November 24, 2020 - In 2020, more than ever, the primordial connection between people is important, which is the guiding thought of Split Advent 2020, which will be held under the slogan 'Love unites us'.

From November 28 to January 6, Split will become a source of new hope, relying on the love that unites each person with their loved ones, even when, due to the pandemic, they are deprived of intimacy and the warm embrace of others. During the Advent period, Christmas and light installations, pine trees, and decorations will be set up in many locations throughout the city, and a varied outdoor music program has been prepared.

The concept of Split Advent 2020, 'Love unites us', is based on four Advent candles as symbols of Christmas time. In the first week of Advent, the prophet's candle is lit and brings hope and anticipation of the great celebration of Jesus' birth. With the second Bethlehem candle, we approach that day through the symbolism of peace and forgiveness. The third, shepherd's candle, brings joy and happiness, while the final angel's candle is the largest and symbolizes love. According to the themes of each candle, Split Advent will be imbued with messages of hope, peace, joy, and love, and this year's Advent logo has been appropriately enriched. On certain letters, there is a flame motif to connect it with the four candles, the Split Tourist Board announced.

Because of the epidemiological situation, visitors will be best able to express their love for their loved ones at Advent events by respecting prescribed safety measures such as mandatory protective masks or keeping a physical distance. Longtime organizers of Split Advent, the City of Split, the Split Tourist Board, and Spalatum D.M.C, place the health of citizens in the absolute first place, which is shown by committing the extremely popular holiday houses with food, drinks, and souvenirs from the entire Advent offer of the City.

Love will connect visitors to the four main locations of Split Advent 2020 on the Riva, Josip Juraj Strossmayer Park (Đardin), Marmontova, the Chapel of Holy Arnir and Gajo Bulat Square and at several other smaller, but equally attractive, locations and events:

Riva

The city waterfront will be a source of beautiful music and gorgeous light attractions. At the new, but also already traditional concerts every weekend from 11:00 am, the sounds of classical music, opera arias, and many other styles and performers will resound, which will evoke a sublime Christmas atmosphere. The youngest will be delighted by special programs to celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas and St. Lucia, as well as Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at 10:30 am. There is also the Advent Split Gourmet Expo, an exhibition of restaurants that will awaken all the senses. Stop for a walk through this unforgettable location, see the illuminated fountain and palm trees, multimedia attractions on the sea's surface, listen to music bands and record that moment at one of the themed Christmas photo points.

Đardin

Split's favorite Advent location, Josip Juraj Strossmayer Park, better known as Đardin, will create Christmas magic with its vibrant decorations. Don't miss the lighting of the first Advent candle, one of the symbols of this year's Advent, on November 28 at 6:00 pm. The lighting of the first candle also marks the grand opening of this year's Split Advent, which will be magnified by opera soloist Franka Pleština Stanić and pianist Zoran Velić. This music duo is part of the program of the 50th anniversary of the Music Youth of Split and the 24th International Choral Festival CRO PATRIA, an event that has been successfully complemented with Advent in Split for years. In the middle of the romantic space of Đardin, you will be able to enjoy the intimate atmosphere of the ice skating rink under Advent lights and Christmas decorations.

Marmontova

Leading up to Christmas, Marmontova Street turns into a photo exhibition titled 'Turn to Love' by the Split Photo Club as a way to recall the memories of people full of joy, love, and hugs. The sponsorship of OTP banka allows you to see the exhibits from the time when we wandered carelessly through the streets of the city and celebrated Christmas, and will convince you that one day, everyone will be together again.

Museum of Fine Arts & Chapel of Holy Arnir

The main attraction within this year's Art Gallery will be the Christmas nativity scene by artist Loren Živković Kuljiš. From mid-December, all passers-by will be able to visit the Chapel of Holy Arnir and enjoy this indispensable part of the Christmas holidays.

Gajo Bulat Square

The ramparts that complete the otherwise magical Gajo Bulat Square will shine with messages of hope, peace, joy, and love, as well as attractive light installations. Leave your Christmas messages in the 'Box of good wishes', under the auspices of the Croatian Lottery. The most sincere and beautiful messages will be rewarded via social networks. A special musical treat will be street musicians, the magic of the theater square.

