Lokomotiva 1-3 Slaven
Varaždin 0-2 Rijeka
Dinamo 2-1 Osijek
Istra 0-2 Hajduk
Gorica 3-0 Rudeš
Nothing special, Dinamo came out on top in a pretty even match of the weekend.
16/36
1. Hajduk 16 21:9 36
2. Rijeka 15 28:12 31
3. Dinamo 14 28:14 27
4. Gorica 15 18:9 26
5. Osijek 16 31:25 22
6. Varaždin 15 18:20 17
7. Slaven 16 17:28 17
8. Lokomotiva 15 18:18 16
9. Istra 16 16:31 14
10. Rudeš 16 7:36 3
Postponed matches:
Lokomotiva - Dinamo - 23rd January
Gorica - Rijeka - 24th January
Dinamo - Varaždin
Matchday 17:
Friday
Istra - Varaždin 17:00
Saturday
Osijek - Rijeka 15:00
Hajduk - Gorica 17:30
Sunday
Rudeš - Lokomotiva 15:00
Slaven - Dinamo 17:00
Croatian Football Season 2023/24
Even though it was expected that no football club in the Croatian football league would reach 80 points this season, I still believe that Hajduk will achieve this feat and have around 80 points at the end of the season, ultimately becoming the champion. I think Rijeka and Dinamo will finish the season with approximately 70 points each.
Hajduk won 3:0, defeated the fourth-placed Gorica and won the title of autumn champion. 
Rijeka drew in Osijek, and Dinamo, which is currently at -12 points, plays today.
Rijeka drew in Osijek, and Dinamo, which is currently at -12 points, plays today.
A little break from chasing the ball on the fields and putting the focus onto the surrounding infrastructure.
It is well known that Croatia is by a several thousand light miles behind developed Europe and its stadium infrastructure, so any news promising upcoming changes and developments in that area are more than welcome. However, Croats are likely the world champions when it comes to talking. And that's what the people in charge basically did this whole time, words upon words, promises upon promises but no shovels or pickaxes had the chance to actually hit the ground. We had cca. 2600 renders of the new Maksimir stadium and as much as 1200 new Kantrida solutions in the last 30 years, but who was going to actually pay for all that?
There are just 4 new stadiums built that are worth mentioning since our independence in 1991:
-in Dugopolje (2009., capacity: 5.200, est. cost 10M €)
-in Pula (2010., capacity: 8.900, est. cost 6.5M € - actually this was more of an renovation, but still)
-in Rijeka (2015., capacity: 8.300, est. cost 24M €)
-in Osijek (2023., capacity: 13.000, est. cost 65M €)
One might also add the Kamen Ingrad Stadium in Velika, built in 1999 and having a capacity of 8.000, but that stadium practically died with its team, NK Kamen Ingrad.
But in the last week or so, there has been quite a number of discussions and presentations regarding new football infrastructure in our country. One will certainly be pleased and get his hopes up, while the other will just smile and add new items into the "not happening" archive. We will just have to wait for any actual work being started on these to see if we are indeed on a good track.
First one is coming from Koprivnica: https://podravski.hr/foto-sky-box-sjeda ... -nogometa/
8.125 seats, with some appropriate accompanying content (business areas, apartments, club building).
Kinda weird in my opinion, because I don't see the stadium in Koprivnica requiring that many seats to begin with. Slaven's home games have miserable attendances in the last couple of years, there were even games vs. Hajduk and Dinamo where the full capacity wasn't met. So there would have to be quite an renaissance of sorts where people of course have that initial fascination as it is with every new stadium, but try to extend it as far as possible. Koprivnica is, or at least was, a city where the number 1 sport was/is handball, courtesy of women's HC Podravka. Might make sense if our NT is going to play some games on it. Overall, a bit far-fetched IMO.
Next up on the agenda is Varaždin - no concrete renders or project propositions.
