Croatia Team Reaches Semi-Finals in World Cup Again

The Croatian national football team got the attention of the world with their performance in the World Cup. After their performance in the semi-finals, Novak Djokovic congratulated them. The number one tennis player in the world was one among the many who left congratulatory messages for the Croatian team.

Novak congratulated the team for having a great run in the current World Cup. Indeed, they surprised the world by reaching the semi-finals. They then bowed out from the tournament by losing to Argentina in the semi-finals. However, their performances that led to the semi-finals were commendable, to say the least. Of course, there had been scintillating moments as well, for instance, Domagoj Vida. Though he boasts of earning many caps for his country, this 33-year-old has also been bold in many instances. In the last world cup, he was part of the team that reached the finals. This year however he spent most of his time as a substitute player who was used sparingly. Read more “Croatia Team Reaches Semi-Finals in World Cup Again”

CROATIA READY FOR EURO CUP

After a couple of months apart and playing for their respective clubs, the Croatian players are all set to meet towards the end of this month and start their preparations for their upcoming Euro Cup qualifying matches.

As things stand for Croatia in their Euro Cup qualifying group right now, they are down at no. 4. The beginning of their campaign was pretty good as they had managed to topple Azerbaijan by a margin of 2 goals to 1, but then they couldn’t continue that momentum in the next game against Hungary and were beaten by the same margin to slip down a couple of places in the standings. Read more “CROATIA READY FOR EURO CUP”

PERISIC’S PRIME DESERVE TO BE SPENT AWAY FROM INTER

Inter Milan forward Ivan Perisic, despite playing for one of the most exciting young teams ever witnessed in German football, most times ended up at the peripheral side of activities.


His 42 match appearances in the two year stint he spent under the tutelage of current Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp – amidst stars like IkayGundogan, NuriSahin and Shinji Kagawa – was mostly doctored by substitute appearances

The Borussen won one Bundesliga and a DFB Pokal and all along the aforementioned stars were more involved than the Croatia international.

This was a player who was crowned the Belgian League’s player of the season in 2011 and managed to bag in 31 goals throughout his stay. Dortmund was supposed to be a higher platform on which he could showcase his value most importantly since the then coach took a special likeningto youths over experience. Unfortunately for him, he couldn’t get much of the action. Read more “PERISIC’S PRIME DESERVE TO BE SPENT AWAY FROM INTER”

PRIME MINISTER ASKS FANS TO BEHAVE IN WC QUALIFIER

The Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovichas begged the football fans of the national team to be of best behaviourswhen they play Ukraine in a crucial World Cup qualifying game.


Croatia are billed to play Ukraine on Friday during the international break. Plenkovic wants them to avoid previous unruly showings when they host their opponents.

Croatia fans caused trouble when the national team played Turkey and Iceland in games last year. There are also claims of racism and various forms of disorder. These earned them a stadium ban from FIFA. A hospitable setting during the game against Ukraine is important for them to be allowed in subsequent games as this is the first time they are allowed into a home game since the ban.

The Prime Minister asked that State resources be employed to ensure a trouble-free match.

“We must all take responsibility so that everything passes in order,” Plenkovic said. Read more “PRIME MINISTER ASKS FANS TO BEHAVE IN WC QUALIFIER”

SRNA NOT KEEN ON BARCELONA OFFER

Claims by El Mundo Deportivo, a Spanish daily, has alleged that Darijo Srna is yet to make up his mind on whether to leave Donjeck and move on to Barcelona or continue with his current club.


The reason for this is that at Barcelona, Srna would be making a lot less money, than he is currently making at Donjeck.

However, Srna is yet to say no because this could be his last chance to feature for a top La Liga team like Barcelona before he retires from active football.

The 34 year old is one of the top names on the Catalonia club list as Luis Enrique hopes to find an experienced right winger to boost competition within the team.

Another reason is that Enrique wants to be able to let loose Alex Vidal, who was unable to find his place in Camp Nou.

However, the offer sent by Barcelona to the former captain of the Croatian national football team has not been quite generous, thus creating a lot of doubts for the defender. Read more “SRNA NOT KEEN ON BARCELONA OFFER”

Ronaldo should win the Ballond’or

Former Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has stated that Cristiano Ronaldo should win this year’s Ballon d’Or. He believes that the Portuguese forward has been the most consistent player and rightly deserve to win the award this year.


Fabio Cannavaro who is currently working as a coach in China said that Cristiano Ronaldo is the player that should win the award. Although he has failed to score goals in recent games, he said that the jury should take into account what he has achieved during the whole of the year.

