Episode 73
Dobar dan, prijatelji!
Welcome back to another great episode.
Today we’re feelin’ musical and sporty!
To keep in step with spring, we’ll learn a song that celebrates the swallows that fly through the sky.
Lesson - Lastavica
swallow - lastavica
far/ long ways - dalek(o)
journey - put (Sretan put)
circle - krug
to watch - gledati (Ja gledam televiziju)
water - voda
port - luka
to fly - letjeti
star - zvijezda
Lastavica
Ti se spremaš na dalek put
moje misli su s tobom
nad gradom zadnji dok praviš krug
s čežnjom gledam te ja
U daljini gdje modri svod
tiho spaja se s vodom
pronađi luku i njegov brod
što u suncu sja
Leti, leti daleko, iznad dubokih voda
lastavice moja mala, sjajna zvijezdo moga svoda
leti, leti daleko, tvoja krila su meka
lastavice moja mala, zvijezdo sjajna i daleka
Sleti na njegov dlan, uđi u njegov san
leti, leti daleko, leti nad grivom vala
lastavice moja mala, lastavice moja mala
———————
You are preparing for a long journey
my thoughts are with you
over the last city as you make a circle
I look at you with longing
In the distance where the blue vault/sky
quietly merges with water
find the port and his ship
which shines in the sun
Fly, fly far, above deep waters
my little swallow, shining star of my vault/sky
fly, fly far, your wings are soft
my little swallow, a star shining and distant
Landing on his palm, enter his dream
fly, fly far, fly over the mane of the wave
my little swallow, my little swallow
Super Slatko Report
In this edition of the Super Slatko Report, DJ Moe will tell us a little bit about Croatia’s most famous and most decorated soccer player, Luka Modrić. With his humble beginnings, he has accomplished so much and it’s hard not to admire him and be so proud of him!
Born September 9th, 1985, (making him a Virgo if you’re keeping zodiac score) just outside Zadar in a Croatian a village called Zaton Obrovački located on the southern slopes of the Velebit Mountains. The oldest son of Stipe & Radojka who both initially worked in a knitwear factory according to Wikipedia. Luka spending his early years near the stone house of his grandfather, who he was named after, where he helped to heard goats as early as age 5.
The Croatian war of independence forced relocation on the family, where he and his family took refuge in a hotel in Zadar. His family did their best to make it a home along with other families in the same situation, he claims that he and other kids at this time used Football as a means of escape from the world changing around them each day right there in the Hotel parking lot.
As he got older and more serious about the game, he participated in local soccer camps where he and other kids his age strived for academy contracts to further their education and football aspirations. Luka, with home made wooden shin guards that his father made for him, at this time Modrić was deemed too young and light and was not signed by Hajduk Split, the biggest club in the Dalmatian region at the time. It wasn’t until 2001 at age 16 that he was offered a contract with Dynamo Zagreb, where he was offered a chance in the game he loved so much.
In 2005 after a loan spell in the Bosnian premiere league and much success, he signed a 10 year contract with Dynamo Zagreb, taking the team to the UEFA Champions League in 2007-2008 tournament where they failed to advance to the group stage. In 2008 he was courted by Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea; waited and ultimately opted for Tottenham Hot Spur of the English Premiere League in 2010.
Modrić played his 1st year in the premier league with Tottenham, playing 32 matches, scoring 3 goals and recording 2 assists, averaging the highest amount of passes and accuracy of any Tottenham player, he was voted top club player that year as well.
In 2012 he secured a transfer to World Club giant Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. This is where Modrić really took his game to even higher levels:
Being Named to the Champions League roster for 6 consecutive years
La Liga’s Best Mid Fielder 2013-2014 & 2015-2016 seasons
FIFA World Pro 11 Squad: 2015-2019
Balon d’Or : 2018
World Soccer player of the year: 2018
And many, many more accolades, honestly too many to mention.
And that is just his club career!
He’s played for Croatia since his youth, dating back to March 2001.
And has played for the National team since 2006.
Playing in International friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, and the Euros.
In 2018 he became club captain
In that same year, Croatia advanced all the way to the World Cup Final ultimately falling to France 4-2 in the final on July 15th. Modrić took home the Golden Boot for the best player of the entire tournament that year too.
Modrić continues to play valuable minutes for both club and country, continuing to leave it all on the field at the experienced-accomplished age of 37.
We are still very fortunate that we still get to watch him play today, especially as Croatia strives to advance further into 2022 World Coup contention.
He’s quite the player, making this game look effortless with every pass and movement. I hope he continues to play until he decides not to.
And that’s it for the Super Slatko Report