Basically there are talks about renovating the 90+ years old stadium. However, the president of NK Varaždin proposed the idea of building a new stadium with the capacity of 12-15 thousand seats. There was a picture somewhere where I could see how the stadium would look like (seats on all four sides connected with each other, with the roof covering all seats), but I can't for the life of me find that picture. This might remain in the realm of "just talk", I can't see Varaždin having a stadium looking that good, neither can I see the people in that city being that competent and able to build it.
Next up - Velika Gorica. https://hns.family/vijesti/27261/predsj ... og-saveza/
This whole complex will serve as the NT camp - something that was much yearned for for decades now. 4 playing fields, with one of them having a capacity of 1.500 seats. The estimated cost doesn't seem to be mentioned, but when the news were first being thrown around half a year ago, the reported sum was cca. 15M €, so I don't see it being much different.
And the icing on the cake - Rijeka. https://nk-rijeka.hr/pogledajte-fotogra ... -kantride/
Presented yesterday, leaving good first impressions, and most importantly, having a SERIOUS six company consortium which is heavily dedicated to push everything through. The whole complex is comprised of a stadium with a capacity of 12k (reportedly having an easy upgrade possibility to 18k), a 200 room 4*/5* hotel, three 35-story buildings and a garage parking complex sporting 1350 parking spots.
The estimated cost of all of this is a bit of an curio, becuase everything is valued at a bit over 100M €. This seems ridiculously low for a project of this scope, and the first reaction of people was that it was a mistake in writing and that only the stadium itself is valued at that price. Whatever the case may be, I think it's going to be way above 100M. One whole year is about to be spent acquiring all the necessary paperwork, and the construction start is envisioned somewhere in 2025. If everything goes well, I assume that Rijeka will have themselves a shiny new stadium, along with the neighbouring infrastructure, hopefully in 2028.
Add to all of this the new Maksimir stadium project, which naturally seems to be swept under the carpet just like its predecessors, and the Poljud renovation/new Poljud/whatever which is having its own silenzio stampa at the moment, giving indications that there's nothing going to be done with it for some time, and we got ourselves a nice little stadium boom. Maybe the league quality and our European game is going to be upped along with it. This is what we Croats do best after all, do little and dream big.
It is well known that Croatia is by a several thousand light miles behind developed Europe and its stadium infrastructure, so any news promising upcoming changes and developments in that area are more than welcome. However, Croats are likely the world champions when it comes to talking. And that's what the people in charge basically did this whole time, words upon words, promises upon promises but no shovels or pickaxes had the chance to actually hit the ground. We had cca. 2600 renders of the new Maksimir stadium and as much as 1200 new Kantrida solutions in the last 30 years, but who was going to actually pay for all that?
There are just 4 new stadiums built that are worth mentioning since our independence in 1991:
-in Dugopolje (2009., capacity: 5.200, est. cost 10M €)
-in Pula (2010., capacity: 8.900, est. cost 6.5M € - actually this was more of an renovation, but still)
-in Rijeka (2015., capacity: 8.300, est. cost 24M €)
-in Osijek (2023., capacity: 13.000, est. cost 65M €)
One might also add the Kamen Ingrad Stadium in Velika, built in 1999 and having a capacity of 8.000, but that stadium practically died with its team, NK Kamen Ingrad.
But in the last week or so, there has been quite a number of discussions and presentations regarding new football infrastructure in our country. One will certainly be pleased and get his hopes up, while the other will just smile and add new items into the "not happening" archive. We will just have to wait for any actual work being started on these to see if we are indeed on a good track.
First one is coming from Koprivnica: https://podravski.hr/foto-sky-box-sjeda ... -nogometa/
8.125 seats, with some appropriate accompanying content (business areas, apartments, club building).
