Germany
The Hamburg Croatian attack of Ivica Olić and Mladen Petrić were in action once again this week and every week for Hamburger SV. HSV finished off the first half of the Bundesliga season, by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 at home in round 17. Petrić bagged his 8th league goal of the season, a header in the 59th minute to give the home side maximum points. Mladen played a solid 88 minutes, while Ivica played a solid 72 minutes and missed a golden opportunity early in the first have to register his name on the score sheet.
Photo: www.bundesliga.de/ Mladen Petrić.
Photo: www.bundesliga.de/ Mladen Petrić
Photo: www.bild.de
Photo: www.bild.de
Josip Šimunić and Hertha Berlin celebrated a 4-0 victory over Karlsruher SC. Joe was serving a one match ban for "seeing yellow" the last few matches.
Robert Kovač wasn't in action for Dortmund in a 2-1 victory at home to Borussia M'gladbach.
Schalke playmaker, Ivan Rakitić came in in extra time in a 1-1 draw away to league leading Hoffenheim. Does anyone know why Ivan is in the doghouse? Maybe a change of scenery will do him well.
Next Match: 1/31 Bayern Munich at Hamburg, Schalke at Hannover, Eintracht Frankfurt at Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen at Borussia Dortmund
Netherlands
Photo: www.sc-heerenveen.nl/
Danijel Pranjić looks set to return this weekend when Heerenveen are away to Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday. Danijel is recovering more quickly than anticipated from a twisted ankle suffered during the UEFA Cup defeat to Braga last Thursday and it was feared he would not play again in 2008. Heerenveen are currently 5th in the Eredivisie with 26 points, nine back of league leaders AZ.
We will post news on Dario Cvitanić if and when he receives a call up on the Croatian national team. Up until then, he is Argentine.
Next Match: 12/20 sc Heerenveen at Sparta Rotterdam
England
Tottenham held on for a 0-0 draw at home to champion Manchester United. Tottenham's Vedran Ćorluka played all 90 minutes in a highly entertaining draw. Vedran once again was one of the better Tottenham players receiving a seven from The London Times, shutting down premierships finest. Luka Modrić also played the entire match and had multiple scoring chances. However, failing to convert those chances resulted in a grade of 5 from The London Times.
Luka--- oh so close
Photo: www.premierleague.com
Portsmouth-Newcastle highlights
Niko Kranjčar played all 90 minutes in Portsmouth's humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Newcastle. Niko had a decent shot at goal and delivered a few brilliant corners that fellow Portsmouth players failed to convert.
Rumors have been swirling of Kranjčar teaming up with Eduardo at Arsenal starting in January. Arsenal was willing to dish out £12 million in a possible winter transfer. However, Niko put those rumors to rest today by saying,
“For me, my main objective is to keep fit, and that’s all. I’ve been out for three months, and it would be stupid for me to think about a move in January when I haven’t been fit for the beginning of the season. I’ve had rumours about transfers since I was 17 years old, and newspapers have probably linked me with every single club in the world, so it’s something I don’t talk about. I’m happy playing football and happy playing for a team in the Premier League which is pushing for the European places.”~ Daily Mail
Next Match: 12/20 Portsmouth at Bolton Wanderers, 12/21 Tottenham Hotspur at Newcastle, and UEFA CUP 2-17 Heerenveen at Portsmouth, 2-18 Spartak Moskva at Tottenham
France
Photo: www.fcnantes.com/
Ivan Klasnić once again failed to make the scoring sheet for Nantes in a 0-0 draw away to Rennes. Ivan started and was subbed in the 70th minute.
Photo: www.fcnantes.com/ Klasnić
Dario Simić once again played the entire match for Monaco in a 3-1 defeat away to Valenciennes, while Jerko Leko came on in the 70th minute for fellow countryman Nikola Pokrivač and received yellow cards minutes apart(84th and 86th) resulting in an early shower for the former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder. Leko is now the red card leader in France with 2.Nikola Pokrivač started in place of Jerko Leko but failed to impress in 70 minutes of work.
Leko - "red-faced"
Photo: www.asm-fc.com/
Photo: www.asm-fc.com/
Photo: www.asm-fc.com/
Vedran Runje was in action last week for Lens at home to Montpellier. Vedran once again was solid in goal up until the 89th minute when he let two goals by minutes apart to go down 2-0.
