Croatia Reports 2,439 New COVID-19 Cases, 39 Fatalities
ZAGREB, 29 April, 2021 - In the past 24 hours 2,439 new cases of the coronavirus infection have been reported in Croatia, putting the number of active cases at 14,878, while 39 people have died, the national COVID-19 response team said on Thursday.
A total of 2,239 patients are in hospital, including 245 on ventilators.
Since the first case of the disease was reported on 25 February 2020, 330,176 people have contracted it, and 7,040 have died.
A total of 308,258 people have recovered, including 2,126 in the past 24 hours.
Currently 34,690 people are in self-isolation.
To date a total of 1,794,905 persons have been tested, including 10,358 in the past 24 hours.
As of 28 April 825,839 doses of COVID vaccines have been administered, inoculating 648,709 people.
Of that number, 469,143 people have received the first dose and 177,130 have received both doses, while for 2,436 people it is not known which of the two doses they have received.
For more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Croatian National Tourist Board Files Further Motion Against Paul Bradbury
April 29, 2021 - In a lawsuit that has been likened to 'The Trial' by Franz Kafka, the Croatian National Tourist Board has filed another motion against TCN CEO Paul Bradbury.
I often wondered how I would feel if I got sued and had to go to court.
Earlier this month, I found out, as I finally had my first day in court after the Croatian National Tourist Board sued me not once, but twice. You can read their complaint and my lawyer Vanja Juric's replies here:
/ / / Croatian National Tourist Board Sues TCN: Lawsuit 1 (50,000 Kuna)
/ / / Croatian National Tourist Board Sues TCN: Lawsuit 2 (50,000 Kuna)
It was certainly reassuing to see Vanja's cheery and smiling face as we went to the room allocated for the first hearing.
"It will not take long, and then we can go for a pint," she said warmly.
And indeed it didn't.
I was all over very quickly in fact.
Vanja spoke first and very eloquently. She is such a gentle soul, but I would not want to be on the opposite side of the courtroom. She argued that the case was clearly ridiculous and should be dismissed.
The judge then responded that the CNTB lawyer had filed an additional motion the day before, which my lawyer was not given prior to the hearing. Apparently, it was done so late because the lawyer had been in hospital all week. The law firm apparently has 6 partners (at least according to the lawsuit documentation) and allegedly 50 lawyers in the firm. But I guess they were all too busy to cover for their sick colleague.
By law apparently, this has to be considered and so the entire hearing has been adjourned until July.
All over in 3 minutes.
You can read the last-minute motion in translation below, as well as Vanja's reply. I waited until today to publish this latest installment, as Vanja sent the reply today, and I wanted to include in the update.
Meanwhile, we have the first hearing for the other lawsuit scheduled for Monday May 3, at 09:40.
Vanja was contacted yesterday by the CNTB legal team asking for a postponement (the fact that the elections are on May 16 is purely coincidental, I believe). Apparently the lawyer had another case to go to and could not attend. The other 49 colleagues must have also been busy, as nobody could apparently deputies.
We saw no reason for delay but were not given the opportunity to decline, for the judge ruled that May 31 is the new date of the first hearing.
So there we are. None the wiser (actually all the wiser, am learning a ton of stuff, and it really is fascinating to watch The Beautiful Croatia in action). More soon I guess, if only to report another 3-month delaying tactic.
The plaintiff's preparatory submission
I The plaintiff has received a response to the defendant's lawsuit and in relation to the same they state the following and propose [an insight into] further evidence. The plaintiff disputes all the allegations from the defendant made in the response to their lawsuit and points out that the objections made by the defendant are unfounded in their entirety.
II The plaintiff is actively legitimised in this legal matter for the following reasons:
The defendant erroneously states that the disputed publication does not refer to the plaintiff and that the slogan "Croatia full of life" is not a trademark of the plaintiff.
Contrary to the defendant's allegations, the slogan ''Croatia full of life'' represents the official logo of the plaintiff and is a trademark in the eyes of the State Intellectual Property Office, where the plaintiff is entered in the trademark register as the holder of the slogan "full of life" (number Z20150201).
Consequently, it is clear that the defendant's complaint about the lack of active legitimacy of the plaintiff is unfounded.
Evidence: A print-out from the trademark database for trademark number Z20150201, (attached)
A copy of the decision of the State Intellectual Property Office, (attached)
Aside from the fact that the above is a trademark registration, the plaintiff has been using the trademark and several variants of the same slogan for many years and translations of that slogan on their website, www.croatia.hr, for all promotional materials and at congresses, and the general public in Croatia clearly connects the slogan and its visual elements (especially the font of the lettering) precisely with the plaintiff, and not with Croatia in general or with Croatian tourism in general. It is an umbrella communication concept that was presented back in 2015 by the President of the Croatian National Tourist Board.
Evidence: An insight/view into/of the plaintiff's website at www.croatia.hr
A print-out of the first page of the plaintiff's website with a visible logo, (attached)
The examination of witness Davorin Purgaric, of the plaintiff's staff, on the circumstances of using the slogan and the circumstances of the lawsuit.
The examination of witness Lucija Zupancic, Head of the Prosecutor's Production Department
At the same time, the word "Croatia" in the defendant's [Facebook] post corresponds exactly to the sign used by the plaintiff as a legal entity, which consists of the inscription Croatia and two squares and as such is used in translations in several languages by the plaintiff.
By using the official signs of the plaintiff, turning it into offensive content and changing the plaintiff's slogan, the defendant violated the plaintiff's rights, both the plaintiff's rights as a trademark holder and the plaintiff's personal rights as a legal entity.
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 128 of the Trademark Act, the trademark holder may claim damages under the general rules on damages against a person who has caused damage to the trademark holder by the unauthorised taking of any of the actions referred to in Article 11 of the same Act.
III With regard to the defendant's allegation that the plaintiff didn't request the publication of a correction or the removal of the publication, the plaintiff considers it necessary to point out that these are not procedural preconditions for filing a lawsuit for damages either in terms of the Trademark Act or the Civil Obligations Act. Therefore, the plaintiff was not obliged to do the same before initiating this proceeding.
In this specific case, the non-pecuniary damage caused cannot be remedied by removing the defendant's publication or by receiving an apology from the defendant, because the publication itself caused reputational damage to the plaintiff's reputation.
