LET'S DO THIS!!!!!!

 

Russia will have a lot of material to go on by watching Denmark's second half performance BUT I think we will give them a harder time than Spain. The commentators picked up on it as well whenever Spain get the ball into wide areas they have no wide players who like to attack defenders and instead just play it back into the middle making it easy for Russia to defend. Can't remember who they played last year or maybe it was this year but they got absolutely shredded on the wings. I would keep the same starting XI and tell Perisic and Rebic to just be fearless out wide. Rebic doesn't need to be told actually he's been doing a fantastic job but I feel Perisic has been a little hesitant. **** that put the Russians on their asses.

2-0 Hrvatska

 

Perisic has definitely been hesitant when found in a 1-on-1 situation, despite that being his bread and butter. Makes me wonder if he’s not carrying some sort of injury?

 

5 days away, which will be a good rest for the boys. And also good for my nerves...yesterday I aged at least 5 years but it was worth it in the end )

This is the next game of this generation's lives...the tears of joy from Lovren and Vrsaljko after the game said it all how bad they all want keep this dream alive.

The crowd will be basically all rusky, and loud. Luka and Rakitic will need to settle things down, which no doubt they will do. And guys like Mandzo thrive under this type of atmosphere...


We'll be ready.

#weareCroatia! roud:

 

I feel more confident playing Russia than Denmark that's for sure. We struggle with those Scandinavians and that damn style they play with. Direct, counter, long balls and everything is a set piece, seriously what's with these people and making throw ins a legit set piece.
Add to the fact this team was under immense pressure to finally win a knockout game, I think they'll play with alot more ease. I hope they do.

We have this boys, just play your game.

 

I don't think the ruskies have anyone that can do these stupid long throw ins...that's two games we have faced it in a row, so if they do this also we'll be ready. )

The ruskies do have some 6 '6 (or so?) monster target man up front. He'll dwarf Vida and Lovren and knock everything down so our other guys need to be ready to follow the trailing men.

And Strinic was serviceable the first games but was absolute crap yesterday. That Paulsen hack used and abused him all game long. Any time Strinic tries to help in the attack he gets totally exposed. I don't know if the ruskies have anyone good out wide, but no doubt they'll target Strinic...

If Perisic has a good game we'll be fine. But apart from the one mishit in front of the net, he was invisible yesterday.

 

If Perisic has a good game we'll be fine. But apart from the one mishit in front of the net, he was invisible yesterday.

He doesn't look as the Perisic from 2014 WC. He lacks pace and willingness to go forward... and his technique with the ball yesterday was not quality, which is strange considering his abilities. I don't know if he's injured or simply doesn't have the same energy...

 

Not coming together for him in attack as yet but there's hope that it will & that will shift the team to another gear if that happens.

I also think that he's tracked back a lot more in this tournament than he usually does and that may affect his offensive game. Still had 6 shots today - maybe they'll starting going in soon.

 

 

:bowing:

 

Stigla prva dijagnoza: Kovačić

https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/svjet...usija-mateo-kovacic-ipak-lakse-ozlijedjen-ali-je-upitan-za-rusiju---522514.html

Premda se strahovalo od najgoreg, ozljeda ramena hrvatskog reprezentativca Matea Kovačića u susretu osmine finala protiv Danske ipak nije bila toliko teška.

"MR nije pokazao značajnije koštane ili tetivne ozljede ramenog zgloba," poručio je glasnogovornik Hrvatskog nogometnog saveza (HNS) Tomislav Pacak.

Dodao je kako se planira terapija i pošteda nekoliko dana nakon čega će se procijeniti konkurira li Kovačić za utakmicu Hrvatske i Rusije.

 

All I've been thinking about the last 24 hours has been this match.
We have such an incredible chance at this tournament now. We are favourites in this match and would only be slight underdogs in the semi's if we play England but not any of the other 3 (i'd like to avoid Sweden tho)
if there's one change I'd make it's to bring on Badelj for Brozović. Badelj I feel is better at man marking, whereas Broz is better at zonal defending. I think if we use him in this way, they will either bring another mid further forward, enabling us on the counter or concede possession of the mid to us.

 

Saw this game is in Sochi, that pitch is a disaster, cuts up easily and by the end of the URU-POR match players were slipping like crazy

 

A quarter final game at the WC? They better have that pitch in tip top shape. Wouldn't surprise me though if it's crappy on purpose though. The Ruskies doing everything to make it difficult for us.

 

I hope kovacic will be alright if the game is tight we need his energy...

 

Are Russia missing anyone due to suspension ?

 

No

 

Hi!

I have two tickets for sale onto the Saturday's match! In Hungary receivable. If you are intrested pm me.

My chief who is a lawyer would have gone onto the match however because of work cannot go out and would not like it if the ticket would be wasted. So now we are looking for somebody how want to go.

 

:err:

 

 

Sandro Meira Ricci - Brazil

WorldReferee.com - referee - Sandro Meira Ricci - stats

 

same Ref that gave us 2 yellows vs Nigeria (and them only 1)... and gee I wonder if Brasil would prefer Russia or Croatia to advance here?

