Ellada2004 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Can you imagine the angst the Croatians will feel if we hold them for say 30 minutes then an hour? I see them coming attacking us hard and hopefully we get a chance on the counter and we put a goal in on them. Another thing that works to our advantage is that Croatia before the Finland match thought they were going direct to Russia and now they squandered there opportunity and now have to play us. There are not to many Croatians happy with drawing Greece! Pressure is on them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgelaz Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 croatia is tough. and their group was really hard. yeah they had no superpower but iceland ukraine and turkey are all tough teams for just 1 group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzatziki Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Not a bad draw, if our defense plays the way it can we should be able to hold off Mandzukic, Rakitic and Mondric...jeez they have two of the best midfielders in the world though, these guys will need to marked like flies on poop if we wanna progress. Let's also hope Mitro is in shape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argy Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Zeca will mark one of them out of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhawk Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 The first game is they. We must not lose in Zagreb, and hope for one goal on counter attacks. Besides winning, a 1:1 tie would be an ideal result. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torontoblue Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Was the worst team of the 4 to get. I would have been happy with Italy instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antaeus7 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 The fixtures are in guys First leg - November 9 20:45 in Zagreb Second leg - November 12 21:45 in Piraeus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgelaz Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) 40 minutes ago, Torontoblue said: Was the worst team of the 4 to get. I would have been happy with Italy instead. no way. Italy has just as good of defense as us if not better, plus they actually have a midfield. if they were only able to get Icardi as a striker they would be world cup contenders. they've had a hole in striker position for a long time now besides Balotelli's flash in the pan. Croatia has a weak D and great attacking force. These kind of teams are our specialty. Probably the best draw besides Denmark. Still will be very tough. Way harder than Ukraine and Romania. I could even see this going into extra time. Edited October 17, 2017 by georgelaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limnos77 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 They are already underestimating us, like it's a foregone conclusion. Who's Greece?? let them underestimate us at their peril. Same sh*t came out of Bosnias mouth. http://www.sport24.gr/football/mundial/mundial-2018/mplazevits-gia-ethnikh-poia-ellada-na-toys-dialusoyme-mesa-sto-ghpedo.4895608.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paokara777 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 LOL who's Greece? Oh only the team that beat you to the top spot in the Euro 2012 qualifications undefeated 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneGreek Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 7 hours ago, J1078 said: Even though Croatia have bigger name players I also am glad we avoided the Swiss. We tend to typically play better against better offensive teams that have a weaker defence. Lets be honest We are going to park the bus and try and defend like hell and try to frustrate them and hope we can attack on the counter or off a set piece. This is the way we win... Everyone can call it "anti football" or Ugly boring soccer" I say who gives a s%$#! we are who we are. We have a solid back end and we need to use it to our advantage. We will do as such. The issue is if their midfielders like Modric, Rakitic and Perisic can get some space to create, Our defense could be easily exposed. Thats why we will look into keeping Zeca and Samaris/Tzolis(god help us) behind the ball, we can positon ourselves on some good counter attacks with Mitro, Donis and Fortounis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelbourneGreek Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 5 hours ago, Blackhawk said: The first game is they. We must not lose in Zagreb, and hope for one goal on counter attacks. Besides winning, a 1:1 tie would be an ideal result. The away goal will be really important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellada2004 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 7 hours ago, paokara777 said: LOL who's Greece? Oh only the team that beat you to the top spot in the Euro 2012 qualifications undefeated Akrivos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 I give us 50-50 chance. The same we would have against the Swiss, or the Danes. I didn't want Italy, they do what we do, but better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omonoia9 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Also, what do you think the chances are of moving this match into Athens so they can play at OAKA to have a bigger crowd? It's been done in the past, but I don't think it did much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paokara777 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 OAKA isn't as close and personal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausgreek Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 On 10/17/2017 at 1:29 PM, Ellada2004 said: What a relief! Ah, now we can all get some sleep! Go Tziol!