Ammo for vengeance

Every England Player should pin this to there bedroom wall to be reminded of past mistakes, but also to give them the ammunition to prove themselves:

"Vedran Corluka has added several strongly worded insults to England’s wounded pride by accusing Steve McClaren’s side of unbelievable arrogance towards their conquerors at Wembley. The Manchester City defender made no attempt to disguise his pleasure in knocking England out of the tournament in a series of inflammatory comments that will not be well received by Micah Richards, his teammate.

Corluka feels that Croatia have not received the credit they deserve for winning group E, despite beating England home and away. The 21-year-old was particularly unhappy at the arrest of Zorislav Srebric, the secretary general of the Croatian FA, at Gatwick on Tuesday on suspicion of shoplifting after allegedly leaving WH Smith without paying for stationery and newspapers.

“England got just what they deserved because they were unbelievably arrogant,” Corluka said. “I don’t know what Croatia have done to deserve being treated like this by the England players. I cannot believe they didn’t recognise our ability. We came to Wembley as the first team in the group and were not treated correctly. They even arrested our president at the airport and I didn’t expect that in England. We’ve shown again that we’re a better team than England and it’s a real pleasure to kick them out of the European Championship.”

Mladen Petric, who scored the third Croatia goal, echoed Corluka’s complaints by saying that he refused to swap his shirt with any of his opponents as none of them were worthy. “It’s the most valuable goal of my career and the best one I’ve ever scored,” the Borussia Dortmund striker said. “I wouldn’t swap my kit with any English player because I want to save it for myself. No English kit is worth as much as this"

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If I walked into a W H Smiths, picked up several newspapers and stationery and didnt pay for them, I would expect to be arrested! Last time I checked, Diplomatic immunity doesnt extend to the Croation FA. Im not quite sure how this makes England "arrogant" or the Croatians mistreated.

For a man who plies his trade in England, these comments are pretty hard hitting, considering some of his team mates at Man City have the misfortune of being English.

Personally, Im very glad to have drawn this lot again, as there is a great opportunity here to even the score quickly

Funny. When Booby Moore was arrested for shoplifting before the 1970 world cup, it was the dirty South Americans framing a good honest Englishman, just to upset the team before the tournement. Yet, when the English do the same to the Croatians, they are dirty filthy theiving foreigners, who should be grateful that they were let into England in the first place, and, if they had any manners, they'd have let the English win, just as England did in Croatia.

You English.

Some selected quotes from the English camp before the game last Wednesday:

Rio Ferdinand:

Asked if England should have secured a berth in the finals by now, Ferdinand told talkSPORT: "Of course we should. Not one of the players would tell you any different.

"On paper, we should have qualified from this group a lot sooner than we have done and a lot easier than we have done.

"Football is not always as easy as that. Everyone loves the game of football as it's so unpredictable.

"Things are thrown up in to the air and you have to deal with it."

and then

"Get behind the team and hopefully we'll do the job - and then you can start analysing and dissecting the team on the way to the tournament."

Steven Gerrard:

"It's important we get crosses into the box early because Peter thrives on good deliveries," the England captain said.

"We can cause Croatia lots of problems with aerial balls into the box. We are confident we can win the game. We need to start really quickly, with a high tempo and let Croatia know we want this bad."

and a few days earlier he remarked

"I'm all for there being a rule change to make sure we continue to have one of the best national teams."

Steve McClaren:

McClaren, whose England side face Austria in a friendly on Friday, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I fully expect us to have qualified for the campaign.

"The first six to eight months were very difficult, the last seven we've made great progress and the performances have been very good, and everyone's seen the progress made.

"Look at the last six months - the squad and the team have come together playing in a good style."

I think some of these comments at least appear very arrogant, Ferdinand speaking as though England were already through and talking of the hard work to come on the way to the finals (though Ferdinand is confused at the best of times, and so its unfair to be too harsh); Gerrard suggesting England have one of the best national teams; and McClaren also expecting qualification whilst arguing England have actually improved recently. Added to this you have the rumours that a few of the English players were out just a day before the Croatia game urinating on nightclub floors and pleading for sex. And then the actual performance of a lot of the players, which performances (and not only in the Croatia game) appeared to lack effort and a willingness to play for the team rather than to play as individuals.

As for Petrics comments, you could even argue that they show a degree of respect for England - Croatia became the first team to beat England home and away in a qualifying competition, the result was obviously a big one, and so its natural that he should want to keep his own shirt after a memorable performance. Disregarding the fact that it was England at Wembley, the performance was still a good one that ended a very successful qualifying campaign, and so again, its understandable that his own shirt has some value to him. And even to disregard this, why should anyone want the shirt of some England player on any occasion?

Merry ChristBash-machkin wrote:

Rio Ferdinand:

Asked if England should have secured a berth in the finals by now, Ferdinand told talkSPORT: "Of course we should. Not one of the players would tell you any different.

"On paper, we should have qualified from this group a lot sooner than we have done and a lot easier than we have done.

"Football is not always as easy as that. Everyone loves the game of football as it's so unpredictable.

"Things are thrown up in to the air and you have to deal with it."

