia

By Martin | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:46 am

@Bigone. Cheers mate. This was the best game of the WC so far. Played with heart, skill and passion. The way football should be played.

Just showed how tough this group was. Tougher than the so called Group of Death (C). In another group, both Australia and Croatia (and maybe even Japan) would all be in the Round of 16. That’s life though and the way it pans out.

Croatia can hold their head up high. You guys played a good WC and now should look towards Euro ‘08 in view for South Africa in ‘10.

If our boys lost tonight we would’ve celebrated no matter. If Croatia played a bad WC then bickering would be justified but they didn’t.

By LLC | June 23rd, 2006 at 7:44 am

Your Croation side is so dirty, evn if they had of won, they wouldn’t have won fairly I have never seen anything like it, well not since watching the Argentina’s dive in their last match anyway!

Posted from Australia

By LLC2 | June 23rd, 2006 at 8:13 am

LLC, I think you’ve won unfairly. The fact you’ve found your way to this blog and managed to post proves sometimes even stupidity can win.

Posted from Australia

By LLC | June 23rd, 2006 at 8:50 am

LLC2, can’t you find your own name? I don’t support Australia mate… I made my way to the Croation post to say to you Croats… you are the dirtiest players I have ever watched.

Posted from Australia

By CrnoGorac | June 23rd, 2006 at 9:23 am

“I made my way to the Croation post to say to you Croats… you are the dirtiest players I have ever watched.”

To think that only 10 years ago these guys were known as the “Brazilians of Europe” (Along with the other Yugoslavs) just shows how downhill the football has gone in this country. How do they expect to compete, when the national League (besides Dinamo and Hajduk) is just full of Seljak hill teams. No competition whats so ever.

Posted from Australia

By Joe | June 23rd, 2006 at 9:35 am

The first post on this thread from “Aussie Aussie Aussie” said “Now with so many Aussies in your team – c’mon Croatia, come and cheer us against the Italians.” What about the SEVEN Croats (or, Croat descendants) on the Australia team??!!

Also, I just want to say that it was the most exciting game of the world cup so far – not particularly the most pretty and technically impressive game, but definitely exciting. All these people are talking about it being a dirty game – I say the filth came from both sides, and it was to be expected considering the stakes were so high, and the cultural intermixing that happened between the teams.

Finally, I concede that Australia should have been given two more penalties (Ahhhh Robert Kovac… why have you forsaken us??!!) but no one can deny that Kewell was offside when he scored that last goal.

If the Australian media continues to give Harry Kewell tabloid fellatio (especially now that he was awarded an illegitimate goal), I’m going to lose it.

One more thing: Australia did deserve it more. That should teach Croatia not to draw 0-0 against Japan and leave it until the last minute to try an qualify. Vatreni of ‘98, we miss you.

Posted from Australia

By Ivica | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:28 am

I love our croatian team, win or lose. Every time i see the red/white dress I get weak. We should be proud that we have accomplised from 1990. Fink about it, only 16 years. Croatia is the most beatiful country in the world and I am not saying that because I am a Croat, it truly is. Yes,we lost this game but we are still one of the greatets nation in sports. I love our INDIPENDENT croatia. Stojimo kao jedan u dobro i u zlo.

Posted from Sweden

By LLC2 | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:03 pm

LLC, no I can’t find my own just as you can’t find original input. Given your comment about dirty teams, when you’ve seen the second football match of your life then come back here & post.
You’re also allowed to post when you understand why guy with the whistle, watch and different coloured shirt is there

Posted from Australia

By CrnoGorac | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:24 pm

Its just been announced that Milan Dudic and Stjepan Thomas have been called up for the Handball teams of Serbia and Croatia respectively

Posted from Australia

By Ivica | June 23rd, 2006 at 5:48 pm

CONGRATULATIONS AUSTRALIA!!!! I am Croatian fan but what I saw yesterday you guys deserved it but the referee was awful…there were penalties and the 2nd goal from kewell was offside but its past now…i really hope australia wins against italy …Croatia can be proud but they just didnt had luck and thats it. And to your thoughts CrnoGorac you write things here down and dont even think about it…I dont even want to talk about Serbia so you better stop talking shit as you can see people here talking a normal way OK

Posted from Austria