Semi Final: Croatia - England

[InterFCAustin]

He can answer this for Croatia but i don't think someone who doesn't support a sport means he is against his whole country.

I meant in soccer basis.

 

[brehme1989]

If anything England is the most physical/energetic team in this tournament, while the Croats are limping around. And we saw when teams miss their stars against England.

I think Russia was. But Croatia uses like 13-15 players, went to PKs twice, so they better get some rest. And hope that they don't have players missing.

 

[Ed.]

Subasic was playing with a damaged hamstring, Kovacic with a damaged shoulder, Mandzukic was limping around. It doesn't look good for Croatia. Obviously in a healthy full team setting, Croatia is the stronger team, but their battle scars are too deep.

If anything England is the most physical/energetic team in this tournament, while the Croats are limping around. And we saw when teams miss their stars against England.

Kovacic is a sub. Croatia probably will still do good without Mandzukic. However, if Subasic doesnt make it, I am not sure how good their second goalie is. Having said that, England has not played a team with a good midfield. The strongest midfield they face probably was Belgium which they lost despite the excuse they did it on purpose. I think this game depends on whether Modric-Rakitic can recover a lot of balls.

 

[ScottishInterista]

 

[Devious]

The Croatian president is so hot

 

[Wobblz]

Dev, if you're into older powerful women you should look no further than what England has to offer:

 

[Devious]

Looks like George W Bush with a wig, exactly my type :heart:

 

[Bluenine]

 

[RichDAS]

Hot women leaders? Look no further than Germany. Mmmm sausage toes.

 

[SiamoNoi]

Forza Hrvatska!

Or...Naprijed Hrvatska

I wanna see more of these, by far best gallery of WC.

https://www.index.hr/magazin/clanak...dija-bacic-zagrijavala-atmosferu/2009566.aspx

What is English version of this trash "singer" Lidija Bačić?I'm really interested.Any idea?

However, if Subasic doesnt make it, I am not sure how good their second goalie is. Having said that, England has not played a team with a good midfield. The strongest midfield they face probably was Belgium which they lost despite the excuse they did it on purpose.

Maybe better than Subašić at this stage of career.

England played with reserves that game.Its not a real indicator of strength of their midfield.

The Croatian president is so hot

Dont do this.

Why you so much against your own country? Yes, I see you’re one for BBB, and against what’s his name of president that got arrested. I agree he’s corrupted POS.
But against your country? I don’t get it.
Sorry if you already answered before.

Not against my country but against this NT cause they do not represent any true values off the field.They represent corruption,liars,thieves,hypocrites...

I will try to explain but my English is not so good to write a long lonx text.

Lets do this way...

Luka Modrić (and few others from this NT like Dejan Lovren...) stole money from my childhood club.How?He sign a contract year AFTER his move to Tottenham that 50% of money will go to him.Date on this contract that he sign in 2009. was year 2004. or 2005.Fake contract.He then raised that money from the bank (50% of transfer...10.5M €) and gave money to "president".Why "president"?Cause...

Dinamo Zagreb is a citizens' association that receives public funding and is required to offer all its members the right to vote and be elected to the club's board.

Mamić's critics say Dinamo has become his family's plaything, with the wily GM and his lawyers using bureaucratic loopholes to stop free elections to the board.

But thats a whole new story and one of many other reasons why Im against this NT.

So what exactly did he do?

The former Tottenham man is one of the key witnesses in the trial of Zdravko Mamic, a former chief executive at Dinamo Zagreb, where Modric played before joining Tottenham in 2008. Among other things including embezzlement and tax fraud, Mamic is charged with illegally keeping a big chunk of the transfer fee from Spurs for himself rather than for Dinamo. The investigation showed he did keep it and the defence is not even trying to deny that, but they claim there was nothing unlawful about it.

Very conveniently for Mamic, who became the club’s chief executive and negotiated the sale to Spurs himself, it contained an annex specifying the fee was to be shared on the 50-50 basis between the club and the player. What the prosecution is trying to demonstrate is that the annex was only signed and backdated after the player had already been sold.

