Troubled childhood is motivating factor for Croats
More than borders, football defined Croatia as a new nation. Few had known about the Balkan country’s existence until they upset the mighty Germany in the quarter-final of the 1998 World Cup. When Croatian fans say football means the world to them, they are not being imaginative.
It isn’t an exaggeration to say that football helped Croatia forge an identity
Croatia is the 13th country and third from Eastern Europe to have entered a World Cup final. But no Eastern European country has won the World Cup so far. Hungary, were favourites to win in 1954 but lost 2-3 to West Germany. Czechoslovakia almost won the 1934 World Cup. They led Italy 1-0 at Rome till the 81st minute. Then a freak goal by left-winger Raimundo Orsi helped Italy equalise and they won 2-1 in extra time. In 1962, after a bloody ethnic war with Serbia had left the country in ruins in the early 90s. That is why the class of 1998, spearheaded by the event’s top goal-scorer Davor Suker, would be etched in the nation’s hearts forever.
That football is more than a game for Croatia became evident when Zvonimir Boban attacked a Serbian policeman with a karate kick for hitting a hapless Croat fan on the pitch during a derby between Dinamo Zagreb and Redstar Belgrade in 1990. Czechoslovakia were in the final again but lost 1-3 to the brilliance of Garrincha and Vava.
Croatia with a population of just 42 lakhs can now break this jinx for Eastern European nations in the final against France. If Croatia win they will be the first to do so, after winning all three of their knock out matches, either in extra time or on penalties.
Fatigue can be a factor but Zlatko Dalic’s team is highly motivated that and Boban became a folk hero among Croatian nationalists.
Boban was a player of Dinamo who embodied Croatian aspirations for a separate nation. And, derbies between Dinamo and Redstar Belgrade of Serbia used to be war minus shooting in football.
If Croatia took baby steps as a nation thanks to Suker and co., the country has come of age following the stellar efforts of Luka Modric’s team. could raise their game in the final. An example of this commitment is midfielder Ivan Rakitic who played in the semi-final against England despite having a temperature of 102 degrees.
The final will hinge on how France’s hyperactive midfield trio of Ngolo Kante, Paul Pobga and Blaise Matuidi can subdue the Croatian midfield in which Luka Modric with his slight build and ‘70s hairstyle has excelled. Modric is a firm contender for the Golden Ball award (started in 1982), given to the best player of the tournament. The other contenders are Eden Hazard (Belgium) and Ngolo Kante (France). For sheer perseverance it should be given to Modric, whose leadership skills have also been exemplary.
Modric was just six years old when forced to flee from his village around 30 miles east of Zadar. Modric is named after his grandfather, who was killed by Serbian military at the outset of the Balkan wars. With the rest of his family, Modric took refuge in Zadar, within the confines of a hotel. For Modric and eight of his team-mates born in the 1980s, childhood was a harrowing time of genocide and displacement.
Memories of their troubled childhood is their major motivating factor and the privations of their youth have made them tenacious and tough characters willing to bear any hardships.