CroatianSoccerReport.com invites you to join us @ Alpine Village this Wednesday for Croatia-Austria and Croatia-Slovakia(U-21) matches.
Croatia-Slovakia - U21-Qualifier @ 8:15AM
Croatia-Austria (Friendly) @ 11:15AM
Take advantage of the free cover and happy hour prices on quality German beer on tap.
Contact CSR at CroatianSoccerReport@gmail.com if you have any questions.
With Hajduk hopes of winning a Prva Liga title now in the dumps; a Croatian Cup win over hated rivals Dinamo Zagreb would be a nice consolation prize to end the season. Apparently Hajduk felt like letting this opportunity slip from their grasp as well.
The first leg of the Croatian Cup final was played at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb in front of 20,000 raging Dinamo fans. Torcida made the trip but had nothing to celebrate as Dinamo clobbered Hajduk 3-0. Mario Mandžukić started the scoring in the 13' as he chipped Danijel Subašić following a nice run to barely beat an offside call.
Shortly after, Hajduk completely fell apart giving Dinamo a penalty kick with an unnecessary shirt pull. Jurica Buljat was then given a straight red card in the 34th minute for swinging his arm back and popping Josip Tadić in the face. It only took Hajduk 11 more minutes to earn a second ejected player as Siniša Linić received a straight red for bringing down Mandžukić from the back. From what I heard in reports, it should have only been a yellow. It was a huge blow for Hajduk as halftime was only seconds away.
Mandžukić secured a late double and a 3-0 Dinamo win with a nice header from eight yards out to put the icing on the cake. Hajduk has completely gone on 'tilt' since the second round of games concluded in the Prva Liga. So what happened?
It finally looked to be a promising and exciting finish to the Prva Liga this season; and that's something we haven't grown accustomed to in the last couple years. Hajduk has completely tanked and even a return to the Poljud for the return leg on May 28th looks too much for the 'Bili' to overcome.
My take: Hajduk needs to keep its young talent this summer, regroup for next year and ultimately become the club they need to be once again. Because this is simply an embarrassing display right now from them.
The Mirror is reporting that Heerenveen's Croatian midfielder, Danijel Pranjić, will be making a summer transfer move to Anfield, home of English giants, Liverpool.
Liverpool and Pranjić's agent, Soren Lerby, have been in serious negotiations over a contract deal. The preliminary report is that Pranjić will make a move to Liverpool for £8million.
Pranjić has scored 32 goals in 128 appearances for Heerenveen since joining the club in 2005. He would certainly be replacing Xabi Alonso, who is moving to Juventus.
In CSR's most recent poll; we asked you who should be Croatia's current starting goalie with Pletikosa being benched for his club team, Spartak Moscow, in recent weeks.
Current French second division goalkeeper, Vedran Runje, won the battle by a reasonable margin taking in 35% of the votes. Runje is 33 years old and has only been capped by Croatia six times; most recently in a meaningless match for Croatia in Euro 2008 group play where he posted a shutout against Poland. Runje has single-handedly helped his club team, Lens, reach the French Ligue 1 for the 2009-10 season. He is currently at the top of his game and like a fine wine- only getting better with age.
Pletikosa has been the chief between the pipes for Croatia for the past 78 matches. He just recently turned 30 years old but has been slipping as of late. Stipe had one of the worst game's of his career against England this past September as he let four get by him- a few far, low shots he couldn't get down on. He has been benched at Spartak Moscow for the past three weeks and his form will be in question when he returns. 24% of the fans still believe in Pletikosa; but are his days as the Croatian #1 over?
The 32 year-old Panathinaikos keeper is coming off an incredible Champions League run and has gained much experience in the past year. Galinović has only been capped by Croatia twice since 1999. Even though he has been a permanent backup goalie for Croatia, 25% of voters think it is time for Mario to finally get his shot.
Australian born Joey Didulica is 31 years old and is currently playing backup for Dutch champs, AZ. Didulica had a short stint with the Croatian national team from 2004-06 in which he only played in four matches. He had a falling out with the club as he never received any playing time when promised so. 8% of the fans want Joey to suit up for the Ukraine game. I put Didulica in the poll just to give him some love. I never thought someone would actually vote for him.
The 24 year-old Hajduk Split keeper is clearly the future for Croatia. The process of becoming Croatia's #1 is already in the works and will only arrive faster should Subašić transfer to a larger European clubin the summer. He has already been called up for the the national squad as a backup. 8% of Prva Generacija want the 'young gun' between the posts for Ukraine. I say: Not yet grasshopper.
So with the Ukraine game one month away and Pletikosa still not playing in Russia, we (including coach Bilić) need to come up with a goalie scenario and a backup plan.
For those of you who voted, CSR most importantly wants to know WHY you voted for that particular goalkeeper. This will be the official 'Croatian goalie' post leading up to the battle in Zagreb against Ukraine in June.
A total of 71 members voted in this poll. Thank you Prva Generacija and all!
CroatianSoccerReport.com caught up with 33 year-old Croatian backup goalkeeper, Vedran Runje, earlier this week in Rovinj; and found out in shocking fashion that he has quit the Croatian national team after only being capped six times in the past three years.
Allegedly, Runje was extremely upset when coach Slaven Bilić named Hajduk goalie, Danijel Subašić, ahead of Runje on the depth chart. With Runje pushed to emergency keeper; he had a complete falling out with the entire coaching staff.
Runje stated that he has enjoyed putting everything he's had into being part of the 'Vatreni'. He loves all his teammates and will miss them dearly but this is purely professional. His current club, RC Lens, will be promoted to the French first division next season and Runje has made the decision to put all his time and energy into that squad.
Runje feels like a complete 'fool' as he was dealt a 'cheap shot' by Bilić. Thinking he was in contention for the first keeper spot with Pletikosa but instead being pushed behind rookie Danijel Subašić. It was simply embarrassing for Runje as he thought he 'deserved better' for all the time he put into the Croatian side.
Does Galinović fill his spot now? It would be a complete 'joke' if he didn't!
More news on the 'Runje Scandal' as it develops...
~Ante Kvartuč, reporting on a very sad day in Croatian soccer :(
Hajduk was in Gruda on Tuesday, a town 35 kilometers south of Dubrovnik, to train for their 1/8 finals HN Cup match with Treća Liga side Konavljanin on October 29th. Here's a few exclusive pictures I got my hands on from Hajduk's training session.
Young Hajduk players get stuck with returning a practice goal after a training session in Gruda. Notice that there is no net. The Prva Liga is sinking so quickly that not even Hajduk can get a proper training facility while on the road.
Hajduk players scrimmage with each other in preparation for what should be an easy win against Treća Liga Side, Konavljanin. Nikola Kalinić did not make the trip and will not play.
Hajduk goalie, Danijel Subašić, lies on his back after letting an easy ball get by him in practice.
Hajduk ends the practice session with a friendly game of handball (rukomet), which is also a very popular sport in Croatia.
Hajduk goalie, Danijel Subašić, climbs an old, rusty fence to get a ball that got jammed in it during the practice session. I can guarantee you that we would never see the likes of Edwin van der Sar or Gianluigi Buffon have to climb a rusty fence during practice. Where are the ball boys Hajduk? I'm sure 5 Kune an hour will do!
PHOTOS BY BRANIMIR KVARTUČ
