While Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was waving goodbye to his fans at Amersterdam ArenA on Sunday, as he will be joining Real Madrid after the new year, his new replacement, Dario Cvitanich, made it loud and clear that Huntelaar's goal-scoring presence will not be missed.
Cvitanich secured his hat trick in the 3-0 win over Den Haag inside the first hour of play (6', 17', 55'). He has also scored 6 goals in the last 3 games for Ajax.
After not even being able to step onto the field for the majority of the young season, Cvitanich has definitely made it count in recent games.
So now that Cvitanich is officially on everyone's radar, how can Bilić refuse putting him on the Croatian national squad for the Romania friendly in February if he continues to score in Holland?
And should Cvitanich get a spot on the team for a World Cup qualifier, is it ok with you for Croatia to have 2 South American born players play striker when Eduardo returns?
Well I'm sure that most of the world will remember Joe Šimunić as the only player in World Cup history to receive 3 yellow cards in a single match. However, today, German magazine Kicker has given out mid season awards to those that have excelled this year in the Bundesliga and our very own Joe Šimunić received the "best stopper" award.
Joe has managed to cut down his yellow card average this year with only 4 in 14 matches. However, playing on the world stage in UEFA Cup, the thirty year old, Australian born defender managed 2 yellows in four matches.
Despite a history of yellow cards, Joe will go down as one of the best defenders ever to throw on a Croatian shirt.
Leeuwarder Courant has reported today that Greek Giants Panathinaikos have offered €7 million for the rights to 27 year old Croatian international Danijel Pranjić.
The former Dinamo Zagreb player has been highly impressive this season and has already scored ten goals in twelve league appearances for Heerenveen. Real Betis, PSV, Ajax, Lyon, Real Madrid and Milan all have scouts in Netherlands to keep a close eye on Danijel.
Since Pranjić renewed his Heerenveen contract last summer through 2012, it remains to be seen how much $$ or €€ it will take to lure Danijel out of Heerenveen. Also, since he hasn't played Champions League football yet this season, Pranjić will be able to play next year if transferred this winter.
Eduardo da Silva has finally returned to action after being sidelined for the last 10 months due to a dislocated ankle and fractured left leg. He played the entire first half for the Arsenal Reserve squad in a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth's reserve team.
Reports from the match were optimistic. He ran well, had nice touches on the ball and ultimately never favored his left leg. The only glitch was a tight hamstring he developed in the first half which forced Dudu to be subbed at halftime.
Eduardo had a nice left-footed strike which just missed grazing the post after a nice save by the Pompey keeper. He looked good ladies and gentlemen. If all goes to plan, we should see him back in a Premiership game in two weeks time.
As one Arsenal suporter put it: “Eduardo’s back, it was free to get in, we won and the atmosphere was better than the Emirates. What more could a Gooner want?”
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.
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.
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.
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
Luka Modrić and Vedran Ćorluka helped Tottenham secure a 2-0 win over West Ham United at Upton Park Monday night in yet another London derby. Ćorluka continued his usual stonewall defense as he played a bit more physical on the night. He was beat on a play early in the 2nd half in which he fouled a Hammers player just inches outside of the box. The scoreboard says it was a good foul.
As for Luka, he's definitely getting more comfortable; you can tell. In the 2', Luka had an absolute gorgeous chance at goal from 16 yards out but kicked it right at the West Ham goalkeeper. From what I've seen, all of his shots from inside the box have skipped across the grass. He needs to learn to let 'em fly and rip the ball at will. As you see in the video, he played well.
As for Eduardo. Soon. Very soon. Until we see Wenger put him on the substitution list for a game (because I doubt he would start him) everything is speculation and rumor. My guess is first week of January. No better way for Dudu to start the new year than get back on the pitch.
Niko Kranjčar played the full 90 for Pompey in a 1-1 draw against West Brom. Be on the lookout, Niko hasn't scored a goal in a while and he's due.
Germany
The perpetual scoring attack of Ivica Olić and Mladen Petrić was once again in motion this week for Hamburg. On Thursday, the Croatian duo scored a goal each in a UEFA cup group match against Slavia Prague. Olić put one through in the 30th minute while Petrić netted a penalty in the last seconds of the game as the Slavia goaltender left the field after receiving a red card.