As pointed out in the judgment of the County Court in Varazdin, posl.br. Gz-491/19 of 19 May 2020 (…) ''in modern society, information spreads easily and quickly and it is common knowledge that subsequent denials or findings of untruthfulness of [previously] publicly disclosed information don't reach all those who have previously been informed with what is in fact misinformation.'' Taking into account the way in which the misinformation was published, on Facebook, the plaintiff believes that removing the post would have no effect.
At the same time, the allegations of the defendant that the plaintiff showed that they weren't harmed because they never sought an apology or a withdrawal of the [offending] publication are disputed. The stated/aforementioned allegation made by the defendant, apart from being incorrect, isn't logical either, because this is merely the right of the injured party, it is not an obligation for them to demand compensation for non-pecuniary damage by asking for the publication of an apology or a correction, and in addition, as stated above, the reputational damage to the plaintiff wouldn't be repaired with the removal of the post. After the post has already been seen by many Facebook users due to the way the Facebook functions, as users do not seek out old posts again, removing the post would not have the purpose of repairing the damage incurred.
IV Furthermore, the plaintiff points out that the plaintiff's claim is not aimed at forcing the defendant to stop talking about tourism problems, as the defendant is incorrectly trying to portray. The defendant is legitimised in this lawsuit because he is [acting in a] harmful manner - by distorting the official slogan of the plaintiff and entering the word "uhljebs" instead of "life", meaning that he tried to state that the plaintiff's employees were unqualified or incapable of doing their jobs and thus created a negative image of the plaintiff and their employees - causing harm to the plaintiff.
Evidence:
- The hearing of the plaintiff's legal representative, director Kristjan Stanicic
Namely, the term "uhljeb" is always used in society in a negative and derogatory context and is associated with a person who is unskilled and incapable of doing the job for which he is paid, and is employed thanks to political or family ties, without any real merit. Due to the use of the word in question within the plaintiff's slogan, an extremely negative image of the plaintiff was created, as a result of which the elements provided by law for the award of non-pecuniary damage in a particular case were met.
In addition, the defendant did not substantiate his position that these [HTZ/employees] were "uhljebs", it was a statement made without any evidence, so it's clear that this is an obvious insult, which damaged the reputation of the plaintiff. It is indisputable that the issue of good reputation is extremely important for legal entities, so if such an incident attracts questions/attention, it also constitutes a violation of rights.
The plaintiff additionally points out that the defendant's Facebook profile is followed by 1283 people, while his profile is public, and the defendant's posts can be viewed by people who do not follow the defendant.
Evidence:
A print-out of the defendant's Facebook profile (the introductory part - with the number of persons following the defendant's profile - attached)
The plaintiff further proposes that the title court order the defendant to submit information on the number of reviews of the publication in question on the defendant's Facebook profile, and in the alternative, they propose that an IT expert conduct an expert examination in the same circumstance.
Evidence:
The obtaining of the data from the defendant on the number of reviews of the subject publication.
V As regards the defendant's allegation in point 5.2. and 6.1 [of the] response to the lawsuit, the plaintiff considers it necessary to point out that they do not question the right to freedom of expression, which is one of the fundamental principles. However, it should not be forgotten that freedom of expression is not an absolute right and that the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Constitution do not guarantee unrestricted freedom of expression, as the defendant seeks to portray, this right is limited by other rights, such as the right to the reputation and honour of others. In other words, freedom of expression must not be to the detriment of other human rights.
The same view has been expressed through case law:
"The right to freedom of expression must, however, be interpreted in accordance with the highest values of the constitutional order, namely freedom, equality, national and gender equality, peace, social justice, respect for human rights, the inviolability of property, nature and the environment, the rule of law and the democratic multi-party system (Article 3 of the Constitution).
Likewise, the Convention in the further provision of Art. 10 paragraph. 2 stipulates that, as the exercise of these freedoms (as referred to in paragraph 1 of the same article) includes duties and responsibilities, it may be subject to formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties prescribed by law, which are necessary in a democratic society for the interests of the state, security, territorial integrity or public order, to prevent disorder or crime, to protect health or morals, to protect the reputation or rights of others, to prevent the disclosure of confidential information or to preserve the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.
The plaintiff has to show a greater degree of tolerance for public criticism than private individuals who are not exposed to the public are obliged to do. Ensuring the right to freedom of expression is of great importance for a democratic society, but that does not mean that it is an absolute right, and it is also subject to restrictions.''
Source of the above: Judgment of the County Court in Varazdin, posl.br. Gz-491/19
In addition, in assessing the balance between the right to freedom of expression on the one hand and the right to respect for the private life of others on the other hand, the European Court of Human Rights in Axel Springer AG v. Germany stated the circumstances according to which in principle it assesses a fair balance conflicting rights, and these are the following criteria:
a) The contribution to the debate in the public interest;
b) The extent to which the person concerned is known to the public and the content of the statements made;
c) The previous conduct of the person to whom the statement relates;
d) The methods of collecting information and their verifiability;
e) The content, its form and the consequences of published information;
f) The seriousness of the sanction imposed and the discouraging effect it has
If all of the circumstances and the elements of the publication in question are considered, it is evident that the defendant in the disputed publication did not state any well-founded position or value judgment or otherwise participate in the public interest debate, but from the general "tone" of the defendant's publication, without any argument or evidence, was only intended to ridicule/insult the plaintiff as a legal entity and its employees (who are referred to as uhljebs). Moreover, the defendant did not even provide any evidence that there would be a current public debate at the time of the publication that would have any links to that publication.
In that same sense, the plaintiff also points to the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia in the case posl.br. U-III / 4336/2017 of June 26, 2019:
"The Constitutional Court is aware of the debate on these issues in public and understands the desire of many individuals to participate in it, however - given the context in which the disputed statement was given, the circumstances that preceded it, as well as the content of the disputed statement - it can be concluded that in the present case - it is not a debate of public interest.
Namely, the issuance of the disputed statement was preceded by the circumstance that the complainant was interrupted by an HRT employee, whose director at the time was the plaintiff, in giving a statement that was to be broadcast on HRT's fourth programme as part of the election campaign, because the content of his promotional statement was inappropriate and offensive for HRT, as a public television station, to broadcast on one of its programmes. The complainant then commented negatively on the event in front of HRT's main building, complaining about the interruption of his statement as part of the election campaign, stating that it was censorship and referring to HRT employees as "cowards, wretches, bandits". He also made a claim about the plaintiff, the then director of HRT, as a former and further associate of KOS [the former counterintelligence service of the former state], which was filmed by his colleague Natko Kovacevic.
