It’s the exact same situation we see with Slišković. First, Bičanić plays 40 minutes and puts up a mediocre performance during that stretch. Then Slišković comes off the bench, and suddenly people expect Ivan to step in for those remaining 20 minutes and make up for everything Damir missed over the previous 40. That’s a tall order... honestly, that’s just how our national team operates. One player has a disaster of a game, so you get scraps of playing time, and then you're expected to fix every single mistake they made during those limited minutes. Of course, that's nearly impossible, which usually means you'll be stuck fighting for scraps in the next game too.
George Robinson43 said:Gojun played the whole game on defense, holding down that crucial center position. What do you mean, 7 or 8 minutes? Vuković was playing against the Russians and completely blew three straight possessions. First he missed a wide-open shot, then he handed the ball right back to the Russian player twice.
You’re basically expecting a guy you treat like he’s the absolute bottom of the roster to step up and play perfectly during those measly five minutes he gets across six different games. Exactly. I mean, how could we expect anything else? The guy isn't even part of the rotation. He’s totally out of sync with the rest of the team, yet we expect him to suddenly prove why he was even called up during his tiny window of playtime. That’s just not how it works...
Domagoj Duvjak can be pretty stubborn at times, and he definitely has a tendency to force things when he shouldn't, but let’s be real: he is easily the best player on our national team. It’s even more frustrating because his game would be on a completely different level if we had some reliable perimeter shooters to space the floor for him. Right now, he’s basically having to manufacture every single shot attempt all by himself.
Carl Garcia22 said:Before the tournament started, who did you think should have been the first choice at left wing instead of Domagoj Bičanić?
I’ve always been an anti-fan of Damirov, both this year and during previous tournaments. You might think I’m just jumping on the bandwagon now, but that's not it... I was writing the exact same thing last year during the World Cup in Spain.
The roster is a total mess. Domagoj Bičanić is basically locked into that starting six until he retires; nobody’s touching that lineup as long as Goluža is calling the shots. Aside from Dom Duvnjak, we don't have a single player with the guts to take a shot when things get messy. Buntić is a disaster out there... honestly, the guy doesn't even seem to know how to make contact with an opponent. Vori spends way too much time just hanging around the crease; even Domagoj Balić back during the 2003 World Cup in Portugal wouldn't have been able to find him for a pass.
Matthew Taylor15 said:They’re going to sink a buzzer-beater in the semifinals to win the whole thing. 🙏
Generally speaking... their perimeter shooting is elite... from Hansen down to that guy with the dyed hair... against Denmark, we really need our wings to break open if we want a shot at this.
Sondergaard Sarup always plays his best against us. Honestly, he worries me more than Hansen does.
The officiating was a mess again today... they handed us a gift by calling a breakaway goal for Schlesinger's when it wasn't even there, plus a penalty on Duvnjak's drive that was totally soft. Meanwhile, they gifted the other side two penalties that were nowhere near legitimate, and then slapped us with two suspensions—one for Kopljar and one for Gojun—that didn't warrant it either... What a disaster.
boldfox88 said:How's Denmark looking? I haven't caught any of their games lately. Do we actually have a real shot here?
If everyone shows up and plays their hearts out, we have a chance. Based on how we played today, though, we wouldn't stand a prayer—they wouldn't even let us claw our way back after trailing 14-11. I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping our perimeter shooting stays hot.
Carl Garcia22 said:I don't know why people were talking down on him earlier; the guy was our absolute clutch performer today. Every single one of those four goals came right when we needed them most—whether we were playing shorthanded or facing intense pressure. Plus, he was perfect from the field.
He played great. If he can pull off a performance like that against Denmark, I'll be a happy man.
Congrats to the team. Our 15th semifinal appearance is officially in the books.
I really wish Drago would get more minutes today... what's the point of having the most experienced player on the roster if you're only giving him scraps of playing time? In my opinion, the coach’s approach is borderline disrespectful. It feels like just another version of how they handled Ivano Balić, though maybe this looks slightly more humane since he actually gets a few seconds on the court every now and then.
