Seasons2017-18Everton News
Everton get Hajduk Split in playoff round
72 Comments The Blues were paired with Hajduk Split who beat Brondby from Denmark 2-0 in aggregate in the Third Qualifying Round last night.
The two legs will be played on 17 August and 24 August respectively, with Everton once again playing at home first.
"Hajduk Split will be a real challenge, with their strong support and a stadium that is good to play football in," Ronald Koeman said on evertonfc.com following the draw.
"But of course we want to reach the group stages of the Europa League, so we will have analysed their strengths and weaknesses between now and the tie and we will be prepared."
Reader Comments (72)
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4 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:07:34
6 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:16:26
7 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:20:56
9 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:27:22
11 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:31:32
We've never played them. You may be thinking of Dukla Prague, made famous by Half Man Half Biscuit.
12 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:34:17
Need to get the job done at Goodison and shut up shop for the second leg.
Golden rule is must win the home game and don't concede.
14 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:34:36
15 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:40:15
16 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:46:06
Could've sworn we played Hadjik Split the following year or previous year though!! My memory must be playing tricks on me again!!!
17 Posted 04/08/2017 at 15:55:07
For those making the trip, Split itself is a bit nondescript and industrial, other than the port area which is okay. If making a weekend of it, I can heartily recommend the medieval town of Trogir about half-an-hour up the coast, or catch a boat to Hvar if you want to party with the have-yachts.
18 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:24:13
19 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:27:43
I believe it was 2-2. They got the away goal or goals.
20 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:31:22
On paper we will have more quality in our squad & will be favourites, but they will be a better side than Ruzomberok.
21 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:39:36
22 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:47:55
You're classifying them as one of the tough sides?
23 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:52:09
24 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:53:44
Seriously, that's the name of the Split restaurant where we ate a couple of years ago. Great fries and my wife loved some of the vegetarian dishes.
One other challenge for the August 24 game that nobody has mentioned... Split can be hotter than hell.
25 Posted 04/08/2017 at 16:59:26
26 Posted 04/08/2017 at 17:00:17
27 Posted 04/08/2017 at 17:28:51
Just wanted to point out how hot it is here. Hitting 37 degrees a couple of times this week. Beautiful for a break but I cannot imagine playing football in this. We will need to take a solid lead into the second leg as they will be better in the heat.
That said, I think we'll do it. Love being back in Europe and glad we avoided slipping up yesterday.
28 Posted 04/08/2017 at 17:34:06
29 Posted 04/08/2017 at 17:52:36
30 Posted 04/08/2017 at 17:58:44
31 Posted 04/08/2017 at 18:36:12
32 Posted 04/08/2017 at 18:52:56
That's a pretty one-eyed stance. Liverpool are the 'biggest' club (highest placing among the clubs involved in the article, in the most senior league) and are in the premier competition, playing in the most significant tie, among the clubs in question.
If Everton were playing a champions league qualifier and Liverpool were playing Hajduk Split I dare say it would be a picture of Ronald Koeman.
33 Posted 04/08/2017 at 19:21:36
Blues to scramble through with not too many casualties along the way.
34 Posted 04/08/2017 at 19:25:32
35 Posted 04/08/2017 at 19:27:16
36 Posted 04/08/2017 at 19:52:45
37 Posted 04/08/2017 at 20:01:39
Should be a good trip to Split, and a lot more tickets for us. What pisses me off though is that as soon as the draw was made, loads would have been getting the best deals on cheap flights. All those that were there last night wouldn't get that opportunity of cheap flights. These European draws should be on the Saturday or the Monday, give us all a chance of cheap flights.
38 Posted 04/08/2017 at 20:16:04
Full backs overlapping (only one of them at a time, one go's one stays). That gives us good attacking options. I have faith that Koeman will get it right.
39 Posted 04/08/2017 at 20:16:30
40 Posted 04/08/2017 at 21:34:34
41 Posted 04/08/2017 at 21:49:43
42 Posted 04/08/2017 at 22:03:54
This is my (admittedly infrequent) viewing of anything Croatian soccer related. I was disgusted.
If you go, be safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBjKtQzWWCQ
43 Posted 04/08/2017 at 22:05:01
44 Posted 04/08/2017 at 22:31:44
I can't believe Everton are saying they are trying to get as many tickets for the fans as possible but can you make your own way there,
45 Posted 05/08/2017 at 02:36:28
As for the Hajduk Split fans, the are known as Torcida and are absolute nutters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkzrJzR3sT0
Couple of years back Dinamo Zagreb banned the Torcida from attending a game in Zagreb, so the Hajduk Split players refused to play the game as a protest! That's how much the club means to the fans and the players.
46 Posted 05/08/2017 at 03:46:22
Always seems the way, mate. The "super fan" is seldom in the right place at the right time when it comes to getting reasonably priced flights once these tournaments start.
Takes a lot of time effort and planning to get to where you were on Thursday and it must feel like a kick in the teeth to not be near the front of the queue for the next one.
