Crowds and cheers greeted the Croatia national football team in Zagreb on Sunday: Tens of thousands cheered the World Cup bronze medalist on the main square and in the streets. The arrival and departure flight was broadcast live by most Croatian TV channels.
| Because of the heavy traffic, the bus carrying the national team could only travel slowly, covering only 22 kilometers on the long journey in an hour and a half (Photo: Imago Images) |
The plane touched down in the Croatian capital just after 5 p.m. amid triumphal arches drawn from firefighters’ water hoses.
The national football team stepped off the plane with their bronze medals around their necks, where they were greeted by Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjak, Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomasevic and Mayor of Velika Gorica Kresimir Acar.
The players were transported by bus from Franjo Tudjman Airport to Gelasiks Arena, and thousands lined the road to welcome the national team. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people were already waiting for them in the main square.
Although the police had earlier told fans not to use fireworks, flares made the sky red even before the players arrived.
Because of the crowding, the bus carrying the national team could only move slowly. The journey covered only 22 kilometers in an hour and a half.
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| Thousands of people greeted Croatians at Jelasics Square (Photo: Imago Images) |
The official program started at 4 p.m. During this time, many local artists entertained the people, and the square was already full of people waiting at two o’clock in the afternoon.
The celebration can go on late into the night, and traffic is paralyzed throughout the city.
Four years ago, half a million people were waiting for the silver medalist Croatian team in Zagreb, and there was no similar mass movement in the history of Croatia.
Since the country’s independence, the Croatia national football team has participated in six World Cups and reached the podium three times.
World Championships, Qatar
Bronze match
Croatia – Morocco 2-1 (2-1)
rajjan, Clifa International Stadium, 44137 view. Led by: Al Jassim (Qatari)
Croatia: Levakovic – Stanisic, Sotalo, Gvardiol, Perisic – Modric, Kovacic – Madjer (Pasalic, 66), Kramaric (Vlasic, 61), Orsic (Jakic, 90 + 5) – Livaja (B. Petkovic, 66). union captain: Zlatko Dalic
Morocco: Bono – Hakimi, Dari (Benoun, 64), Al Jamek (Amal Allah, 66), Tjietullah – Amrabat, Sabri (Sir, during the break), Al-Kunuz. (Unahi, 56.) – Zij, and Al-Nasiri, Boufal (Zaruri, 64). union captain: Favor Regragi
scorer: Guardiol (seventh), Orsic (42nd), or Dari (9th).