23. In view of the above, having in mind the context in which the disputed statement about the plaintiff being an associate of KOS was given, the Constitutional Court finds no reasons for the existence of a public hearing on the alleged cooperation of the plaintiff with the notorious counterintelligence service of the former state. Moreover, it follows from the context in which the impugned statement was made that the complainant's sole intention was to insult the plaintiff.''
29. The Constitutional Court notes that the impugned statement, in the circumstances in which it was given, was intended to present the plaintiff - at the time during which he was acting director of HRT - as someone who was a member of the notorious counterintelligence service of the former state, which is in itself dishonorable, all with the aim of harming his reputation and honour. Accordingly, the Constitutional Court finds that the applicant did not act in good faith when giving the disputed statement about the plaintiff.''
Finally, it should be borne in mind that the plaintiff invested both time and money in the drafting of the slogan in question (as with any other slogan), and the use of the slogan in an inappropriate manner by the defendant diminishes the property value of the trademark holder.
VI In the light of all the above, the plaintiff proposes that the title court determine that the defendant is liable and that it the violation is of a strength that justifies the determination of fair monetary compensation and for the defendant to accept the lawsuit and the claim in full, and oblige the defendant to compensate the plaintiff for the the cost of the proceedings within a period of fifteen days.
Reply from Vanja Juric, lawyer representing Paul Bradbury
The defendant's submission
The defendant remains in full agreement with his [previous] response to the lawsuit and all of the previous allegations and objections, and, in the continuation, he comments on the allegations of the preparatory submission of the plaintiff, dated April 7, 2021.
1. The defendant disputes that the slogan "Croatia full of life" is a sign/mark by which the plaintiff - as a public authority - presents itself to the public. This can be seen by looking at the very title page of the plaintiff's website, which shows that the sign/mark of the Croatian National Tourist Board is a stylised inscription which reads: "Croatian National Tourist Board/Hrvatska turisticka zajednica".
EVIDENCE:
- An insight into the print-out of the title page of the Croatian National Tourist Board, dated April 28, 2021.
1.1. As previously stated, the defendant does not dispute that the "Full of life" slogan is a slogan that is protected under the Trademark Act, however, it is not the plaintiff's label, but the promotional slogan of Croatia as a tourist destination. After all, the plaintiff itself confirmed this in the lawsuit, stating that the slogan "presents the Republic of Croatia as a tourist destination on global tourist markets."
1.2. It is also incorrect that the public associates this slogan with the plaintiff, since it is indisputably associated with the promotion of Croatia in the world. However, even if the public really believes that this slogan represents the plaintiff (and the plaintiff's employees) directly, such a possible public attitude would still not be sufficient to prove the plaintiff's claim that the disputed publication of the defendant refers to the Croatian National Tourist Board. Likewise, the website www.croatia.hr, as cited by the plaintiff, is not a page about the plaintiff nor does it exist for the purpose of promoting the plaintiff (as a public authority), but - as its name suggests - it is a page about Croatia as a tourist destination. For this very reason, the slogan "Full of life" is on that page, as the tourist slogan of Croatia.
1.3. Not one of the allegations against the defendant are disputable in this procedure - he does not address the plaintiff, he does not state or mention the plainiff, nor does he mention the plaintiff's employees. The plaintiffs' interpretations in this regard are completely irrelevant, as the impugned publication has been submitted to this file and it is quite clear what it reads and what it involves. Since the plaintiff, therefore, is not actively entitled to conduct this procedure, since the said (disputed) publication does not refer to or mention the plantiff, it is proposed - without further discussion - to reject the claim as unfounded.
2. Although the defendant considers that it is completely out of place to emphasise it in this case, we would still like to emphasise that this dispute is not because of the violation of the plaintiff's rights as a trademark holder, but for the alleged violation of the plaintiff's personality, by publishing satirical content on the defendant's Facebook page. To that extent, the plaintiff's reference to the provisions of the Trademark Act and the payment of damages, based on the Trademark Act, is completely pointless. If the plaintiff, however, does seek damages in this case, it is proposed that the court summon the plaintiff to state the legal basis of such a claim, so that the defendant is informed in time of the facts and circumstances which he must prove in this case.
2.1. Alternatively, as a precaution, the defendant points out that no provision of the Trademark Act has been violated. Article 11 of the Trademark Act, to which the plaintiff refers in their statement, refers to the possible unauthorised use of another's trademark "in commercial trade, in connection with products or services". It is indisputable that the defendant did not use anyone's trademark, and especially not the plaintiff's trademark - in trade (commercial or otherwise}, or in connection with products or services, but as a satirical illustration/comment, posted on a private Facebook page.
3. It is not disputed that the filing of a request for correction/apology or removal of the publication, as well as the request for withdrawal of the statement are not procedural preconditions for filing a lawsuit in this case. However, given that the plaintiff did not take a single action to stop the further occurrence of the alleged damage or to otherwise obtain satisfaction - it is clear that no damage was even caused to the plaintiff. The Law on Civil Obligations prescribes the primary ways to repair/put a stop to damage. The plaintiff undoubtedly didn't utilise any of those possibilities.
3.1. The decision of the Varazdin County Court cited by the plaintiff in his statement is contrary to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia, case no. Rev-1331/16, dated January 23, 2018, in which the Supreme Court explicitly recognised the removal of harmful publications as one of the important ways to stop the occurrence of further damage: "... there are no legal obstacles to making such a request. Moreover, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia found that, in cases of this kind, "there is no effective legal protection without the possibility of removing the disputed content from the Internet because otherwise proceedings for violation of [personality] rights continue, and even increase the damage caused.''
4. The defendant will not comment in more detail on the allegations of the plaintiff from item IV, since he insists that the disputed publication does not refer to the plaintiff, nor does it mention the plaintiff.
4.1. However, as a precaution, if the plaintiff continues to insist on such allegations [being true], the defendant will propose evidence of the fact that there is a sufficient factual basis to allow the plaintiff to be called/referred to as an "uhljeb" (although this is not the case here).
