TheNewsGuru

Tag: croatia

  • Qatar 2022: Why Croatia lost to Argentina – Kat Stolica

    Qatar 2022: Why Croatia lost to Argentina – Kat Stolica

    Foremost Croatia football administrator, Kat Stolica has given reason why his country lost to Argentina  in the first semi-final of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

    TNG reports that Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.

    However, Stolica said he prefers that Argentina eventually wins the trophy so it will turn out that his team lost to the eventual winner.

    Stolica added that Morocco also has what it takes to win the trophy.

    “This is hard to watch. We went in already defeated. It feels like we played our final against Brazil. Argentina are not the better team in general but they are the better team on the day. We gave Messi too much respect and didn’t play our own game. Argentina capitalised on our weakness and put us to shame. It’s disappointing that we let the hype beat us before we started. My heart breaks for players like Modric that go out like this.

    “I hope Argentina win the finals so we lost to the winner, but my feelings are that Morocco will take out the trophy. Finally, watching my Hrvatska always causes palpitations and today was no different. Bad luck to our boys, I wish it were a different outcome. My heart is always with you Croatia. We are on the map. Now we are left to go about our day with a heavy heart. Long live Croatia!”

  • Qatar 2022: Messi’s brilliance sees Argentina through to World Cup final

    Qatar 2022: Messi’s brilliance sees Argentina through to World Cup final

    Brilliant performance by Lionel Messi on Tuesday night ensured that Argentina made it through to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Messi showed brilliance all through the game, scoring a penalty kick and assisting Julian Alvarez to put the semifinal encounter beyond Croatia.

    Alvarez himself produced a moment of brilliance in the match. Released by Messi on the halfway line, the young striker charges through the centre, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake.

    A couple of fortunate deflections ensured that he poked the ball home from close range.

    TNG reports Argentina is now set to meet either Morocco or France in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

  • World Cup: Brazil crash out of Qatar 2022

    World Cup: Brazil crash out of Qatar 2022

    Tournament favourites Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup on penalties as Croatia kept their nerve to edge through to the semi-finals.

    Croatia, beaten finalists four years ago, scored with all four of their spot-kicks as Rodrygo – taking his team’s first kick – was denied by the brilliant Dominik Livakovic and Marquinhos’ crucial fourth effort struck the post.

    As the ball hit the foot of the woodwork and bounced away, Croatia’s players sprinted to celebrate with their goalkeeper, while the Brazil team hit the turf, knowing their dream of a sixth crown had come to an end.

    After an engrossing 90 minutes, Tite’s men thought they have won it in extra time when Neymar scored a thumping effort to equal Brazil’s ‘official’ men’s goalscoring record.

    But substitute Bruno Petkovic had other ideas, stroking in a 116th-minute equaliser with Croatia’s first shot on target in the match to take the game to the nerve-shredding shootout.

    And it was the European side who emerged victorious once more, having done so by the same method against Japan in the last 16, to set up a semi-final meeting with the Netherlands or Argentina on Tuesday.

    BBC

  • Qatar 2022: Croatia cruise into quarter-finals after penalty shootout

    Qatar 2022: Croatia cruise into quarter-finals after penalty shootout

    Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero, saving three penalties in the shootout, as Croatia edged past Japan after a 1-1 draw to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

    Livakovic kept out the first two efforts before stopping Maya Yoshida’s kick, then Mario Pasalic converted the vital effort to take his side through.

    Zlatko Dalic’s side, beaten in the final by France four years ago, will face tournament favourites Brazil or South Korea in the next round on Friday.

    Japan were the livelier side and took a deserved lead two minutes before half-time when Celtic forward Daizen Maeda converted from Yoshida’s knock down.

    Croatia levelled in the second half courtesy of Ivan Perisic’s brilliant bullet header from Dejan Lovren’s cross, becoming his country’s all-time leading scorer at major tournaments with 10 goals.

    Neither side could find a breakthrough and the game ticked into the additional 30 minutes, with Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma’s spectacular strike pushed over by Livakovic.

    At the other end, Marko Livaja’s flicked header looked to be looping in, but Shuichi Gonda managed to gather and Lovro Majer dragged a shot in the 120th minute.

    The contest went to nerve-shredding penalties, where Livakovic emerged as the man to lead Croatia’s celebrations.

    BBC

  • Qatar 2022: Belgium out, Morocco, Croatia qualify for second round

    Qatar 2022: Belgium out, Morocco, Croatia qualify for second round

    The Atlas Lions of Morocco put up a good showing after defeating Canada by 2-1 in the last group F encounter played  today at the Al Thumama Stadium.

    The Moroccans topped a group which included two of the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.

    They become the second African country to secure second round passage after the Teranga Lions of Senegal did on Tuesday.

    Hakim Ziyech pounced on a loose ball after an howler from the goalie of Canada in the 4th minute of the encounter before Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the 23rd minute to double the North Africans lead.

    Meanwhile, Nayef Aguerd scored an own goal to give Canada a goal in the encounter.

    Canada bows out of the tournament after failing to record a victory, but will take some lessons away as they begin their long journey back home.

    However, two European power horse Belgium and Croatia settled for a 0-0 draw in the other group F encounter.

    Belgium needed an outright win to revive hopes of qualification while Croatia needed just a point to make it.

    In the end the 0-0 result favoured Croatia as they progress into the second round of the competition.

    Morocco and Croatia make it out of the group F.

    As for Morocco and Croatia they will now have to wait upon the final results of Group E to see who their opponents will be in the round of 16.

  • World Cup: Croatia send Canada out of Qatar 2022

    World Cup: Croatia send Canada out of Qatar 2022

    Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first ever World Cup goal, but it was not enough to stop them being knocked out of the tournament following a defeat by Croatia.

