Tens of thousands give heroes’ welcome to Croatia soccer team
In an outburst of national pride and joy, Croatia on Monday rolled out a red carpet and staged a euphoric heroes’ welcome for the country’s national soccer team despite its loss to France in the World Cup final.
Tens of thousands of people wearing national red-and-white colours and waving Croatian flags poured into the streets in of the capital Zagreb to greet the players, many coming to the city from other parts of the country.
The joyful, singing crowd crammed the city’s central squares or lined up along the route where the players passed in an open bus, greeting the fans and signing autographs.
Fans honking car horns, waving and shouting “Bravo! Bravo!” welcomed the bus as it slowly drove from the airport. The inscription at the front of the bus 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 the capital Zagreb.
“Champions! Champions!” roared the crowds as the players came out of the plane to a red
carpet placed on the tarmac at the Zagreb airport.
The country of 4 million people has been gripped in euphoria since its team beat England to
reach its first World Cup final, where Croatia lost 4-2 to France.
The success has been described as the biggest in Croatia’s sporting history.