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Zagreb (AFP) – Croatia may have missed the World Cup final, but the team's exploits have boosted the morale of small Balkan nations and many hope its economy and image will be also in difficulty abroad
. their race through the competition, Captain Luka Modric and co. "We won the sympathy of the whole world," said Miroslav Milosevic, legendary coach of the team that reached the semifinal of 1998.
This time, the team went again further – his first World Cup final – to lose against France Sunday in an exciting battle of 4 to 2.
The team has "made Croatia a better country" The euphoria contrast strongly with the sour rancor that has plagued Croatian football in recent years over scandals involving corruption, racism and fan violence.
At the Euro 2016 in France, Croatian fans fought each other, while a swastika was spray-painted on the ground in Split by ultra-nationalists in 2015. [19659002] Fans also forced twice the stop of a qualifying match at the European Championships against Italy in 2014 after shooting on the pitch. 02] But the "Vatreni" ("Fiery Ones" in Croatian) can radically change the perceptions of the country's image, according to Bozo Skoko, an expert in public relations in Zagreb
"Pbadion, perseverance, the heart and courage shown by the players in the field are part of the national identity of Croatia, and this has been broadcast on the world stage, "said Skoko to AFP
the president Croatian Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, whose exuberant celebrations "We must overcome this wave of optimism," she said before the final.
his behavior "vulgar and inappropriate" – the enthusiasm of Grabar-Kitarovic has been well received by fans abroad on social media.
"It was a great promotional campaign, more effective than the success of François Tressy was still writing about the regime (Franjo) Tudjman," said Loic Tregoures, a specialist in football in the Balkans, referring to the authoritarian leader of the years 1990.
Grabar-Kitarovic on the other hand described a "friendly, fun" picture, "he told AFP
" The media attention and the popularity of the team will surely impact on tourism revenues, and will impact the country's economy, "Skoko told AFP.
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