 

Sorry to dent our hope to make it to the semis, but I have a very bad feeling about this match. Yes we are flying high at the moment, but Russia is literally flying, in one form or another:

https://thebiglead.com/2018/06/25/russia-world-cup-doping-suspension-distance-covered/

Just do a quick Google search on Russia doping at this World Cup, and your jaw will drop. FIFA is practically complicit.
(Sochi anyone? I mean, medals were taken away from their athletes afterwards?!)
I'm surprised this is not getting more attention in the press.

So ultimately, we face the bunker of all bunkers this Saturday in Russia, with their team having room left in the tank to go to penalties. AGAIN.

1) we cant break down a bunker even against weaker teams
2) we need to shake up our lineup against them if we have the smallest chance of making it.

No Brozovic or Mandzukic to start.

Karmaric MUST START, in my opinion. Maybe even Kovacic.


Kramaric - Rebic

Perisic - Modric - Rakitic - Kovacic

same back 4


And lastly, its the "Perisic Problem".

Seriously, what is going on there? He was subbed out for a reason against Denmark.. He was pretty awful!
Croatia can split open the opposition if he just rips that left side! he can do it all day!

I really feel we are playing at 25% less strength when he is not on his game . Please wake up Ivan , we need you!

just read this. gives me a glimmer of hope at least.

https://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/sp...8/perisic-moram-dati-vise-ja-se-prvi-slazem-jedva-cekamo-utakmicu-protiv-rusije

 

Explain why you think those guys need to start!

 

Ruskies better load up on roids now!

 

do you think they are not taking them ?

 

Wouldn't surprise me if shifty crap like that was going on. Dont trust Fifa at all. Expect refereeing decisions to heavily go their way. But look, we are a better team, if we play to the best of our abilities like we've shown then we can trounce them.

Let's see what happens before getting too worked up.

 

Perisic has had some confidence issues over the season. He's straightened a lot of it out over the last couple of months but he needs to know he can do it all day, like Maradona said. It would probably help if he focused on his biggest strength of cutting to the by-line and making crosses/cut-backs more than going into the middle himself and waiting for a pass as a makeshift striker (like he did many times in the Denmark match). If he wants to cut inside, he could use Strinic/Pivaric or Vrsaljko to help via the overlapping run.

 

Yeah I agree he's had some issues and I'm not sure if they are confidence or just a mental block...either way he hasn't been himself since last June. I've said this many times..."we go as Perisic goes" and I honestly believe that. If he gives us the extra we will need to succeed, then we can achieve our goal!

 

I think "mental block" is a better way to put it, yeah. At first it looked like burnout after he'd been on fire for so long but later it became clear.

 

I am not worried about the ruskies doping up, the fans behind them, etc...

We've been in tough do or die environments like the Ukraine and won...once you score the crowd is silenced...and the longer the game goes on with us in the lead or tied, the more pressure on the ruskies..

And as I know heading to no matter whom we play, Luka and Rakitic are going to be better than the oppositions midfielders...and they will bring calm and composure no matter how frantic and fast paced the ruskies try to come out of the gate.

This game depends all on us.

One thing that worries me though, I understand the cards earned in the quarters CAN carry into the semis???? So Mandzo, Rebic, Vrsaljko and Rakitic are at risk to miss the semis should we get through....


LETS DO THIS!

And never forget...

#weareCroatia roud:

 

100% agree with your point of view Ante !

AJMO HRVATSKA !

 

Mateo Kovačić trained fully with team and is available for match!


Lineup:

https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/svjet...vatski-sastav-za-rusiju-i-jedna-lijepa-vijest-za-izbornika-dalica---522907.html

 

I said months ago... actually couple of years ago... Russia will go deep because of doping and more so Putin's will. And if he is brazen enough to want it all and hoist the trophy he will make it happen. Ruskies are lying cheating dirty manipulators... and they have proven that over and over in the last decade. Hard to believe its all clean and that its an even playing field.

That aside... I am confident in our skills and abilities... confident in our chemistry and organization... confident in the will to fight... and mostly confident we can overcome.

 

I said months ago... actually couple of years ago... Russia will go deep because of doping and more so Putin's will. And if he is brazen enough to want it all and hoist the trophy he will make it happen. Ruskies are lying cheating dirty manipulators... and they have proven that over and over in the last decade. Hard to believe its all clean and that its an even playing field.

That aside... I am confident in our skills and abilities... confident in our chemistry and organization... confident in the will to fight... and mostly confident we can overcome.

Excuses out already. alm: btw, didn't Srna your former captain get busted for doping? Hopefully he meddled around with it during his later years otherwise that would mean that Croatia played with a doped up captain for years. I'd be disappointed if that were the case because I've always thought of him as a top player.

 

Weather forecast for the game with @ 75% humidity:

Odds seem to be about the same as when the match was set: