Football
IT WAS one of the iconic triumphs of World Cup ’98 – and the greatest night in Croatia’s history.
But for Slaven Bilic it came at a terrible cost.
It’s 22 years this week since the small Balkan country, formed out of the ravages of a bitter war, stunned Germany – one of the most successful nations in the history of the game.
The venue: Lyon, France.
The result: Croatia 3 Germany 0. At the heart of it was Bilic. Now managing at West Brom, the defender put not only his body on the line, but also his career.
“Until Russia two years ago, it was the greatest result in our history,” he said. “We were a new country and, as players, we were as hungry as little kids to do well.
“Two years before, we had played Germany at Old Trafford in Euro ’96. We lost 2-1 and were actually a better team, but we didn’t believe. We didn’t have the experience.
“When we started preparing for the tournament, we had players arriving from all over Europe and thrown together for three weeks at a training camp.
“Then we had four weeks together at the tournament. Men, stuck together for six or seven weeks, spending time with each other 24/7. Normally they get fed up.
“But it was one of the biggest reasons we succeeded in France.
“In England, I was reading about cliques between Manchester United and Liverpool players when they were with the national team.
“In Croatia – and I experienced it as a player and manager – the more time we spent together, the more time we enjoyed it.
“We became proper friends. It took us a couple of games to get through the group. It was nervy against Romania in the last-16, but we won 1-0.
“Then we faced Germany. Big stage – huge, in fact. It ended up being one of those funny games.
“They started much better than us. For the first half-hour, they were better. It wasn’t us, but football is strange. Five minutes before half-time, Robert Jarni scored with a great left-foot strike and they had Christian Worns sent off.
“Again, in the second-half, they started better, but then we scored the second one through Goran Vlaovic. Davor Suker scored a third