Matic Cretnik
Stories (30/0)
World Cup in Qatar will be one of the best ever
World Cup in Qatar raised and still raises many questions. From bribery affairs in organizing the event to the civil rights of (dead) workers who built stadiums. Some cultural limitations didn’t help either. However, one thing bothered me the most. Timing. But not in the wrong way. In a way, nobody saw that as an opportunity of experiencing one of the best tournaments ever.
By Matic Cretnikabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Is World Cup in Qatar a last chance for Belgium’s golden generation?
World Cup in Qatar starts shortly. Teams are already counting their injured players. The ones that are lucky and qualitative enough will make it to the tournament. There are quite a lot of favorites. Brasil, Argentina, France, Germany … but I’ve been thinking about one for quite a long time. Belgium. Their golden generation has probably the last chance to win something.
By Matic Cretnikabout a year ago in Unbalanced
This is how you should run for a football’s penalty rebound
Penalties. For some, one of the easiest ways of scoring a goal, and for others one of the most challenging moments. When thousands or millions of spectators are watching that 11 meters seem pretty far. A miss is not always crucial because it may contain a rebound. But to be there for it requires some inventiveness. One particularly stands out.
By Matic Cretnikabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Why spending 0£ in a transfer market will hunt you down
I recently explained why getting too many players in a transfer window can’t work. Now, we’ll look at the complete opposite. Why a strategy of not spending a single £ on a transfer market will also hunt you down. Or at least prevent you from achieving some greater things. The case of Leicester City has encouraged me to clarify it in detail.
By Matic Cretnikabout a year ago in Unbalanced
Where has all gone wrong for Aaron Wan-Bissaka?
Going to EURO 2020 England had a lot of great options at right-back. Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, and Kyle Walker were calling for their place among the starting 11. England manager Gareth Southgate took advantage of such luxury and shared the playing time among them to maintain freshness in the team. However, the fifth option Aaron Wan-Bissaka was never in the contest to join the tournament’s squad despite playing really well for the club. Today, he looks as far away from Three Lions as he has ever been. So, where has everything gone wrong for him?
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Unbalanced
Why signing too many players in a transfer window is a suicide
Seeing teams get promoted always fills me with joy. They have suffered so much, played so well, overcame all the downfalls, and possibly with a bit of luck, it was enough for them to secure the spot among the league’s best. I was one of many who were eager to see Nottingham Forest FC back in the Premier League. Once a European force was not in the English flight division for some time. But after signing player after player in the summer transfer window doubts began to rise. That can’t work I said to myself. Up to this point, I was right. Let’s see why.
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Unbalanced
UEFA Nations League serves only lower-ranked countries
When UEFA Nations League was introduced it received much skepticism. Since it was something completely new, quite expectedly. After two whole editions behind us and the last one in the final stages (only the final four of league A winners and C league relegation battles yet to play), it’s fair to say that not everyone is pleased with it. Don’t get me wrong. It has more positives than negatives, but one thing stands out the most. It conveniently serves lower-ranked countries while it produces more potential problems for the “big ones”. Let me explain why.
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Unbalanced
Why Liverpool came close to winning a quadruple
Liverpool had a phenomenal season. Until the very last week, they were competing for a quadruple. Manchester City edged them in the Premier League for just a point and Real Madrid later beat them in the Champions League final. Despite that, they lifted two trophies. FA Cup and Carabao Cup. In both of them, they were better than Chelsea after penalties. We’ll look at the key reason, why they have almost made it the most successful season in the club’s history.
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Unbalanced
Love him or hate him, José Mourinho still delivers
We can all hear and read that José Mourinho is supposedly done. That his methods, his football style, and his charisma are a matter of the past. That the new era of managers came with all their new methods and pushed José aside. Well, I think they are wrong. Really, really wrong. And I think his results support my judgment. José Mourinho still delivers and delivered everywhere he had been.
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Cleats
Who do you play in the last matchday as a football manager?
A lot of European football leagues finished lately. The attention is mostly centralized around teams, trying to get their hands on silverware, teams trying to qualify for European competitions, and teams, which are fighting for their survival. But how about those that are not playing for »anything«? Well, they have many different options for who to put in play.
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Unbalanced
There is nothing wrong with sacking Pep Guardiola
Some things are not meant to be right? No matter how hard you try, an end goal just slips away. Every time. So it feels with Manchester City and their efforts of trying to win the UEFA Champions League. Especially under Pep Guardiola. Therefore, his sacking may hardly be argued.
By Matic Cretnik2 years ago in Unbalanced