Next Match: 12/20 FC Sochaux at FC Nantes, Girondins Bordeaux at AS Monaco, 12/19 Stade Brestois at Lens
Greece
Ante Rukavina, the former Hajduk Split striker came on in the 73rd minute for Panathinaikos in a 3-0 victory at home to Panserraikos. Ante scored his third league goal in 14 games after tapping in an easy one in the 84th minute. Oddly enough, The Greek Super League continues through January. Maybe in January we should change "Croatians around Europe" to "Croatians in Greece." Is Ante trying to break into the national team? Looks like there's gonna be plenty of competition at striker for Croatia come next year.
Photo: www.pao.gr
Mario Galinović started in goal and played the full 90 minutes for Panathinaikos. He was also in goal last Tuesday shutting out Anorthosis at home to top the group and qualify Panathinakos for the knock-out stage of the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Well, it looks like we have 2 Croats left in the Champions League. Who would have thought that both are non-national team members?
Photo: UEFA, Panathinaikos players celebrating Champions League victory
Next Match: 12/21 Panathinaikos at OFI
Italy
Photo: goal.com
Igor Budan, will be out the rest of the year. Looks like now the only question is, where will the former Rijeka striker play football next season? Most likely he will be returned to Parma or transferred out of Palermo.
Next Match: 12/20 Palermo at Lazio
Russia
Stipe Pletikosa will enjoy his long winter break as the Russian premiership concluded November 22nd with Spartak holding on to 8th place. Stipe will be in action Thursday for Spartak Moscow away to Luka Modrić and Tottenham in UEFA CUP action.
Ukraine
Dario Srna and Ognjen Vukojević have been on winter break since December 5th and won't be back in action until February 28th. Maybe they can pick up a winter/seasonal job somewhere in Croatia. Vukojević and Dynamo are first with 43 points, while Dario Srna and Shakhtar are fifth with 33 points. Also, there are talks of a possible Srna transfer to Real Madrid. Ante an I will keep you posted as the story develops.
Next Match: 2/28 Shakhtar Donetsk at Illichivets Mariupol, Dynamo Kyiv at Metalist Kharkiv, and UEFA CUP 2-19
~Denis Svirčić, reporting from Lakerville
11 comments:
Dont think it would be wise for modric to go to Juventus, I think he can be a great player in the EPL in time, he is already adjusting quickly and i think he will be an overall better player if he sticks with tottenham competing against some of the best teams in the world.
I doubt Modric will go to Tottenham...he's only just starting to find a bit of form in the EPL.
Rakitic really needs to find a way out of Schalke. They are really wasting his talents on the bench!
Srna going to Madrid sounds alright to me...I admire Real a lot and it would be pretty cool to say that there is a Croatian at Real Madrid(especially Srna). But I dont know whether its worth it if he will be sitting on the bench. He's captain of Shakter and he normally plays the full 90 minutes so he's getting plenty of game time and experience. I also once heard him say that even if Manchester United came after him he wouldnt leave until Shakter dont need him anymore.
I never thought much of Budan anyway so I dont think its much of a loss for the national team but I am suprised by how well Rukavina is actually playing lately. Who would have thought a few months ago that he would have a chance at making the Croatian team?
From what Ive seen Galinovic is doing well...does anyone else think he should replace Pletikosa??
Petric and Olic are on fire...I hope they keep it up for Hamburg but also start firing for Croatia!!
Corluka is class. I think Corluka and Srna are among the most under rated players in Europe.
I don't see Srna going to Real any time soon. He is too comfortable at Shaktar. Ramos was chasing Srna when he was coaching spurs btw. Its sad really when you think about it. How long can Srna possibly remain in his prime. I see him eventually coming to one of the big european clubs in a few years...well past his prime only to be looked at as a bust after much high hopes and anticipation of his arrival.
Luka Modric is NOT leaving spurs. put that one to sleep immediately.
Rakitic needs to get out of Germany ASAP. I can see him suiting up for an Italian club by the end of January. Possibly a replacement for Pavel Nedved at Juventus?
I dont see srna going to madrid, i think he would be a fringe player there. I think he would excel in liverpool, even though there first in the epl, there mid is very thin especially on the wings. I think he could win a staring birh right away. But i dont see him leaving ukraine anytime soon.
