WORLD CUP - THE CROATIAN WAY

The great success of the Croatian football team resonated throughout the world just a few days ago when they won the title of the vice-champion and the silver medal which goes with the title at the World Cup in Russia which I believe you watched with great enthusiasm.

It was a spectacular show led by the Croatian national team that filled the columns of the leading world media.
Everyone wrote about a small nation of just four million people who ran into the championship finals in their flaming football boots, leaving behind numerous power teams such as Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Portugal and England.
Everyone reported about the players who led the smallest country in the finals of the World Cup since Uruguay in 1950.

Everyone praised the team captain Luka Modric, who received the Golden Ball award, confirming his prestige as the best player in the world, and found himself in the selected company of some of the greatest players in football history such as Pele, Johan Cruyff, Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi.

A special place in the media was reserved for the Croatian football manager Zlatko Dalic, who formed a powerful football team and brought the whole country in a state of unprecedented euphoria.

PATH TO THE SILVER MEDAL

The draw in Moscow has decided that Croatia's national football team will begin their game in Group D against Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria.

According to the game schedule, the first match was against Nigeria. With a victory of 2-0 Croatia has firmly stepped into the world of the biggest football spectacle.

In the next match, Croatia was to meet with a powerful rival, Argentina.
The opposing team is led by one of the best footballers of the present day, Leo Messi.
As the match was approaching, the excitement was growing, both in the field and among the fans.
The fire on the field was sparked by three fireballs that ended up in Argentina's net.
The brilliant Croatian team on the wings of shooters Ante Rebic, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic shook the football world and propelled the team to the eighth finals.

Croatia entered the last game of Group D without any pressure. Winning over Iceland, Croatia won a maximum of nine points and scored the first place in the table.

In the eighth finals, Croatia was awaiting a duel with Denmark.
Mathias Jorgensen was to thank for the early lead of Denmark by scoring a goal in the first minute of the match, which ignited passion among Croatian players in the field and gave them extra motivation to push forward more fiercely and even the score.
Threats and attacks on the goal of Denmark quickly resulted in success with Mario Mandzukic's shot in the 4th minute. At that point the whole country was relieved.
After 90 minutes, the result remained unchanged, so the teams entered the extra time, the first one in this championship.
To make the matter more dramatic and tense, as if it had not been so far, with the score still tied, penalty shoot-outs were the only way to determine which team wins.

With three glorious defenses of Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and Ivan Rakitic's winning shot, Croatia defeated Denmark and moved forward into the quarter finals, with the fans ecstatic and grateful for their team's relentless spirit and final victory.

Russia, the host of the World Cup, was the next contender.
The fact they were the hosts gave them a certain edge over other teams. They enjoyed the kindness of the referees, the superiority of the stands as well as the domestic atmosphere.

Russia gained the upper hand by Denis Cerisev's shot in the 31st minute of the match.
Croatia fought back and Andrej Kramaric quickly evened the score in the 39th minute.
90 minutes passed and the score was 1-1.
The teams entered extra time and Domagoj Vida scored for Croatia in the 100th minute.
Just when the victory seemed within reach, the early celebration was ended by Maria Fernandes' shot, which shook the Croatian net in the 115th minute.

Like an aimed arrow, it shot right through the heart of every Croatian fan.

Once again, it was a tie, spectators' suspense was palpable with both the teams and the fans fearing the worst; penalty shoot-outs.

It was like a movie horror rehearsal, a movie we had already watched in Denmark just a few days ago. The feeling of uncertainty was once again overwhelming every fan in the audience, as well as everyone watching at home.
The Croatian fate again depended on Ivan Rakitic. Pulling out all the stops, Ivan Rakitic scored the deciding goal.

The uncertainty of the intense match was replaced by the explosion of enthusiasm and celebration of victory. Croatia was in the semi-finals.

One of the favourites of the championship, England awaited in the semi-finals.
In the first minutes of the game, Kieran Trippier scored a goal from a free kick, while Croatia's luck turned in the 68th minute with Ivan Perisic's brilliant shot.
Again, teams entered extra time. The clock was ticking.
All the miles ran on the field throughout the championship took a toll on the players.
Penalty shoot-outs started to seem inevitable.

And then, after 109 exhausting minutes, Mario Mandzukic took advantage of the English players' carelessness and in a split second ran in front of the English goalkeeper and fired the ball for the winning goal.
A goal that erased all of the mileage on the clock and sparked a new dose of adrenaline in the bloodstream of every Croatian player.
The teammates rushed to Mandzukic and towards the distinguished red-white checkered fans on the stands, where they pushed aside a helpless photographer in a huge euphoria; the close-up photographs of the celebration would soon spread all over the world.

The red-white hurricane hit in its full force. Ovations on the stands, celebration in the field as well as throughout the country - in the eyes of Croatian fans, they were already the champions.

Croatia was in the finals, reaching its aim after enduring extra time and penalty shoot-outs with Denmark and Russia, and extra time with England.
On the rocky path towards the final match, Croatian team have won the hearts of people worldwide.

Now only France was standing in the way of winning the World Cup.
Croatia started off decisively, eager to win. They dominated the field on the offensive.

France was given a free kick which ultimately led to Mario Mandzukic's own goal.
That did not discourage them and Ivan Perisic scored for 1-1.
In 38th minute, a controversial action in front of the Croatian penal space resulted in penalty shot for France.
Antoine Griezmann's accurate shot pushed France another step forward.
As the game went on, the French increased the result with the help of Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe. Mandzukic scored for the final result of 4-2.
After 90 minutes played and the score 4-2, the referee's whistle signaled the end of the game.

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It was the sound that caused mixed feelings; a sense of sadness because the title of the world champion had been lost and the great joy of winning the coveted silver medal.
Croatia congratulated France on winning the championship title for the second time.

Despite the first defeat in the course of the championship, Croatia had all the reasons to celebrate. We were on the top of the world.

SPECTACULAR WELCOME

After circling above the capital city, the plane with Croatian football team landed at the airport in Zagreb.
According to the organizers, a welcome reception was planned on the main city square where the team were supposed to arrive shortly after landing. However, it soon became clear that Croatian fans had another plan.

Already at the airport, the team were welcomed by eager fans who welcomed their silver heroes. In the panoramic open-air bus, adorned with the recognizable Croatian red-white checkered symbols and a large inscription "Heart of Fire, Pride of Croatia", the national team slowly moved towards the main square.
The speed reached by the bus on its way to the square was only a bit faster than the average walking speed due to the "interruptions” along the way; the streets of the town were crowded with Croatian fans who came to the capital from all over the country and even from abroad.

The national team were welcomed by over half a million people who followed them along the entire route. Organizational plans collapsed like a tower of cards.

As they drew closer to the center of the city, the crowd was getting bigger and the stops along the path more frequent.
The song was echoing throughout the city, the torches were blazing and the players greeted their avid fans, throwing autographed flags and football jerseys from the bus. The sheer enthusiasm and energy of both the team and the cheering fans was amazing, it was one of the greatest welcomes a team could wish for and truly a spectacle.
Red and white symbols covered the city, the rooftops of houses and buildings, and even the monument of the Ban Jelacic who stood proudly adorned with national colors.

The patience of the bus driver who drove the team across the city was admirable; determined on her path to the heart of the city, she drove for more than five hours to break through the crowd and arrive at the final destination – the main square caught up in the euphoria of the success and pride the team brought to Croatia.

Waiting for over five hours for their heroes, the fans on the main square jokingly concluded that the reason for the delay was the woman driving the bus.

THE CELEBRATORY 1998, BRONZE MEDAL AND DAVOR SUKER

Second place, silver medal and Luka Modric's Golden Ball marked the year 2018, which will be remembered forever for the greatest success Croatia's national football team has achieved so far at the World Cup.

But this is not the only great success of Croatia. Do you remember Davor Suker and Croatian football team 20 years ago at the World Cup in France?

In the glorious year of 1998, Croatia defeated the Netherlands and won the bronze medal.
Davor Suker was one of the best national team members with 6 goals in 7 games.
He received the Golden Boot Award for the World's Best Shooter, the Silver Ball for the Second Best Player, and the FIFA Bronze Trophy for the third place in the All Star Team player of the season, according to the votes of all the world's national teams managers.

GOLDEN MOTIVATION FOR THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Croatian national team have promoted their country in the most beautiful way possible.
They left a trail of pride and a final score that would be remembered forever.

They added a new brilliant silver medal to their collection, but since no collection is complete without the golden one, let the shiniest of them all be a golden motivation for new talents that will seek the way to the title of world football champions.

Dear readers, I hope that through this article, I have once again been able to illustrate the successes of my team and that you enjoyed it.
So tell me in the comments whether Croatian team have won your heart too?

Authored by @lufcija

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