World Cup star still due in court charged with perjury
As soon as the day had broken, rain fell heavily and steadily in Zagreb. But that didn’t matter. Tens of thousands of people still streamed into Ban Jelacic Square six hours before kick-off. A stage and a big screen had been set up, as it had all through Croatia’s incredible run in the 2018 World Cup.
Big crowds had greeted Croatia’s victory against the hosts Russia, on penalties, in the quarter-finals, and even more arrived for the semi-final comeback against England, celebrating wildly with flares and smoke bombs. But this would be the biggest and the most important. This, after all, was the World Cup Final.
The bars and cafes that surround the capital’s main square were full of fans who had come not just from around the country but from across the world. The diaspora, many of whom were children when they left the country during the ruinous Yugoslav Wars of the early 1990s, had returned from Australia, Germany, Austria and beyond. All were draped in scarves and the iconic red-and-white check found on Croatia’s flag.
“As soon as we beat England I was like, right, I’m getting a ticket,” said Chris Nadj, a 27-year-old plumber from Australia, who was singing songs with hundreds of others in the main square. He had flown 27 hours to be here, paying £1,750 for a ticket.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” continued Nadj, as fans let off smoke bombs nearby. “How could I miss this?” Many had travelled from Germany, which took a large number of Croats on a guest-worker programme in the 1970s. “It was my duty to come,” said Zvonimir Barisic, who was born in Germany and had travelled to Zagreb with his wife and two children.
“We just had to come. We will write history if we win or not.” Half the family wore Luka Modric’s name on the back of their Croatian national-team jerseys. “He is a legend,” added Barisic.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2018 de World Soccer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2018 de World Soccer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines