Croatia: Where football equals war
During their time as part of Serbia, Croatia was constantly at war. Most of the players on this Croatian team were born during the conflict. Many, like Croatia’s captain Luka Modrić, have witnessed the horrors of war firsthand.
Among the countries playing in the Qatar World Cup, Croatia is the fourth smallest in terms of population. The team, which reached the final in the 2018 Russia World Cup, has now advanced to the semi-finals again. In the quarter-finals, the Balkan country beat tournament favorites Brazil in a penalty shootout to secure their place in the semi-finals for the second consecutive World Cup.
Many tried to dismiss Croatia's run to the final in the 2018 World Cup as a fluke. However, by reaching the semi-finals again in Qatar, Luka Modrić and his teammates have proven their strength and capabilities once more. If they can defeat Argentina, the Croats will have the honor of playing in back-to-back World Cup finals.
However, a World Cup semi-final was not new for Croatia even in 2018. In their debut World Cup in 1998, they finished third, led by the legendary Davor Šuker.
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Since coach Zlatko Dalić took charge, Croatia's consistency has been remarkable. During Dalić's tenure, his team has never dropped below 15th in the FIFA rankings. Croatia has regularly reached the knockout stages of major tournaments like the World Cup and the Euros.
The 2018 World Cup squad no longer features players like Mario Mandžukić and Subašić. However, young talents like Livaković and Gvardiol have joined the team. And, of course, the evergreen Luka Modrić has been there every time. Therefore, it would be a mistake to underestimate Croatia as a small team. Those who follow football closely are well aware of players like Perišić, Kovačić, and Brozović.
During their time as part of Serbia, Croatia was constantly at war. Most of the players on this Croatian team were born during the conflict. Many, like Croatia's captain Luka Modrić, have witnessed the horrors of war firsthand.
In the 2018 World Cup, Modrić played brilliantly on a personal level, leading his team to the final, although they couldn't overcome France. However, Modrić won the tournament's Best Player award. He also won the Ballon d'Or after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League.
To understand the magnitude of this achievement, one fact suffices: Modrić is the only player outside of Messi and Ronaldo to have won the Ballon d'Or between 2008 and 2021. Did even a single Croatian ever think one of their own would one day become the best player in the world?
For Croats, football is part of their national identity. Every domestic club football match feels like a celebration to them. Fans of different teams leave no stone unturned in supporting their clubs.
It is said that the Croatian War of Independence even began because of a football match! That match was between Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia's most successful club to this day, and Red Star Belgrade, one of Serbia's top clubs.
The players from both teams represented different nationalities, and the match seemed to embody the fight to protect each team's national pride. This is where the chaos began.
At one point during the match, Dinamo Zagreb's Croatian player, Zvonimir Boban, kicked a security officer! Boban justified his kick by accusing the officer of being pro-Serbia. That kick inflamed tensions, leading to a full-blown conflict.
To this day, the iconic image of Boban's kick is shown as the moment that 'started a war.'
In Croatia, each player is viewed as a warrior. They are seen as carriers of Croatian nationalism, and for Croatians, their footballers hold the highest place of honor.
Luka Modrić, Dominik Livaković, and their teammates are now just two steps away from cementing their names at the pinnacle of world football. In 2018, they came so close but fell just short. This time, Dalić and his team will be determined to erase that heartache and raise the Croatian flag to the highest level.