Yes, fairly arrogant. Though he did go onto say we expect a very tough game vs Croatia.

Merry ChristBash-machkin wrote:
and then

"Get behind the team and hopefully we'll do the job - and then
you can start analysing and dissecting the team on the way to the tournament."

For me it's quite clear what he means there.

I don't think they were arrogant at all. Just a bit naive.

Johninho wrote:Funny. When Booby Moore was arrested for shoplifting before the 1970 world cup, it was the dirty South Americans framing a good honest Englishman, just to upset the team before the tournement. Yet, when the English do the same to the Croatians, they are dirty filthy theiving foreigners, who should be grateful that they were let into England in the first place, and, if they had any manners, they'd have let the English win, just as England did in Croatia.

You English.

I was going to make this comparison myself.

But then there is an element of farce to consider when we compare the stealing a gold bracelet with "some stationery and newspapers!". the repercussions were nowhere near as severe in this case.

Lets face it- everyone in South America would have known who Bobby Moore was. If England meant to disrupt the Croatian preperations, they could have at least framed one of the players, or even Slaven Bilic, not some nobody from their FA.

Fair play to the police for even knowing who he was in the first place to laucnch this clear and apparent sting against those poor misunderstood Croatians

@Bashmakin -

There is a very fine line between confidence and arrogance, and the interpretation. I can appreciate that these comments can sound like arrogance,

however I would not class myself as an arrogant supporter, yet I was very confident England would do the business at home. Lets not forget that it wasnt an unreasonably long time ago that England beat Croatia in 2004 very comfortably, at a time when I believe the same accusations were being thrown

There is a lesson to be learnt here. I dont think England will make the mistake again, and Corluka and Co's claims (made before the 2010 draw was made) will now only go to stoke the fires for a feisty rematch

I agree entirely that theres a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And obviously the England players and the manager wanted to instill confidence in the team, wanted to motivate everyone even before the Isreal/Russia game in case anything was to happen there, so that the players would keep their focus.

To me, some of the above comments do cross the line into arrogance - or perhaps naivety (like I say, I think it would be harsh to be too critical of Ferdinands comments - though I think even his latter comment can be read as suggesting that Englands qualification is somewhat of a formality), though if it is naivety then its of a type which shows the insular nature of the England camp and the players complete lack of wider awareness, and so it bears a lot of similarities with arrogance.

But whatever, I can certainly understand why Croatian players would read these comments, view the actual performances of the England players throughout the qualifying campaign, consider the fact that theyd beaten England in their most recent meeting, and conclude that England were being arrogant and a little too presumptuous. I dont think theres anything wrong with Corluka and co stating that they feel England were arrogant - I think theres some validity to what theyre saying.

Merry ChristBash-machkin wrote:I agree entirely that theres a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And obviously the England players and the manager wanted to instill confidence in the team, wanted to motivate everyone even before the Isreal/Russia game in case anything was to happen there, so that the players would keep their focus.

To me, some of the above comments do cross the line into arrogance - or perhaps naivety (like I say, I think it would be harsh to be too critical of Ferdinands comments - though I think even his latter comment can be read as suggesting that Englands qualification is somewhat of a formality), though if it is naivety then its of a type which shows the insular nature of the England camp and the players complete lack of wider awareness, and so it bears a lot of similarities with arrogance.

But whatever, I can certainly understand why Croatian players would read these comments, view the actual performances of the England players throughout the qualifying campaign, consider the fact that theyd beaten England in their most recent meeting, and conclude that England were being arrogant and a little too presumptuous. I dont think theres anything wrong with Corluka and co stating that they feel England were arrogant - I think theres some validity to what theyre saying.

Indeed, there is some validity in what Corluka was saying.

However, compare it with Slaven Bilic's comments, who I think has conducted himself with real class and yet with welcome honesty - without ever resorting to sniping and gloating - with Corluka who in victory has come out and shown himself to be pretty classless.

Living in England, playing in the same team as English players, you would think the guy had just a little tact, Croatia are through and England arent- not much more needs to be said nor has it been said. I dont know a single person who has made excuses about that- players, media or fans. The better side went through, end of. Yet this fella, positively delighting in knocking out England in public (Having those feelings privately is one thing) will make him a hero in Scotland, but will only make his career in England very Alpay-esque, and the next time the teams meet even more tasty.

Doesnt strike me as a particularly intelligent chap to be honest

I think Ferdinands comments were fairly arrogant, an attitude which some english players actually took to the pitch assuming that they just have to turn up to qualify.

That mistake has been made by many great teams in the past, and no matter how great the team is, this attitude always ends in disaster.

I think the English media is what probably must have pissed off the croatian players. If a reporter asks an english player what he thinks will happen in the summer after england qualify, those comments will always sound a bit arrogant. Most of the media already assumed that qualification was a done thing. If I were a croatian player reading the articles, I would want to teach them a lesson too. Its human.

That said, Corluka sounds like an immature kid. I hope no one takes his words too seriously, kids can say silly things in the heat of the moment. Give him a few years and I am sure he will mature. I don't think this should impact the Man City dressing room atmosphere.

bluenine wrote:I think Ferdinands comments were fairly arrogant, an attitude which some english players actually took to the pitch assuming that they just have to turn up to qualify.

