Exodus from Lokomotiva has started even before the season has ended. Four of the best players have already signed for other clubs. Three of those (Kastrati, Karacic, Jakic) signed with, shockingly, Dinamo, another one (Uzuni) with Ferencvaros. More transfers of good players will probably follow.
What an irony would be if they beat Osijek tomorrow and win the 2nd place.
Croatian Football Season 2019/2020
Osijek or Rijeka to finish second then, Lokomotiva can fuck right off.
Some more news;
-Zoran Mamić has been confirmed as the long-term solution on Dinamo's bench (on top of being the director of football as well). There have been rumours and alleged talks with some notable names - Matjaž Kek (responsible for Rijeka's success not so long ago) and Vahid Halilhodžić (spent some time in Dinamo and left a huge impact, but the relations with Mamić weren't that good), but to no avail. Dinamo's fans are far from pleased with this situation (they already organized a small rally/protest when Mamić was announced only as a short-term solution, so...). Seeing how Dinamo currently looks like, let's hope that the title race next season will be more interesting.
-The decision to play the remainder of the season behind closed doors was not met with enthusiasm in Osijek, as they are facing probably the biggest league match in their history, and had plans to accomodate quite a number of fans in Gradski Vrt - taking the imposed limits into hand, of course. People in Osijek are outraged with this decision, and when you look at it, it doesn't make much sense; football venues, even with the limited number of spectators are considered a no-go zone, but at the same time events like weddings and weekends in night clubs are not sanctioned at all, and there is clear evidence of people getting infected at these events. Did anyone get infected watching a HNL game at the stadium? Highly doubt it. Also, take note that this decision was made by HNS - our football association, not the Ministry of Health. Trying to help Lokomotiva much?
-Anyway, tomorrow, 21:05, Osijek v Lokomotiva & Rijeka v Istra. Que sera, sera...
Some more news;
-Zoran Mamić has been confirmed as the long-term solution on Dinamo's bench (on top of being the director of football as well). There have been rumours and alleged talks with some notable names - Matjaž Kek (responsible for Rijeka's success not so long ago) and Vahid Halilhodžić (spent some time in Dinamo and left a huge impact, but the relations with Mamić weren't that good), but to no avail. Dinamo's fans are far from pleased with this situation (they already organized a small rally/protest when Mamić was announced only as a short-term solution, so...). Seeing how Dinamo currently looks like, let's hope that the title race next season will be more interesting.
-The decision to play the remainder of the season behind closed doors was not met with enthusiasm in Osijek, as they are facing probably the biggest league match in their history, and had plans to accomodate quite a number of fans in Gradski Vrt - taking the imposed limits into hand, of course. People in Osijek are outraged with this decision, and when you look at it, it doesn't make much sense; football venues, even with the limited number of spectators are considered a no-go zone, but at the same time events like weddings and weekends in night clubs are not sanctioned at all, and there is clear evidence of people getting infected at these events. Did anyone get infected watching a HNL game at the stadium? Highly doubt it. Also, take note that this decision was made by HNS - our football association, not the Ministry of Health. Trying to help Lokomotiva much?
-Anyway, tomorrow, 21:05, Osijek v Lokomotiva & Rijeka v Istra. Que sera, sera...
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
No matter who finishes 2nd, they are the desired opponent for all of Plzen, Rapid Wien and PAOK in the CLQ2. Croatia having a 2nd team in CL Qualifiers is a fluke, this league is simply not good enough for that.
On the other hand, Plzen, Rapid and PAOK are far from titanic names that make my legs tremble in fear, and any/all of the unseeds could eliminate one/all of these, but that's a subject for another topic...
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
In one game, anyone in CL-Q2 can eliminate any given club. Even Lokomotiva with all their best players sold. But in EL-GS they'd stand no chance, so it's better that Osijek or Rijeka finish second.
Half time
Osijek-Lokomotiva 0:0
Rijeka-Istra 3:0
Quite a nervous match in Osijek (4 yellow cards so far, 2 in each team). Rijeka did their part of the bargain, and now both teams are chasing the win, I expect the match to fully open up in the second half. Osijek having better chances so far. Rijeka's Čolak is suddenly in contention for the top-scorer title, since he scored a hat-trick vs Istra. (Caktaš 20, Marić & Čolak 19).
Osijek-Lokomotiva 0:0
Rijeka-Istra 3:0
Quite a nervous match in Osijek (4 yellow cards so far, 2 in each team). Rijeka did their part of the bargain, and now both teams are chasing the win, I expect the match to fully open up in the second half. Osijek having better chances so far. Rijeka's Čolak is suddenly in contention for the top-scorer title, since he scored a hat-trick vs Istra. (Caktaš 20, Marić & Čolak 19).
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
Half time:
Rijeka - Istra 3-0
Osijek - Lokomotiva 0-0
Current standings:
2. Rijeka 64
-----------------
3. Osijek 63
4. Lokomotiva 63
Very disappointing football in Osijek, both teams seem paralyzed by the importance of the game. Only 45 minutes left, they will have to start letting their guard down because the waiting time is over.
Osijek fans are singing and chanting from outside of the stadium, but they are so loud that it's as if they're on the stands.
Rijeka - Istra 3-0
Osijek - Lokomotiva 0-0
Current standings:
2. Rijeka 64
-----------------
3. Osijek 63
4. Lokomotiva 63
Very disappointing football in Osijek, both teams seem paralyzed by the importance of the game. Only 45 minutes left, they will have to start letting their guard down because the waiting time is over.
Osijek fans are singing and chanting from outside of the stadium, but they are so loud that it's as if they're on the stands.
VAR corrects an awful decision of the assistant ref, goal for Lokomotiva !
Without VAR Lokomotiva would've been cheated out of a goal, and potentially of the second place. That wasn't offside in a million years, at least one meter onside the player was.
Osjek level.
I prefer Lokomotiva, but Osjiek would be OK too, just not Rijeka...
I prefer Lokomotiva, but Osjiek would be OK too, just not Rijeka...
All three on 20 now!
UEFA - We care about money. Pravda za Kolubaru!
Goal Maric! 1-1 in Osijek
Current standings for top goalscorer:
Maric 20 (Osijek)
Caktas 20 (Hajduk)
Colak 20 (Rijeka)
Colak scored 4 goals tonight for Rijeka. He and Maric can still take the lead.
Current standings for top goalscorer:
Maric 20 (Osijek)
Caktas 20 (Hajduk)
Colak 20 (Rijeka)
Colak scored 4 goals tonight for Rijeka. He and Maric can still take the lead.
Osjiek looked better, but Lokomotiva's GK was saving everything, and now Lokomotiva takes the lead again, 1-2 !
Last edited by subway14 on Sat Jul 25, 2020 23:03, edited 1 time in total.
So the one and only year that Croatia has a 2nd CLQ team, it is neither of the usual 2nds Rijeka and Hajduk, but Lokomotiva !