For what it's worth, I thought you guys did us proud. The vocal support and the happy images of those who had made the trek will live substantially longer in the memory than the game itself.
As you say: The 500 or so who made that trip will be "rewarded" by having to pay extortionate prices to to to Split... but you will find the time, the will, the wherewithal and the finances to get there, because that's what you guys do.
Thursday's game was difficult to get to by any standards and it would be very nice if somebody from the club picked up on this and paid for you're flights – I was going to say paid for your ale, but we've got a stadium to build.
47 Posted 05/08/2017 at 04:01:21
48 Posted 05/08/2017 at 08:04:52
49 Posted 05/08/2017 at 11:37:18
51 Posted 05/08/2017 at 14:09:57
Anyway, I think we are now sorted for Split. Probably paying a little bit more than most, but WTF!!
52 Posted 05/08/2017 at 16:18:33
For laughs, I just checked with Travelocity. It would take me 20 hours to get there (through Frankfurt) and 31 to get back (via Zurich and Chicago). For the bargain price of $2,600.
Of course, I'd save a lot because I don't have to budget for pints!
53 Posted 05/08/2017 at 19:15:12
More technically proficient than we are, will hold the ball and try to frustrate us. It will be difficult, I feel.
54 Posted 05/08/2017 at 19:30:47
My son watched the Brazil - Croatia game over in Split (World Cup) and as there was no one to fight with they ended up fighting each other. They are nutters lads so be prepared.
I'd have preferred a banana split tbh.
55 Posted 06/08/2017 at 04:34:59
That's like literally half-way around the world... Dodgy feed game!
56 Posted 06/08/2017 at 05:12:24
That made me spill my coffee.
But I can't imagine a World Cup match was played in Split. World Cup held in Croatia?
57 Posted 06/08/2017 at 05:38:34
58 Posted 06/08/2017 at 07:10:18
59 Posted 06/08/2017 at 07:25:45
But, as stated above; we need to beat teams like this with relative ease to be taken seriously. Whether we can or not remains to be seen. But it will be a great place to visit, regardless of having a ticket, and watch it in a bar over there.
60 Posted 06/08/2017 at 07:55:49
That prediction is based on an assumption that the team with the higher coefficient will prevail in the next qualifying round of the Europa League and Champions League. I.e. it assumes we will beat Split.
However, should 5 teams from the following list lose we will be in pot 3.
Olmpiakos, Copenhagen, Celtic, Seville, CSKA, Napoli and er the other team on Merseyside in Europe. So I shall be watching the results from the Champions League for a change and hoping the named 6 teams will qualify.
Obviously, 'upsets' in the Europa League qualification could alter matters too.
https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedel2017.html
61 Posted 06/08/2017 at 08:19:37
62 Posted 06/08/2017 at 09:33:27
The players are earning an absolute fucking fortune, a sickening amount of money, they all praise the fantastic away support, but they never put their hands into their pockets? Look at the solidarity shown by the players of Split to the Torcida (lovely story, Colin).
An acknowledgment off the players would go so much further than an acknowledgment off the club, for the people who put everything into giving them that vital support, wherever? I hope one of them is reading this, and can pay for Rob's next trip!
63 Posted 06/08/2017 at 09:38:49
64 Posted 06/08/2017 at 10:00:36
Remember that, during the last Euros, the Croatians fought amongst each other in the stadium. Absolute nutters.
65 Posted 06/08/2017 at 11:17:39
66 Posted 06/08/2017 at 11:29:35
67 Posted 06/08/2017 at 16:07:45
I don't mind to be in pot 3. Get two quality opponents at group stage. That's only going to be good for the team. Koeman also needs to show us he's good enough for the job.
And if also assume better ranking teams located at easier-to-access location not 3 hours drive after a two-stopover flight, it's better for the travelling fans as well.
68 Posted 06/08/2017 at 18:19:01
I would also like to point out here that my good friends Mark and Steve Bird from Gateacre hitch-hiked all the way to Prague, returning home on the player's flight – great days indeed...
69 Posted 07/08/2017 at 10:33:57
71 Posted 12/08/2017 at 16:28:51
This season we get Split! Man Utd had the easiest draw ever last year – it does make you think how and who makes these draws
72 Posted 13/08/2017 at 20:27:26
73 Posted 15/08/2017 at 11:47:16
74 Posted 15/08/2017 at 11:50:48
75 Posted 15/08/2017 at 11:52:44
76 Posted 15/08/2017 at 12:11:37
77 Posted 15/08/2017 at 12:15:44
78 Posted 15/08/2017 at 12:18:04
79 Posted 15/08/2017 at 12:19:40
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10989317/evertons-gareth-barry-undergoing-medical-at-west-broms-training-ground
Apologies if it has been posted somewhere else
80 Posted 15/08/2017 at 17:39:47
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1 Posted 04/08/2017 at 14:47:16