Why is Croatia, with a population of only 4 million, so good at Soccer?

I-news UK ^ | Jul 2018

[Alberta's Child]

Not much! That YouTube clip is a classic. Someone posted one with that Neymar guy rolling all over the world ... in traffic, past famous landmarks, etc. LOL.

[dfwgator]

I’d imagine the US and Mexico wouldn’t stand for it because they’d miss a lot of World Cups; many second-tier South American teams are (usually) better than them.

On the other hand it would be the kick in the butt the US needs to improve their program. Plus I think more games against South American giants would be good, rather than always having to play the minnows, like El Salvador.

[hanamizu]

That was a fun read...my church has a sister church in Split.

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A big part of downtown Split is the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s palace.

[dfwgator]

Any sport that doesn't allow you to use your hands is as un-American and you can get.

What???





I'll tell you what's "Un-American"....A three-hour football game with 300+ pound behemoths knocking the the snot out of each other, just to be decided in the end by some pip-squeak foreigner kicker coming on the field saying, "I gonna keeck a touchdown!"

[dfwgator]

Mexico can compete with any South American country.

Given the right coach, they should go much further in World Cups than they usually do.

[EdnaMode]

Heh. :D

[katana]

Why have the New Zealand All Blacks been a hundred year dynasty in International Rugby Union? It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

[dfwgator]

Why does Alabama, the 23rd most populated State, dominate college football (between Bama and Auburn)?

[dfwgator]

The former Yugoslavia was also very good in basketball, although I think it’s the Serbs who are better. But there have been good Croatian basketball players as well.

[dfwgator]

It would cap off a nice few months for Modric, a Champions League title with Real Madrid to go along with it.

[dfwgator]

When I see their colors, I think “Ustashi”. It’s as if Germany still had a swastika on their flag.

[alexander_busek]

A man who can make the perfect omlette can make nothing else.

Regards,

[higgmeister]

????? Is Soccer that game foreigners play where you want to commit seppuku after watching it for five minutes?

[CondoleezzaProtege]

LoL! I admit, I find America’s soccer isolationism endearing...the World Cup may be going on, engrossing the world, but here people just be minding their own business...and in L.A. of course the big news was about Lebron James joining the Lakers on a 158 million dollar contract. Oh, America...and our priorities...

[higgmeister]

I believe that is how we will ultimately win the world. All we have to do is toss a soccer ball across enemy lines and then mow them down when they try to sent it back.

[neverevergiveup]

In soccer, players often run 10-12 kilometers per game, much of it sprinting. There are no time outs, and only 3 substitutions allowed per game. It is a physical sport, and if you watched the athleticism you would be impressed. That doesn’t mean you have to like it, but it is definitely not the emasculation of men.

[neverevergiveup]

“But there have been good Croatian basketball players as well.”

Yep. Tony Kukoc who was part of the Bulls during their repeat three-peat years is one who comes to mind.

[Right Wing Assault]

They must not have smart phones there.

[Dutch Boy]

You may be right. If you are not distracted by a wide range of different sports, you can focus and become very good at the one or few that you do.

[kearnyirish2]

Yes, it got to a point where if he didn’t win the World Cup (and they’re already eliminated) he has to wear a bag on his head for the rest of his life.