Written by Anthony Zorić
We’re less than one month away from the 2018 World Cup. This will be the 20 year anniversary of Croatia’s 3rd place finish. An incredible feat for a nation’s first time competing in the tournament. I’ve included seven things that made Croatia’s 1998 team special. Why seven you may wonder? Croatia played seven matches in the 1998 World Cup. Croatia fans everywhere are hoping for the same amount of games this summer. Just this time; the dream is to lift the World Cup trophy.
1. Unity: Croatia was just three years out of their war for independence from Yugoslavia. The war from 1991-1995 was extremely difficult for Croatians and everyone was relieved to see an end to it. The entire country was supporting the team. There was a magical unity throughout the entire run to 3rd place. Football is an extremely important part of Croatian culture. This was the first major tournament for Croatia and the players and fans were united as one.
2. Leadership: Zvonimir Boban. There are many words to describe the Croatian captain: leader, hero, patriot, legend, intellectual; to name a few. Zvone was the clear leader of the 1998 team. A key figure in a top AC Milan squad when Serie A was the top league in the world. Boban had already won three scudetto’s and a Champions League title before the 1998 World Cup. Boban became a cult hero in Croatia in 1990. Tensions were getting high in Yugoslavia and Red Star Belgrade were visiting Zagreb for a match against Dinamo. Fights between Red Star and Dinamo Ultras in the stands turned into chaos in the stadium. Fans poured onto the pitch and Boban karate kicked an officer who was about to attack a Dinamo supporter. Many believe this was the symbolic start to the war. Boban would be suspended for six months and would miss out on the 1990 World Cup with Yugoslavia. Boban showed courage of a patriot who was willing to fight for Croatian independence and would forever be idolized after that moment. Boban proved to be an exceptional leader during the World Cup. Rumor is he begged coach Blažević to take him off at halftime of the semifinal because of an injury. Unfortunately, the coach convinced him to continue and Boban was at fault for giving away the ball for France’s first goal.
3. Experience: Many of Croatia’s players were playing in top leagues: Italy (Boban/Stanić/Asanović), Spain (Šuker,Vlaović, Jarni), England (Bilić, Štimac) and Germany(Soldo). Some were playing at top clubs in the world- Boban (AC Milan) and Šuker (Real Madrid). Five main players for Croatia were key in Yugoslavia’s 1987 youth U-20 World Cup title: Boban, Prošinečki, Šuker, Jarni and Štimac. Prošinečki won the tournament’s Golden Ball for best player and Boban won the Silver Ball for runner up. These guys knew how to win. Prošinečki was also a key player to lead Red Star to a Champions League win at just 21 years of age. He had stints at Barcelona and Real Madrid before returning to his youth club Croatia Zagreb (Dinamo).
4. Passion & Heart: This team played with fire. The passion and heart they displayed was awe inspiring. The entire world fell in love with the red and white checkers because of this Croatian team. Croatian players have often been called the Brazilians of Europe and the skill and technique was on full display in France during World Cup ’98. The team was special and the players showed every match how much they wanted to accomplish something special in France.
5. Luck: Most people don’t know that this incredible team barely qualified for the World Cup. They finished second in their qualifying group behind Denmark. In addition, on the final day of qualifying, Croatia would have been out had Greece beaten Denmark in Athens. Luckily, Croatia beat Slovenia away 3-1 and Denmark held Greece to a 0-0 draw. After this, Croatia still had to get past Ukraine in a two-match playoff which luckily ended 3-1 for Croatia after the two legs. The luck continued with a good draw for the World Cup. Even as the World Cup draw emerged, Croatia looked like the second favorite in the group after Argentina. Jamaica and Japan proved tough opponents but Croatia beat both to guarantee their spot in the Round of 16. The difference in the match against Romania was the penalty decision which could have gone either way. Asanović was pulled down in the box and Šuker put away the penalty which proved decisive to set up a quarterfinal with Germany. Next match, Germany defender Christian Worns received a 40th minute red card which changed the match. In extra time right before the end of the first half, Jarni hit a great shot outside the box with his famous left foot which would end up next to inside of the post. The red card was the big difference maker as Germany was beaten by two more goals on the counter attack in the second half with great finishes from Šuker and Vlaović. The Croatian luck ended against France. Croatia stunned the home crowd as Asanović played a beautiful ball to Šuker which he calmly put past Barthez. Then the unthinkable happened. Croatia’s captain Zvonimir Boban was dispossessed of the ball near the Croatia 18-yard box by Thuram, who combined with Djorkaeff only to get the ball back and beat Ladić with a left-footed shot. A shock after Croatia had scored just a minute earlier. Thuram would score his second and only goal ever for France in the 69th minute to deny Croatia a World Cup Final.
