June 5, 2022 - France and Croatia press conferences were held at Poljud Stadium on Sunday ahead of the UEFA Nations League match on Monday in Split. 

The France captain for tomorrow's match, Presnel Kimpembe, and France coach Didier Deschamps opened the press conference at Poljud. 

Who will be the France captain? How will you play an exhausted Griezmann?

"Kimpembe will be the captain, no doubt about it. As for Griezmann, I will not judge him by one game as you do. At the end of the season, the situation is complicated for everyone. But, both for us and for Croatia, not everyone is fresh, that is clear."

Will the tactics change because you are without some of your big players? 

"We have to give a chance to other players. For example, Lloris is the main goalkeeper, but we must also give Mike Maignan a chance to play. We planned to change before, and there are no surprising changes."

Will Mbappe play against Croatia?

"We have not given up on Mbappe for the match, We have five injured players, including Benzema. We will see who will be ready for the match."

How do you see this rejuvenated Croatia?

"It should be noted that Croatia started the game well, but Austria was fresher. We are used to playing against Croatia and I hope that the game will be positive for us."

France held a training session in which four players trained on a stationary bike, while the others practiced on the pitch. Mbappe, Kounde, Kante, and Coman trained on stationary bikes, while Benzema ran laps around the pitch. 

Coach Zlatko Dalić and captain Luka Modrić opened the press conference for Croatia. Luka was asked questions first: 

"We did not expect that defeat against Austria. It was a tough defeat for us. We need to look forward and not calculate too much and be depressed about it. We have France tomorrow. It's never nice to lose but maybe it's good to lose sometimes to see where our mistakes are. It's not easy to win when we aren't at our best. We will see tomorrow.

We need to be focused. We know a tough game awaits us. We know our record against France isn't great. We are still waiting for a win. We need to believe that we can win. It'll be a full Poljud. We need to use that as a motive and turn around that losing streak. 

We know it's tough for everyone at the end of the season. It's not easy to play 4 games in 11 days in the Nations League. You are put in that situation and you need to pull through. Maybe these games would be better played in a mini-tournament instead of like this. But this is how it is. We need to be maximally focused, give our all, and do all that we can. That's how we have been preparing for tomorrow."

What about playing against Benzema?

"We both feel amazing. Everything we have done this year is amazing. Winning the 5th Champions League title is incredible. Benzema and I haven't spoken about this game yet. I just hope he won't be in the same form as he has been for tomorrow's game."

Coach Zlatko Dalić took the floor. 

"It was not a good loss. We didn't expect that against Austria. All of my losses have been in the Nations League, but we need to keep our heads up and see what we can do. We want to make up for the loss against Austria. 

Belgium, France, England, and Croatia all lost in the first round of the Nations League. Even with France playing without some of their starters tomorrow, their second team is incredible. They will always be amazing - we need to make sure we are. Every game for Croatia is important. We want to stay in the Elite Nations League."

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

ZAGREB, 5 June 2022 - In the first quarter of 2022, banks in Croatia recorded a total profit of HRK 1.57 billion, up 46% on the year, the central bank said earlier this week.

The profit improved the indicators of banks' profitability in relation to the end of 2021, with the return on assets increasing from 1.2 to 1.25% at the end of March and the return on equity from 8.8 to 9.5%.

All 23 banks operated at a profit. The highest profit was generated by Zagrebačka Banka (HRK 618 million), followed by Erste (HRK 279.4m) and Privredna Banka Zagreb (HRK 227.5m).

In Q1 2022, credit institutions' assets totalled HRK 506.2 billion, up 1.1% from the end of 2021.

Zagrebačka Banka had the highest assets at the end of March (HRK134.3 billion, up 1.41% from the end of 2021), followed by Privredna Banka Zagreb (HRK 107bn, up 2.14%) and Erste (HRK 86.9bn, up 5%).

The key indicators of the banking system's capitalisation in Q1 2022 remained high. The system's total capital rate dropped to 25.6 from 25.9% at the end of 2011. All credit institutions had a higher total capital rate than the required 8% minimum.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.

June 5, 2022 - Five months from the start of the next World Cup, many Croatian footballers will surely have to make decisions to secure a place in their national teams. Ivan Perišić recently signed for Tottenham, but which of his teammates could follow in his footsteps?

Typically, players looking to secure a World Cup ticket would switch clubs up to a year before kick-off, giving them a full season to prove themselves. On the other hand, some were waiting precisely for June to arrive to play the World Cup and for it to serve as a jumper to stardom. This year is an atypical one, as the 2022 World Cup will take place in November, in the middle of the club football season. That is why those players who are looking for more minutes or a higher level of competition are already starting to change clubs this summer.