This year, the Bethlehem Light, organized by the Split Scout Choir, will arrive at the Saint Domnious Cathedral, while holiday tastes will be emphasized by the well-known Gastroadvent event by Olja Martinić. Every Sunday, Split restaurants will show their culinary skills with the festive lighting of Advent candles and the flavors of Mediterranean fish. The programs Advent on Pjaca, Advent on Obrov, Advent on Marmontova, and Advent in the Park should not be missed.

For the first time, this year, as many as three culinary events are also included in the Advent program in Split. At the Split Gourmet Expo 2020, the 15th Pearl of the Sea & the 6th Grand Gourmet, organized by the Chefs of the Mediterranean and European Regions (ŠKMER), you can follow the bartender competition, the presentation of top gastronomy, and the restaurant exhibition. The Advent cultural program in Split will be held in cooperation with museums and theaters, while the Croatian National Theater, the City Puppet Theater, the City Youth Theater, and the Golden Gate Cinema will have a special Advent program, too.

Source: Dalmatinski Portal

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November 23, 2020 - What if remote workers could combine the world of digital nomad work, play and living in one place - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and retirement home of a Roman Emperor, perhaps? Well now you can thanks to three enterprising female entrepreneurs in Split. 

Having been brought up a Brit, it is hard to admit I have a hero who is Australian. Actually, not one, but three - all inspiring ladies from the Croatian diaspora who moved to Croatia to try their luck in the land of their ancestors. 

And all three have succeeded, despite the many obstacles thrown in their way. It has been a pleasure to cheer from the sidelines as I have charted their path to success. And now a new chapter, as my three heroes have teamed up together for the first time to offer the option of digital nomad work, play and living in one exciting concept - located in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former retirement home of a Roman Emperor no less - Diocletian's Palace in Split. 

There is a lot of buzz and talk about digital nomads in Croatia at the moment. A combination of the initiative to make Croatia only the sixth country in the world to offer such a visa, as well as the realisation that Croatia's current accidental tourism 'strategy' needs an urgent reset, has had many tourism providers looking to cater to this new digital nomad tourism opportunity. 

Most are completely missing the point. 

It has been mildly amusing to see the number of businesses in Croatia who are suddenly advertising themselves as digital nomad friendly, as though a bed and reasonable WiFi is all that is required. While both are a prerequisite, there is a little more to it than that. Two of the major planks of a successful digital nomad tourism offer, at least in my humble opinion, are lifestyle and community. Travelling the world is a rewarding experience, but it can also be a lonely one. If you are working remotely and you can find a place to live, work and play all in one, then that is a lot more appealing.

Enter my three Australian heroes - Tanja, Maria and Korana - all of whom will be familiar to longterm readers of TCN. 

I have been spending quite a bit of time on and offline with Tanja Polegubic from Saltwater Nomads this year. Founder of a co-working space of the same name in Split, Tanja has put a lot more thought than most into the potential (and the pitfalls) of Croatia embarking on the digital nomad route (and for those interested, 10 Ways Croatia Will Be At The Forefront of Countries with a Digital Nomad Visa is a worthy read).  Tanja also organised the first Digital Nomad conference in Croatia last month, is a founder of the Digital Nomad Association, and we will shortly be announcing her latest cool event, a digital nomad boot camp to coincide with Advent in Zagreb. 

Maria and Korana are lifelong friends who came to Split as naive 22-year-olds who thought they spoke fluent Croatian almost 20 years ago. As some of the few foreigners who have been working here as long as I have, it is always fun to catch up with them and have a laugh about the good old days. Having famously flooded the main square of Diocletian's Palace on the first day of opening their first business, a fast food joint, they have gone from strength to strength with a combination of determination, vision, charm, sound decision-making and 10 lifetimes of hard work. The first legally registered hostel started the empire which then blossomed into three hostels, one of the most popular hangouts  in Diocletian's Palace (Charlie's Bar), and two excellent restaurants, Zinfandel and Brasserie on 7. Life was good for the owners of Zeven Gastronomy Group and Split Hostel Group.

And then came corona. 

