CROATIAN CUP FEVER
THE battle lines are drawn for Geelong soccer fanatics as they prepare to make their voices heard 14,000km away from the World Cup final between France and Croatia.
Jean-Paul Temple does his best work as owner of Le Parisenne but will save his voice and settle on the couch for game day in the hope of adding some extra cheer to a celebration of everything French this weekend.
“It’s Bastille Day, the Tour de France is happening, we’re in the World Cup final and for the next few days there’s plenty of celebrating to do,” Mr Temple said
“It’s fantastic. I did not think they would be there. I’m very excited and we did not expect to be in a final, a bit like Croatia, but good luck to them and good luck to us. Hopefully for us, a bit more luck.”
But Mr Temple, who will this month retire from his restaurant after 42 years, is decidedly outnumbered when it comes to support in the city.
Almost 4000 people of Croatian descent live in Geelong and fan Marko Devcic is thrilled Croatia has qualified for the decider against international heavyweight France.
His dad, brother-in-law, brother and sister have made the mad dash to Croatia and Russia but he will make do watching at home with two-year-old son Tomislav.
Mr Devcic and wife Sladana welcomed one of Croatia’s newest fans in second son Josip into the world on Tuesday and hope to add World Cup celebrations to a pretty good week.
“It would be a cherry on top. It’s once in a lifetime,” he said.
Despite several members of the Croatian community heading to the homeland or even Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, the Australian Croatian Association club at Bell Park will once again be roaring during the contest.
The Sporting Globe will also be showing the match, which kicks off at 1am on Monday.