Kinda weird in my opinion, because I don't see the stadium in Koprivnica requiring that many seats to begin with. Slaven's home games have miserable attendances in the last couple of years, there were even games vs. Hajduk and Dinamo where the full capacity wasn't met. So there would have to be quite an renaissance of sorts where people of course have that initial fascination as it is with every new stadium, but try to extend it as far as possible. Koprivnica is, or at least was, a city where the number 1 sport was/is handball, courtesy of women's HC Podravka. Might make sense if our NT is going to play some games on it. Overall, a bit far-fetched IMO.
Next up on the agenda is Varaždin - no concrete renders or project propositions.
Basically there are talks about renovating the 90+ years old stadium. However, the president of NK Varaždin proposed the idea of building a new stadium with the capacity of 12-15 thousand seats. There was a picture somewhere where I could see how the stadium would look like (seats on all four sides connected with each other, with the roof covering all seats), but I can't for the life of me find that picture. This might remain in the realm of "just talk", I can't see Varaždin having a stadium looking that good, neither can I see the people in that city being that competent and able to build it.
Next up - Velika Gorica. https://hns.family/vijesti/27261/predsj ... og-saveza/
This whole complex will serve as the NT camp - something that was much yearned for for decades now. 4 playing fields, with one of them having a capacity of 1.500 seats. The estimated cost doesn't seem to be mentioned, but when the news were first being thrown around half a year ago, the reported sum was cca. 15M €, so I don't see it being much different.
And the icing on the cake - Rijeka. https://nk-rijeka.hr/pogledajte-fotogra ... -kantride/
Presented yesterday, leaving good first impressions, and most importantly, having a SERIOUS six company consortium which is heavily dedicated to push everything through. The whole complex is comprised of a stadium with a capacity of 12k (reportedly having an easy upgrade possibility to 18k), a 200 room 4*/5* hotel, three 35-story buildings and a garage parking complex sporting 1350 parking spots.
The estimated cost of all of this is a bit of an curio, becuase everything is valued at a bit over 100M €. This seems ridiculously low for a project of this scope, and the first reaction of people was that it was a mistake in writing and that only the stadium itself is valued at that price. Whatever the case may be, I think it's going to be way above 100M. One whole year is about to be spent acquiring all the necessary paperwork, and the construction start is envisioned somewhere in 2025. If everything goes well, I assume that Rijeka will have themselves a shiny new stadium, along with the neighbouring infrastructure, hopefully in 2028.
Add to all of this the new Maksimir stadium project, which naturally seems to be swept under the carpet just like its predecessors, and the Poljud renovation/new Poljud/whatever which is having its own silenzio stampa at the moment, giving indications that there's nothing going to be done with it for some time, and we got ourselves a nice little stadium boom. Maybe the league quality and our European game is going to be upped along with it. This is what we Croats do best after all, do little and dream big.
Oh viens je t'en prie
C'est ton amie aussi
C'est l'élixir de mes délires
Je t'aime mélancolie
C'est ton amie aussi
C'est l'élixir de mes délires
Je t'aime mélancolie
You forgot new Kranjča!
Kantrida is not bad, but I much prefer the older design. What is this? Some wannabe Poljud with fancy lights?
Kantrida is not bad, but I much prefer the older design. What is this? Some wannabe Poljud with fancy lights?
UEFA - We care about money. Pravda za Kolubaru!
How bad and even the HNL is, this round spoke best, where 5 leading clubs played 1 3 1 in 5 games with clubs from the lower part of the table, only Dinamo beat the last Rudeš 1:O with great difficulty and a lot of luck. After half of the championship, the fourth place Gorica has 27 points, and the penultimate Istra has 18, only 9 points less. So, all clubs except the last one, Rudeš, still have a chance for Europe. 
1.Hajduk 18-40
2.Dinamo 16-33
3.Rijeka 17-32
4.Gorica 17-27
5.Osijek 18-24
6.Slaven 18-20
7.Lokomotiva 17-18
8.Varaždin 17-18
9.Istra 18-18
10.Rudeš 18-4
Only Hajduk and Dinamo have an average of over 2 points won per game, and only Rudeš did not win an average point per game.
