DINAMO CRUISES INTO NEXT ROUND

For the second consecutive season, Dinamo Zagreb will face off against Domžale (Slovenia) in the UEFA Champion's League 2nd qualifying round. Last year Dinamo easily dismissed the Slovenian champs 5-2 on aggregate. This year, they will of course be without phenom midfielder, Luka Modrić.

Dinamo secured a spot in the 2nd qualifying round by holding Linfield to a 1-1 draw in Zagreb on Wednesday. This was enough for the Croatian club to get through on aggregate because of the 2-0 win they posted in Northern Ireland last week.

Croatian international, Marijo Mandžukić, opened the scoring before the seats even got warm at Maksimir Stadium with a goal in the 3rd minute. The goal just about sealed Dinamo's entry into the next round- but not without a fight. With hope looking bleak for Linfield, they managed a goal in the 54' by midfielder Michael Gault. That's all Linfield could muster as they have been eliminated and sent home on a sour note.

The dates have not yet been announced for next round tie with Domzale, but we can expect them to play on July 30th in Slovenia.

Stay tuned for more news on upcoming matches which include Hajduk and Slaven Belupo in UEFA Cup action.

DINAMO FACE-OFF VS. LINFIELD AT MAKSIMIR

Dinamo Zagreb play Linfield (Northern Ireland) today at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb in the return leg of their UEFA Champion's League 1st qualifying round affair. When the two teams clashed in Northern Ireland a week ago, Dinamo easily collected a 2-0 win with goals by Croatian international, Marijo Mandžukić, and Dino Drpić.

Dinamo will qualify for the next round as long as they don't lose by more than 1 goal. If Linfield wins 2-0, the match will go into overtime. However, Dinamo dominated the game on the 'emerald isle' and I don't see them having much trouble in Zagreb. The game will kick-off at 8:45 p.m. locally in Croatia.

Dinamo is expected to carry on and would play the winner of the F91 Dudelange (Netherlands)/Domžale (Slovenia) match. Domžale won 1-0 on Dutch soil last week. Should Dinamo and Domžale meet in the second qualifying round, it will be the second year in a row that these 2 teams have met as Dinamo eliminated the Slovenian club in 2007 on a 5-2 aggregate. That was of course with the likes of a Mr. Modrić on the 'blue boy' side.

The game cannot be seen live in America, but should you have Croatian satellite, I'm sure they will re-run it later in the day for all you BBB's.

HAJDUK SMASH DOWN-AND-OUT BIRKIRKARA

In the opening match of UEFA CUP qualifiers, Hajduk Split left Poljud satisfied with a convincing 4-0 victory over Maltese Birkirkara. Hajduk goal scorers were Ibričić (2), Kalinić (24), Bušić (54) and Tičinović (74). The return leg, as if anyone cares, will be in Malta on the 31st of July.

Croatian Prime minister, Ivo Sanader, was one of 15,000 in attendance at the Poljud. Even though Birkirkara has a rating of zero and didn't manage one shot on target, Torcida and Hajduk fans were more than satisfied with the effort of this 'new' Hajduk team.

Bušić (54) and Tičinović (74) goals

The Torcida left a special message for Hajduk-Dinamo transfer Mirko Hrgović:

"Hrgoviću, tko te jebe, možemo mi i bez tebe, Hajduk šampion!"

~Denis Svirčić, reporting from Šibenik

ANY SLAVEN SUPPORTERS OUT THERE?

Qualifiers for UEFA CUP kicked off today with Slaven Belupo traveling today to Malta to face mighty Marsaxlokk FC.

Over 400 people managed to show up to Nacional stadium Ta' Quali for the 'derby.' Slaven Bulpo virtually guarnteed itself a place in the second round with a more than convincing 4-0 drubbing of Marsaxlokk FC.

Slaven Belupo 4-0 Marasaxlokk

Slaven goal scorers were: Kristić (15), Poldrugač (29), Tepurić (34) i Vručina (78). The return leg, as if anyone cares, will be in Koprivnica on the 31st of July.