    Bayern Munich winger Davies’ second-minute opener gave Canada hope, but they ended up second best and have suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two group matches.

    In Group F’s earlier game, Morocco shocked world number two side Belgium 2-0 and are second in the standings, behind 2018 finalists Croatia.

    John Herdman’s outsiders scored from the game’s first attack after only 67 seconds courtesy of a towering header from Davies, who darted into the box and powerfully converted from Tajon Buchanan’s cross.

    Croatia, though, did not panic after falling behind and created numerous chances, with striker Andrej Kramaric seeing a goal ruled out for offside.

    But the former Leicester player then equalised with a first-time angled shot from Ivan Perisic’s pass, and Marko Livaja put them ahead with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.

    Kramaric was denied by Milan Borjan’s fine save in the second half, and at the other end, Dominik Livakovic acrobatically tipped over Jonathan David’s long-range curler.

    Hoffenheim frontman Kramaric got his second of the game by coolly converting into the far corner, and substitute Lovro Majer wrapped up the match by netting in injury time.

    BBC

  • Qatar 2022: Hakimi, Modric fire blanks as Morocco, Croatia settle for a goalless draw

    Qatar 2022: Hakimi, Modric fire blanks as Morocco, Croatia settle for a goalless draw

    After seeing Senegal lose 2-0 to the Netherlands on Monday in a group A  encounter, Denmark and Tunisia also ending it in a  draw,  another African country Morocco has also settled for a draw with Croatia in their opening game at the Mundial.

    In the early minute  of the encounter, Luka Modric of Croatia was seen pulling the strings but the effort failed to yield any meaningful result.

    On the 15th-minute mark, Hakim Ziyech cut in from the right but saw his shot blocked before Achraf Hakimi sent a teasing low cross into the arms of Croatia’s keeper Dominik Livakovic.

    Just before halftime Hakim Ziyech has a golden opportunity to open the scoring after Luka Modric is penalized around 20-yards out, but he sends his free-kick straight into the wall.

    Upon resumption of the second half both teams tried all they could but the two goalkeepers kept pulling great saves to deny attackers of opposing side a goal.

    Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric went close for Croatia. Noussair Mazraoui went close with a second-half header for Morocco but injured himself in the process and was subsequently stretchered off.

    It ended goalless at the the end of 90 minute plus added time in Qatar.

     

  • Euro 2020: Spain beat Croatia in extra time to reach quarter-finals

    Euro 2020: Spain beat Croatia in extra time to reach quarter-finals

    Spain reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 in dramatic fashion by beating Croatia in extra time after an eight-goal thriller.

    Luis Enrique’s side were rocked when Croatia substitutes Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic scored twice in the final five minutes to come back from 3-1 down and force extra time, but Spain rallied as the added 30 minutes produced yet more drama.

    Striker Alvaro Morata, who revealed before the match that his family have been threatened during the tournament as a result of his performances, silenced his critics when he thumped in Spain’s fourth goal in extra time in Copenhagen.

    The scoring did not end there as Mikel Oyarzabal added a fifth goal three minutes later to finally see off Croatia, who had fought bravely in this highly entertaining last-16 tie.

    In a hint of what was to come, 20 minutes into the game goalkeeper Unai Simon failed to control Pedri’s 49-yard back pass, presenting Croatia with the lead.

    That bizarre own goal sparked a response from Spain though, with Pablo Sarabia thumping in an equaliser, Cesar Azpilicueta heading in another and Ferran Torres making it 3-1.

    Spain looked comfortable and poised to cruise through but Croatia burst into action through their substitutes late on to force added time.

    The thrilling moments continued as Simon made up for his earlier error with a heroic stop from close range to deny Andrej Kramaric before Morata went up the other end to crucially put Spain ahead again.

    It was the most entertaining match of the tournament so far and three-time champions Spain will face the winner of France and Switzerland (kick-off 20:00 BST) in the quarter-finals.

  • Euro 2020: Perisic tests positive for COVID-19, out of Croatia vs Spain clash

    Croatia winger Ivan Perisic has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Monday’s Euro round of 16 clash with Spain.

    The Croatian Football Federation confirmed this in a statement released.

    The statement read: “During Saturday evening, Croatian Football Federation received the results of regular testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which showed that player Ivan Perišić has tested positive for novel coronavirus.

    “Medical staff isolated Ivan from the other members of the national team immediately and thoroughly informed epidemiological authorities about the situation, providing evidence of complying with all the necessary measures aimed at protection against the spread of coronavirus.

    “Perišić will spend 10 days in self-isolation and during that period will not participate in the matches of the Croatian national team.

    “All other players, staff and delegation members tested negative. The national team will be traveling from Pula on Sunday 27 June with a charter flight to Copenhagen, where it will play a Round of 16 match of the UEFA EURO 2020 against Spain on Monday.”

  • Euro 2020: I knew I had to score here – England matchwinner

    Euro 2020: I knew I had to score here – England matchwinner

    Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling was delighted to prove England’s matchwinner for their Euros victory over Croatia on Sunday.

    Sterling struck the only goal of the game for the 1-0 win.

    He later said, “It feels good to score. I always said if I played at Wembley at a major tournament I had to score and it’s great to finally do that.

    “There’s a lot of different reasons why I haven’t scored for my club and it’s totally irrelevant now. I’m here with England and I’m enjoying my football. That’s the most important thing.

    “Have I justified my selection? [after several seconds]…I’m trying.

    “It’s great to get off to a win and now we have other games to look forward to. It’s been a long season for me but I couldn’t wait to get here and get started with England. With England, I knew it would be a positive one.”