The past of war and resurrection: Croatia is one of the most brilliant football team in the world.
20 years after the magical debut in France, Croatia is back in the semi-finals to write their own successful history.
The France World Cup debut in 1998 settled Croatia beside Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, Cameroon, North Korea, and many others fewer traditional nations that made history carrying the status of producing a wonderful generation on football. Twenty-years later, Russia became the perfect place for ascending the former Yugoslavia country that beat Nigeria, Argentina, Iceland, Denmark, the host Russia and will face England on the semi-final at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.
However, the impressive story throwback in the 90s, when Croatia was expecting to be an independent state of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. During the Yugoslav War tensions, the first Croatia game after decades attached to the socialist republic was on October 17 of 1990 against the United States. The result of 2–1 at the Maksmir Stadium in Zagreb was the first of many victories that Croatia achieved. In 1991, the nation of 4 million was officially independent and in the following year, FIFA confirmed Croatia’s membership and the football was reborn.
In 1994, the Bosnian coach Miroslav Blažević took charge with the mission to qualify Croatia to the 1996 Euro and 1998 World Cup. Fortunately, Croatia had a class of young players that won 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship representing Yugoslavia like Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinečki, Alen Bokšić, Robert Jarni, Igor Štimac and Aljoša Asanović.
Surprisingly, Croatia finished ahead of Italy, Šuker was the top scorer with 12 goals in 10 games and the nation remarks the debut in 1996 Euro in England. Among the tough current champion Denmark, Portugal, and Turkey, Croatia advanced the Group D towards the quarter-finals when the future champion Germany defeated them 2–1, Klinsmann, Sammer, and Šuker on the other side.
Despite facing the first elimination, the Blazers knew that they could beat one of the best football teams in the world. In 1996, they were prepared more than anyone to qualify for the 1998 World Cup in France. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia formed the Group 1. Croatia surpassed the former Yugoslavia countries Bosnia, Slovenia and finished behind Denmark.
The play-offs mission was against Ukraine of Shevchenko, the other former socialist republic that was aiming a World Cup debut. Slaven Bilić headed, Goran Vlaović shoots on the first game and the draw at Kiev put the old Yugoslavia country one step to make history.
The road on the group stage wasn’t too difficult. The victory versus Jamaica and Japan was enough to qualify in the second place behind traditional Argentina. However, the round 16 was against Romania. Davor Šuker scored the penalty and the yellow heads led by Gheorghe Hagi said goodbye early.
The quarter-final was revenge from 1996 Euro. The underdog Croatia did an astonishing job eliminating the four-time FIFA World Cup winners Germany from Berti Vogts and Jürgen Klinsmann. The brilliant score of 3–0 with Jarni, Vlaović, and Šuker on 85 minutes trashed the biggest European team.
The dream and hope were bright when Šuker opens the score against France on the semi-final. The great vision from Aljoša Asanović put the Real Madrid striker alone against Barthez. The Croatian’s magical night became the worst nightmare ever when the defender Lilian Thuram lead the comeback victory with two goals.
Perhaps the dream was over for the title. On the other hand, the third-place decision was better than nothing against the great Netherlands generation from Guus Hiddink. Well and done, Prosinečki and Šuker storms Van der Sar’s net winning 2–1 to finish the fairy tale that almost results in a title. Still, the bronze medal couldn’t erase the greatest campaign after six years of the independence. Despite the tragical war, Croatian boys gave country hope, a reason for celebrating and look forward to the shining future ahead.
“It isn’t the case that the richest or best is always going to win. The small teams can win too. The charm of football is the small country can beat a major one, we proved it and people started to respect us from then on.” — Davor Šuker.
The legendary striker Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot award leading the top scorer table with six goals. He is the top Croatian goalscorer with 45 goals in 69 caps, also the current president of the Croatian Football Federation (Hrvatski Nogometni Savez).
Now, Croatia is going to handle a tough mission against England, if successful, face France of Didier Deschamps, who destroyed the millions of Croatian dreamers in Saint-Denis 1998. Today, the Russian soil might witness the Zlatko Dalić redemption that the heroes from twenty-years ago couldn’t finish.
None of the former Yugoslavia countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia could trace the same footsteps reaching the status as one of the most surprising football nations as the 20th FIFA Rank did so far. The current generation led by Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić, Ivan Perišić brought back the proud and passion that Croatians do not use to feel since the mid of the 90s when Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, and Robert Prosinečki made history on Euro 1996 and the third-place on the World Cup in France.
“What we have demonstrated is that our very, very small — perhaps unknown — country is able to show with great elegance what it is capable of. Hopefully, more people will learn about our country because of this team.” — Miroslav Blažević.