5. In relation to the plaintiff's allegations about the scope of the right to freedom of expression, among which they state that "freedom of expression must not be to the detriment of other human rights", the defendant points out that freedom of expression is one of the fundamental human rights. It is indisputable that this is not a right that is absolute and that it is as such subject to certain restrictions, however, it is completely incorrect that there are no circumstances in which "this may be to the detriment of other human rights".
Namely, if there is a sufficient factual basis for the publication of certain information and if the information is published in the public interest and good faith - it is allowed to damage the reputation of another person. These are the basic standards of freedom of expression that have been established in a number of decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia, as well as decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
5.1. The Decision of the County Court submitted by the plaintiff, case no. Gz-491/19, just confirms these allegations, as it explicitly establishes the general views of the European Court of Human Rights, according to which entities ''must show a greater degree of tolerance towards public criticism than private individuals are obliged to do." In this context, both the plaintiff's leadership and the plaintiff themselves, as a public authority, absolutely open up all the criteria for the application of this principle.
6. In addition, contrary to the plaintiffs' allegations, a public debate on the state of tourism has been taking place throughout the disputed period, ever since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. It is therefore undisputed that the defendant's announcement was part of a broad public debate on Croatia's ability, as a tourist destination, to cope with the challenges caused by the pandemic.
6.1. During this period, all Croatian media reported on the state of tourism and the activities and campaigns of the competent authorities, all with the aim of initiating a public debate on these issues, and finding solutions to the problems encountered by Croatian tourism. In the same period, a number of inaccurate and chaotic pieces of information about the conditions of arrival in Croatia, the conditions for crossing borders and other important circumstances that tourists should have known were spread in Croatia, as well as in the countries from which tourists come. This was, as such, commented on by numerous tourism and communication experts.
EVIDENCE:
An article entitled: "The Minister of Tourism revealed three scenarios for this year's season: It is possible that overnight stays will drop by 90 percent", Glas Istre, April 2, 2020.
- An article entitled: "Disaster on the horizon: A steep decline in tourist overnight stays - 94.8 percent fewer tourists came in May [this year] than in [May] last year", www.net.hr, June 10, 2020
- An article enttirled "Croatian tourism is on its knees: The situation is uncertain, and the announcements aren't promising: We're opening the hotel, but we have no reservations", www.net.hr, from June 1, 2020
- An article "Let's strip naked to the end/We're being stripped naked to the end! A country of missed opportunities with 314 tourist boards ", from April 10, 2020
- The hearing of witness Kresimir Macan
6.2. Tourism is one of the economic branches from which a significant number of Croatian citizens live. Additionally, Croatia's revenues from tourism reach as much as 25 percent of GDP, so there can be no doubt that the success of tourism and tourism as such is a matter of significant public interest. In addition, the plaintiff is a public authority, whose activities are financed with taxpayers' money, from the budget of the Republic of Croatia, and which is responsible for the affairs and functioning of the tourism industry in Croatia. Therefore, any member of the public or the media has the right and duty to comment, criticise and problematise their public actions and all circumstances related to the performance of tasks delegated to them.
7. In conclusion, the decision of the Constitutional Court referred to by the plaintiff in his statement is not applicable to the present proceedings. The case decided by the USRH refers to the proceedings conducted by the director of HRT against a person who stated that he was an "associate of KOS". In this case, it is, therefore, a matter of making a false and extremely harmful statement, while in this case it is a matter of satirising the tourist slogan of Croatia.
8. It is not entirely clear to the defendant why, in the present proceedings, the plaintiff mentions the “property value of the trademark” at all, since the proceedings, as stated earlier, are not about the trademark, the unauthorised use of the trademark or compensation for property damage (?). In that sense, the defendant hasn't violated the plaintiff's rights in any way. Therefore, the defendant will not comment further on this part of the plaintiff's submission.
* * * * *
Following the above, it is proposed to the court to reject the plaintiff's claim in its entirety, and to oblige the plaintiff to reimburse the defendant for the litigation costs incurred.
Poreč Summer Camps: Actively Preparing for Children and Young People
April 29, 2021 - For decades, numerous Poreč summer camps have been organized for the youngest citizens.
This is exactly the form of an organized, high-quality, and fun summer holiday and is one of the favorite choices of children, but also parents. Children and young people in camps fill their time with socializing, creative and sports activities, teamwork, education, and friendship.
Thus, the Summer Camp of the City of Poreč at the City Baths and the Entertainment Summer Base of DND, as two camps with the most participants and focused on sports, but also creative and educational activities, plan to be held in four terms: from 28.06. to 10.07., 12.07. to 24.07., 26.07. to 07.08., and 09.08. to 21.08. The city and DND are also planning cooperation for this year, about which the public will be informed in time.
Summer activities are also planned by dance associations. USB Poreč will hold a dance camp in four shifts from 21.06. to 26.06. for children from 4 to 6 years, from 28.06. to 10.07. for children from 10 to 14 years, from 12.07. to 24.07. for children from 7 to 9 years and from 26.07. to 31.07. again for children 4 to 6 years old. They are planning a summer camp for teenagers, held for the first time last year. This year it will be held from 02.08. to 14.08. MOT08 plans to hold its summer camp in two terms from 28.06. to 10.07. and 12.07. to 24.07., and both dance groups highlight the dance performances and performances they will present to the wider Poreč audience.
Poreč sports clubs also plan to host an active summer. Volleyball Club Poreč organizes summer camp in the open from 01.07. to 10.07., Poreč Handball Club from 07.07. to 30.07., in the hall Žatika, as well as the Rhythmic Sports Gymnastics Club Poreč, which will be held from 05.07. to 31.08. Athletic club Maximvs plans outdoor activities in three terms, from 05.07. to 10.7., 12.07. to 17.07. and 19.07. to 25.07. Football club Jadran Poreč is planning its summer camp in Zelena laguna from 21.06. to 03.07.
The city, associations and sports clubs will inform all interested parties about the terms of enrollment in a timely manner, as well as possible changes in the schedule and additional activities.
For more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Good and Bad of Living in Croatia: Reflections 10 Years Later
April 29, 2021 - TCN contributor Valeria Teo reflects on living in Croatia 10 years later.