6. Coach: Ćiro Blažević has always been a larger than life figure. Before the World Cup he said Croatia would be world champions. Describing him as an optimist would not be enough. For Ćiro, the glass was always overflowing; not just full. I would like to think that the optimism he exuded helped the Croatian players actually believe they could win the World Cup. With every win along the 1998 adventure, Croatian players became more and more hopeful. All of Ćiro’s lineups worked until the World Cup semifinal. The only criticism he received is the rumor that Boban asked to be taken off at halftime of the France match. If he had put in Prošinečki at that moment instead of forcing Boban to play hurt, maybe Croatia could have gotten to the Final. We will never know. Ćiro was also a bit unlucky to lose top class forward Alen Bokšić to an injury shortly before the World Cup. Even though Vlaović did a good job filling in Alen’s presence on the pitch, he could have given Šuker even more space and more chances to score.
7. A Consistent Scorer: Davor Šuker was the 1998 World Cup’s Golden Boot and Silver Ball winner. He scored in six of Croatia’s seven World Cup matches. The famous #9 finished his Croatia career with 45 goals in 69 international matches. Whenever Šuker received the ball in or around the 18-yard box, there was the threat of a goal coming. The World Cup was Davor’s peak of his international career. Šuker had his best club season with Real Madrid in the 1996-97 season where he scored 24 goals in 38 matches.
What else made the 1998 team special? And how many of these characteristics does the 2018 team have? I would love to hear your comments.
My bad on the above post, clearly an error.
@Poglavnik – I have no idea, could be true. Maybe not. I just feel that you don’t play Saudi Arabia and Australia in the Euros and those calibre teams although the rest of the world is catching up. Mind you Croatia still find ways to lose to those teams anyways. I feel like we perform better Euros.
Most South American teams are much better now than in the past when it was Brazil, Argentina and the odd Chile, Uruguay or Colombia. Now all 3 of those teams are seeing golden generations (even though Chile missed this world cup).
@Pi
@CroatianPerson85
Could it be that Euro’s are less fixed than WC’s?
My list:
1. luck
2. luck
3. luck
4. luck
5. luck
6. luck
7. luck
Current team is very good, but you need to be lucky to be good, and good to be lucky. I’d rather be lucky than good. Just ask Portugal, Denmark or Greece.
In all seriousness, our back 4, and more specifically, our CBs are our achilles heel. Just waiting for Lovren to clear a ball off of Vida’s face into our own net.
I think we will have a good run, but how deep we go depends on luck (and to a lessor extent, our CBs).
Good point anonymous. Greece, Portugal, Denmark – One game at a time. It’s doable and some people would even argue it’s harder to win a euro then world cup.
If Greece won the euro anything is possible
Very well written article Anthony. Great piece.
The 98 team had a back end, I’m thinking Stimac and Bilic especially, who could play defensively but also move the play forward with confidence. We have lacked this for a very very long time and still do. It is our greatest risk in Russia.
Great article. Our Golden Generation team playing in France 1998 probably wasn’t the most talented CRO team ever, but in that tournament players like Ladic, Vlaovic, Jarni and Asanovic played out of their skin, way above the level anyone expected.
We had net overachievement in 98, compared to net underachievement in just about every tournament since then. That’s what made 98 so exceptional for us, and something we’ve never managed to repeat even with more talented squads.
Maybe that was down to Ciro working his magic, maybe it was the heart and pride after the homeland war, or maybe the stars just aligned for us. Whatever it was, June and July 98 was a magic time to be Croatian and those memories will live with me forever.