Later in the week, Hamburg took on FC Cologne in BundesLiga action. Petrić scored 2 more beautiful goals as Hamburg went on to win 2-1. These guys are absolutely on fire right now, not only scoring but complementing each other well on most of each other's chances.
The most concrete rumor floating around right now is that Olić will go to Bayern Munich during the winter transfer window. It's a good possibility as Bayern will be losing Podoloski and will need another strong striker to play along Italian, Luca Toni.
Ivan Rakitić and Robert Kovač had the week off respectively and Šimunić did in fact receive yet another yellow in Hertha's 1-0 loss to Schalke.
France
'Killer' is finally on the board! The Nantes striker put 2 in the back of the net Saturday night in a 2-1 win over French champions and current table leaders, Lyon. Klasnić scored an Olić-like rebound goal for his first before guessing the right way on a late minute penalty kick. Boy, did he look nervous before he took it though. Hopefully he can remain consistent for the rest of the season.
Netherlands
The big Croatian news revolving around Holland is that Pranjić might go to Ajax during the winter transfer window. They are the current leaders in the Danijel Pranjić sweepstakes right now but it is still too early to confirm anything as many clubs are still eyeing the Croatian.
Greece
Ante Rukavina scored the game-winning goal for Panathinaikos in the 83rd minute as they beat Xanthi Skoda 2-1. This is a good sign for Rukavina as he was subbed in at the 60 minute mark. It was a beautiful run that he made but boy was that ball close to hitting the post on its way in. Mario Galinović recorded the win as he played the entire game.
Spain
There's a Croatian striker in La Liga that we never talk about because he's never been capped by the national side, and his name is Mate Bilič. He's 28 years old and the only experience he has on the international level is playing 8 games for Croatia's U-21 team in 2000-2001 where he scored 4 goals. He currently plays for Sporting Gijon, who have just recently been promoted this season, where he is scoring goals left and right.
Bilić has scored 7 goals in the first 14 games of the season and is currently in the company of Lionel Messi, Kun Aguero, David Villa and Samuel Eto'o for La Liga goals this season. Just keep an eye out for him.
Mate scores (4') the first goal in the video in a 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid this past Saturday.
~Ante Kvartuč, reporting from his house in San Pedro
Here's highlights from the Hajduk game. Kalinić scored the first goal with a beautiful flick and then set up the game winner. There was a fight during the game in the stands between Torcida and Šibenik supporters. No serious injuries were reported, but nonetheless there was a scuffle.
"Croatian Championship" must be on the minds of many Dinamo players after going down 2-1 today to a superior Udinese.
Fabio Quagliarella got Udinese off to a great start by firing a right-footed shot into the bottom corner following a cross from the left by Antonio Di Natale.
The match was stopped in the 76th minute for 6 minutes because of the flairs thrown onto the pitch.
Since Spartak lost 2-1 at home to NEC, Dinamo, Spartak, and NEC are level with three points. The only way Dinamo advance is of NEC and Spartak both lose by 4 or more goals in their final match. Dinamo will have to sit and pray as today was their final UEFA Cup match.
When Dinamo Zagreb kicks off against Udinese at Stadio Friuli tomorrow at 18:00 local time, it will be in front of at least 1,700 hardcore Dinamo supporters. Večernji list has confirmed that all 1,700 tickets available to Dinamo have been sold, with the majority going to the Bad Blue Boys. Thousands more are expected to make the short 300 Km/3 hour trip across the boarder to Italy.
Italian media has reported that tickets were on sale all week and won't be available the day of the match. Also, a passport is required to enter the stadium.
I'm sure that security will be beefed up for this encounter. The Bad Blue Boys have been on the radar all over Europe the last few years or so. Hopefully, they will be respectful and the match goes "incident-free".
Index.hr has reported today that Real Betis has raised their offer from 5 to 6.5 million Euros for the rights to Croatian international Danijel Pranjić. Last summer, Real offered 5 million Euros and the rights to former Croatian international Marko Babić for the 27 year old former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder; which Heerenveen ultimately declined.
Personally, I would like to see Danijel suit up for Juventus. Going from Heerenveen to Betis isn't much of an upgrade. Marko Babić virtually disappeared after his 2007 transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Betis, appearing in only 10 games without registering on the score sheet.
We will keep you posted as this story further develops.