I have been second-guessing myself for writing about the good and bad of living in Split. There are various online discussions on similar topics. The positive and negative comments from both local and foreign people living and/or leaving Croatia can be antagonistic. But the answers, whether they are good or bad things, are inevitably personal. So the antagonism surprises me even more than the answers themselves. This gets me to think about another irrelevant issue. Can I "complain" to and about my Croatian husband even though I do not want a divorce? I see sufficient goodness in him for us to be together. But he still annoys me on some good days and pisses me off on some really bad ones.
Back to the original question for this piece. I actually do not have better insights or more original ideas than are mentioned elsewhere. The diversity in this country can appeal to people with all sorts of preferences. All I can say is that life in Split suits me at this stage of my life: fewer people, slower pace, better climate, nicer environment, more freedom, less fear ... These are what I call the background factors. We only know we want them when we had the opposite or even none of them. And there are things we have to deal with on a daily basis: money, food, health, work, socialising, parenting, elderly care ... Daily frustration usually comes from these areas. Living in certain bubbles can avoid some of them while certain life stages can bypass the others. As we inevitably attach different weights to the background factors and give our own priority to the daily things, they affect our experiences in Croatia in myriads of ways.
My interactions with Croatia have changed in the last 10 years and so have my experiences of living here. I arrived at an age when it was difficult to find a new job or get a new friend even back home. But modern technologies kept old circles within easy reach. So I rarely found myself frustrated in those early days. Even my residency application was pretty straightforward. Having zero prior knowledge, I could not tell whether a processing time of 2-3 months was considered fast or slow. I hardly complained about MUP as my husband and I just went with their flow. They told me the most important thing I needed to know at that time: I could stay as long as the application was being processed. But we found out later that having the temporary residency approved earlier did make a difference: I had to go to the hospital without Croatian health insurance. We were busy mourning rather than crying over the hospital bill which was not big anyway.
My understanding of the Croatian health system expanded further when my prenatal visits began. That was also the time when the Croatian language bothered me time and again. But my gynecologist was trying his best to take care of me. And I learnt the most important Croatian words in that period: sve u redu. Again, I had had no previous experience in this area to compare with the one I had in Croatia. I was as contented as any woman who has a problem-free pregnancy. Labour, or I should say post-labour, was a bit bumpy and gave me a full-fledged experience of hospitalization in Croatia.
The journey actually started off really sweet as the taxi driver decided to give us a free ride to the hospital. Croatia surprises me many times and especially at a time when I least expect it. The Clinic for Women's Diseases and Obstetrics in its present building was pretty new 9 years ago. My neighbour told me afterward that the facilities were much better than the old one where she had given birth. They were indeed. I did not expect to be put in a semi-private room in a public hospital. Knowing how medical professionals work in public hospitals in Hong Kong, I tried not to bother them unless it was absolutely necessary during my 2-week stay there. I could feel that the language barrier on top of their workload stressed them further. The doctors concluded, after some tests and scans, that bed rest with a tight wrap or girdle around my hips was all I needed. Total recovery indeed came after 3 more weeks of the remedy at home. My friend told me that it was likely to be postpartum pelvic girdle pain. In hindsight, I was kind of optimistic about having my only child here. If I had known about RODA then, I might have prepared better for my pregnancy in Croatia.
The emergency room and other clinics for specialty doctors in Split hospital remind me of the public hospitals in Hong Kong: I once spent half a day in the waiting room for an ophthalmologist to check my eye for less than 10 minutes. It was the same for all the other 3 appointments that followed. Would I like to wait for less time? Absolutely! Did I complain about it? Not really, as I knew how public hospitals worked. When I learn that Hong Kong people moving to the UK have to pay 55 Euro per adult per month for the National Health Service, I have a new appreciation for the Croatian public health system despite the imperfections.
Having a child in Croatia also gets me into the most controversial and stressful sphere in life: parenting. The natural environment and safe space kids can enjoy in Croatia are second to none. That is immensely helpful to parents who stay with their children 24 hours a day. Then comes the most welcomed daily breather for all stay-at-home parents: kindergarten. While Hong Kong parents and pre-schoolers stress and work hard to get ahead, the counterparts in Croatia relax and enjoy their carefree days. Is the Croatian way a good thing? For me it is. But like everything else related to parenting, the answer really depends on whom you ask.
Opinions only get more diversified when children begin schooling. I have listened to my friends, living in different cities, talking about the good and bad of public schools, private schools, international schools... you name it. Parents in Croatia are no exception, I guess. So the conclusion is pretty simple: no school is perfect for any parent. My parents probably thought that I was in the best available schools in our neighbourhood at that time. But none of them taught me how to live in Croatia (there was only Yugoslavia anyway). I am pretty certain that no schoolwork could have prepared us for what has been happening since the pandemic started. Did schooling help me at any stage of my life? Definitely, but little has to do with the textbooks I read or the tests/examinations I passed. The ways I treat schools as a parent are very similar to how I handle life in Croatia: take full advantage of the good bits to help my son develop and get by with the "bad" parts to satisfy the institution.
One thing I like the most about schooling in Croatia is that children do have spare time. Besides enjoying their own leisure, children can explore and pursue many different activities and sports without breaking their parents' banks.
An article about the good and bad of living in Croatia cannot be complete without talking about the bureaucracy and paperwork. I have had my fair share of them after getting my residency and citizenship, buying and renovating an apartment, opening a Croatian company, and getting the required permits. In my experience, it always feels the worst in the preparatory stage. It is more about finishing one task after another once the process gets started. When I focus on the task(s) at hand without thinking too much about anything else, all the applications and procedures are hardly enjoyable but bearable.
I must also say that Croatia has come quite a long way in the last 10 years: more online services, better English websites, all kinds of English-speaking service providers, and numerous expatriate-local communities all over the country. Is it a good thing that Croatia is becoming more international and making life easier for foreigners? Everyone's opinions are different. Coming from a once international city and finding my home here as a foreigner, I only have one obvious answer.
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Croatian Cup Final: Dinamo Secures Final Spot after 4:1 Victory against Gorica
April 9, 2021 - Dinamo Zagreb advanced to the Croatian Cup final with a victory against Gorica after extra time in the semifinal match 4-1 (0-1, 1-1).
Gorica opened the match very well, took the lead with a goal by Špikić (3), but at the beginning of the second half, Mišić (46) equalized for 1-1. Dinamo's victory was secured in extra time thanks to Jakić (100), Majer (110), and Ademi (118).
