Jermaine Jenas criticised Rangers defender Borna Barisic during BBC’s coverage of Croatia beating Japan on penalties in the World Cup on Monday afternoon – with the Ibrox defender enduring a tricky afternoon in his first start in Qatar.
Barisic, 30, was handed a start – his first game of the World Cup – after first-choice left-back Borna Sosa suffered an injury. Barisic watched the first three group games from the bench, failing to come on. But he started against Japan.
Indeed, he finished the game, clocking up all 120 minutes as Croatia finally knocked Japan out on penalties. But it was a tough a game for £18k-a-week Barisic. He was regularly threatened by the ever-running Junya Ita on the left flank.
Barisic looked exhausted come the end of the game. But early on in the match, Barisic was the subject of criticism from Jenas during co-commentary. He said Ito was getting the best of Barisic far too easily, even if Croatia did finally win.
“He’s got a big problem, has Barisic. Every time he gets squared up by Ito, he runs at him, Barisic can’t get anywhere near him. Too quick, too sharp. He’s just pushed it by him and gets the ball in the box,” Jenas said, during commentary.
Jenas criticised Rangers defender Barisic during Croatia beating Japan
The stats, according to site WhoScored, show it was not as bad as Jenas makes out. Yes, Ito caused him problems. But Barisic did enjoy success – winning more headers than any of his teammates, with six. Four accurate crosses, too.
Whether or not Sosa will be fit for the quarter-finals against Brazil, remains to be seen. Sosa has been excellent and his crossing has been a real weapon in the arsenal of Croatia. But if he is unfit, Barisic is a very adequate replacement.
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