Poland v. Croatia [R] [Friendly]

[Football_Jack]

I believe that Croatia will win, what do you guys think? Last time I post Korea vs Noway, many people said they think it would be draw, but I trust myself so I bet Korea won, I turned out that I lost money, therefore I would like to ask for opinion before I bet this time.

I totally agree about the passage below, except I don’t think Poland would have the ability to win Croatia even though they would try their best to win in order to boost confidence,
(Croatia:
Pros:
-First place in the qualifier.
-Take friendly games serious, came back from behind twice in the last game against Iran.
- Good attack force, 3 games 9 goals
Poland:
Pro: Bad recent form, this is the last chance before WC to boost confidence.
Con: Last 5 games 2W 3L, win against Saudi Arabia and Faroe Islands.)
quoted from www.e8plus.com

This time it is 74% people support Croatia from the fixture and from the statistics there, I can see Croatia won 7 times in 10 matches of the 2006 world cup Qualifier and they have 21 goal score over those 10 matches. Therefore I have so much confidence that Croatia will Win, I am going to bet more this time in order earn the money from the last time I lost.

What do you guys think? Do you agree with me?

[EHB1]

A draw would be my bet........

[mich20]

Croatia [0 - 1] Poland

54' [0 - 1] E. Smolarek


Croatia didn't play with their best lineup available, but still fielded a very strong squad while Poland played for 60 minutes with their best lineup available (but in a defensive formation)... The result doesn't mean much but what is the most important, Poland played a lot better than against Colombia, and team's morale surely is boosted... Fans also should forget about the weak match against Colombia. Against Croatia we were faster, better organised and had few mistakes in the defense. Boruc played 90mins so he should be the first choice goalkeeper for the tournament.


squads:

Poland: Boruc; Baszczyński, Jop, Bąk, Żewłakow; Smolarek, Radomski, Sobolewski, Szymkowiak, Krzynówek; Żurawski.
Croatia: Butina; Simunic, R. Kovac, Simic, Vranjes; Modric, Srna, Olic, Babic; Klasnic, Kranjcar


Our formation was 4-5-1 on paper but while we were attacking it was more like 4-3-3 with Krzynowek and Smolarek as wingers. It is very possible that we will play like this against stronger teams (Germany), while against Ecuador and Costa Rica we should use the regular 4-4-2 formation...

[zagorje_do_meksika]

With yesterdays performance by a team that is tipped to pass their group, I'm very disappointed. With that level of play, Poland should be extremly lucky if they finish 2nd in the group.

[FFan]

With yesterdays performance by a team that is tipped to pass their group, I'm very disappointed. With that level of play, Poland should be extremly lucky if they finish 2nd in the group.

So I must say Croatia will be 3 and out since they cannot beat such team:rolleyes:

[zagorje_do_meksika]

Your opinion..

I considered Poland to pass the group, even finishing 1st in the group. But now, when finally seeing them in action, I must say I'm very disappointed with you, us, the game itself..

While we could bring out several excuses for our team (team that will never again play with those players in the squad), your, on other hand, was full strenght (correct me if I'm wrong here), played on neutral field and played extremly defensivly, on counter-strikes,and yet, manage to score thankfully to our defense (which has, from one of best in qualifying campaigne, became questionable in friendlies,basicly giving assists to oposition strikers).

Still, I'll be cheering for Poland in this group 'cause you were and still are my favourite team in group A. But it will not be so easy.

[Smoga]

I don't understand why the Croats are such a sore losers. The lost fair and square, the goal was not due do any controversial refereeing call (in fact it was Zurawski who should have been give a penalty in the 10th minute), and Poland outsmarted them tactically. It's a friendly for fs sake! You play them, among other things, to try out different players, different tactics, different formations. Poland used this particular friendly to try out this particular defensive formation, and it worked against what many have said was supposedly a superior team.

Too bad that Croatia couldn't play some of their best players, I wish them well, and don't think that they will have much trouble getting out of the group. However, they do not match up well against Brazil, but should win the other two games IMO.