ROKO SIGNS FOR TORONTO RAPTORS

Remember a while back......ohhhh...January 31, 2008.

Ukić

The Toronto Raptors signed Croatian guard Roko Leni Ukić to a three-year deal Wednesday. The Croatian point guard's agent, Marc Cornstein, met Raptors president/general manager Bryan Colangelo yesterday and finalized the contract.

Ukić, 22, was the Raptors’ second-round pick (41st) in the 2005 draft, played 19 games for Italy's Lottomatica Virtus Roma last season, averaging 11.5 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 29.3 minutes a game.

He began his professional career in 2000 with KK Split in Croatia, where he spent four seasons. He played in Spain for two more years, winning the Spanish national championship twice.

Welcome Roko!

Roko, I wish you all the best next season. Hopefully, the Raptors go 80-2 this season, with both losses coming against the Lakers.

DINAMO EFFORTLESS OVER LINFIELD

Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb overpowered Linfield 2-0 in tonight’s UEFA Champions League Qualifying match at Windsor Park. The boys from Belfast played with heart, however, talent wasn't on their side tonight. Linfield started with a 4-1-4-1 formation, which quickly turned into a 9 men behind the ball formation.

The opening goal arrived after just 19 minutes into it, from a great right foot by 22 year old Dinamo prospect, Mario Mandžukić. The ball was crossed into the box from the right and the Dinamo striker shrugged off a Linfield defender and blasted the ball into the upper left corner of the net.

Aidan O’Kane had Linfield's only chance 29 minutes into it, however, his fierce drive from the right was pushed away by Tomislav Butina in the Dinamo goal.

Dinamo continued to press in the second half but Linfield keeper, Alan Mannus was superb in goal.The pressure finally got to the boys from Belfast in the 90th minute when Dino Drpić scored to make it 2-0 for the 'Bad Blue Boys.' Linfield conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Dino blasted a low shot around the Linfield wall and passsed the helpless Mannus into the net.

Player of the match was Pedro Morales, who transferred to Dinamo this summer to replace Luka Modrić. Pedro was all over the midfield, directed play, and gave Mandžukić a half dozen good balls.

Overall, a comfortable win to say the least for Dinamo Zagreb against a pesky Linfield side. Dinamo is a lock into the second qualifying round.

One final note:

The Vatican flag from EURO 2008 Turkey-Croatia match finds its way to Belfast!

**CHAMPIONS LEAGUE** DINAMO-LINFIELD

Yes, it's that time again boys and girls: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE! Well, qualifiers to be precise.

Dinamo and Linfield just kicked off in Belfast. I am watching live in Šibenik and will update following the match.

Linfield

Mannus - Douglas, Murphy, Bailie, Lindsay - McAreavey, Gault, Downey, Mulgrew, 0'Kane - P. Thompson

Dinamo

Butina - Etto, Drpić, Bišćan, Carlos - Chago, Vrdoljak - Mandžukić, Mikić, Morales - Balaban

WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO...

The 2008-09 season is almost upon us and should be a great one for all our Croatian internationals; especially the ones that have recently found new homes. Soon-to-be Croatian squad member, Dario Cvitanić, will be playing for Ajax (Netherlands) after 5 successful seasons at Banfield (Argentina).

Superstar midfielder, Luka Modrić, will have plenty of critics to answer to this season as his expectations remain high after a fantastic Euro 2008 campaign. Tottenham (England) supporters couldn't be happier with the Modrić signing as they now have a legitimate chance of finishing top 5 in the English Premier League and challenging for a Champion's League spot for next season. Ognjen Vukojević signed a healthy deal in the off-season with Champion's League contenders, Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine), while promising star, Ante Rukavina, has left Hajduk and is heading south for Panathinaikos (Greece).