In his questioning last year, Modric said that was the case.

Now, however, he claims he never said that; upon being confronted with details of his initial statement, he explained he got confused.

So,he gave money to "president".We,fans,know that from the beginning,we know everyting whats going on in this club.All theft.It obvious.This 10.5€ is literally nothing.They,this whole clique,stole maybe more than 200M € in last 10 years.Club money.And club is citizens' association.So my money.Money of my family which pays the tax in this city.We fund the club partially.City Zagreb gave this club more than 40M € in last 10 years.Money for maintenance of the stadium,travels and stuff like that.And they stole most of that money,for the good od the club only small part of the money left.But again...whole new story...and one more reason why Im against.Important to mention that people who led my club is the same people who led the Croatian Football Federation.

So...finally...after years of ignorance from Croatian government (again whole new story...the leading political party in country,one that stole from this country even more than people in club...they have lots of people in Croatian Football Federation...so,no need for further explanations)...we got little satisfaction.Investigators from Switzerland and USA discover all this,about all money which they have sent to the accounts in Cayman Island and countries like that.And they pressed Croatia to solve the problem.

Now,after so many years,little satisfaction for us:

Mamic was sentenced to six-and-half years in jail. His brother Zoran, head coach at the United Arab Emirates club Al Ain FC, received four years and 11 months. Damir Vrbanovic, the former Dinamo executive and now the executive director of the Croatian Football Federation, was given three years. For the ruling to become final it has to be confirmed by the Superior Court and that could take years. The defendants, who have denied all charges, also have the right to appeal, but Croatian law specifies that jail terms are effective immediately for any sentence of five years or higher.

None of the three men were present in court to hear their sentences. In fact, Mamic was already in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he fled on the eve of the verdict. He holds dual citizenship and the country is not obliged to extradite him.

And now,maybe the most important part...ok,Modrić was "young and dumb" then when he sign that contract.He "dont know".He was "under pressure".Stupid explanations maybe but I get it.

And now...after he become WC player,best ever in Croatia,a successful man,independent of anyone...he has got a unique opportunity...confess all that on the court.Seek forgiveness.He will be a hero maybe.At least,people would forgive him cause he was "young and dumb".Cause he was player at he beginning of his career,just one of us...he just "wants to play football" and nothing else...

And he lied.He lied like a coward.He lied like a moral scum.He stand on the side of the crime.For a second time.There is no return.

As the prosecutor Tonči Petković presented him with an earlier statement of his own on Tuesday, Modric first asked for it to be repeated.While it was being read again, he first released a nervous sigh and started to shake his head; then he wiggled a bit in his chair, put his hands on the table and stuttered: “That… That I’ve never said… that it… that… that it was drawn up afterwards. I told you then that I couldn’t remember when it had been done.”

And at that moment you knew nothing in Croatia was ever going to be the same for Luka Modric

Its proven on the court that dates on this contract was falsified.

And even after that he lied.Dejan Lovren also.We will see about others,this is just first case,there is at least two more which are waiting for trial.Also,Modric and Lovren are awaiting a trial for false testimony.

I would love to cheer for my NT.I would love to jump like crazy after every goal and win.But after 10 years of lying and crime in my club which all reflects on a NT after all...I can't.I really can't.They score a goal and I'm just...meh,whatever.Like I'm watching Estonia vs Albania.It's not something I do deliberately.That's something that they did to me in last 10 years.Same situation with my childhood club...no emotions for them for 8 years now.I'm not really hate this NT...its my kind of fun in this silly situation and way on forums to inform more people about all that.Yeah,I will raise a hand if they lose.Little satisfaction.But I don't really care.Zero emotions if they win WC.Just day like any other.And there are many people like me in Croatia.We are not against,we are for better times in this country and in football cause we want transparency and democracy.Our right to vote.We deserve that right by the law.Its a sad story but I firmly believe that I am on the right side.We have the facts,they have nothing but power of money.Its a deeper story of corrupted country (Africa with electricity like someone say) and even worse...evil people.First we need to change mentality and it will take years.I do not believe I'll ever again cheer for my club and NT like before.But we should inform people.For future.Or future of our children.And cause its not right way to do things.