Recap
Gorica took the lead thanks to an early goal the young Gorica striker Špikić, who will play for Dinamo from the summer.
Gorica was a better opponent throughout the first half. Dinamo, despite falling behind, did not create a single dangerous situation in front of the opponent's goal. At the same time, Gorica threatened from quick counterattacks but lacked precision in the end to increase the lead.
The match completely turned around at the beginning of the second half when Dinamo coach Damir Krznar introduced Ademi and Majer into the game instead of Ivanušec and Franjić.
After only 46 seconds of play in the second half, Mišić equalized with an excellent shot from 20 meters. Kastrati entered the penalty area from the right side, pulled the defense on himself, and then served Mišić with a ball to score.
In the 49th minute, Gorica was left with a player less after referee Zebec booked Keita with a second yellow. Dinamo then absolutely dominated.
Dinamo could have won before the end of the 90th minute. Oršić blew a chance in the 69th minute and decided to pass to Majer instead, while Kastrati missed with his head from four meters out in the 72nd minute.
Gorica could not hold on during the extra time. Dinamo took the lead in almost the same way that they equalized. Kastrati got the ball on the right-wing and sent the ball to Jakić, who shot from about 20 meters. Banić was helpless.
By the end of the match, Majer and Ademi set the final score in the 110th and 118th minutes, respectively, with precise low shots from the top of the penalty area.
In the final on May 19 in Velika Gorica, Dinamo will play against Istra 1961, which defeated the defending champions Rijeka 3-2 in the first semifinal two weeks ago.
Dinamo has won the Cup 15 times so far, while Istra 1961 does not have a single title.
Source: HRT
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How Many Seasonal Workers in Croatia Will Even be Needed This Year?
April the 29th, 2021 - Seasonal workers would usually be being called to action, so to speak, as Croatian tourism prepares for another busy summer full of tourists, flights, cruise ships and ferry crossings. With the coronavirus pandemic still holding the world in its grip, will there be a need for seasonal workers in Croatia at all in 2021?
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, at this moment in time, nobody really knows how many seasonal workers in Croatia will be needed this year, although it is clear that the maximum of 10 thousand seasonal employment positions won't be filled, which was of course far from the case back in pre-pandemic 2019.
Would-be seasonal workers who have applied for a job in the past few months, much like they did back during normal years, are ready to be called, but the question is still when that will happen, and whether all of them will be called at all.
Due to the uncertainty that persists in the global travel market, employers don't yet have a defined number of facilities they're set to open for the season, and it's difficult to predict how many facilities will be filled to capacity, to know how many workers they'll need.
Human resources departments are therefore in a very challenging position this year, perhaps more than last year, as has been found out from the hotel sector.
As has been found out on the MojPosao portal, so far in 2021, more than 2,000 ads have been published in the Tourism and Hospitality category. That’s 18 percent less than last year, and a worrying 51 percent fewer ads than back in 2019.
Analysts of the portal note that it must be taken into account that a comparison with last year is impossible - until mid-March last year, nobody could have begun to imagine the scale of the pandemic or the toll it would end up taking, meaning that employers in January 2020 published more than 1,000 ads in this category.
On the other hand, most catering and hospitality facilities in Croatia put their keys in their locks back at the beginning of this year, more specifically in January and February, and the doors were opened only at the beginning of March, when the then anti-epidemic measures were relaxed and terraces were opened.
“With that in mind, it's quite understandable that employers posted significantly more job advertisements during January and February last year than was the case at the beginning of 2021, just as it was expected that there'd be an increase in terms of the number of advertisements in March this year by as much as 55 percent when compared to the same period last year when a rigorous lockdown took effect. This April also doesn’t make much sense to compare to last year’s, during which a complete lockdown was still in effect, and given that 795 percent more ads were posted this year than last year.
On the other hand, if we compare this year's figures with those of 2019, we find that 38 percent fewer ads were published in March and 40 percent fewer ads were published in April than in the same period two years ago,'' explained some of those in the know when it comes to employment of this nature.
This analysis of published advertisements also shows the extent to which this year differs from last year for tourism companies, even in terms of employment planning and for seasonal workers in Croatia.
Many in the field therefore claim that their employment depends on as yet unpredictable circumstances. Maistra plans to employ up to 2,000 seasonal workers, but everything will depend exclusively on the epidemiological situation in the country and in Croatia's emitting markets.
"Back at the end of February, the employment of seasonal employees in Croatia in open facilities began, while more intensive employment is still ahead of us, so the planned number of seasonal workers in Croatia is expected to be reached successively by mid-June. Usually, the greatest need is for maids, waiters and chefs with experience, receptionists... but we're also looking for employees in other professions,'' they revealed from that large company.
Benefits for workers
As in previous years, in addition to the salary paid monthly, Maistra organises and pays for the accommodation of all of its employees who need it. Equally, their employees are entitled to two hot meals and transportation to work.
Salary supplements are paid, ie holiday pay, Christmas bonus and more. Maistra potentially withdrawing some of its staff from its Zagreb hotels (HUP Zagreb) this year as well as the company did last year, hasn't been ruled out.
Valamar says that they are opening a significant number of new seasonal jobs for each season. They noted that last year they continued with the implementation of the permanent seasonal measure and the Valamar +3 programme, which provides year-round income to their most loyal permanent seasonal workers in Croatia, and almost 900 seasonal employees are included in the programme at the minute.
"In April alone, we're going to employ all of our permanent seasonal workers again, but in moderation. After hiring our permanent seasonal workers, the priority will then be to hire our seasonal returnees, and we also expect to hire seasonal workers in the high season during the summer months. We provide our seasonal workers with a minimum net income of 5,000 kuna net for their monthly hours worked, accommodation, hot meals and other benefits,'' they pointed out from the company. Their integrated report shows that the share of permanent seasonal workers in the total share of seasonal jobs last year was 78 percent.
For Plava Laguna/Blue Lagoon, they pointed out that the employment of seasonal workers will depend on the opening of facilities, which in turn depends on the epidemiological situation, ie the measures introduced by the National Civil Protection Headquarters and the respective governments in Croatia's main emitting markets.
"During the peak season we employ about three thousand workers, half of whom are employed in one of the forms of permanent cooperation - permanent workers, permanent seasonal workers, and half are other seasonal workers. We're certainly looking for workers in the local pool, however, in the past few years we've relied on foreign workers, given the increase in capacity due to the investment cycle. In May and June, we plan to hire an additional 1,300 people, and through July an additional 250 seasonal workers, that's if we're talking about the tourist season in relatively full scope,'' they stated from the company.
