[WC 2022 R16] JAPAN (1) Vs CROATIA (1)...CROATIA WINS 3-1 IN EXTRA TIME PKs

[King Futcha]

Oga mate, Japan be tappin' oh! And I almost did not watch this game, thinking it would be a walkover for you guys. World Cup sweet o!

yaaay we avoided Spain or Germany! life teaches us, be careful what you wish for.

[mate]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

[chopachop]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

Well you wanted Japan instead of Spain.
Croatia has no 9. It is going to be a hard day.

[joplass]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

There are certainly some young bucks on the Croatian bench who can replace them. The problem is that all "traditional" coaches like the experience of older players even if they are playing with their tongues watering the grass.

[mate]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

Well you wanted Japan instead of Spain.
Croatia has no 9. It is going to be a hard day.

We have not 1 competent forward. We're playing 2, where we should play 1 and bring in an extra attacking midfielder.

This is where coaching makes a difference. Dalic gets 95% right. But the last 5% we as fans can often see...and he went with 2 older players and 2 bad forwards.

As always, margins.

[mate]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

There are certainly some young bucks on the Croatian bench who can replace them. The problem is that all "traditional" coaches like the experience of older players even if they are playing with their tongues watering the grass.

Exactly. So many teams do this, especially us.

We have some REALLY good young guys like Majer, Sutalo, and Erlic.

Again, small deficiencies add up.

[joplass]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

Well you wanted Japan instead of Spain.
Croatia has no 9. It is going to be a hard day.

We have not 1 competent forward. We're playing 2, where we should play 1 and bring in an extra attacking midfielder.

This is where coaching makes a difference. Dalic gets 95% right. But the last 5% we as fans can often see...and he went with 2 older players and 2 bad forwards.

As always, margins.

Assuming old age caught up with Mario Mandžukić. That dude could create goals all by himself.

[joplass]

1-1

[mate]

I'm resorting to prayer.

1-1.

But I'm not confident.

[gosh]

Croatia equalizes from header...1:1

[joplass]

I think the coq will sing for Japan today.

[King Futcha]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

[theDunamis]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

I was expecting someone to call that out. And on cue...

[King Futcha]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

I was expecting someone to call that out. And on cue...

I wouldn't have but I remember before the tournament he was saying the team is not old now he is calling people old so I had to.

[scholl]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

Uh oh. Isn’t that name a Serb? Are you going to blame the Serb now? How did he end up playing for Croatia?

[felarey]

Croatia, the hardest team to beat at this WC.

[joplass]

I am actually working and watching this game but I took 10' to watch the game. When Japan loses the ball they chase Croatians all over but when Croatia loses the ball, Croatians just stroll around and don't put pressure the ball carrier.

[mate]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

I was expecting someone to call that out. And on cue...

I wouldn't have but I remember before the tournament he was saying the team is not old now he is calling people old so I had to.

Wrong. I was very specific who is and isn't old. 2 guys are older: Lovren and Perisic. They've up to now been a liability.

Otherwise it is fine. We have many young players starting: Juranovic, Gvardiol, Sosa, Barisic. Brozovic and Kovacic are in their prime.

Again, it comes down to small details...in this case the 2 I mentioned.

[felarey]

@mate, I'd give an arm and leg for Perisic, battle tested, hardened veteran soldier. Only focused on what he needs to do to get the job done. Not a youngin that likes foot races and artful football.

[King Futcha]

We're paying the price for ultimately for conservatism and loyalty to older players. Lovren and Perisic. should not be out there. We could have compensated for a lack of forwards...but even at that, we play tall lumbering Petkovic, who actually made the mistake that led to the Japanese goal.

Petkovic is 6'4. Instead of heading he plays with the feet and gives the Japanese forward a gift. But credit to Japan for ambition: they bombed the goal. Playing with nothing to lose. We're playing with nervous caution.

This is not 2018. The coach is to blame, as we still have a formidable set of players. At least go down with a better performance.

Japan will score another.

I was expecting someone to call that out. And on cue...

I wouldn't have but I remember before the tournament he was saying the team is not old now he is calling people old so I had to.

Wrong. I was very specific who is and isn't old. 2 guys are older: Lovren and Perisic. They've up to now been a liability.

Otherwise it is fine. We have many young players starting: Juranovic, Gvardiol, Sosa, Barisic. Brozovic and Kovacic are in their prime.

Again, it comes down to small details...in this case the 2 I mentioned.

let me not provide a distraction from your game but please, i do not misquote people.

It's funny because Croatia is not old.

[mate]

Margins.

Budimir misses point blank header just now.

He's just not good enough. Not tactics. Not coaching.

The guy is a league player. It showed in that moment.

[green4life]

I'm resorting to prayer.

1-1.

But I'm not confident.

Perisic and Lovren heard you loudly and clearly

[mate]

I'm resorting to prayer.

1-1.

But I'm not confident.

Perisic and Lovren heard you loudly and clearly

Lovren can suck it. Useless.