Not for the first time in their Croatian odyssey, it was time for a rethink, this time over a glass of wine with Tanja. What if all the assets and components of both businesses could be realigned for the greater good? A co-working business, hostels, a bar and two restaurants. What kind of package could that be if it was all made available to customers to work, live and play?

And that is exactly what these three heroes have done. As Tanja explained:

Around mid-September, I was contacted by nomads looking for co-living options. There weren’t any in Split. We already find long-stay accommodation options, so a hostel - especially as they had been hit so hard by Covid19, was a logical option. I contacted Korana, and it started very quickly.

All this was happening while the preparations for Dubrovnik Digital Nomads was underway. Korana and Amanda - our Saltwater member who ran the bar at our Beach Office Bacvice Bacvice this summer.

In our first week of opening, our two top floor “penthouse” private offices (Bill and Ted) filled up! Couples from US/Canada and UK/USA. Since then, we’ve had quite a few people trial, and some join.

Coworking isn’t an easy business - it’s very transient. It is more about the community activity and events. Plus some good ole fashioned Dalmatian ‘pomalo’... things happen slowly here. Which is fine; we’re in this for the long haul. Especially as it’s very fun to run.

So what does the digital nomad work, play and living combination look like?

Some of the stone wall hostel rooms have been converted into shared workspaces, private offices, meeting rooms - already fitted out with showers, communal areas and kitchen. And the authentic stone walls as your Zoom background come as standard. 

One of the hostels remains as a coliving option - starting at 250 euro month to stay in the Centre of Old Town Split in Diocletian’s Palace.

And what better location for your new office. Not only in a World Heritage Site, but also above the team's Charlie's Bar, offering a steady supply of coffee, cocktails and beer on tap with a nomad discount.

Feeling peckish or looking for a change of workplace scene? Both Zinfandel and Brasserie on 7 are available with discounted prices for registered Saltwater and Split Hostels customers. And with B7's fabulous waterfront location at the centre of Split's famous riva, there are few better more beautiful locations for a temporary office. 

The sense of community is crucial to a happy experience, and all three of these fabulous ladies have long experience in producing outstanding customer service, and so it is no surprise that this new nomad offer comes with a little fun in addition to the basic services. 

The weekly Nomad Table combines food, wine, entertainment and great company.  Education of Croatian wines are already proving popular, a Zinfandel speciality, and some ice-breaking games at the events so far have helped bring people together. The first, held on the inauspicious date of Friday 13, 2020 (what could possibly go wrong?) included an icebreaker game lining up cards with guest and staff point of origin and distance to Split. The furthest away was Hamilton, NZ - although this was strongly contested by Dunedin and Taupo hometowners!

Last week, the Crljenak, Plavac Mali and Posip was washed down with COVID bingo - “68 late for your Tinder Date, 83 Gluten Free and 88 Wills and Kate”. It’s very 2020.

The next event is on Friday 27th - a wine flight and group dinner, with another icebreaker game to be decided. And every Friday and Saturday has live music.

Word of mouth seems to be moving quicker than even the most dedicated blogger. Several Zagreb nomads are heading south for a taste of a Mediterranean winter. So far there have been nomads from Paraguay, USA, UK, Canada, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, and a couple from Poland who are sharing their newly adopted home with people back home on Ewa’s Let's Split blog - documenting their journey from Poland to their new home in Croatia. 

Did I mention customer service? New vegan options are being added to the menu, as three of the early members are vegans. 

Fabulous stuff, and I look forward to seeing how this initiative evolves. With the connections and creative minds of the founding mothers, the prospects are enticing indeed. 

The potential of digital nomad tourism in Croatia - with or without the visa - is immense. In order to take advantage properly, it will require a little more than a bed and a good WiFi connection. Good luck to my three heroes - I have been saying for a while that Croatia needs to move from Croatia, Full of Life (whatever that means) to Croatia, Your Safe, Authentic, Lifestyle destination. The Zeven Hospitality Group/Split Hostel Group/Saltwater partnership does exactly that. 

For more information, you can contact the team via the Saltwater website.

For the latest digital nomad news, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

November 20, 2020 - The City of Trogir and Hajduk are moving forward with the construction of a modern football camp, Hajduk’s most important infrastructure project in the 21st century.

