Monday, 7 August 2006

by Elvir Islamovićfrom Zagreb


While NK Dinamo Zagreb concentrate on the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, HNK Hajduk Split's status as the team most likely to threaten their Croatian supremacy is under threat from HNK Rijeka.

Bolić bonanza
Croatian Cup holders Rijeka have been scoring freely, thanks largely to new boy Elvir Bolić. The Bosnia-Herzegovina forward began with a goal in a 4-3 win at HNK Cibalia before hitting a hat-trick as NK Kamen Ingrad were beaten 4-2. Bolić said: "I scored one in the Super Cup and then four in two rounds. Five goals in three matches isn't bad. I was thinking 15 goals would be my target for the season, but I have moved that mark to 20."

Minds elsewhere
Dinamo Zagreb have also won twice, though far from convincingly. They defeated NK Slaven Koprivnica 1-0, then overcame newcomers NK Å*ibenik 4-3. "Against Å*ibenik, our minds were already on the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Arsenal," said striker Eduardo da Silva. Hajduk, who failed to qualify for Europe, hope to take advantage of Dinamo's distractions. So far, they have 2-0 wins against NK Medimurje and Cibalia to their name. "I know we are not playing brilliantly," said coach Zoran Vulić, "but we will get better and better and, a month from now, will be in top form." NK Zagreb have impressed too. Miroslav Blažević's team have a maximum six points, while NK Osijek, eliminated in the UEFA Intertoto Cup first round, and NK Varteks are other possible contenders.


taken from http://http://www.uefa.c...42646.html