Tuesday, July 16, 2019, is one year since the Croatia national team returned from Russia as World Cup finalists. The Split Tourist Board wants you to help them commemorate the first anniversary of the greatest hero’s welcome in the history of the country. 

On Monday, Croatia remembered one year since that historic World Cup final in Russia against France. Today, cities around the country will come together for the ‘Day of Unity, Pride, and Happiness’ as a way to remember a time when Croatia came together unlike ever before - to welcome the Croatia national team on July 16, 2018, after their outstanding World Cup campaign.

July 16th is remembered as a day when the hearts of all Croats were full with a sense of unity, pride and joy. Thus, at the initiative of coach Zlatko Dalić’s "Organizers Without Borders", the City of Split and the Split Tourist Board, you are invited to relive July 16, 2018.

“Put on your checkered jerseys and come to the Split Riva on Tuesday, July 16 from 17:00 to 23:00 where there will be a program in honor of our Vatreni. Special surprises await visitors in the most original checkered jerseys and Croatia fan gear,” said the Split Tourist Board. 

You can find the program of events below:

5 pm - a custom musical program- a retrospective of summer 2018 by DJ Joke

6 pm to 7:30 pm - Boston City Singers

7:45 pm to 8:30 pm - special fan music program by DJ Joke

8:30 pm to 9:00 pm - projection of the Croatia national team welcome in Split

9:05 pm to 11 pm - an entire concert by the group Best, all music adapted to the fan atmosphere 

This is your chance to join the Split Tourist Board in remembering the magnificent success of the World Cup in Russia.

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

July 15, 2019 - On July 15, 2018, the Croatia national football team achieved the greatest success of any sports team in the history of the country. On July 15, 2018, Croatia became World Cup finalists.

Like most Croatians around the world, I’ll never forget July 15th - and the emotions that come with remembering that date one year on are just as overwhelming. 

However, also like many Croatians around the world, I initially presumed that a shot at the World Cup final was impossible. For starters, while we’re always full of pride, Croatian fans are also shockingly realistic. Recall, this squad was constantly plagued by poor coaches and lousy luck - curses that not even Luka Modrić could reverse. And at this World Cup, we had to overcome Argentina (and Lionel Messi) to get out of our group. Impossible. 

But that summer in Russia carried a different aura. We had a new coach that Croatians could relate to, even though we knew nothing about him before he was called to lead the team through the biggest tournament in four years.  After an atrocious year under Ante Čačić which killed our dreams of advancing to the World Cup at all, Zlatko Dalić restored our faith in the simple fact that he knew tactics and where to position our players who fought for the biggest football clubs in the world. But most of all, Dalić revived a team that was dull, disoriented, and disheartened from the failures experienced before, and returned a wave of positivity to the squad that had been missing since Croatia’s World Cup bronze in 1998. Croatia under Dalić had a spark in their eye - and one that ultimately lit the way for the country’s first ever World Cup final. 

Croatia’s road to the final really showed its legs once they tragically topped Argentina 3:0 in the group stage - a result that is still hard to believe one year later. Croatia finished at the top of their group, and fans around the world gained faith in the fact that if Croatia continued to play like this for the remainder of the tournament, they could upset anyone. 

But as all things Croatian require a splash of drama, this team took the long road to the final, one that came with twists, turns, and numerous bouts of nausea. In the round of 16, Croatia met Denmark. While Denmark was a team that shouldn't have been underestimated, considering they flaunt Tottenham superstar Christian Erikson in their ranks, Croatia was expected to pass without too much difficulty - though that quickly changed after Jorgensen scored for Denmark in the first minute of the game. Croatia was lucky to equalize from a Mandžukić goal three minutes later, but their wearied bodies on the pitch denied them another goal, and the game went to extra time. Croatia had the chance to seal the deal after Ante Rebić was fouled in the penalty area, though captain Luka Modrić missed - and Croatian fans began familiarizing themselves with that fatal fact that it just wouldn’t be their year. However, heroics from goalkeeper Danijel Subašić saved the day in the penalty shootout - and Croatia secured a spot in the quarter-final against Russia.

Another grueling 90 minutes against the host nation that ended in a tied result pushed Croatia to another extra time, another draw, and another penalty shootout. Croatia’s spark had to fizzle now, I thought. But they were fearless. After fortunately failed penalties from Russia, Ivan Rakitić stepped up last and sent Croatia to their second World Cup semi-final ever. 

