Croatia's World Cup finalists were welcomed by 555,000 people in Zagreb on Monday.
The Croatia national football team lost to France in the World Cup final, though you'd have no idea based on the unbelievable welcome our Vatreni received upon returning to Croatia on Monday.
Police estimated that some 550,000 people greeted Croatia on the route from the airport, in the city center, and at Ban Jelačić Square where the crowning ceremony took place.
Becuase there are too many images to count and not enough that can do this remarkable day justice, here's a look at some of our favorite moments from Croatia's historic football day.
The calm before the storm...
Tisuće navijača pristiže na već puni Trg. @hrtvijesti #Doček #Zagreb #Vatreni #WorldCup #CRO pic.twitter.com/PMW2VfIsL7
— Puška (@d_puskaric) July 16, 2018
NEOPISIVO #ThatFeeling pic.twitter.com/iivETuewJa
— Puška (@d_puskaric) July 16, 2018
They’re coming home to a hero’s welcome! #CRO #Zagreb #vatreni pic.twitter.com/R6NL0EIheH
— The Voice of Croatia (@VoiceofCroatia) July 16, 2018
Zagreb gori... @hrtvijesti @HRT4Studio4 pic.twitter.com/8pkvfvTY5d
— Eugen Husak (@EugenHusak) July 16, 2018
Zagreb gori!!!! #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/wvNfzjIyKV
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
Their arrival...
? #Vatreni? are back! ??#BeProud #Croatia #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/kAjAxXIYqZ
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
Ludnica je počela već na aerodromu. #Zagreb #CRO #Croatia pic.twitter.com/fcrwt5fXKQ
— HRT Sport (@HRTsport) July 16, 2018
The route...
?? #Vatreni, dobrodošli natrag / Welcome back! ?#BudiPonosan #FlamingPride #Obitelj #Family pic.twitter.com/CA4COWn4Hq
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
"Moja domovina" - kad Vatreni povedu pjesmu pic.twitter.com/u9FDxUzsUk
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
#Vatreni atmosfera na vrhuncu pic.twitter.com/P2gAUBdEVF
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
??#Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/GF4bWz3lG0
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
Šime Vrsaljko went down from the bus and sat on the motorcycle of the police officer that was escorting them to the Ban Jelacic square. Legend ???? pic.twitter.com/lCQhrhTdrX
— Arzim (@aka_X) July 16, 2018
#Vatreni pic.twitter.com/5boO9FDWVF
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
?? What a welcome for #WorldCup silver medallist in Zagreb. ??#BeProud #CRO #FlamingPride #Vatreni? #Family pic.twitter.com/v0HqUFc8aZ
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
?⚪ People of #Croatia welcome the nation's idols. ?⚪#FlamingPride #BeProud #WorldCup #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/29AUEbrIQS
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
Nestvarno #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/nYpXPC5HIo
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
luka modric celebrating with a flare is the most croatian thing i've ever seen #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ffmMZy2b8Q
— claire (@clairelybetter) July 16, 2018
Dalić in tears
And it continues...
#Zagreb trenutno - snimke iz zraka pic.twitter.com/sPmTeTZAjd
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
Unreal. ??#BeProud #WorldCup #Family #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/27rLUZCdlQ
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
And we are back where we belong!!!!! ???? #iznadsvihhrvatska #BeProud #Vatreni #worldcup #TakoJeLijepoVidjetiVasOpet pic.twitter.com/oRVM7foLME
— Mateo Kovačić (@Mateo_Kova23) July 16, 2018
???????? pic.twitter.com/4zkvObONq2
— Ivan Rakitic (@ivanrakitic) July 16, 2018
? Night falls in Zagreb. #Croatia still celebrates. ? #BeProud #Family #WorldCup #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/NxdwCx8Nya
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
#Vatreni kod HNK pic.twitter.com/3k9kSMhbcI
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
#FunFact: #Vatreni? su sletjeli na zagrebački aerodrom u 15:22 #WorldCup #Croatia pic.twitter.com/BTqLhELS3a
— HRT Sport (@HRTsport) July 16, 2018
Amazing. ?#BeProud?? #WorldCup #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/YjaRzHLvMg
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 16, 2018
1) Zagreb u 15:14 16.07.2018.
— HRT Sport (@HRTsport) July 16, 2018
2) Zagreb u 20:23 16.07.2018. pic.twitter.com/t1wtcuwUqv
#Vatreni #neopisivo pic.twitter.com/TTDQffEnC7
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
Nadamo se da #Vatreni čitaju poruke :) pic.twitter.com/klaDATFxcG
— HRT vijesti (@hrtvijesti) July 16, 2018
Samo za ovaj prizor isplatilo se voziti po Zagrebu šest sati! #Croatia #CRO #WorldCup #Zagreb #Neopisivo pic.twitter.com/vEIrrhegVs
— HRT Sport (@HRTsport) July 16, 2018
Thank you Croatia - never been more proud in my life! #zagreb #croatia #russia2018 // video by Zagreb 360 pic.twitter.com/rVzRWHxdvx
— Zlatko Dalić (@DalicZlatko) July 17, 2018
Moja domovina. #Croatia #CRO #Zagreb pic.twitter.com/aXhwxDSzqa
— HRT Sport (@HRTsport) July 16, 2018
And Mateo Kovačić: "We're as drunk as cats!"