On Thursday, HNK Hajduk president Lukša Jakobušić held an operational meeting in Trogir accompanied by the President's head of office Jelena Mikačić, Trogir Mayor Ante Bilić, and his associates, Deputy Mayor Viktor Novak and City Council President Ante Piteša.

This is a continuation of the project initiated by the former Hajduk President Marin Brbić, who in July signed a contract for the construction of a capital infrastructure project at the Divulje barracks near Split Airport as a solid foundation for the development and progress of the Split club.

Several important topics were discussed with the priority of transferring land from the Ministry of Defense to the City of Trogir. It is usually a longer process, but with joint efforts, all participants in the meeting believe it will be completed soon. Among other things, project financing was discussed, and various options for external funding sources were considered. Mayor Bilić reported that the City is already working intensively on land parceling and that registration in the cadastre can be expected in about 10 days. Also, the City has already initiated Amendments to the Spatial Plan at the City Council.

A working, conceptual solution already exists, but given the space's value, it was agreed to make an architectural and urban tender for this scope. They will contact the Society of Architects Split, with which the City of Trogir has been cooperating for the last few years to conduct the competition as professionally and as well as possible. Upon completion of the project and complex financial construction, there are permits. The camp's construction is planned in phases, and the joint conclusion of the City and Hajduk is that the camp will be in full operation in the next four years.

"This was a working meeting with the representatives of the city of Trogir, whom I thank for their exceptional cooperation and concreteness. We don’t want to waste time, but be productive. The camp's construction is, along with the success and result of the first team and the creation of a winning mentality, one of the most important projects of my term. I am aware that four years are concise for realizing the project, but the plan is for the camp to be built and put into operation during that period. I will personally participate in the project until a member of the Board is appointed who will, among other things, be in charge of building the camp," said Jakobušić, who gifted jerseys to the representatives of the City of Trogir after the meeting.

"We are happy that this project remains among the priorities for President Jakobušić, as well as with the steps we agreed on at our first operational meeting. Since the signing of the contract and the council session, we have communicated with the Ministry of Defense, and I believe that the transfer of ownership will soon be formally completed. Hajduk's camp is important for Trogir for many reasons, primarily because of the new modern sports infrastructure that does not exist in this part of Europe that will benefit our citizens, and depending on the final appearance of the project, be part of our additional tourist offer. Initially, we planned to build the stadium on our own. Still, the renovation of our Batarija with the infrastructure that we will get through this camp with Hajduk as a partner is a better solution from its aspect. There is no need to talk about the pride of my fellow citizens that Trogir will become the second home of Hajduk. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but the plan presented to us seems sustainable and rational," said the Mayor of Trogir Ante Bilić.

Source: Hajduk website

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

November 20, 2020 - The latest on Split Advent 2020, which will be held without the famous holiday houses this year.

The safety of visitors is a priority of the City of Split, the Split Tourist Board, and Spalatum D.M.C., longtime organizers of Advent events in Split, reports Dalmatinski Portal and Slobodna Dalmacija.

"Following the epidemiological situation in Croatia and keeping in mind the health of its fellow citizens and visitors, a decision was made that this year's Advent offer in the city will still take place without houses that serve food and drinks and sell souvenirs. The company Spalatum D.M.C., otherwise in charge of their maintenance, will continue its engagement as technical support at Advent, as every year so far," D.M.C. announced.

"It is almost unthinkable nowadays to set up Advent in any city without the favorite houses, but the epidemiological situation and the health of our fellow citizens must come first. We monitor the situation in the country every day to respond in a timely manner to all instructions and warnings related to the SARS-CoV-19 virus because Advent is made up, above all, by humans. The decision on the absence of houses was made as a proactive measure, which, I believe, will significantly increase the security of the entire event. I thank all the caterers and craftspeople who have expressed interest in participating in Advent, and I hereby ask them to understand. I believe that we will all work together to ensure that we have the opportunity to work together again next year," said Ante Šunjić, director of Spalatum D.M.C.

Advent in Split will be held this year, but in a different edition than ever before. The program is still being finalized in accordance with all the necessary epidemiological measures and will be available soon, both on the Split Tourist Board website and on social networks.