This is the case for many national teams, and one of them will surely be that for Croatian footballers. The Croatia national team has gone through many changes since the World Cup in Russia in 2018, where it touched the glory of reaching the final. Several Croatian footballers announced their retirements from the national team, such as Ivan Rakitić and Danijel Subašić, and others even announced their definitive retirement from football, such as Mario Mandžukić or Vedran Čorluka.

For this reason, and despite the fact that Zlatko Dalić can still count on players like Modrić, Brozović, Kovačič, Vida, or Kramarić, the national team has seen the arrival of new Croatian footballers who are looking to make a place for themselves for the next World Cup. To do this, they must find an ideal club where they have enough playing time and a suitable level of competition to convince Dalić and his staff. Ivan Perišić, who has a guaranteed place in the Croatian team, has recently completed his transfer from Inter Milan, with whom he decided not to renew his contract, to Tottenham London. Which Croatian footballers could follow in his footsteps?

Josip Juranović

Josip Juranović has taken over the right-back position on the Croatia national team, which seemed to have no competition with Šime Vrsaljko. However, injuries and lack of minutes for Vrsaljko at Atlético de Madrid added to the high level shown by Juranovic in the qualifiers and at EURO 2020, seem to have changed things. Juranović, who played five years at Hajduk Split, has had a great season at Celtic Glasgow, a club he joined in August 2021 from Legia Warsaw. In just one season, he became an undisputed starter and even the one responsible for taking penalties for his team. Juranović was instrumental in Celtic defending the title in a tight season with the Rangers, and his performances earned him a place in the team of the tournament. Juranović could continue with Celtic and play in the Champions League, but he is also aware that important clubs want him, such as England's Leicester City. The market value of the Croatian defender is 4 million euros, and it remains to be seen what decision he will make this summer.

Photo: Igor Kralj/PIXSELL

Borna Sosa

On the other side of the Croatian defense, Borna Sosa is a player who has also aroused the interest of important clubs in Europe. Despite the controversial media case of being tempted by the German national team and later apologizing to the Croatian fans, the left-back is part of Dalić's plans and he vindicated himself with his performances in the qualifiers, showing his high level both in defense and in the attack. Despite not having been a great season for his club, Stuttgart, the Croatian was an undisputed starter and somehow the end of the season brought a lot of joy to his team and the city, avoiding relegation with a goal at the last minute on the last fixture of the German Bundesliga. Borna, who arrived at Stuttgart in 2018 after playing for Dinamo Zagreb, could now make the big leap to a European giant. According to various sources, both FC Barcelona and Manchester United have asked about the Croatian defender, who has a market value of 20 million euros.

Photo: Davor Javorovic/PIXSELL

Nikola Vlašić

The talented and hard-working midfielder is not having the best time of his career. Despite arriving as West Ham's big signing for the 2021/22 season, Vlašić has made just 19 appearances in the English Premier League, most starting from the bench. The same has happened in the Europa League, where he failed to secure a place in the ideal eleven despite his versatility both in the center and on the wings. This lack of playing time could affect his role in the national team, despite the fact that Dalić and his staff consider Vlašić to be an undisputed player among the rest of Croatian footballers. Therefore, the Split-born footballer could consider a loan or force an exit. The 24-year-old midfielder may find a loan the easiest way to add more minutes unless he decides to continue fighting for a place in the London team.

Photo: Igor Kralj/PIXSELL

Luka Sučić

Sučić has been one of the great surprises on the Croatia national team. Despite not being a big part of Croatia's journey to the World Cup in Qatar, the 19-year-old midfielder's talent has not gone unnoticed, even in a team with plenty of top midfielders. A regular at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, the country where he was born, Luka has enjoyed a season full of minutes and success, after winning the Austrian league title and making important appearances in the UEFA Champions League. Luka has a current market value of 20 million, and two European giants have their eyes on the Croatian midfielder: AC Milan and Liverpool, two teams where he will have to compete a lot to earn a place, but which would greatly raise his status ahead of the next World Cup.

Photo: Vjeran Zganec Rogulja/PIXSELL

Ante Rebić

Rebić's case is a very complicated one. The striker, who was one of the great sensations at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has suddenly lost Dalić's confidence. Not precisely because of his performance, since the striker has shown a high level both in Frankfurt and AC Milan, the latter with which he became champion of Serie A. Rather, Rebić was removed from the national team after criticizing his own manager, Zlatko Dalić, after the EURO 2020 campaign. It is up to Rebić himself if he wants to regain the confidence of the national coach and a place in the squad, and to do so he must also consider his future at AC Milan, as according to various sources, the Italian team would be thinking of selling him to invest in other players.