Dario Knežević is moving to Italian Serie A giants, Juventus, who are in contention for the Serie A title as well as a welcome back into Champion's League competition. Remember that Juventus was not able to qualify for Europe's elite club tournament last year because of a demotion to Serie B in 2006 due to match fixing scandals.

In a surprise move, Ivan Klasnić, has called it quits with Werder Bremen (Germany) and has moved on to newly promoted 1st Division French team, Nantes. If he's on his game he should tear up the league.

Here are the results for the recent poll: Who are you most interested in watching play for his new team?

Modrić for Tottenham (70%)

Cvitanić for Ajax (20%)

Knežević for Juventus (6%)

Vukojević for Dynamo Kyiv (4%)

(105 Total Votes)

My apologies for not putting Klasnić and Rukavina on the list as the news was confirmed after I had already started the poll. I once again would like to thank everyone who voted and look forward to hearing from all of you again in the future.

NAPOLI LEAVES SPLIT REDFACED

Oh happy days in Split. Good bye cloudy day, hello sunshine. What better way for Hajduk to start the new season than with a victory over serie A giants Napoli.

Hajduk - Napoli 1:0 (1:0)

Attendance: 10,000

Referee: Edi Šunjić (Split)

Goals: Linić (29)

HAJDUK:

Subašić - Rubil, Živković, Pandža, Strinić - Linić, Andrić, Gabrić (78minute. Oremuš), - Ibričić (83minute. Bartolović) - Kalinić, Bušić (58minute. Tičinović).

NAPOLI:

Iezzo (62minute. Gianello) - Cannavaro, Santacroce, Contini (46minute. Rinaudo) - Blasi (62minute. Pazienza), Gargano (62minute. Montervino), Grava (46minute. Savini), Maggio (62minute. Amodio), Hamšik (62minute. Dalla Bona) - De Zerbi (46minute. Bogliacino), Denis (62minute. Joao Batista).

Poljud thirty minutes before kickoff...

In the 29th minute Senijad Linić scores for Hajduk! Drago Gabrić tried to center from the left, after a block from Napoli the ball found Ibričić who tried for goal. After another block, Linić scooped up the rebound and left foots the ball in the upper left corner.

In the 38th minute, Napoli had a chance to equalize with a rather generous call from Edi Šunjić, referee from Split. Marek Hamšik steps up to take the penalty....and..

Kalinić

'I am satisfied with our performance, especially in the first half. Even though the Italians started the new season after us, we are still in training and had a tough training this week. I am convinced that our play will be enough against Birkirkare, we need a good result in Split so we can travel stress free for the return leg.'

Overall, I am very pleased with hajduk's performance. Hajduk controlled most of the game and possession. Most importantly, Hajduk showed heart and creativity, which they lacked desperately last season. On occasion, Napoli showed its true colors and with a little bit of luck could have scored two or three times. For the first time in a few years, I am looking forward to the new season, and actually think Hajduk has a chance to dethrone the Bad Blue Boys. Naprid Bili!

HAJDUK = NAPOLI 7-11-08

Everyone in Split wants to know what Goran Vučević is capable of with this untested Hajduk team. Will this year be a continuation of grief and sorrow, or will Hajduk finally show its true colors?

Hajduk hasn't lost its last four training matches in Slovenia. However, today, Vučević will be tested by Serie A giants Napoli , in an anticipating difficult friendly match at the Poljud in Split.

I will be in Split, cheering on the 'bili', and like the Torcida, hoping for a return to better days in Hajdukland. Hopefully, Kalinić will return stronger and wiser from last season and after the EURO this summer. Check back with us after the game for pictures and video.

Also, for those of you Croatian speakers, the game can be heard on internet radio at HRT and by clicking on 'HR2'...... starting at 8pm local time.

For those of you in town, Napoli will arrive in Split at 11am local time and will spend the night in "Atrium". Hajduk will be without Dario Jertec and Marijan Buljat due to minor knocks.

I will go out on a limb and predict a 2-1 victory for Hajduk.