I have little brother.He is not into football yet but this WC he follows all games of Croatia NT.I have experience of bronze in France 1998.Insane atmosphere in country.Something out of this world.I know that if they win it will not be the same 20 years later but part of me would be happy if he get that proud feeling which I had.There is enough time to teach him about right and wrong things.


Thats it.Hope everyone can understand.Lets talk about football...

 

[Ed.]

England played with reserves against Belgium, so did Belgium. England hardest opponent so far is Colombia and even Colombia midfield is disastrous. It is yet to be seen when Dele - Lingard against some midfield that can actually control the ball. These are not my words actually. Gary Neville said this.

 

[SiamoNoi]

England played with reserves against Belgium, so did Belgium. England hardest opponent so far is Colombia and even Colombia midfield is disastrous. It is yet to be seen when Dele - Lingard against some midfield that can actually control the ball. These are not my words actually. Gary Neville said this.

I know that.Only thing I say is that u cant judge England midfield by that game only cause u said:
"The strongest midfield they face probably was Belgium which they lost despite the excuse they did it on purpose".
Yes,we dont know how good is this midfield.One thing i know is that they miss player with more creativity.But they are physically strong and they can run all day.Not a bad thing considering how many minutes already played Rakitić and Co.

 

[Ed.]

I said they did it on purpose bcs they played with second tier and they claimed they did it on purpose to avoid the first half of the bracket, but the fact remains that Belgium is the strongest midfield they have encountered.

Rakitic and Co have played only 30 minutes extra compared to England.

 

[chipschups]

With Sterling miss 100 chances/games no wonder England need rely on their set pieces and penalty and seems they really pravtice hard amd focus on that. As long as Croatia can eliminated that there is no way they get outplayed on open play. Croatia got behind twice but success to catching up and only having bad luck not sealed the games early even when got penalty at extra time againts denmark and had lead againts Russia but caught off guard and need force to Penalty shoutout. Think only Swiss who had same mentality and success turn the table twice after got behind.

 

[Ed.]

With Sterling miss 100 chances/games no wonder England need rely on their set pieces and penalty and seems they really pravtice hard amd focus on that. As long as Croatia can eliminated that there is no way they get outplayed on open play. Croatia got behind twice but success to catching up and only having bad luck not sealed the games early even when got penalty at extra time againts denmark and had lead againts Russia but caught off guard and need force to Penalty shoutout. Think only Swiss who had same mentality and success turn the table twice after got behind.

In addition, they also got a late winner against Iceland. And, their best game so far is against Argentina, a team without proper midfield.

England has got the upper hand but Croatia can do some real damage.

If we see the Croatia rotation trend, the next match they will play with Modric-Rakitic-Brozovic.

 

[brehme1989]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Badelj start.

 

[Ed.]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Badelj start.

Instead of?

Brozovic didn't start last match. He is most likely to start the next game. Modric has played all games so far and he is the captain. I'm not sure if Badelj would start ahead of Rakitic.

 

[brehme1989]

Instead of?

Brozovic didn't start last match. He is most likely to start the next game. Modric has played all games so far and he is the captain. I'm not sure if Badelj would start ahead of Rakitic.

Kramaric or Mandzukic(if he's unwell).

Kramaric started over Brozovic here. The El Clasico duo is a lock for the lineup.

 

[Bluenine]

Flight Ticket... check

Storage... check

Official approval... check

Lets announce it, boyz

 

[Ed.]

Kramaric or Mandzukic(if he's unwell).

Kramaric started over Brozovic here. The El Clasico duo is a lock for the lineup.

When brozovic plays he is behind modric with rakitic, and modric will play AM like vs argentina. If badelj starts over Mandzukic. Then they play without a striker