Croatian heroes unite countries divided by scandal as the nation dares to believe

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Domagoj Vida of Croatia celebrates victory with his child's victory in the World Cup semifinal against England.

Twenty-four years ago, Croatia – as we know it now – did not exist. Today, a modest country of four million inhabitants is only one match to become world champion after reaching the World Cup final for the first time in its history. short story. After overthrowing England, Russia and Argentina's Lionel Messi, the small Balkan nation faces one last giant in France. Already, the Croatian nation was swept away by the Croatian class of 2018.

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* The match that nobody wants [19659007] They made themselves loved by doing things harshly – by spending extra time in all three playoff games, but they are also a team that has proven to be a unifying force in a fiercely divided region. Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic may have been their biggest hero of the campaign, helping Croatia overtake Denmark and Russia in two penalty shoot-outs. He made him one of the most idolatrous characters of his nation, despite his Serbian past.

Frank Augstein

Croatian Mario Mandzukic celebrates his goal against England

Subasic is the mainstay of a team which was said that she was making fun of it before the tournament started. On the eve of the World Cup, Croatian football was hit by a major scandal when Zdravko Mamic, former managing director of Dinamo Zagreb and vice president of the Croatian federation, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after siphoned millions of euros out of the club and into his own accounts, avoided paying taxes.

He remains in hiding after fleeing to Bosnia. Worse still, Mamic's famous tactics of relaunch and corruption involved Croatian captain Luka Modric in this case, the Real Madrid midfielder being punished with a six-month prison sentence for perjury

He thought that it would further widen the cultural divide between its power base in Zagreb and the second largest region of Dalmatia on the coast. To protest the influence of Mamic, Dalmatian's flagship club, Hajduk Split, boycotted a match against Dinamo and its most ardent supporters swore the national team, but not before taking part in international events.

Ryan Pierse

Sime Vrsaljko from Croatia expresses his joy at making the World Cup Final

But just as Italy has experienced in 2006 by winning the Cup of the World on the back of the World Cup. The Calciopoli incident, the domestic football scandals have a way to galvanize the national teams. Mamic's conviction took place 10 days before the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but worries over catastrophic distractions were quickly eased by a brilliant 2-0 win over Nigeria [19659023] -0 shock shock on Argentina in their next game and it was not long before the entire nation and its diaspora reveled in their team of giant killers.

The Josip Jelacic Square in the center of Zagreb has long been transformed into a fan site, supported by pop-up bars, concert scenes and viewing areas as locals began to believe in the impossible. The flag of Croatia has been draped through statues, balconies and cars. After their 2-1 win against England, traffic was paralyzed as the group overflowed into the street. Fans were dancing on the roofs of cars, climbing statues and tearing up signs, while exhausted flares were almost as visible on the floor as empty beer bottles.

For all the murmurs of the regional divide, the spirit was split from Split, Zadar and Dubrovnik, where the Sahovnica (red and white checkerboard) is as visible as that of Zagreb.

After Moscow, Croatia is the hottest destination in Europe this week. the diaspora is invading what is already a historic moment. The flags of North Geelong Warriors and the jerseys of Sydney United were visible among the crowd, but not only the Croatian community of Australia. The United States, Canada, Peru, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy have invaded their ancestral home.

Starry France is waiting but Croatia begins to believe that it is now its time. Croatia will not be loved, but it will not be discouraged either, with a small number of champions who, up to now, have done a good job of breaking the dreams of others.

– Sydney Morning Herald