Croatia met England in the semi-final, a team also riding a wave of zeal and self-confidence as their fans thought they'd win it all. It was England’s first World Cup semi-final in 28 years. On the eve of the semi-final, journalists around the world questioned if Croatia had the stamina to surpass England, a nation who thought it was their year to bring football home, and who had an advantage over Croatia because their last two games didn’t move to penalties. Croatia was said to be mentally and physically exhausted after brutal battles against Denmark and Russia, and the legs on their fairytale were destined to buckle. 

Many of us worried that the media’s prophecy would be true after Trippier scored for England just five minutes into that historic semi-final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Croatia’s fatigue hardly carried them through the first half, which ended at 0:1 for England. Even the biggest believers in Croatia questioned if football really was going home to England that year. 

But Croatia’s second wind carried them through the second half, and Ivan Perišić scored the equalizer in the 68th minute. As the clock ticked to the final minute, time stopped for Croatian fans who feared they didn’t have a nerve left to spare to get them through another grueling extra time - especially one that decided their fate in the World Cup final. But with 10 minutes to go, Mario Mandžukić confirmed just why he is our Super Mario - and scored the goal that assured Croatia’s first ever World Cup final. The country erupted into madness. 

I remember the day of the World Cup final clear as day and as a total blur - like a dream you wake up wondering if it actually happened. The nation was more united than ever, we were honored, full of spirit, and football fans around the world had jumped on the Croatia bandwagon to watch the happy ending of our fairytale unfold. And in the end, it didn’t matter that the outcome wasn’t in Croatia’s favor. 

Slobodan Kadić

Croatia and the powerhouse that is France met in the World Cup final on July 15, 2018, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Decked out in their classic red and white checkers, Croatia came out playing the best football they had all tournament. An unlucky own goal by Mario Mandžukić put France in the lead in the 18th minute, though a left-footed rocket from Ivan Perišić made it 1:1 ten minutes later. 

A dreadful and quite questionable penalty was awarded to France after the referee consulted VAR - and Antonine Griezmann scored for 2:1 at the half. 

Croatia’s chances dimmed after Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe scored in the 59th and 65th minute for 4:1, though Croatia wouldn’t let the negative result stop them from tenaciously fighting through their first World Cup final. Mandžukić managed one more for Croatia in the 69th minute for 4:2, and France ultimately won the World Cup title. 

Though Croatia was defeated by a result that didn’t correctly reflect their heroics on the pitch, they had just achieved the greatest sporting success in the history of their country. 

While Croatia failed to become World Champions, their team did feature the best player of the World Cup, Luka Modrić.

"I'm sad because we lost, but I'm proud of everything we did in Russia. The feelings are mixed, but surely when the time passes, we will become aware of the incredible success we’ve achieved,” Modrić said a year ago, and went on to win every individual football award that season. 

Slobodan Kadić

And thanks to Croatia’s hero's welcome in Zagreb which continued throughout the country for weeks, you’d think Croatia won it all.

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

Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić presented his new book "Russia of Our Dreams" to a packed Cinema Europa in Zagreb on Wednesday, which reveals what happened behind the scenes of his magnificent show through Russia and how the Croatia team reached the silver at the World Cup, reports Gol.hr on December 12, 2018. 

“I am proud of this book which is a gift to our fans, not only in Croatia and BiH, but also those around the world because it is proof that with unity and humility you can do great things,” Dalić said and thanked the players who are most valued for Croatia’s historic success at the World Cup in Russia, stressing that he was honored to be the coach of such a great team. 

"Dalić's book is intended for Croatians who enjoyed life more than ever from June 16 to July 15, 2018. The book reaches deep into the heart of Dalić, who honestly describes many key events and reveals many secrets - among them, whether or not someone was intrusive or attempting to obstruct him,” the famous sports journalist Anton Samovojska at the presentation. 

In the words of the long-time Sports News journalist Drazen Antolić, who wrote the book on Dalić’s account, it wasn’t too difficult to find the words. 

"The book has seven chapters and it was easy to write because Dalić was honest as he prepared the team, made decisions and led Croatia to this historic venture. In only nine months, Dalić made the playoffs for the World Cup in Russia and defeated Greece, and led Croatia into the crazy Russian summer where they won the silver,” Antolić said.

