Should be a comfortable win. I'm talking about winning the whole Euros. Just crown us the champs already.

 

So being that we’re moving down leagues in UNL, we HAVE to finish 1st or 2nd in our group to advance, correct?

The Azeri’s might be the only ‘gimme’ here in terms of qualifiers. We can’t afford to sleep walk through this one and draw. Get a few goals on the board early and throw some subs in and roll to a comfortable victory. I don’t want that last second bullshit we usually do vs. teams below our level.


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If we somehow finish 3rd in the group we could possibly get a playoff chance through League A since most of those teams will qualify directly except maybe iceland

 

Just wondering about our RB and LB options with Vrsaljko and Pivaric out for the season and Strinic just coming back but not playing at Milan the obvious choice of course would be Jedvaj, but is Sosa or Barisic the first choice for LB. Does anyone else see Benkovic as a contender for this campaign yet, playing regular for Celtic and amongst the fans favourites now but obviously still qualifies for the U21 squad ?
Obviously this match should be the easiest but I ve got a feeling it will be tougher than we think! MY guess is 6-0!

 

Lovren is out for Azeribijan as well, I’d give Benkovic a go. He’s been good in scotland from everything I’ve read? I thinks Caleta-Car will play more Pongracic at Salzburg has been quite good from all reports. We have some cover there to be honest.


RB will be Jedvaj baring an injury there we really don’t have any cover. LB Sosa, Barisic, Bradaric or Leovac. Whomever is playing and playing well to be honest. I hope Sosa gets a run of games at Stuttgart.

 

Nikola Jurcevic is the new Azerbaijan manager

 

I think we'll see something like this:

Kalinić - Jedvaj, Barišić, Ćaleta-Car, Vida - Brozović, Rakitić - Perišić, Modrić, Rebić - Kramarić.

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Seems like the best we can do with the current injury and form situation

What is the status of Kalinić? I thought I read he was injured on the weekend


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Darijo Srna to return to NT duty to cover RB position with Vatreni missing Vrsaljko and top 2 LBs??




He has been playing regularly until the last few weeks at 14th place in Serie A club Cagliari from the island of Sardinia


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It's a good short term fill i guess with the opponents we have in March. I'd prefer to throw Bartolec into the fire for RB.

 

I'm with Ero H on this one. Prefer a young RB get a feel for the NT. Will probably see Jedvaj move to that position in all likelihood.

 

But man are we in trouble at that position, I'd have nothing against Darijo making a comeback and helping us these qualifiers.

 

Yep if that were to happen I wouldn't be against it either. Honestly, would be fun to watch him play for the NT again for a few games.

 

If we can’t beat Azerbaijan with Bartolec at RB we’re in trouble.

Leave Jedvaj at RB, Vida, Caleta-Car, Pongaric at CB and Bradaric/Barisic at LB. This backline should be enough for Azerbaijan and Hungary.

 

Probably, though we're missing Šime for the entire qualifiers.

 

darn. that Srna guy will own us single-handedly :scared:

 

We can try Rog at right back again

 

FWIW Jedvaj hasn’t played RB for Bayer since September, plays more frequently at CB and LB. Only 155 min at RB for the entire season at Bayer


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Call ups

VRATARI: Lovre Kalinić (Aston Villa), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo), Simon Sluga (Rijeka)

BRANIČI: Domagoj Vida (Bešiktaš), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Olympique Marseille), Antonio Milić (Anderlecht), Borna Barišić (Glasgow Rangers), Marin Leovac (Dinamo)

VEZNI: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Milan Badelj (Lazio), Marcelo Brozović (Inter), Marko Rog (Sevilla), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Filip Bradarić (Cagliari)

NAPADAČI: Ivan Perišić (Inter), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Rebić (Eintracht), Marko Pjaca (Fiorentina), Nikola Vlašić (CSKA Moskva), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg)

Predpozivi: Karlo Bartolec (Nordsjaelland), Bruno Petković (Dinamo), Marin Pongračić (RB Salzburg), Josip Posavec (Hajduk)

 

Overall no real surprises, Sluga has replaced Letica as the third goalkeeper for now while Leovac returns to the NT due to the lack of left backs, Mitrovic and Vrsaljko out injured. Pjaca and Rog still on the team despite lack of play (especially Pjaca). Other news from Dalic's first press this year:
- About Srna he basically in a nice/professional way said "thanks but no thanks." He wants to use young players and find a long term solution with the right back. The goal is the build a squad towards the European Championships and beyond. Vrsaljko will miss the entire qualifications
- Kalinic is out with a concussion but if healthy he is still the #1
- Petkovic is a type of forward that Croatia currently doesn't have and a decision will be made after Dinamo's matches against Benfica
- Lovren should be ready to play by the Hungary game (he is suspended for Azerbaijan)
- Drazen Ladic scouted the Austrian league closely last few weeks; Pongracic is the closest new candidate for the NT while they also looked at Barac from Rapid Wien. They are also more closely scouting the HNL for depth players

 

I wish we had a few new faces. Bradaric would be nice at LB

 

agree Bradaric would have been nice. Ante Rebic is now out of the 2 qualification matches due to injury which surely opens the door for Petkovic?

 

Great work HS ! :thumbsup:

 

Brekalo will almost certainly be a straight swap for Rebić on the right.

Have I missed something in recent weeks? When did Bradarić become a full-back?

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He’s a young LB on Hajduk.

I figure Petkovic will now get the call, fully deserves it.

 

Suho is thinking of Filip the MF at Cagliari (with Srna)
https://www.transfermarkt.com/filip-bradaric/profil/spieler/238486

Not Domagoj the LB from Hajduk
https://www.transfermarkt.com/domagoj-bradaric/profil/spieler/357796


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Suho is thinking of Filip the MF at Cagliari (with Srna)
https://www.transfermarkt.com/filip-bradaric/profil/spieler/238486

Not Domagoj the LB from Hajduk
https://www.transfermarkt.com/domagoj-bradaric/profil/spieler/357796

That is correct.

 

 

weird .... why not play Jedvaj (RB) and Bradaric (LB) in their natural position ... I can't see any sense playing Brekalo as a defender ... that's stupid :surprise:

 

Trying here lol
Nobody thinks we should give livakovic edge as croatian NT gk?
The 3-4 times i have seen him these last months he was a real boss, very confident very safe.

 

wow that really stinks! poor kid


but he never should've been called up in the first place... on the plus side Petković will in all likelihood get his spot on the roster now

 

Pjaca suffered another ACL injury. Season over. Guy can't catch a break.

 

:frown_ani:

That's now two major injuries...safe to say, he'll never be what he could have been....wish him a speedy recovery and all the best.