Stay tuned.

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November 20, 2020 - The Split public bicycle network has considerably grown this week thanks to the addition of 194 new classic and electric bicycles! 

One-hundred-ninety-four new public bicycles were presented in the Split City Port on Thursday. This is a project to expand the public bicycle network and continue the investment of the City of Split and "Split parking" in the increasingly popular form of public transport. Today, the total number of public bicycles in Split has risen to 280, and the number of stations to 51, announced the City of Split.

Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara did not hide his satisfaction either, saying that "the numbers speak for themselves".

"It doesn't take long for some to be skeptical and reserved about this project. However, we are the first city in Croatia in terms of the number of public bicycles. We are working on urban and sustainable mobility. We returned the bicycles to the citizens and the public space. Of course, we are facing the construction of infrastructure and new paths and routes for cyclists, including the one from the Port Authority building to Trstenik. With this system, as well as the new ecological Promet Split buses, we have practically remodeled public transport in our city," said the mayor.

The director of "Split parking," Marko Bartulić, stated that the network of public bicycles in Split proved to be a complete success. As many as 11 thousand bicycle subscribers, of which 80 percent are citizens of Split, since the beginning of this system's introduction, have cycled the equivalent of 8 circles around the Earth!

"We bring a network of public bicycles to every city district. This gave us an alternative, that is, a serious public transport system. In this new expansion, we have 136 new electric bicycles, because due to the configuration of the terrain in Split, it has been shown that users prefer electric bicycles," said director Bartulić.

Recall, the City of Split introduced a system of public bicycles through the EU project REMEDIO in July 2019, when, with the financial contribution of Split Parking, which recognized the importance of introducing an alternative form of public transport, launched a system of public bicycles with a mixed contingent of bicycles.

One-hundred-seventy bicycles (120 electric and 50 classic) and 35 stations from the contingent presented on Thursday are financed and installed by the city company Split parking, and the City of Split provided another 24 bicycles (16 electric and 8 classic) and four stations through the EU project TOMORROW.

The City of Split, together with the cities of the Urban Agglomeration of Split, and with the technical and professional assistance of the Development Agency Split - RaST, announced a project to introduce and improve the system of public bicycles through the ITU mechanism of the urban agglomeration of Split, through which the procurement of 16 more terminals with 50 electric and 20 classic bicycles for the city of Split, will connect Split with other cities in the agglomeration.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

November 18, 2020 - To celebrate the European basketball dominance and tradition of the Balkans, premium sportswear and sneaker store BSTN Store has partnered with Adidas to honor Jugoplastika, the cult Split basketball club which rose to European basketball fame in the late eighties and early nineties when they were three-time European champions. Introducing the exclusive Jugoplastika sneaker.

The Tuesday launch of the exclusive Adidas Forum High certainly surprised fans who hold the famous Split club, once the flagship of Croatian and European basketball - in their hearts.

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"Basketball royalty. Our upcoming edition of the legendary Adidas Forum is paying homage to one of the most dominant teams of all time!" BSTN teased on their Instagram before officially launching the Jugoplastika sneaker.

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"It’s a Euro thing! An exclusive version of the Adidas Forum High that celebrates the unmistakable basketball culture of the Balkans!"

"Introducing the strictly limited BSTN x Adidas Forum High, celebrating the European basketball dominance and tradition of the Balkans. The shoes are part of an exclusive twin-pack (also including an Adidas Forum Low) that is available free of charge via a special BSTN Charity Raffle that is live now on raffle.bstn.com! Enter before Friday, November 20th for a chance to win!"

The sneakers are white with blue and yellow details, and on the heel is the inscription 'Jugoplastika.' There is a limited number available that can be won in a raffle on the BSTN Instagram page.

But this isn't only about the sneaker. 

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"The exclusive BSTN x Adidas Forum “Ćevape & Fries” Twin-Pack is celebrating the unique characteristics of the US and the European basketball cultures and their unifying love for the game. A one-of-a-kind six-piece pack (featuring the Adidas Forum High and Low, two gym bags, and two water bottles) is available free of charge through a special charity raffle and only at BSTN. Make sure to complete all four steps and enter before Friday at noon - raffle.bstn.com!"