There is no talk of a shortage of workers in Croatian tourism this year either, partly due to the liberalisation of labour imports. According to the MojPosao portal, in the first three months of this year, more than 34,000 applications were received for ads in the Tourism and Catering category, which is 6 percent less than last year, and a decline was recorded only in January when the catering and hospitality industry was closed.
In February alone, the number of applications for ads in the category of Tourism and Hospitality was higher by 23 percent when compared to last year, and this growth will increase dramatically in March and April, but because last year everything was closed. This year, 20 percent more applications were received at the tourism business fair and via the sezonac.hr website than there were last year.
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Croatian Wages: Levels of Increases Over Last Five Years
April the 29th, 2021 - Croatian wages are often the topic of conversation, and while things have definitely improved on the pay packet front over recent years, who has experienced the highest increases over the last five years, and who has experienced the least?
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the average net Croatian wage of employees who hold a university degree exceeded 9,000 kuna back in pre-pandemic 2019 and increased by 11 percent over the last five years, while the salaries of unskilled workers grew by 20 percent, Vecernji list reports.
Among employees in legal entities, companies and public institutions, Croatia has about 265 thousand highly educated workers who make up the second largest group of employees by education.
The most numerous are workers with a high school level education, of which there are about 595 thousand. Their average monthly wage stood at 5,460 kuna and reached 60 percent of the average salary of university graduates. According to that, schooling truly does pay off, meaning that university-educated person in Croatia earns about 109 thousand kuna per year on average, and those with a high school diploma earn much less - about 65 thousand kuna.
Three groups of employees earn more than the national average, those with a university degree, those with higher education qualifications and other highly qualified workers. A high school diploma brings about two thousand kuna less in terms of Croatian wages than a university degree does. This is equal to 7154 kuna. In Croatia there are about 98 thousand employees who have a high school diploma only. In third place are a small number of highly skilled workers - about 10,500 of them - who earned an average of 6,562 kuna before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
It has always been claimed that Croatia is chronically short of skilled workers, but this couldn't actually be concluded from looking more deeply into the movement of Croatian wages because in five years, the average wages of these groups of employees rose by only ten percent and grew the slowest in groups who do have a higher/university education.
In the last five years, the Croatian wages of about 56 thousand unskilled workers were the ones to have actually grown the fastest - by a surprising 20 percent - exceeding four thousand kuna, reports Vecernji list.
For more on Croatian wages, paying taxes, working in Croatia and much more, make sure to follow our lifestyle section.
Peljesac Bridge Works Continuing as Planned, Plenkovic Visits Site
April the 29th, 2021 - The Peljesac bridge works are continuing according to deadlines and plans, and the long anticipated bridge which will finally connect the extreme south of Dalmatia to the rest of country, avoiding crossing into and back out of neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, is well on its way to completion.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, on Tuesday in Komarna, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited the Peljesac bridge works on site, emphasising that the bridge will be connected with its span structure elements by October this year, and that it will achieve a key goal - the physical integrity of Croatian territory.
The Prime Minister also walked along Peljesac bridge, and crossed the 300-metre-long section accompanied by the Minister of Transport, Oleg Butkovic, and the director of Hrvatske ceste (Croatian roads), Josip Skoric, who introduced him to the dynamics of the Peljesac bridge works and what is currently being done.
"Today, for the first time, we had the opportunity to walk along Peljesac bridge, along these elements of the span structure. There are only 24 span structures left to come from China, and that will happen during May,'' Plenkovic told reporters.
Prime Minister Plenkovic also pointed out that at that moment we'll finally achieve our key goal - not only connecting the southern part of Dubrovnik-Neretva County with the other part of the county, but we'll achieve the physical territorial integrity of Croatian territory, which is strategic not only for the country but for the EU.
"This is, in the long run, the biggest achievement of this project worth 526 million euros, which is being financed by European Union funds," Plenkovic said, congratulating all of the contractors.
Emphasising that Peljesac bridge has a symbolic and special significance, the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic said that the dynamics of construction are all going well despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as there were no major construction delays.
He expects that the entire span structure will be connected by the end of September, and at the beginning of next year, everything will be ready for the technical inspection of the bridge. Butkovic also emphasised that in June next year, they expect traffic on Peljesac bridge and the completion of its access roads.
The President of the Management Board of Hrvatske ceste, Josip Skoric, said that the Peljesac bridge works were progressing with good intensity and expected that by the end of September, the complete span construction will be finished, followed by the tying up of loose ends. He also pointed out that the works around the access roads are going very well.
Regarding the bypass around Ston, Skoric also reported that the works, after some initial difficulties, are now progressing. "We can be satisfied with the current dynamics," he said.
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ADAC Reisemagazin Places Istria in German Media Limelight Once Again
April the 29th, 2021 - It's well known that German tourists have always adored Istria and all it has to offer, and even despite the coronavirus crisis, German license plates have still been seen in this beautiful part of the country. The German ADAC Reisemagazin places Istria in the spotlight again as German tourists seek a break abroad.
As Novac/Barbara Ban writes, as another very uncertain tourist season approaches us, Istria has once again received a lot of media attention in the German media, more precisely in ADAC's Reisemagazin, which is published six times a year and reaches 700,000 readers through its specialised channels.
This edition of the German publication has showcased the northern part of Croatia, including Istria, Kvarner and its islands, as well as Lika. Covering more than 20 pages, the ADAC Reisemagazin places Istria in the spotlight, highlighting its specialties - from culture and its rich historical heritage, to its excellent gastronomy and extra virgin olive oil, truffles, wine and prosciutto.
''In terms of marketing, the price of one page is above 20,000 euros, so it's very easy to calculate the media value of the presentation of Istria covering more than 20 pages. In this context, Istria continues to expand and strengthen its reputation through the influential ADAC. ADAC is the largest German and European automobile club with more than 21 million members. In addition to their camping guide; the popular camper "Bible" which is the most important source of information for German guests, this time the presentation of Istria was made in a specialised magazine produced by Motorpresse Stuttgart on behalf of ADAC and which also produces many other influential publications such as: Auto.Motor.Sport, Outdoor, PRO MOBIL Caravaninig and Motorrad and Men's Health.
