CROATIANS AROUND EUROPE

Germany

The Hamburg Croatian attack of Ivica Olić and Mladen Petrić were in action once again this week and every week for Hamburger SV. Mladen played a solid 90 minutes, while Ivica came on in the 58th minute and scored in the 70th minute off a powerful Petrić rebound. Mladen deserves credit for this goal after shaking off two defenders and launching a powerful shot that Bochum goalkeeper barely saved to an always "right place at the right time" Ivica Olić.

Photo: www.hsv.de/ Mladen Petrić.

Photo: JUERGEN SCHWARZ/AFP/Getty Images

Josip Šimunić and Hertha Berlin celebrated a 2-1 victory over FC Cologne. Joe played the entire 90 minutes "yellow card-free."

Šimunić----Far left, celebrating after victory.

Robert Kovač wasn't in action for Dortmund in a 0-0 draw at home to Wolfsburg.

Schalke playmaker, Ivan Rakitić looked on from the bench for the second time in as many weeks looking on as Schalke went down 2-0 in Stuttgart.

Netherlands

Photo: www.sc-heerenveen.nl/

Photo: www.sc-heerenveen.nl/

Danijel Pranjić played all 90 minutes for Heerenveen in a 2-2 draw at home to PSV. Heerenveen couldn't hold on to a 2-0 lead and in the end gave up goals in the 81st and 86th minutes to settle for a draw.

England

Tottenham went down 1-0 at home to Everton. Tottenham's Vedran Ćorluka and played all 90 minutes in the loss. Vedran was at fault for the lone goal as an Everton strike from the left side struck Vedran and fooled Gomez into the back of the net. Luka Modrić was out once again because of injury. Tottenham expect Luka to return next week.

Photo: evertonfc.com

Photo: www.premierleague.com, Steven Pienaar scoring off a Vedran deflection.

Niko Kranjčar made his return to Portsmouth a pleasant one, assisting on one of the three goals and celebrating a 3-2 victory at home to Blackburn.

France

Photo: www.fcnantes.com/ Klasnić, Nov. 27th, training

Ivan Klasnić once again failed to make the scoring sheet for Nantes in a 2-0 away victory at Le Havre. Ivan started and was subbed in the 67th minute.

Photo: www.fcnantes.com/ Klasnić

Photo: www.fcnantes.com/ Klasnić, didn't look so happy hitting the pine.

Dario Simić played the entire match for Monaco in a 1-0 victory away to Auxerre, while Ivan Leko had to sit out due to injury. Nikola Pokrivač started in place of injured countryman, Ivan Leko and didn't fail to impress. Nikola scored his second goal this season in the 24th minute on a low shot just 25 meters out. He also managed to receive a yellow card for "excessive celebration."

Photo: www.asm-fc.com/

Photo: www.asm-fc.com/

Photo: goal.com/

Vedran Runje will be in action tomorrow for Lens at home to Sedan. Ante and I will update this post after the match tomorrow.

Greece

Ante Rukavina, the former Hajduk Split wasn't seen in Panathinaikos 1-1 draw at home to Asteras Tripolis.

Photo: www.pao.gr

Mario Galinović started in goal and played the full 90 minutes for Panathinaikos.

Photo: www.pao.gr

Italy

Photo: www.ilpalermocalcio.it

Igor Budan, was on the bench in Palermo's historic 3-1 victory over powerhouse A.C. Milan. Looks like now the only question is, where will Igor play football next season?

Russia

Stipe Pletikosa will enjoy his long winter break as the Russian premiership concluded last weekend. Stipe will be in action Wednesday for Spartak Moscow at home to NEC. A good week to say the least for the former Hajduk Split keeper, as he helped Spartak shut out Dinamo Zagreb last week in UEFA Cup action.

~Denis Svirčić, reporting from Lakerville