The Split club was named Jugoplastika after the former factory, which annually produced 4.5 million sports items for Adidas. The biggest club successes are related to the generation of Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa in the late 80s when Božo Maljković created the best European team of all time.

Fun fact: Did you know that Jugoplastika was also one of the key suppliers of the automotive industry, not only the domestic Zastava, but also the French manufacturers Citroen and Renault, the Italian Fiat, the Russian Lada, the Romanian Dacia, and the German Volkswagen?

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

November 17, 2020 - Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalic held a press conference before the final Nations League match this season when the 2018 World Cup finalists will host the 2016 European champions Portugal at Poljud in Split. 

Everyone must do their best

"In Portugal and in the first half in Sweden, we were not aggressive, combative, compact, we ran a little, and against such quality rivals you can't be at 80 percent, but everyone has to do their best. We were in trouble there. In Portugal, we didn't manage: they played their game, and we were weak. This game means a lot to us, we want to stay in League A, and I hope for an interesting and solid game."

We will be the pride of our people again

"I am aware that the results and our game are not good; no one has to tell me that. This is not the level of a year or two ago; this is our reality. This is the process of creating a new national team, and I stand behind it. I am sure that we will do everything to make it much better in March and at the Euros, to be competitive. I told the players that they must not stop believing in themselves and their quality and that one or two defeats cannot erase all the good from the past and that we will be at the level again, a national team that is the pride of our people. It doesn't look like that now, but it is the best that Croatia has now. We are fighting, we agree, and we are going to get a good result tomorrow to finish this year nicely."

A coach full of motivation and energy

"I am frustrated with the situation around me, but this is my job. I must not show dissatisfaction, and I have to get the most out of it because it was my dream to be the Croatia coach, and I am proud of it. I am full of motivation and energy to do something, and nothing will shake me. I'm a coach; I know the pressure is huge, but I'm not afraid of anything; I'm doing the best I can. I've done everything I imagined."

Let them show and prove themselves

"Pongračić dropped out today, we don't have seven or eight first-team players, and we have a lot of problems that we have to solve from hour to hour. I have an idea of ​​the lineup; Bradarić will go to the left flank; I want to give him a chance at his stadium because I think he is the future. Lovren is our only stopper so far, so we called Škorić, there is also Juranović. Everyone is in rhythm, everyone is playing, and they will get a chance, let them show and prove themselves. Neither Budimir nor Petković can last the whole game. We miss the last midfielder; without that, we have problems, and we will try to find a solution so that Modrić and Kovačić can be turned towards the attack. We always want to win."

Portugal is one of the best

"Portugal is a great team, it has quality players, and they want to win every game, just like us. We don't expect an easy job, Portugal is one of the best. They have young players like Felix and Jota, who fit in well with the older ones like Ronaldo and Pepe. They rightly hope for a great result again. We are second in the world, and we try to stay that way. We are going through a change of generations, so we are not at the level we were, but we will be there again, and we will be competitive with the best like Portugal, Spain, and France."

Cristiano Ronaldo

"The fact that Ronaldo came to play this game that is not the fight for first place spoke enough about his motivation and desire. He came to play against Croatia, he was not in previous matches, and he is a really great player. Like our Luka, he is doing his best at the age of 35."

Source: HNS

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

November 16, 2020 - Croatia and Portugal meet in Split on Tuesday for their final Nations League match this season. A look at the latest Croatia news ahead of Poljud. 

After losing 2:1 to Sweden on Saturday evening in Solna, the Croatia national team traveled to Split, after which they held their first training in Omis on Sunday. The training included Dejan Lovren, who joined the Croatia squad in Stockholm after his yellow card suspension.

The Croatia players that recorded the most minutes against Sweden (Modrić, Vlašić, Perišić, Livaković, Kovačić, Brekalo, Barišić, Ćaleta-Car, Pongračić) took part in a regeneration training at the hotel. Uremović is currently out of the lineup after an injury he sustained during the Sweden match. 

HNS

Although training in Omis was held without the presence of spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic, locals hung a large jersey with the last name of their fellow citizen, Ivan Perišić, and did their best to ensure that Croatia had everything they needed in the small coastal town.

