Summerside under-13 girls earn silver

The Summerside United under-13 girls’ First Division team earned a silver medal at the Winsloe/Charlottetown FC soccer tournament on Sunday. Fundy Soccer edged Summerside 1-0 in the championship game. Members of the United are keeper Sydney Cormier, in front, and kneeling, from left: Mya Goeseels, Elizabeth Smith, Taia Gallant, Lauren Mintie, Katie-Grace Noye and Dru Gillis. Back row: Michelle Gallant (manager), Allie Simpson, Kennah Brant, Avery Kerwin, Alexandra MacCaull, Aurora MacAusland, Sydney Cameron, Jaelynn Oatway and Jeff Brant (coach).

In an outburst of national pride and joy, Croatia rolled out a red carpet and staged a euphoric heroes’ welcome for the national team on Monday despite its loss to France in the World Cup final.

Tens of thousands of people wearing national red-and-white checkered colours and waving Croatian flags poured into the streets in the capital Zagreb to greet the players, many coming to the city from other parts of the country.

The joyful, singing crowd crammed the central squares or lined up along the route where the players passed in an open bus, greeting the fans along the way and signing autographs.

Police said about 100,000 people came out in central Zagreb and as many along the route. The players’ bus travelled for hours, often stopping when it was blocked by the crowds.

Fans honking car horns, waving and shouting “Bravo! Bravo!” welcomed the bus as it slowly left the airport. The inscription at the front read: “Fiery heart, the pride of Croatia!” in reference to the name “The Fiery” as the team is dubbed at home.

As the bus went by, fans followed on bicycles or on foot, waving. Large players’ photos were displayed along the way amid a cacophony of noise and cheers.

Earlier, Croatian air force jets escorted the plane carrying the team from Russia as it entered the country’s air space and flew over Zagreb.