[mich20]

With yesterdays performance by a team that is tipped to pass their group, I'm very disappointed. With that level of play, Poland should be extremly lucky if they finish 2nd in the group.

You should say the same thing about Croatia. Well your team played with 6-7 players from the starting lineup, while we had 10 players from the first lineup... You should worry about your team, if with 3-4 subs they lose against such a "low level of play team". What if some of the croatian players pick up injuries during the tournament? You should be disappointed with the performance of your team, because those 3-4 subs are still among the best 23 players of your country...


your, on other hand, was full strenght (correct me if I'm wrong here), played on neutral field and played extremly defensivly, on counter-strikes,and yet, manage to score thankfully to our defense

well, the goals usually are scored thankfully to the mistakes of opponents defense so I don't get your point:) I don't think we should worry about the fact that Smolarek who is only 172cm scored a header, this game is about being able to turn opponents mistakes into goals. Remember that we should have had a penalty in the 1st half, but it was a friendly anyway so who cares...

I wish your team all the best too, as I'm going to cheer for them to win the group, but I wish you also none of the first choice guys get injured, if the team loses so much quality when being without 3-4 first choice players...

[deyna199]

this game was used simply as a way to test a new formation we have never used before (4-5-1). We usually play with a 4-4-2 and if we did that we would of played a lot more attractive; but we probably wont be able to play with such a formation if we get past the group stages so we had to test it out against a quality side. In the end its just a friendly, not too worried about it........


anyways good luck against brazil..............

[zagorje_do_meksika]

My impression was that Poland wanted to keep their net clean 'cause testing such a defensive formation few days before the WC doesn't sound logical to me. I would realize if teams Poland faces in the group are strong but they aren't..

It might just be that this tactic was necessary after defeat by Colombia (still can't belive you lose that match.. and would like to see that 80meters goal, it's something you don't see every day :D ) to boost morale and self-confidence.

Anyway, good luck and successfull WC (but less successfull then ours, of course :D )

Cheers

[milicz]

My impression was that Poland wanted to keep their net clean 'cause testing such a defensive formation few days before the WC doesn't sound logical to me. I would realize if teams Poland faces in the group are strong but they aren't..

It might just be that this tactic was necessary after defeat by Colombia (still can't belive you lose that match.. and would like to see that 80meters goal, it's something you don't see every day :D ) to boost morale and self-confidence.

Anyway, good luck and successfull WC (but less successfull then ours, of course :D )

Cheers

Poland treated you as a Germany warm up. The point was to disrupt you in the midfield and then attack with quick counters. It worked to a point, but Szymkowiak played to poorly.

[mich20]

I get the impression that Szymkowiak wants to be too creative all the time... Instead of just pass the ball to the wing from time to time, he always tries to make a pass that will create a goal chance, and it usually ends unsuccesful... For example

[zagorje_do_meksika]

Poland treated you as a Germany warm up.

Hey, no needs for bad names.. We ain't that bad team :D

[fh 1]

I must follow zagorje_do_meksika. Yes, we were horrible but i know, we can do better, much better (hopefully at WC very soon to be seen), but if this is best what Poland can show, then I'm very doubtful cancerning their chances for tournament.

Though, I'll also cheer for our slavic brothers, good luck :) .

[Tylko_Arka Gdynia]

I must follow zagorje_do_meksika. Yes, we were horrible but i know, we can do better, much better (hopefully at WC very soon to be seen), but if this is best what Poland can show, then I'm very doubtful cancerning their chances for tournament.

Though, I'll also cheer for our slavic brothers, good luck :) .

Slav love...lol

we can play better dont worry, we played in a 4-5-1 like the 1st time ever so thats why we are happy we always play 4-4-2

good luck also.. u guys beat brazil while we beat germany..lol

[trzy]

I was extremely disappointed with Croatia, I thought they were decent team but in fact they are worse than Poland:eek: , well didnt know that, now I know.

Good luck against Brazil, Japan and Australia, you will need it:D .

[zagorje_do_meksika]

u guys beat brazil while we beat germany..lol

Amen to that!