That mistake has been made by many great teams in the past, and no matter how great the team is, this attitude always ends in disaster.

I think the English media is what probably must have pissed off the croatian players. If a reporter asks an english player what he thinks will happen in the summer after england qualify, those comments will always sound a bit arrogant. Most of the media already assumed that qualification was a done thing. If I were a croatian player reading the articles, I would want to teach them a lesson too. Its human.

That said, Corluka sounds like an immature kid. I hope no one takes his words too seriously, kids can say silly things in the heat of the moment. Give him a few years and I am sure he will mature. I don't think this should impact the Man City dressing room atmosphere.

I do despair when the media give other teams all the ammunition they need to beat England. Lets not forget though, the Media has a brilliant way of turning cautious words into war cries, and Im certain the way the game was built up the Croatians must have been reading the same despairing twaddle and thinking "right then, lets have it"

Problem is, Corluka nad his buddy have now swung the pendulum the other way with their comments, which could potentially sounds worse than they meant to be if it is being translated from Croat into English , however if I were an England player, Micah Richards for example, I'd be wanting that Croatia game to come as quickly as possible to shut this bloke up.

I think the moral of this story is that footballers just arent very intelligent generally, irrespective of where they come from.

By the way, Slaven Bilic was on Sky Sports news being interviewed on Sunday- the guy is a top top bloke, not only is he cool as hell (jumping around in the rain in his black tie funeral suit!) but he really has a excellent grasp of the game.

We could do worse than try to poach the guy off Croatia after the Euros!

Richards will not let rubbish like this effect his game or relationship with his team mate. Yes he may at first feel that Corluka's comment were heavy. Guess only intelligent people apply so much weight to words.......
My view on Croatia and their reaction in our games with them and in the media is they new they were be better than England but had to prove this to themselves on the field. They are a strong team with some good players that always have to play second fiddle to the media when playing England. After the game some players strong pride and respect came out. They were not big enough to see those very same traits were also swelling there own heads...... Big deal good winners do not always make good losers.

I think it's just plain arrogance...according to Owen there still won't be any Croatian in the England team!!

But it's not only the English...most Dutch newspapers claim that people can already book their trip to South-Africa

Bilic will be managing a top European side in a few years. Hopefully its one in the EPL.

He's gone about it the same way as Mark Hughes and look how good he is!

How about Owen's remarks EVEN after getting waxed TWICE by them Croats he comes out to say that "not one Croatian is good enough to play for England".

Knowing the way Bilic motivates his troops, I'm SURE he will post that BIG in the locker room for all to see.

Waxed?

No wonder the players don't want to perform him. Sick bastard!

Pele Says Happy Xmas Nobs wrote:Mladen Petric, who scored the third Croatia goal, echoed Corluka’s complaints by saying that he refused to swap his shirt with any of his opponents as none of them were worthy. “It’s the most valuable goal of my career and the best one I’ve ever scored,” the Borussia Dortmund striker said. “I wouldn’t swap my kit with any English player because I want to save it for myself. No English kit is worth as much as this"

yet another reason to hope for a quota system for foreign players.....

average players getting paid a fortune and then slagging off the country that makes it possible...

fool..

...

yup Corluka is right.make me always laugh when guys like Kimbo,Mrd,Tweedledum or S4p claim english arent arrogant it is just some medias.Pff...Everytime a team win vs England the team says the same thing! "they thought we were amateurs" "english players are nothing special but they think we aren't good enough to play for their national team" ect ect...

Corluka

Arnaud loves Catherine wrote:yup Corluka is right.make me always laugh when guys like Kimbo,Mrd,Tweedledum or S4p claim english arent arrogant it is just some medias.Pff...Everytime a team win vs England the team says the same thing! "they thought we were amateurs" "english players are nothing special but they think we aren't good enough to play for their national team" ect ect...

Corluka

english players are constantly saying players from other countries are good players and need to be taken seriously..how can they not!!!..if some foreign players..fans and press choose to ignore that and just pick out the negative stuff...fine...go ahead...

Would love to see Corluka's original comments without any of the filler added by whichever (probably a tabloid) paper reported this...otherwise it's quite a funny quote!

Puro wrote:How about Owen's remarks EVEN after getting waxed TWICE by them Croats he comes out to say that "not one Croatian is good enough to play for England".

Knowing the way Bilic motivates his troops, I'm SURE he will post that BIG in the locker room for all to see.

scotland beat france twice too...are their players better than those of france?...

dont panic! wrote:

Puro wrote:How about Owen's remarks EVEN after getting waxed TWICE by them Croats he comes out to say that "not one Croatian is good enough to play for England".

Knowing the way Bilic motivates his troops, I'm SURE he will post that BIG in the locker room for all to see.

scotland beat france twice too...are their players better than those of france?...

France still outplayed Scotland though...can't say the same for England againt Croatia..

But in 2004 England easily won..so there is no way to predict the score of match 1-2 years away from now.