1.Hajduk 18-40
2.Dinamo 16-33
3.Rijeka 17-32
4.Gorica 17-27
5.Osijek 18-24
6.Slaven 18-20
7.Lokomotiva 17-18
8.Varaždin 17-18
9.Istra 18-18
10.Rudeš 18-4
Only Hajduk and Dinamo have an average of over 2 points won per game, and only Rudeš did not win an average point per game.
Closing time!
It's Dinamo-Hajduk on Sunday to put an end on the first half of the season. Hajduk is already in panic mode, because they dropped 2 points against Lokomotiva, and if they lose to Dinamo, those poor euphoria balloons will be even closer to bursting. Luckily winter break is on so it's some much needed time for clubs to recuperate.
It's Dinamo-Hajduk on Sunday to put an end on the first half of the season. Hajduk is already in panic mode, because they dropped 2 points against Lokomotiva, and if they lose to Dinamo, those poor euphoria balloons will be even closer to bursting. Luckily winter break is on so it's some much needed time for clubs to recuperate.
Oh viens je t'en prie
C'est ton amie aussi
C'est l'élixir de mes délires
Je t'aime mélancolie
C'est ton amie aussi
C'est l'élixir de mes délires
Je t'aime mélancolie
Gorica 1-3 Varaždin
Lokomotiva 3-0 Istra
Rijeka 3-0 Rudeš
Osijek 4-1 Slaven
Dinamo 0-0 Hajduk
Hajduk secured the H2H against Dinamo already and confirmed the autumn title. Defensive play and neither side couldn't do much, Dinamo tried but nothing too special (aside from a handball goal). Overall, worst derby ever. The table goes as follows:
19/36
1. Hajduk 19 25:10 41
2. Rijeka 18 33:16 35
3. Dinamo 17 31:14 34
4. Osijek 19 37:28 27
5. Gorica 18 19:15 27
6. Lokomotiva 18 22:19 21
7. Varaždin 18 23:25 21
8. Slaven 19 22:36 20
9. Istra 19 18:34 18
10. Rudeš 19 7:40 4
Postponed matches:
Dinamo - Varaždin
Matchday 4:
Lokomotiva - Dinamo - 23rd January
Gorica - Rijeka - 24th January
Matchday 20:
26th - 28th January
Istra - Dinamo
Hajduk - Rijeka
Rudeš - Osijek
Gorica - Lokomotiva
Varaždin - Slaven
Lokomotiva 3-0 Istra
Rijeka 3-0 Rudeš
Osijek 4-1 Slaven
Dinamo 0-0 Hajduk
Hajduk secured the H2H against Dinamo already and confirmed the autumn title. Defensive play and neither side couldn't do much, Dinamo tried but nothing too special (aside from a handball goal). Overall, worst derby ever. The table goes as follows:
19/36
1. Hajduk 19 25:10 41
2. Rijeka 18 33:16 35
3. Dinamo 17 31:14 34
4. Osijek 19 37:28 27
5. Gorica 18 19:15 27
6. Lokomotiva 18 22:19 21
7. Varaždin 18 23:25 21
8. Slaven 19 22:36 20
9. Istra 19 18:34 18
10. Rudeš 19 7:40 4
Postponed matches:
Dinamo - Varaždin
Matchday 4:
Lokomotiva - Dinamo - 23rd January
Gorica - Rijeka - 24th January
Matchday 20:
26th - 28th January
Istra - Dinamo
Hajduk - Rijeka
Rudeš - Osijek
Gorica - Lokomotiva
Varaždin - Slaven
Lokomotiva-Dinamo 3-0
I don't know what to say.
For years, Lokomotiva was Dinamo's feeder club. In recent years, these relations have cooled considerably, but still Lokomotiva is a relatively easy match for Dinamo.