There’s no reason to be nervous today. We've got this win in the bag. The Polish squad is basically built out of bricks; they just can't seem to find any rhythm when it counts. They were hot yesterday... But they won't be finding that same magic today.
Goluža claims they spotted some mistakes during the game against France. Honestly, I’d love to see him walk us through those tactical adjustments if we actually end up facing them in the finals.
Personally, I prefer Slišković over Bičanić, but there’s been a clear hierarchy in our national team regarding playing time for quite a while now. Don't expect Slišković to just step in and take Bičanić's spot anytime soon—at least not while Goluža is coaching. Likewise, Horvat isn't going to see more minutes at the expense of Čupić. I respect Vori, but I've never been a fan of pivots with his specific style. I think lighter, more agile pivots work much better; they offer more creative ways to get the ball inside and find it easier to draw those 7-meter penalties. We really should have looked at resting Duvnjak alongside Karačić... we could have tested that during this tournament against the weaker teams if he had been called up.
Čupić is just a placeholder player. That’s all. We saw it clearly today during that 7m shot against Omeyer. If it had been Džomba, he would have practically handed Omeyer the win on a silver platter with a smile on his face, but not him... Čupić just fires it straight at his feet. Omeyer didn't even flinch.
On another note, Duvnjak really let me down today... He plays so brilliantly, and then out of nowhere, he makes those two massive mistakes right when the game is on the line. I can't believe it. I'm a huge fan of his, but you just can't hand an opponent a comeback opportunity like that.
Goluža is to blame here... the guy is a total amateur. It's his lack of ball control that killed us.
Jonathan Barnes5 said:I think you're off base here. I respect that you follow the sport closely, but most fans over here only really tune in for the national team or maybe a deep playoff run. For example, back when Pere was in Ciudad, Olafur was playing more of the same position, and Ivano just wasn't hitting his stride while he was with Portland. He did have one killer season, though. Back then, we didn't even have a reliable goalie. Nowadays, we don't have two wing players at a world-class level, and Cupko is clearly struggling with his form lately. People here always seem ready to underestimate the competition and what other teams actually bring to the table.
Hmm... But aren't Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry having great seasons over in Milwaukee right now? Kevin Durant and Mus? Not really... especially Mus, whose offensive impact is basically capped at one goal per game. Patrick Mahomes, Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis... you can't honestly say Anthony Davis is playing poorly in Charlotte based on the stats. He consistently puts up 3, 4, or 5 points a game.
We need to look closer at Klay Thompson. The kid has a lethal shot, but he doesn't play like a team player at all—he’s totally out of sync with any meaningful tactical plays. He just does his own thing, and his shooting looks raw and unrefined.
Betty Anderson65 said:Well, it is what it is. The guys really gave it their all and left everything on the floor. They just needed to capitalize on those Frenchman mistakes the way we made our own. Also, Musa gets a bit too wild out there; he needs to dial it back. Playing like that just leads to unnecessary penalties.
It’s not just "what it is." There is an interesting thought I once came across: The only principle that does not inhibit progress is anything goes. We absolutely have to criticize today's performance. Why just shrug our shoulders?... Based on pure individual talent and how well our players perform in their professional clubs, we should be walking away with gold every other tournament—not settling for bronze, but aiming for gold.
It’s honestly embarrassing. France just gave us another masterclass on how to protect a lead. Goluža is struggling out there; Onesta has had to school him more times than I can count. We took everything we did right in the first half and completely threw it away during the second. Kopljar was absolutely dominant in the first half, but suddenly, he just forgot how to shoot in the second. As for Bićanić, he really doesn't belong on this national roster. And Čupić... what an amateur. He looks most convincing when he's playing pretend as the second center, or when he's just sprinting down the line with the ball like a kid who has no plan and zero vision.
We had two golden opportunities to pull ahead, and we blew both of them. First, Domagoj Duvnjak lost control of the ball, and then he picked up a two-minute penalty that let the Frenchmen back into the game... all because of our own unforced errors. Our defense just isn't holding up. We aren't feeding the wings enough, either. By the end of the half, we were just settling for outside shots instead of moving the ball.