What's your 23? Goalkeepers: Pletikosa Runje Galinovic Defenders: Srna Simic Simunic R.Kovac Corluka Zivkovic Knezevic Midfielders: Babic N.Kovac Vukojevic Modric Vranjes J.Leko Kranjcar Pranjic Rakitic Attackers: Klasnic Olic Petric Budan
my 23 goalkeepers: pletikosa runje galinovic defenders: simic corluka simunic r.kovac pranjic knezevic vejic midfielders: modric kranjcar n.kovac srna rakitic vukojevic leko pokrivac fowards: petric olic budan klasnic kalinic
i'l go with pletikosa runje galinovic simic corluka simunic r.kovac knezevic vejic pranjic srna modric kranjcar n.kovac rakitic vukojevic leko babic petric olic budan klasnic kalinic do we have anyone who can play right midfield other than srna?
If I had to choose: Goalkeepers: Pletikosa Runje Galinović Defenders: Šimunić Šimić R. Kovač Bišćan Ćorluka Knežević Križanac Midfielders: Pranjić Kranjčar Modrić N.Kovač Rakitić Vukojević Srna Leko Forwards: Petrić Budan Olić Klasnić Kalinić
Yeah, they would effectively be playing as attacking midfielders (cutting into the middle) with Srna and Pranjić bombing forward on either flank. Jerko Leko can also play there but i don't think it's his strongest position.
I think in the future i can see us playing a 3232 formation due to our abundance of attacking midfielders and lack defenders something like :....................................a more attacking version ----------pletikosa----------- ----corluka--simunic--knezevic..............srna--corluka--simunic--pranjic srna--------------------pranjic.....OR....rakitic-vukojevic-modric-kranjcar ----------vukojevic-----------................--------dudu----petric-------- ----modric------kranjcar------ -------dudu---petric
The official squad has been announced. Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (FC Spartak Moskva), Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Mario Galinović (Panathinaikos FC). Defenders: Dario Šimić (AC Milan), Robert Kovač (BV Borussia Dortmund), Josip Šimunić (Hertha BSC Berlin), Vedran Ćorluka (Manchester City FC), Dario Knežević (AS Livorno Calcio), Hrvoje Vejić (FC Tom Tomsk). Midfielders: Niko Kovač (FC Salzburg), Jerko Leko (AS Monaco FC), Darijo Srna (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Niko Kranjčar (Portsmouth FC), Luka Modrić (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Danijel Pranjić (SC Heerenveen), Ivan Rakitić (FC Schalke 04), Ognjen Vukojević (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Nikola Pokrivač (AS Monaco FC). Forwards: Mladen Petrić (BV Borussia Dortmund), Ivica Olić (Hamburger SV), Ivan Klasnić (Werder Bremen), Igor Budan (Parma FC), Nikola Kalinić (HNK Hajduk Split). Reserves: Manuel Pamić (FC Salzburg), Anas Sharbini (HNK Rijeka). I'm really pleased to see Pokrivač and Kalinić recieve a call up as i'd had my doubts about Pokrivač particularly.
yea, I like seeing youth players in there, although Tomislav Ivic made a good point in that Krizanac was not called up, he's been an important player of the Zenith squad that is winning all the Russian titles and has recently beaten Bayern in the Eufa cup semis, so thats the only thing I can complain about
After seeing Krizanac play against Rangers i think he was defientely worthy of a place in the side, and from i hear has been playing well all season so it's a bit of a mystery as to why he hasn't been called up. Though i imagine his performances haven't gone unnoticed, especially with Dario Simic and Robert Kovac departing.
Come to think of it there is the possibility that Pokrivac could be used in defense as the squad progresses towards the WC2010.
you are right, pokrivac could fit in there as well but that is not his natural position so its tough to depend on him as starter there. Also the more i look at it the more I cant believe that vejic was called in instead of krizanac, krizanac is 2 years younger and plays at a better team, I just dont understand it, there must be something more there
It's a bit puzzling. About Potkrivac he's developing into a really solid defensive midfielder (Soldo ), but i was just thinking in terms of depth for the Croatian defense post Euro 2008 as it's the only area that can be considered a real weakness if you like. Plus Bilic has said that he's really a back up at left back at EURO 08' due to his experience playing there at NK Vartek.
he criticized bilic for looking at players in the hnl instead of him when he first started as coach..bilic took offense to this and said he would never call him as long as hes coach..last week they suposedly patched things up so i think there is a good chance he will be called up for worldcup qualifiers..
screw the qualifiers we need him now, he's coming off a high and the best season in his career, he's better in defense than vejic or pokrivac, and kovac and simic have been playing poorly so ...
Guys the team is set thats it, no reason to debate something that cannot be changed. That being said. WHat would you siggest our best starting lineups, will be?
Pletikosa Corluka R. Kovac Simunic Pranjic Srna N. Kovac Modric Kranjcar Olic Petric I think that's what Bilic is most likely to go for, i'd like to see Srna at RB but i don't think Bilic will risk Rakitic at RM to begin with.
that might be the lineup but im not so sure olic is going to start..i think there is a chance u might see budan start as he is a more of a natural striker then olic and quite frankly is a better player..
today it was Rakitic and Vukojevic who played and not Srna and Kranjcar. Why they were left out against Moldova? And why did Petric not play? What about Simic? Shouldn't he be in the starting XI? Or is Pranjic better?
This was the side that played against Moldova. Pletikosa, Ćorluka, R. Kovač (Vejić 46), Šimunić (Šimić 46), Pranjić, Modrić, N. Kovač (Pokrivač 59), Vukojević (Leko 73), Rakitić, Budan (Kalinić 62), Olić (Klasnić 46). To answer your question i imagine it was a combination of players being allowed to join the squad at a later date and wanting to try out a number of new players.
Because they played cup games for their clubs last week. Just resting. Had some back problems, but nothing serious, will be ready. Šimić is completely out of form because he played like three matches this season and he surely won't play against Austria. We'll run out an offensive team, with Šimunić moved from LB to CB and Pranjić as LB.
Klasnic played awfull against Moldova. i dont know why the press and the people in Croatia count on him. Klasnic couldnt score for national team last year when he was in form why the hell should he start scoring now when he's out of form. If i was Bilic i would rather call some talented but inexperienced striker form croatian league like Mandzukic or Rukavina. He should be our last option in attack,even behind Kalinic. Olic is a big surprise and he has shown that he can partialy replace Eduardo,now when he is better then ever. Budan altought didnt play very good against Moldova is a solid player,he is not fast but he is our strongest attacker phisicaly and can be very usefull. Pranjic is very good and deserved a place in starting 11. As for Rakitic,i dont see how to put him in the first team. the only way is to throw out one attacker but i dont like this,its too defensive. I think its between him and kranjcar but Bilic will probably stick with a team that played trough qualifications.
