Checkered passion runs deep through Geelong
It was this environment and passion for soccer that saw Mrs Didulica’s son Joey go on to play for Croatia in the 2006 World Cup — ironically in the same year as his brother John travelled with the Socceroos.
Many Australian-Croatians donned split jerseys, one side gold, the other red-and-white checkered, to represent the unity between the nations.
Joey was in goals representing his heritage, but the 2-2 result between the teams ended his team’s run and saw the Socceroos progress past the group stage.
Now, years later, he can scarcely believe that the nation of just four million people, including a scattering of Geelong-based fanatics, will be involved in the biggest showpiece.
“I’m on a high, the adrenaline is still up there seeing the way the boys are playing and the whole Croatian community is getting behind them because what they’ve done is remarkable,” Didulica said this week.
“What they’ve done to get into the World Cup final is nothing short of a miracle.
“I feel proud to have played for Croatia. They were some of the best times of my life.”
Didulica is one of many players of Croatian background who learnt the game in Geelong — particularly from the North Geelong Warriors Football Club — and went on to international football.
Matthew Spiranovic, Josip Skoko and Steve Horvat are among locally grown Croatian soccer stars. Geelong and Victorian football historian Roy Hay said “Linchpin” Radojevic’s influence had had a profound effect on and off the pitch, from “Geelong Croatia” to the present day North Geelong Warriors.
“A sensible migrant gets themselves a job, a house, looks around for a family and then thinks about recreation,” Mr Hay said.
“What actually happened with a lot of Croatians and other migrant groups, within a week they were at the soccer club and that would get them the job, the house and sometimes even the family too.
“They would work like galley slaves and at multiple jobs, a lot of them at Ford and Shell, and they managed to survive and their offspring would go on to become Australian footballers.”
Mrs Didulica, who will watch the World Cup final from Croatia’s capital Zagreb, said her father, who died in 2009, would be lapping up the fanfare this weekend.
She said he would be proud to see those identifying as “Australian- Croatian” and others in Geelong getting behind the national side.
“(Football) was a big part of our life. We would spend every weekend together and, even when my children were playing, it would be unheard of not to take Dad with us to all of their games,” she said.
“He would just love all this. He lived and breathed soccer.”
Kick-off in the World Cup final between Croatia and France is 1am on Monday, July 16. Pre-game coverage on SBS will begin from 11pm on Sunday.