This big project was realised with the assistance of our PR agent: the ART redaktions Team from Salzburg, which this year was named among the 10 most influential PR agencies for the German-speaking area in competition with more than 320 agencies that were also nominated,'' stated the director of Istria's Tourist Board, Denis Ivosevic.
He also added that Istria has taken a firm position at the top of the list of the most popular destinations-regions to which German guests want to travel, and as the ADAC Reisemagazin places Istria on 20 glossy pages, that number is certain to rise.
In an article entitled Coronakrise verändert das Reiseverhalten im Sommer/The crisis caused by coronavirus which is changing summer holiday habits, published initially back on October the 8th, 2020, the ADAC published the results of the most sought-after travel routes of its members throughout pandemic-dominated 2020. The survey included 350,000 inquiries, conducted between May and September. It turned out that the Istrian peninsula remained the first choice of members of German campers even in these difficult times of crisis, Ivosevic pointed out.
Namely, the famous German car club ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, conducts testing on the topic of holiday travel by car between 1.7 million routes compiled for its members by ADAC experts each and every year. The research includes data on the use of ADAC's Routenplanner, which is used as information to trace itineraries to destinations where German travellers spend their holidays.
''ADAC members chose Istria for the first time as their favourite holiday region in the results collected back during 2010. From then until today - so longer than a decade - Istria has remained the leader on the annual list of planned trips of members of this German car club. After Istria, Upper Bavaria, South Tyrol, Lake Garda and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region have alternated in their rankings over the years. In addition, the popularity of Istria is increasing from year to year by several percentages. The flattering results of many years of ADAC research greatly contribute to the marketing distribution and better perception of Istria as a destination in Germany, the most important target market of Istrian tourism. In addition to that, diversification in relation to other tourist regions contributes to the strengthening of the Istrian brand and its media presence in the German and Western European area. The results of the ADAC research are published in the ADAC Motorwell magazine, which is published in more than 13 million copies, and on their website,'' added Ivosevic.
Of course, the German market is the most important for Istria, especially in this current situation. Last year, in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Germany showed its great loyalty to this part of Croatia, arriving despite difficulties and uncertainties.
''Last year was extremely challenging for all of us. Nothing could be planned in either epidemiological or tourist terms, situations occurred and changed on a daily basis, guests' habits changed completely due to new rules of conduct, everything happened at the last second. In addition, the emitting markets reacted differently. Italy, Austria and the Netherlands almost "forgot" us. The Slovenians, Czechs and Poles achieved some excellent results, and clearly, as has happened many times before, the Germans have once again shown that they are our most important and most loyal market and I'd say an inexhaustible source for our tourism. This is especially important in the conditions we had last year. The Germans realised close to 35 percent of all overnight stays and if it weren't for them, the resuls of the tourist year would have been completely different, they wouldn't have been good. In terms of marketing, everything we do, the biggest result or conversion we get from the German market.
Therefore, these publications, targetted campaigns, strategic partnerships, PR activities, and especially the awards and recognition we've received from the German market, are always those which hold the most weight,'' concluded Ivosevic as ADAC Reisemagazin places Istria high on a very prestigious list once again.
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EHF EURO Cup: Croatia Handball Winning Streak Continues with Win against Slovakia
April 29, 2021 - The Croatia handball winning streak continued on Wednesday night after defeating Slovakia in Varaždin.
After Hungary and Spain, the Croatia men's senior national team also beat Slovakia in the EHF EURO Cup (32:24) and continued their winning streak. In three competition games, Croatia has recorded three victories. There will be a rematch in Varaždin tonight.
SLOVAKIA: T. Paul 4/12, M. Žernovič 7/31, P. Hruščak - / -, T. Rečičar - / -, M. Briatka 1/2, J. Prokop 3/6, T. Urban 6/7, L. Duriš 2/4, L. Pechy 1/4, M. Kovačech 1/3, T. Bornar 1/1, L. Urban 2/2, D. Calafut 4/6, M. Slaninka 2/2, M. Jakub 1/4 Coach: Peter Kukučka
CROATIA: I. Pešić 8/38, M. Mandić 2/8, L. Mihić 5/5, A, Gadža 4/4, V. Načinović - / -, T. Kušan 2/2, I. Čupić 2/4, L. Šebetić 4/5, V. Matanović 1/2, D. Mandić 5/6, N. Grahovac 1/1, T. Lučin 2/6, M. Maraš 4/6, L. Šušnja 1/2, F. Grubisic 1/2, D. Pavlović 1/2 Coach: Hrvoje Horvat
Of the 18 players available, coach Hrvoje Horvat decided to send Karel Godec and Fran Mile to the stands. The new extremely young Croatia, with as many as seven debutants, and without a whole series of their stars, started the match with Pešić in goal, D. Mandić on the left, I. Čupić as the captain on the right, L. Šušnja as the pivot, and Domagoj Pavlović, Tin Lučin and Luka Šebetić on the outside positions.
Both teams started with a 6:0 defense. Croatia's defense reacted brilliantly in the opening. They stole three balls from Slovakia and, in less than five minutes, went to 5:1. Ivan Pešić had several saves, and in the 13th minute, it was 7:3.
Slovakia was saved from a complete flood of goals in that period thanks to the excellent Marian Žernovič, who collected six saves in the 15th minute. Slovakia also changed the defense and reached a 7:7 draw.
Horvat rotated a lot in the first half. Given the huge number of players who found themselves on the court together for the first time, the game was not as fluid and beautiful as expected. However, Croatia did not allow Slovakia to take the lead for a single moment. In fact, at the end of the first half, Croatia scored a 6:0 series and left Slovakia without a goal for eight minutes. Croatia calmly went to the break with a six-goal difference (16:10).
It took Croatia a full three minutes to score the first goal in the second half. Admittedly, even more for Slovakia. Croatia's net finally shook for the 11th time after four and a half minutes of play. Croatia's defense was very mobile and aggressive, and Slovakia called a timeout after only seven minutes of play because Croatia was already nine goals ahead (20:11). Croatia's biggest advantage was +11. Debut goals were scored by Kušan, Maraš, Grubišić, Lučin.
Croatia's best scorers were David Mandić and Lovro Mihić, with five goals each. Tomas Urban was best for Slovakia with six goals.
Source: HRS
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