When you finally look back at Hrvoje Smolcic’s career at Eintracht Frankfurt, it could be that the Croatian will be remembered by the Hessians as a late starter who managed to turn things around. As someone whose start to work on the Main could not have been more unfortunate, but who then improved significantly after initial difficulties and still proved his worth. Because the 22-year-old missed the first two competitive games this season against Bayern Munich (1: 6 in the Bundesliga) and Magdeburg (4: 0 in the cup), which in his case was quite strange: Smolcic had from his time at HNK Rijeka brought two bans into the German game operation.
Despite his great experience, Oliver Glasner was very surprised about his newcomer’s one-time cold start. This Saturday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky) in the home game against Schalke 04, Smolcic will probably be the first choice for a football teacher at the start of the second half of the season. The U-21 international is said to be the chief of defense in the back three.
The rise of Smolcic, who is one of the winners of the Frankfurt winter preparations and who is about to make his starting eleven debut in the league, takes its course. Tuta (ankle) and Luca Pellegrini (calf) are stopped due to injury. Both are not in the squad against Schalke 04, although Tuta was at least able to train on Friday.
In the last Bundesliga game of 2022 in mid-November in Mainz (1-1), the 1.85 meter tall central defender Smolcic came on at the beginning of the second half. He did a lot better than Kristijan Jakic. As a libero, Smolcic played nice balls forward, his flat and sharp passes through midfield were resolutely received by the teammates. With his good feeling for the spaces and the right feeling for game situations, the defensive strategist convinced the sporting leadership. Smolcic “played the deep balls well, he’s good at football,” sporting director Markus Krösche praised the Croatian. “He’s on a really good path.”
So far, the left foot has only been allowed to play from the start in the Champions League against Olympique Marseille and in the DFB Cup against Stuttgarter Kickers, where he scored a goal to make it 2-0. “Hrvoje was always there when he was needed in the games.” Smolcic is a “very good example” for the Frankfurt way, “we support him in constantly improving,” said Krösche. From joker to possible regular – Smolcic, whose performance increased in the fall, is on the career leap in Frankfurt. He has to seize the opportunity that is now available to him.
“Positive” header game
In the first of two friendlies against Lech Posen at the end of the training camp in Dubai, Glasner made him chief organizer at headquarters in what was supposed to be the best eleven. That was an indication of the increased importance of Smolcic, who is uncompromising in duels on the ground and just as rigorous in head duels. With his “very positive” header game, Smolcic “couldn’t be that unimportant” against Schalke target player Simon Terodde, said Glasner. The Austrian also likes the Croatian’s loud commands, whom Glasner classifies as a “born leader” overall. Already at the age of 20, Smolcic was the leader of his team in the Croatian league.
However, he does not always set a good example. In the duel with Posen, he allowed himself one or two small wobbles, mistakes by his teammates also unsettled Smolcic. You notice that he is “only 22 years old”, judged Glasner. The 39-year-old Makoto Hasebe brings a lot more experience and cleverness to the table, in whose career book you can find a proud 19 years as a professional. When it comes to building up the game, the prudent and clever Japanese player also has an advantage. Hasebe had to sit out on Wednesday with a cold, but then he trained again “without any problems” (Glasner).
A candidate for the center of defense is also Jakic. His trainer says about him that he can “kind of play anything”. On Matchday 16, Jakic, who prefers to work in the midfield, could be in demand as a right central defender because Tuta cannot play an active role. Glasner still has Almamy Touré to choose from in this position. However, the Frenchman hardly played in the first half of the season due to a tendon injury. What gives him hope: In the training camp, Touré presented himself in good shape.
If all players are healthy, Glasner is “happy” about the many options that are available to him in the back. If he needs an intelligent driver to build the game, a fit Hasebe comes first. If he needs a “physical and robust player” above all, he will send Smolcic “into the race”. In the home game against Schalke 04, the hour could come for Smolcic.