The former Croatia coach and leader of the ‘Bronze Generation’ at the 1998 World Cup, Miroslav Blažević, said that the players and the coach are indeed the most deserving of the historical success of Croatia, but the role of the HNS president, Davor Šuker, is unfairly neglected in this success.

"Šuker had the instinct of the best goalscorer at the World Cup in France when he put Zlatko Dalić at the helm of the Croatia national team; thus he became the most successful president in HNS history."

"I hope that the book ‘Russia of Our Dreams’ will help the World Cup silver live eternally for us and this is the main reason I have agreed to issue the book, which I asked that the subheading be 'How we made Croatia the happiest country in the world’,” said Dalić, who revealed that all the money earned from the book published in the edition of Sports News will be used for humanitarian purposes, or be given to the Vatreno Srce Foundation to help children in need. 

The presentation of the book was attended by President of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, Ministers Zdravko Marić and Goran Marić, as well as numerous representatives from the economy and sport, especially football.

To read more about Zlatko Dalić, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

The Croatian Football Federation and Croatia national team will receive $28 million from FIFA for their World Cup journey. For successfully qualifying for the World Cup, HNS will receive $8 million, while an additional $20 million will be awarded to Croatia for winning the silver in Russia, reports Goal.hr on December 10, 2018. 

Just for placing in the World Cup, Croatia will receive $8 million, and another $1.5 million for travel and accommodation costs, intended exclusively for HNS. By advancing to the final, an additional $20 million was collected, bringing the total prize money to $28 million. 

The $8 million reward will also be given to former Croatia coach Ante Čačić, who led Croatia in nine games. After his team drew at Rujevica against Finland, Čačić was sacked. The last qualifier, not counting the additional qualifications, was led by Zlatko Dalić. For these nine games, Čačić is entitled to $240,000. The remaining $240,000 should be given to Čačić's staff, which included Josip Šimunić, Ante Miše, Marijan Mrmić, Leonard Sovina, and so on. 

The national team players will receive 40 percent of the $8 million for the qualifiers, which is $3.2 million, while $640,000 of that amount will go to Dalić and Čačić's staff. Čačić can now thank Dalić for getting the team to Russia at all, because if he hadn’t, Čačic would not be eligible for any compensation. Thus, of the $640,000, Dalić’s staff will receive $480,000, of which, as we have already said, $240,000 will go to Čačić. 

The remaining $2.6 million will be split between players depending on playing time. It is estimated that the players who played for the most minutes, like Modrić, Rakitić, and Mandžukić, could get about $150,000. Dalić and his staff should receive $160,000 for three qualifying matches.

But that’s not all - Croatia will also receive a decent sum for their Russia campaign. The Croatian Football Federation will receive $20 million, which will be shared 50:50, so, $10 million to the Federation, and $10 million to the players. However, unlike the qualifications, the players have decided to share this money evenly, regardless of minutes. Thus, Modrić and Livaković, who did not play one second in Russia, will receive an equal gross amount of $454,545. Naturally, part of the share will also be given to Zlatko Dalić and his staff. Dalić's share is $2,160,000,000, though this money will not be divided into equal parts.

Zlatko Dalić, as the head of staff and coach, will receive the most, meaning half of that amount, or about a million dollars. Dalić’s staff will divide the rest, but not in equal parts. This money will be allocated to assistants Ivica Olić and Dražen Ladić, goalkeeper coach Marjan Mrmić, video analyst Marc Rochon and others. 

Just how much each member of the staff will receive will be known on Monday after the HNS Executive Committee's meeting. 

To read more about the Croatia national team, follow TCN's dedicated page. 

November 19, 2018 - It was the best year in the history of Croatian football - and it wasn’t just about winning World Cup silver. 

The World Cup in Russia is the last chance of Modrić's generation to achieve a result consistent with their quality.

The latest FIFA ranking was released on Thursday, June 7, 2018. 

The final list of 23 players on the road to Russia has been announced.

Zlatko Dalić and Ivan Strinić spoke about Croatia's upcoming performance at the World Cup in Russia.

A 22-year-old Lokomotiva player has been given the clear by FIFA to represent Australia in the World Cup this summer.