Luke Matthews


It seems that all football has a little soft spot for the Croatian national team. Ever since this ‘new’ footballing nation burst into action during the 1998 World Cup it has been difficult to ignore the talent and passion of players and supporters alike. The latest golden generation of Croatian football were unlucky to exit at the quarter-final stage of Euro 2008, yet the future still looks rosy. We all know about the likes of Luka Modric, Eduardo da Silva and Vedran Corluka; but who are the next generation? Who are the players that will join these young dazzling stars and continue to transform Croatia into a force to be reckoned with? Now Inside Futbol looks at five of Croatia’s brightest talents and discusses what the future may hold for these youngsters.

Milan Badelj – Midfielder – Dinamo Zagreb

Over the last two decades Croatia has produced a hatful of naturally gifted midfield maestros and Milan Badelj is no exception. The 20 year-old from Zagreb currently plays for the champions and is tipped to follow in the illustrious footsteps of Croatian midfield legends, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinecki. The creative playmaker has drawn comparisons with his predecessor Luka Modric and it is unsurprising to see why. Last season the six foot midfielder scored six goals for Dinamo and particularly impressed in the recently defunct UEFA Cup where he caught the eye of a number of European giants. Manchester United have recently enquired about the youngster seeing him as a possible replacement for the ageing Paul Scholes. However, refreshingly the centre-midfielder has denied these reports and stated that he will stay at Dinamo Zagreb until he has learnt his trade. Yet it remains to be seen how long Dinamo will be able to fight off interest for their playmaker, especially when Badelj moves up to the Croatian national team.


Nikola Kalinic – Striker – Hajduk Split

The youngster from Solin is being touted as the most talented Croatian player for a decade and after viewing the striker’s goalscoring record, it is not hard to see why. The 21 year-old has scored over 40 goals for Hajduk Split since breaking into the first-team two years ago. Kalinic’s impressive perfromances for club and at national youth level has resulted in the national team manager Slaven Bilic describing him as the ‘future of Croatian football.’ The number nine has so far failed to score in his first three appearances for the national team, however his record of 30 goals in 35 appearances at youth level highlights the goalscoring instinct that Nikola possesses. The young striker has been dubbed the ‘Croatian Ibrahimovic’ by the press because of the flair and skill he possesses combined with his calmness in front of goal. It is these qualities that have been attracting clubs worldwide and it is hard to see Kalinic entertaining the crowds at the Poljud Stadium next season. Rafael Benitez is a known admirer and sees him as ideal competition for Fernando Torres while Palermo believe he can follow in the big footsteps of Luca Toni and Amauri.


Domagoj Vida – Midfielder – NK Osijek

Domagoj is the first player on the list who does not play for the ‘big two’ of Croatian football, Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. However the 20 year-old, who plays for his hometown club, NK Osijek, is tipped for stardom. The number 19 currently plays in a defensive midfield role for both his club and the U-21s, and is seen as a possible replacement for the recently retired Niko Kovac. Domagoj has a long way to go before succeeding the legendary captain, but his ability is unquestionable. Domagoj has great passing ability, excellent positioning and doesn’t shy away from a tackle. Liverpool have declared an interest in the midfielder but he rejected talk of a possible move to the Premier League stating that he wanted to continue his development in his native country. This is certainly great news for the Croatian league but it seems inevitable that the youngster will move on in the near future with the Bundesliga now being talked about as a possible destination.

Anas Sharbini – Midfielder – NK Rijeka

Another midfielder on the list is Anas Sharbini who currently plays for NK Rijeka. The 22 year-old of Syrian descent is another playmaker and is rated as one of the most talented players in the Prva HNL. On appearance the number 10 looks suspiciously like the great Zvonimir Boban and the good news for Croatian fans is that the similarities do not end there. Like Boban the young creative midfielder is technically gifted, quick and has a brilliant eye for goal. Anas is also known for his leadership qualities which led to him being appointed club captain in 2007 at the tender age of 20. It seems that the talented playmaker is the complete package so it is surprising that he has not been snapped up by a bigger European club. Ajax, Celtic, Aston Villa and Hamburg have all been linked with the £3M rated midfielder, but as of yet a deal has not been concluded. However, Sharbini still has plenty of time on his side and it seems a bigger stage to showcase his dazzling ability is all that is needed to catapult the youngster to the international stardom that his talent so desires.

Mario Maloca – Defender – Hajduk Split

Mario Maloca follows in a long line of gifted Croatian defensive talent. The 20 year-old from Zagreb plays for Hajduk Split and has recently cemented his place at the heart of their defence. There has been talk in Croatia of the lack of up and coming defenders, but Maloca is surely an exception to these comments. The six foot two centre-back is a long way from the finished article, however if he lives up to his potential then a call up to the national squad is only round the corner. Maloca’s main strengths are his pace, eading and his ability to be paitent in the tackle, waiting for the right moment to pounce. The youngster can be prone to a lack of concentration but this will surely improve with experience. The best thing for Maloca would be to continue his development at Hajduk Split for at least another season, while bulking up is a must if he is to move to a more robust European league. Yet the raw talent is clearly there and Mario is certainly one for the future.
 

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