The Official 16/17 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Ya I get that... but I think what the original persons point was that... Croatia has a lot of fantastic players who are key role players on the best clubs around the world, but disappoint at the national level. Croatia is under performing as a nation. Croatia would be dismantled by Real Madrid , of course.

I think you concluded your own confusion on that one. Role players.

[White Out 403]

Modric isn't a role player, he's a key starter and probably the 3rd best player on RM. He isn't a role player like the term is used in hockey. I can see how my post may have been confusing, but I didn't mean it in the traditional hockey sense

[SuperMatt18]

Modric and Rakitic are world class, and Mandzukic, Perisic, and Pjaca are good pieces but it's not like they are stacked at every position.

Personally I wouldn't call winning a tough group in Euro 2016 and then losing to eventual champion Portugal in extra time underperforming.

They are undefeated in the current World Cup qualifying campaign, lead their group, and have qualified for the last 3 major tournaments so it's not like they are failing to qualify and losing to lesser teams.

It's just really tough to win a major international tournament.

Since 1994 only 7 teams have won a World Cup or Euro Cup: Germany, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. Only three other countries have been in a finals (Czech Republic, Netherlands, Argentina).

So in 12 different tournaments you've only had 10 different finalists fill the 24 available spots.

The only one of those teams that I would say Croatia is clearly better than is the Cinderella Greece team that lucked their way to Euro 2004.

[White Out 403]

I get all that.I just really want to see Croatia win a tourney for my Dad. Id take a Croatian world cup or euro over a Stanley Cup for the Jets no contest.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Modric isn't a role player, he's a key starter and probably the 3rd best player on RM. He isn't a role player like the term is used in hockey. I can see how my post may have been confusing, but I didn't mean it in the traditional hockey sense

I'd actually say Modric is the second best player on RM, but arguably the most important.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Modric and Rakitic are world class, and Mandzukic, Perisic, and Pjaca are good pieces but it's not like they are stacked at every position.

Personally I wouldn't call winning a tough group in Euro 2016 and then losing to eventual champion Portugal in extra time underperforming.

They are undefeated in the current World Cup qualifying campaign, lead their group, and have qualified for the last 3 major tournaments so it's not like they are failing to qualify and losing to lesser teams.

It's just really tough to win a major international tournament.

Since 1994 only 7 teams have won a World Cup or Euro Cup: Germany, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal. Only three other countries have been in a finals (Czech Republic, Netherlands, Argentina).

So in 12 different tournaments you've only had 10 different finalists fill the 24 available spots.

The only one of those teams that I would say Croatia is clearly better than is the Cinderella Greece team that lucked their way to Euro 2004.

+ Kovacic too. I'd love him at United.

[GirlySports]

2012 was bad luck drawing both Spain and Italy in the group.

2014 was a disaster though. Croatia should beat Mexico 10 times out of 10.

[d_phaneuf]

Ugh Hugo

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Modric isn't a role player, he's a key starter and probably the 3rd best player on RM. He isn't a role player like the term is used in hockey. I can see how my post may have been confusing, but I didn't mean it in the traditional hockey sense

Sorry, you missed my point but I may have obfuscated it a little bit as well and thats my fault.

What I more or less meant to say was that when you've got a team like RM and a Croatian is a key cog in the Engine Room thats fantastic, but they dont have 10-20 players just like him.

Modric is the key to a well-oiled machine. But hes not someone that you can really build around.

He'll win the ball, and move the ball and even score occasionally, but hes part of a machine and unfortunately the other parts of that machine (Croatian NT) arent nearly as good as he is.

Lets put it this way: Ronaldo is amazing. Portugal is largely garbage. But if they can just keep the ball out of their own net he'll usually haul them along.

Thats not Modric. His supporting cast at RM is amazing, not so much with Croatia.

Thats pretty much the difference.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by d_phaneuf

Ugh Hugo

It's just to make sure he stays at Spurs next year!

[d_phaneuf]

Someone other than Hart needs a chance as number 1

Those were savable free kicks

[devo22]

Forster is better anyway, I can't believe he still hasn't been made number 1.

Forster for a couple of years, then Pickford when he's ready.

[browna]

Scotland gonna be Scotland. In disguise or otherwise.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by devo22

Forster is better anyway, I can't believe he still hasn't been made number 1.

Forster for a couple of years, then Pickford when he's ready.

I hope for their sakes they don't rush Pickford, anointing him the "next one" too soon. The English media has a great track record of building guys up to publicly tear them down.

[White Out 403]

Typical Croatian choke job. They can go back to their club teams now and earn their millions.

[devo22]

AC Milan have announced that Gianluigi Donnarumma will definitely not sign a new contract (current one runs another year).

Raiola strikes again.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

AC Milan have announced that Gianluigi Donnarumma will definitely not sign a new contract (current one runs another year).

Raiola strikes again.

That man should just be the head of FIFA, if you're any good he owns you.

[devo22]

So Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of tax evasion, and this has apparently "outraged" him so much that he's told Real that he wants to leave.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is "sad" and "upset" after being accused of tax fraud and wants to leave the club, a source close to the player has told the BBC. Spanish prosecutors have accused Ronaldo, 32, of defrauding the authorities of millions of euros in tax. "He feels he's honest, has good character and did everything OK, so he doesn't understand," added the source. "He's very sad and really upset."

Real Madrid later released a statement saying they had "full confidence" in their player, and that they were convinced he would prove his innocence. The source added: "He doesn't want to stay in Spain. At this moment he wants to leave."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40302296

This is hilarious. "I think it's time to leave Spain. This has nothing to do with my tax evasion case. By the way I'm totally innocent."

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

So Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of tax evasion, and this has apparently "outraged" him so much that he's told Real that he wants to leave.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40302296

This is hilarious. "I think it's time to leave Spain. This has nothing to do with my tax evasion case. By the way I'm totally innocent."

Its funny because its intensely childish.

"If I leave Spain they cant touch me! It'll be like I was never here!"

They're going to charge him with tax fraud and, if its just like what Messi did then hes probably guilty. It'll cost him some money. I understand that money is something that he has.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its funny because its intensely childish.

"If I leave Spain they cant touch me! It'll be like I was never here!"

They're going to charge him with tax fraud and, if its just like what Messi did then hes probably guilty. It'll cost him some money. I understand that money is something that he has.

at the end of the day, this will be nothing more than an attempt to get a better contract from Real to cover at least part of the tax bill that he'll have to face. He'll get a slap on the wrist from the authorities and then that's that. But the dramatic reaction is just so Ronaldo.