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Tsamados Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 I'm quite happy with this draw. I'd place Croatia as the third strongest team we could have drawn. Italy strongest followed by the Swiss, Croatians and then weakest as Denmark. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausgreek Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 2 hours ago, Chris Tsamados said: I'm quite happy with this draw. I'd place Croatia as the third strongest team we could have drawn. Italy strongest followed by the Swiss, Croatians and then weakest as Denmark. Thank goodness it's not Faroe Islands. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzatziki Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 15 hours ago, Limnos77 said: They are already underestimating us, like it's a foregone conclusion. Who's Greece?? let them underestimate us at their peril. Same sh*t came out of Bosnias mouth. link Not all Croats share that sentiment: Σίμιτς: «Η Ελλάδα είναι ο χειρότερος δυνατός αντίπαλος» «Η Ελλάδα είναι πράγματι ο χειρότερος δυνατός αντίπαλος που θα μπορούσαμε να έχουμε. Είναι ένας δυσάρεστος αντίπαλος. Μπορεί η Ελλάδα στο ranking της FIFA να είναι σε πολύ χειρότερη θέση από την Κροατία, αλλά δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε ότι μιλάμε για μία ομάδα που ήταν πρωταθλήτρια Ευρώπης. Σύμφωνοι, σε ατομικό επίπεδο είναι ασθενέστεροι από εμάς. Αλλά είναι μια ομάδα που έχει χάρισμα. Από την άλλη πλευρά, είναι γεγονός ότι έχουμε μια από τις καλύτερες ομάδες στην Ευρώπη. Και πρέπει να κάνουμε ό,τι είναι απαραίτητο για να προκριθούμε στο Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο της Ρωσίας. Έχουμε χρόνο να προετοιμαστούμε κατάλληλα." "Greece is indeed the worst possible opponent we could have. He is an unpleasant opponent. Greece may be in a much worse position than Croatia, but we must not forget that we are talking about a team that was a champion of Europe. Agree, individually, they are weaker than us. But it is a group that has a charisma. On the other hand, it is a fact that we have one of the best teams in Europe. And we have to do what is necessary to qualify for the World Cup of Russia. We have time to prepare properly. " 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J1078 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 The majority of the Croatian fans and media are very happy they got Greece as they say they shouldn't have a problem scoring a minimum of 2 goals at home and 1 on the road which will force Greece to open up and then fall apart.. I'm glad they want to play us and I'm happy they are so confident.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antaeus7 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 v Croatia Games won: 2 Games drawn: 3 Games lost: 1 Date Match Result Score Competition 10 Nov 1996 Croatia v Greece D 1-1 FIFA World Cup 30 Apr 1997 Greece v Croatia L 0-1 FIFA World Cup 10 Mar 1999 Greece v Croatia W 3-2 International Friendly 25 Apr 2001 Croatia v Greece D 2-2 International Friendly 07 Sep 2010 Croatia v Greece D 0-0 UEFA European Championship 07 Oct 2011 Greece v Croatia W 2-0 UEFA European Championship 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockafeller Skank Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 They have been our Pelates come on don't f*ckin be scared. Good names bad team. That's who they are. 15 goals scored in their Group while we scored 17. Even if we consider Gibraltar far worse than Kosovo if we exclude those goals we still scored more. 9 over their 8.. This is the Second best draw after Denmark. Switzerland and Italy are far more decent and performing 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellada2004 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Croatia after the 1998 World Cup have had big name players but they always under achieve, we saw that in the last Euros. Just as they did in Euro 2012 qualifying when Greece went to Zagreb and stifled them 0-0 and then we dispatched them 2-0 in Athens. Will do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausgreek Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 C'mon Boythes, the Socceroos highly fancy themselves against Croatia. I think Tziolara and the Pirates won't be intimidated by them critters. They have the game to out-do the Crows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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