Even tonight, Dinamo was the better team on the field, with more chances and shots, but Lokomotiva killed Dinamo with two counter attacks.
Dinamo is lost, I have the impression that no one knows what they are doing. Neither the president nor the sports director nor the coach nor most of the players on the field. Everything is distracted and aimless. I fear a disaster against Betis, it could be Dinamo's two record defeats in European cups.
Table update:
19/36
1. Hajduk 19 25:10 41
2. Rijeka 18 33:16 35
3. Dinamo 18 31:17 34
4. Osijek 19 37:28 27
5. Gorica 18 19:15 27
6. Lokomotiva 19 25:19 24
7. Varaždin 18 23:25 21
8. Slaven 19 22:36 20
9. Istra 19 18:34 18
10. Rudeš 19 7:40 4
Tomorrow, Rijeka at Gorica, postponed match from matchday 4.
I don't know what to say.
For years, Lokomotiva was Dinamo's feeder club. In recent years, these relations have cooled considerably, but still Lokomotiva is a relatively easy match for Dinamo.
Even tonight, Dinamo was the better team on the field, with more chances and shots, but Lokomotiva killed Dinamo with two counter attacks.
Dinamo is lost, I have the impression that no one knows what they are doing. Neither the president nor the sports director nor the coach nor most of the players on the field. Everything is distracted and aimless. I fear a disaster against Betis, it could be Dinamo's two record defeats in European cups.
Table update:
19/36
1. Hajduk 19 25:10 41
2. Rijeka 18 33:16 35
3. Dinamo 18 31:17 34
4. Osijek 19 37:28 27
5. Gorica 18 19:15 27
6. Lokomotiva 19 25:19 24
7. Varaždin 18 23:25 21
8. Slaven 19 22:36 20
9. Istra 19 18:34 18
10. Rudeš 19 7:40 4
Tomorrow, Rijeka at Gorica, postponed match from matchday 4.
8 slova - HRVATSKA
This season looks like a huge "if not now, then when?" for Hajduk.
This action ended with the goal.
But, goal for Lokomotiva
But, goal for Lokomotiva
8 slova - HRVATSKA
So Loksa finally stopped gifting Dinamo points. 
UEFA - We care about money. Pravda za Kolubaru!
Dinamo 0-3 Lokomotiva
Gorica 2-3 Rijeka
Rijeka with a nice comeback at a horrible pitch, Dinamo I shall waste no comment on.
19/36
1. Hajduk 19 25:10 41
2. Rijeka 19 36:18 38
3. Dinamo 18 31:17 34
4. Osijek 19 37:28 27
5. Gorica 19 21:18 27
6. Lokomotiva 19 25:19 24
7. Varaždin 18 23:25 21
8. Slaven 19 22:36 20
9. Istra 19 18:34 18
10. Rudeš 19 7:40 4
Postponed matches:
Dinamo - Varaždin
Matchday 20:
Friday
Varaždin - Slaven 17:00
Saturday
Osijek - Rudeš 14:50
Istra - Dinamo 17:00
Sunday
Gorica - Lokomotiva 15:00
Hajduk - Rijeka 17:45
Gorica 2-3 Rijeka
Rijeka with a nice comeback at a horrible pitch, Dinamo I shall waste no comment on.
19/36
1. Hajduk 19 25:10 41
2. Rijeka 19 36:18 38
3. Dinamo 18 31:17 34
4. Osijek 19 37:28 27
5. Gorica 19 21:18 27
6. Lokomotiva 19 25:19 24
7. Varaždin 18 23:25 21
8. Slaven 19 22:36 20
9. Istra 19 18:34 18
10. Rudeš 19 7:40 4
Postponed matches:
Dinamo - Varaždin
Matchday 20:
Friday
Varaždin - Slaven 17:00
Saturday
Osijek - Rudeš 14:50
Istra - Dinamo 17:00
Sunday
Gorica - Lokomotiva 15:00
Hajduk - Rijeka 17:45