Fabio Cannavaro said that Carlo Ancelotti was right when he said that having Cristiano Ronaldo in the team is akin to starting a game with a 1-0 lead. The former defender stated that Ronaldo is not only a dangerous player for the opposing team, he is also a good inspiration for his teammates.

Fabio Cannavaro has also praised the influence Zinedine Zidane has had on Cristiano Ronaldo. He said that Zidane was a successful player and that it is a good thing that he is coaching Real Madrid. He believes that the French manager has done exceptionally well at Real Madrid and he has been wise in his decisions. Read more “Ronaldo should win the Ballond’or”

MODRIC APPOINTED NEW CROATIA CAPTAIN

Real Madrid play maker Luka Modric has been named the captain of Croatia, following the retirement of veteran Darijo Srna.


Modric was picked out by coach Ante Cacic to lead the team as preparation for the World Cup gets underway this week.

Modric would lead the team when they take on Turkey on September 5. The 30-year old was in action when Croatia played at the Euro 2016. He does not lack admirers, but he said he would prefer to end his career with his current club. The former Tottenham Hotspur player moved to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2012. He has won two Champions League titles, but was yet to win the domestic trophy.

“I am not interested in anyone but real. I am too happy at Real. Probably there are some others asking about me, but I don’t want to know, I don’t care. My mission is at Real as long as Real want me,” Modric told Sportske Novosti.

Barcelona has exerted their dominance in Spain, winning the La Liga regularly, though Atletico Madrid lifted the title in the 2013/14 season. Last term, Real Madrid finished second, a point below Barcelona. Modric said it was time they changed that, hinting at the possible priority of the team this season. Read more “MODRIC APPOINTED NEW CROATIA CAPTAIN”

NAPOLI IN RACE TO SIGN CROATIAN STAR

Serie A outfit, Napoli are in the race to sign young Croatian star player Marko Pjaca, according to reports in Italy.

The talented 21-year old was in impressive form during the Euro 2016 tournament in France before they were knocked out by Portugal. A host of clubs are in the race to sign the player but the Italian giant are reportedly ahead of Liverpool and other clubs that are desperate for the signature of the player.

Pjaca was easily of the identifiable stars of the future in the Croatian make up lead by Ante Cacic. Aside Liverpool, The Red Devils have been linked with a move to England. Inter Milan and Juventus are believed to have made contact with Dynamo Zagbreb for the player. Inter made a bid of £12.6 million but Juventus improved on the offer with a £14.2 million. Reports from Express claim Napoli have embarrassed the young player by doubling offers for him with a bid of £29.3 million alongside his team mate Marko Rog. Read more “NAPOLI IN RACE TO SIGN CROATIAN STAR”

Croatia Puts Up Valiant Efforts Against Portugal

Croatia, along with other teams is in the focus due to the euro 2016 tournament that is ongoing right now.

If you have seen the recent match that was played between Croatia and Portugal you will realize that the match had been a difficult one for both teams. Indeed, Croatia definitely puts up a formidable performance in the match. It was only at the end that they could not save themselves from the goal that Ricardo scored for Portugal and secured victory for his team.

You might have seen the game, the way the teams played and how the last minute victory exhausted all the efforts that Croatia put in to keep up their team at the winning edge. The tie position that Croatia was with Portugal was thus changed in favor of Portugal. However, for those who witnessed the game, they will realize that Croatia played brilliantly, against their formidable opponent and made it difficult for the team to score goals. That is after all what determines the level of playing on a team and not how many goals are scored or given away by a team.
Read more “Croatia Puts Up Valiant Efforts Against Portugal”

DINAMO ZAGREB CHARGED WITH TAX EVASION BY ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICE IN CROATIA

Anti-corruption police team in Croatia has charged the club officials with tax evasion according to latest reports.

Croatia’s anti-corruption police claimed they had charged three current and former senior officials from football team Dinamo Zagreb with tax evasion and siphoning off profits from player transfers.


The USKOK police force said the actions had cost the State 12.2 million Kuna ($1.84 million) in unpaid taxes and taken 116 million Kuna from the club. The three – as well as a tax official charged with helping tax evasion – were identified only by their initials in the online statement, in line with usual police practice. But state television said they were former Dinamo chief executive Zdravko Mamic; his brother Zoran Mamic who is current Dinamo coach; and Damir Vrbanovic, a former Dinamo executive and the current top official of the Croatian football federation HNS.

The accused were all briefly arrested last year during investigations into the same charges and all denied any wrong-doing at the time. None were immediately available for comments. Zdravko Mamic resigned his position in Dinamo in February this year saying he wanted to secure a stable future for the club. He again insisted he was not guilty of the charges before him. Read more “DINAMO ZAGREB CHARGED WITH TAX EVASION BY ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICE IN CROATIA”