Photo: Slavko Midzor/PIXSELL

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

June 5, 2022 - The National Environmental Awards 2022-Green Prix were awarded on Saturday night at the Greencite Festival, being presented by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Davor Filipovic. Renowned Croatian photographer Mario Romulic received the Greenlider 2022 award.

The National Environmental Awards are given by the ministry in partnership with the Greencite Festival, the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, and in cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), reports N1.

Minister Davor Filipovic noted that this award was being presented on the occasion of World Environment Day, June 5, which is celebrated in a special way this year with a conference in Stockholm, 50 years after the first conference on environmental protection was held.

The unique message of the conference was, he added, that the next 10 years should be years of action in resolving the triple planetary crisis - climate, biodiversity, and pollution, and achieving the goals of sustainable development.

“The transition, the transformation towards different models of management and operation and different models of production and consumption is not easy and cannot happen overnight. However, there are those in our society who, with their special commitment and creativity, are making positive changes", said Minister Filipovic, before congratulating all of the winners.

Photo: Davor Puklavec/PIXSELL

The National Environmental Awards - Green Prix were awarded in six categories.

The Green Prix for the green campaign in 2022 was won by Hanza Media with the project "Reduce bills, turn on the sun!", and the best green innovation was awarded to Ecolant, an ecological lantern made of non-combustible paper.

The award in the category of local and regional self-government as drivers of green change went to the City of Varazdin for the project "Solar Potential Map", while in the category of education for climate future the award was won by the Ivo Padovan High School in Blato, for the project called ''Practice to Excellence, Renewable Energy,'' which involved the installation of a 10kwh photovoltaic power plant on the school building.

The winner who has been most successful in decarbonizsng the community was the well known company Valamar Riviera and EON Croatia.

Photo: Davor Puklavec/PIXSELL

According to the decision of the general public, the award for Greenlider 2022 was won by Mario Romulic, the renowned Croatian wildlife photographer, who, during the pandemic, began work on his property, OPG Cudesna suma, where he organises workshops and creates and grows "Food Forests" in which they imitate young forest natural bio-systems combining the concept of orchards and gardens.

"Love and observe nature, learn from nature and live in harmony with nature,'' Mario Romulic said when accepting the award.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

June 5, 2022 - The latest flight news to Croatia as a LOT Croatia expansion is on the horizon due to an increasing number of Polish tourists booking a Croatian holiday. 

Ex Yu Aviation reports that Polish airline LOT will expand its presence in Croatia beyond the eight routes between Poland and Croatia this summer. LOT currently serves five cities in Croatia with 170,000 seats on sale between Poland and Croatia this season alone. Namely, from Warsaw to Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and Rijeka, from Krakow to Split, from Rzeszow to Zadar and from Zielona Gora to Rijeka. The Polish airline's main competitors between Poland and Croatia are Wizz Air and Ryanair.

“This summer we will fly 28 times per week between Poland and Croatia. Most Polish nationals come to Croatia by car. However, I hope that we will jointly develop solutions so that we can save our compatriots a car trip and that everyone can fly with LOT. Last year, we transported over 33,000 Poles to Croatia, and we hope for a much better result this year. I also hope that Croats will visit Poland in greater numbers," said the carrier’s CEO, Rafał Milczarski.  

"Croatia is becoming more and more popular among our passengers each year and is becoming of interest for travelers outside of Warsaw as well. As we continue to increase our offer, both Zagreb and Croatia as a whole are becoming popular for short weekend breaks as well," he added.

“Our performance in Croatia is the result of consistent work by our team as well as the growing popularity of Croatia in Poland and the increasing number of Poles who want to come to Croatia within two hours," said LOT Board Member for Commercial Affairs, Michal Fijoł.  

Ex Yu Aviation adds that Zagreb Airport has seen a growing demand from secondary cities in Poland. Before the pandemic, Zagreb saw a lot of traffic from Poland’s second-largest city Krakow, with over 5,000 people traveling between the two cities in 2019 that year on a single itinerary. The cities of Gdansk, Wroclaw, Poznan and Katowice followed.

LOT has bases in Krakow and Katowice, meaning Zagreb could be served with Embraer E170, E175, and the Dash 8 turboprop which can seat 70-80 passengers. 

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

June the 5th, 2022 - The Split Promet bus service is set to introduce some important changes as of next month, with a new e-ticketing system likely to make life easier for this summer's many passengers.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, recently a new e-ticketing system was presented at the Zlatna vrata cinema for the Split Promet bus service, which will be partially launched from the 1st of July, 2022.

The value of the project stands at almost 24 million kuna, with 60.48 percent having been financed by the European Union (EU). The suppliers of the system are King ICT and Corvus Info, as reported by Slobodna Dalmacija.

The system for the Split Promet bus service was presented by Zoran Ranogajec, Head of Key Customers at King ICT.

