By beating England's powerful and youthful side 2-1, Croatia has proven the individuals wrong who strongly felt the insignificance of having great expectations of the “Blazers”. The unexpected nation has continuously experienced tiring 120-minute matches and nerve-wrecking penalties in the previous games.
One of the fans of the Croatian football team stated:
"There have been parties in every single place in Croatia, either watching together in city squares or in pubs and after the match ended the way it ended there were fireworks, firecrackers, cars driving around honking all the time, traffic stopped. It was amazing."
Croatia will be playing a tough match against unstoppable France in Moscow on Sunday. Nonetheless, if Croatia becomes the sensational World Cup champions, they would become the smallest nation to win the exceptionally valuable prize since the 1950 champions, Uruguay.
The Passion & The Players
So, what is causing the victory and prosperity for Croatia? Well, it is incredibly important to note that Croatia is not only talented in football. The Croatian water polo team (men) are the continuous dominant champions, and the handball men team came 4th at the 2017 handball world championships. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Croatia finished ahead of largely populated countries such as Canada and Argentina and was 17th on the medals race. These statistics clearly show that Croatia’s attitude and mindset towards sports are unique.
Moreover, it is fair to say that teams do no enter the final stages without gifted players. Luka Modric, the world-class gifted midfielder is regarded as the savior for Croatia.
The intelligence of the 32-year-old is outstanding and cannot be surpassed. This statement can be furnished with evidence after the match against Russia. During the exhausting match against Russia, the team captain really proved that he would suffer for his mates. Not one single player was able to cover as much ground as Modric’s unbelievable 63km during the World Cup.
During the match against England, Modric’s ability to cross, pass, shoot, and communicate was a key factor to Croatia’s victory. Modric’s ‘side-kick’ in midfield is Ivan Rakitic, another aggressive player who has nearly covered the same distance as the Real Madrid star. Just as Rakitic supplies Lionel Messi back in Barcelona, Ivan Rakitic has done a magnificent job in supporting the team to arrive at their wanted destination. These two are a huge advantage to their nation and to any team.
Alongside the stars, there is the unforgettable Mario Mandzukic, Liverpool’s main defender Dejan Lovren, and Inter Milan’s engine Ivan Perisic.
Igor Stimac, a previous Croatia head coach and player of the Croatian squad which reached the World Cup semifinals, claimed:
“Croats are just naturally talented. Their motivation and passion for the sport are overflowing which creates this opportunity to win”.
Struggle Leads To Success
The nation was able to grasp on independence in 1991, and the player’s characters have been heavily influenced by the dreadful Balkan War.
Modric’s father had to join the Croatian army, his grandfather was unfortunately shot by the Serb rebels, and his house was set on flames. In hopes of safety and peace, the family moved to Zadar, yet thousands of artillery and bullets were passing through the air. Modric once said:
“The war made me a stronger individual, which eventually leads to success”
Vedran Corluka was born in Bosnia but decided to leave for Croatia in the year 1992. Additionally, Lovren was a naïve child refugee after fleeing Bosnia, while Rakitic had similar hardships and left his homeland due to the accumulating war. Rakitic grew up in Switzerland and was looking up to Robert Prosinecki, a former Croatia midfielder.
These players stated above have faced and overcome the tougher challenges in life. I strongly believe that the fatal experience played a vital role in presenting themselves as aggressive and passionate players.
Football is 'Repainting' Croatia's Identity
During the world cup and previous times, the sports has provided the nation with a crucial factor that can't be found in society and politics -- hope.
Croatia's first president, Franjo Tudman, stated, "Football victories shape a nation's identity as much as wars do." The present president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has been supporting and cheering for the football team constantly, linking it as the start of his campaign for next year's elections.
The citizens of Zagreb (capital of Croatia) stated that the national identity is gradually unifying. One stated: "It's a positive image. It's the side of Croatia that is good."
Another resident claimed:
"The success of the national team does make a difference. You could say that it masks problems, on the other hand, you could say it's a welcome escape."
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