The "Ivan" Leko who apparently plays for Monaco is in fact Jerko Leko. Ivan last played for the NT at the 2006 WC and the last I heard played at Club Brugge in Belguim. Ivan and Jerko Leko are not related either. So a correction is in order in your own time.
Hvala puno
Rakitic.. reason Rakitic is not playing is one he talks too much rather than getting his head down and playing (i.e wanting to move to a bigger club after only 6 months at Schalke last season and being only 20 and also thinking he should start every Croatia match) and secondly is because Schalke are a mess. They are full of wingers and attacking midfielders and strikers with no defence and no defensive midfield. That team needs organising and managing. I think Rakitic can make the first 11 no trouble at Schalke when he is focused, but at present i don't think he wants to play with the club. That's probably why he's been benched rather than for footballing reasons.
I think if people look at the highlights of Olic/Petric and Eduardo playing for HSV and Arsenal this week - its clear we need Eduardo and Olic or Eduardo and Petric together again. All the highlights of Eduardo are of him inside the box looking for goalscoring chances, whilst Olic and Petric are making good runs and playing outside the box. I think once those three are back playing together the attack will be fine. I think also its becoming blatantly obvious that Niko Kranjcar is going back in the starting 11 in place of Rakitic. Rakitic needs to sort himself out and get back to top form. I'd say Srna to Madrid is not a good move. Srna to Liverpool would be good. If Modric plays in Juve or Spurs both are good clubs for him where he'll play first team football. I think Juve are looking for a replacement for Nedved. I think Modric is more of a replacement than Rakitic though.
yeah i've seen Galinovic have great games too. I think to be honest they are all the same standard as each other. Galinovic, Runje, Pletikosa, Subasic. Even Didiluca was no better or worse than Pletikosa. Doesn't seem to matter which one we select.
Budan and Klasnic are both in decline. Not really either of there faults really. They are both good players, but are very unfit. Budan should return to Croatia for six months. Hajduk or Rijeka. Depends if they can afford him. Rukavina i think will get a call soon. Mandzukic, Ilicevic, Kalinic and Rukavina are all on the border line of being selected or dropped. Rukavina was selected before and i think he could easily get a chance. Frankly priority is getting Eduardo, Kranjcar, Simic and Bilic in the squad though.
About the Rakitic to Juventus rumor, Rakitic was second on Juve's want list as a replacement for nedved after Schweinsteiger, but Schwieni has just inked a new deal with Bayern and so he will not be going to Juve, this opens the door for Rakitic. And for all of you that say Srna would play winger for Liverpool/Real, Srna is a right wing back. That is where he plays for Shaktar and that is where he will play for any club.
i don't mean to disagree mate, but how can srna play wing back if whichever club he joins don't play wing backs. I agree that's his position for Shaktar, but Russian and Ukrainian football is famous for its attacking full backs so he was bound to play there. Also Shaktar are full of playmaking Brazilians who play central so that's just how there team is set up. If he joined Liverpool though he'd be on the right wing and sometimes right back as Liverpool are strictly 4-4-2. He is Croatia's second all time top scorer. Hardly got to that status by playing right back for Croatia. Can't really say where the guy will play. At present i'll agree he plays wing back for Shaktar and thats his club so thats his club position. I'll take his attacking over his defending anyday though.
Matt
I agree with you on Luka Modric. He is just starting to adjust to the EPL and is playing better and better in each game, scoring his first goal the other day. Also, Iaquinta for Modric? Italians are tricky.
Joze
Rakitic needs to find a way out ASAP. Wasted talent on the bench.
Srna to Madrid? "worth it if he will be sitting on the bench." Exactly! Srna to Juve, a premiership team, or somewhere in Germany might be a better fit.
Galinovic is looking good, however, wont start unless Pletikosa and Runje go out. Pleti had a great game for Spartak at Tottenham. funny to see Modric score against Pleti.
Peter
thanks for the "friendly" correction. Hopefuly I didn't offend anyone.
**** UPDATE ****
Ivica Olic, Mladen Petric and Hamburg will be in action January 6th in Dubai in a friendly against powerhouse AC Milan. Should be interesting......
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