HNS

On Sunday evening, the Croatia national team medical service received the team's latest COVID-19 test results. Croatia was tested after arriving from Stockholm to Split, before the match against Portugal.

After a week of worrying results, we finally have some good news, as all members of the national team and members of the national team staff are negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Coach Zlatko Dalić can count on all remaining players in the national team.

Recall, Domagoj Vida tested positive in Istanbul on Wednesday, and Marcelo Brozović tested positive in Stockholm on Friday. In compliance with the epidemiological rules and UEFA's Return to Play protocol, the Turkish and Swedish epidemiological services decided that the isolation of other national team members was not necessary.

But even though everyone corona-free, Dalić still struggled to fill certain positions in the defense ahead of the crucial Portugal meeting on Tuesday. He has thus decided to call-up Osijek stopper Milo Škorić in the absence of Duja Ćaleta-Car (yellow cards) and Filip Uremović (injury).

HNS

The Osijek captain will join Croatia during the day on Monday and is expected to play against Portugal in Split on Tuesday.

Škorić has three appearances for the Croatia national team, and interestingly, in all three Škorić appearances, Croatia won 2:1 (Mexico, Wales, and Georgia).

Source: HNS

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

November 16, 2020 - Excitement for tomorrow's Croatia Portugal game is building as one of the world's greatest footballers is again pictured in Croatia - Cristiano Ronaldo in Split

Tomorrow night will see the last chance for the Croatian National Football Team to remain in League A in the UEFA Nations League when they take on Portugal at Poljud stadium. Excitement for the game is building as one of the world's greatest footballers has again been photographed in the host town. Cristiano Ronaldo in Split is not a sight you get to see every day.

Cristiano Ronaldo in Split, as seen on the sports pages of Jutarnji List © screenshot Jutarnji List

Croatian football fans were first notified of Cristiano Ronaldo in Split when the Portugal team were pictured arriving together in the city on Sunday. Ronaldo was the last man to leave the team bus. Today, a new photograph has emerged of Cristiano Ronaldo in Split. Published on the sports pages of Jutarnji List, the Portuguese captain was photographed looking out from the balcony of the Amphora Hotel in Žnjan to the east of the city. If the hotel balcony Cristiano Ronaldo in Split was pictured in is his, the Juventus forward will have a glorious, unobstructed view of Brac island from his room.

Playing under manager Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian National Football Team will be desperate to avoid relegation to League B in the UEFA Nations League with the result against Portugal tomorrow. Meanwhile, Portugal have little to play for - their hopes of finishing at the top of League A's Group 3 were ended by their defeat to France in their last match.

Cristiano Ronaldo in Split, as seen on the sports pages of Jutarnji List © screenshot Jutarnji List

The Croatian National Football Team have been drawn in one of the most difficult groups within this year's UEFA Nations League. Portugal are the defending champions of the league and France are the current World Cup holders. Croatia have lost four of their last five matches in the competition, their only win so far being against Sweden. Sweden are currently at the bottom of Group 3 with only three points, the same as Croatia. Croatia are placed third, above Sweden, having scored more goals. The final standing of the teams will also depend on the result of the Sweden France game which will be played simultaneously.

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ZAGREB, Nov 14, 2020 - Boranka, the biggest volunteer fire site reforestation drive in Croatia, resumed in the Split hinterland on Saturday, with president Zoran Milanovic participating in it by planting a few plants.

Milanovic praised the drive as a brilliant action and said that during his youth he used to tend gardens of wealthy residents of Zagreb.

The drive is organized by Scouts Croatia in cooperation with the Hrvatske Sume forest management company and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service.

So far over 7,000 volunteers have taken part in the three-year Boranka reforestation drive, with more than 70,000 trees planted across Dalmatia.

During today's action apart from President Milanovic, also local officials as well as parliamentary deputies Ante Bacic (HDZ) and Marijana Puljak (Pametno) took part in the planting of trees. However, Puljak had to leave the slopes of Mount Mosor before the end of today's action as she injured her leg.

The creator of the project, Scouts Croatia business manager Dan Spicer, today thanked the president and the government for support to the drive.