"We're getting closer to large and developed cities and we currently have the most advanced system in all of Croatia. Its modules include vending machines, ticket sales, ticket sales from drivers but with the use of bank cards, applications for controllers, in-vehicle ticket validators, and mobile and web applications available via the Android and iOS platforms,'' said Ranogajec.

He noteed that with this system, ticket purchases for the Split Promet bus service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and those tickets will be able to be validated upon boarding the bus, and passengers will also be provided with tickets in electronic form. In addition to all of that, there will be a map of the lines and location of the new ticket machines throughout the city.

Timetable information for the Split Promet bus service will be made constantly available in real time, and there will be panels with information on the city's local bus lines at the stations and at the terminal itself, and this will also be possible to view via the web application.

Miroslav Delic, the the Split Promet bus service's director, said that the implementation of the system will take place as of the beginning of July to the beginning of August and pointed out that the current zonal tariff model will change.

"Now each local self-government unit determines the tariff according to its revenues, the changes are in line with the Traffic Recovery Plan from 2019 to 2023. We're realising a vision that many once viewed with a healthy dose of disbelief. The direction in which public transport will continue to develop remains in the domain of politics,'' concluded Delic.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

June the 5th, 2022 - The well known Croatian Valamar company has purchased yet another Austrian hotel in a popular ski resort, as it eyes further expansion and the offer of permanent work contracts for its employees.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, the Croatian Valamar company is continuing to expand its portfolio in Obertauern, Austria, by acquiring the luxury Hotel Kesselspitze, which will thus become the third Valamar-run hotel in Obertauern and the first Valamar Collection hotel in Austria. The Hotel Kesselspitze has so far been owned by the Lürzer family, which is recognised as a leader in development and innovation in the entire Obertauern destination.

The internationalisation of the Croatian Valamar company's overall portfolio with a focus being placed on winter destinations in the Alpine region is one of the company's strategic goals from back in 2018 with the opening of the first 4 * hotel, the Valamar Obertauern Hotel. The company's expansion in Austria continued throughout the year 2021 through the acquisition of the Marietta Hotel in Obertauern and the establishment of a new ownership structure within Valamar A GmbH, an SPV company in which Valamar has a minority investor but provides hotel management services to the entire portfolio.

The Hotel Kesselspitze 5 * is otherwise one of the most famous and recognisable hotels in Obertauern, it boasts 66 rooms, a restaurant, an indoor pool and wellness facilities, and enjoys an excellent location with direct access to the nearby ski slopes. The Valamar Collection brand represents the highest level of services and comfort for guests, as well as a range of services that Valamar will offer to guests. As the first Valamar Collection hotel in all of Austria, it will open its doors during the winter season of 2022/2023.

"The internationalisation of business by expanding our portfolio in winter destinations in the Alps is a strategic goal of Valamar. The acquisition of the third hotel in Obertauern represents another important step in the realisation of business synergies, especially the employment of our seasonal employees for the whole year,'' said Zeljko Kukurin, CEO of Valamar Riviera.

The Croatian Valamar company plans to continue investing in the quality of its portfolio in nearby Austria.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.

June the 5th, 2022 - Northern European tourists including Germans and Brits have dominated in terms of the number of Dubrovnik-Neretva County overnight stays so far this year.

The pre-season has been absolutely excellent so far, with tourists coming from far and wide to spend time up and down the country now that the vast majority of European countries, including Croatia, have scrapped their coronavirus-induced epidemiological restrictions following two very stale and toilsome years.

With the very height of the boiling summer tourist season now very rapidly approaching, it seems that the country can finally count on reaching the figures of the pre-pandemic, record year of 2019 and filling its pockets once again. Tourism is by far Croatia's strongest economic branch, accounting for as much as 20 percent of its overall GDP, so floods of tourists and high numbers being recorded within the eVisitor system can't come soon enough for the enfeebled sector.

As Morski writes, when it comes to Dubrovnik-Neretva County overnight stays, foreign guests from European countries such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, France, and the rest of the Republic of Croatia realised the most overnight stays, with guests from across the pond in the United States also adding to that, local portal eDubrovnik writes.

From the beginning of the year to the end of May 2022, 964,761 Dubrovnik-Neretva County overnight stays were realised. When compared to the same period back in 2021, there were 343 percent more overnight stays achieved, which is very encouraging indeed.

Most overnight stays from January to the end of May were realised by tourists from the rest of of Europe, including neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, Great Britain, Croatia, Germany, and France, followed by guests from the United States of America.

When compared to the record year of 2019, there was an increase in overnight stays from the domestic market and from Ireland, while 77 percent of overnight stays came from the United Kingdom, 67 percent from Germany, 78 percent from France and 62 percent came from further afield in the United States.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.