I still have my 98 jersey – I wouldn’t give it away for anything.
We lost to Mexico in 2014 with Modric Rakitic and Mandzukic they were younger then how can we expect anything from them now its four years later they are older slower. Should have could have would have all hypotheticals if you cant defeat Mexico with a few star players you wont go far.
We could’ve made the finals in ’08.
Woulda run into a Germany team in the semis that we soundly beat in the group stage.
Also ’14 was lining up nicely for a final 4 finish.
Could’ve got an old Dutch team and then Costa Rica before the semis.
Even ’06 looked promising. Would’ve played Italy which has never been a problem. Although that Croatia team wasn’t that good.
We can play with anyone on our day.
When you think about how the luck and corruption factors really guide these outcomes, it’s a shame thinking about euro 2016
Never will Croatia see such an easy bracket to the finals as the one they had
But i guess they didn’t get lucky with Portugal shockingly finishing third in their group!
@idemo Thanks missed that
Anonymous, I think the ref should have called a penalty but why did Tudor embellish the fall worse than he had to?
@ Slavonac
You got filtered for “Shit” posting ?
Lol
Just joking Brate!
I think Perišić is super skilled as an attack winger. Two footed player who glides past defenders at will.
I do agree that he needs to be motivated to be effective.
He is this world class talent who has for one reason or another not reached the promise land of stardom like Modrić.
I feel he sees this World Cup as his show piece. I just hope he flows with the team concept as he looks disjointed when he doesn’t.
So, as a Dinamo fan I usually don’t buy into the “Dinamo and Mamic buys titles” talk.
But after today in that Cup final……hahaha…..money well spent by DInamo and Mamic.
@The Golden Child
I don’t think Tudor got any minutes.
Simic was the 4th on that back line.
no worries, I understand!
@slavonac
We had to throw up some filters after a week of shit posting from a few people. Ante and I are trying to get to everything. Sorry about that.
one of my comments being moderated since 7am this morning?
Finishing. It’s been our downfall since that 98′ team disbanded.
I also think our defense goes overlooked. Remember that back 4? Stimac, Bilic, Tudor, Soldo. If I was a forward I would have been terrified of those guys coming into me when i received the ball.
I feel like our current defense is soft, aside from Vida the nightclub bouncer. I don’t think our offense is going to struggle as much as we have done in the past, but I don’t think the players have enough faith of the back 4 keeping the ball out of the net.
@zoric I don’t really care ….but they’re right….
“This was the first major tournament for Croatia and the players and fans were united as one.”
Nice write up by the way.
I enjoyed that.
Can’t believe it’s been 20 years..
Still the only tourney I’ve attended.
I remember when the team landed back in Zagreb my old man said “Enjoy it. It’ll be at least 30 years til they do something like this again.”
Every 2 years I’ve been hoping he’s wrong…
@Lovro – yes, on HRT2
Luck, Leadership (from the Savez down), and Suker would be my top 3.
Also the 3 things we’ve lacked in the last 20 years.
1) Skill….Forward and wing skills mostly. We had a few guys who could do things most could not do. Suker had a world class first touch AND finishing touch. Prosinecki’s first moves were world class.
Jarni was a superb LB, and we have been trying to fit a square piece into a circle at LB ever since. Time to go 3-5-3, or drop Perisic back in the 4-2-1-2-1 that we play.
2)A hot goalie. Ladic played out of his mind. All our other goalies since have sucked in comparison.
Part of our downfall this year might be Subasic starting over Kalinic. Subasic hasn’t had a game yet where I thought, “he is on fire.” Kalinic was Belgian goalie of the year, and slso had most scoreless games. Not saying he is the answer, but Subasic has yet to impress. Pletikosa was highly overrated his entire NT career.
Was Greece and Portugal world beaters? How about we flip this and say that teams like Holland should have done better or even won but they didn’t…was there corruption there?
You just hate Croatia more than you care to admit.
Decent read… Surprisingly decent content from this site in two straight articles
The clear difference between recent results and that result was likely luck and fifa corruption to help France out most likely
Croatia barely qualifying showed that this team was no world beater and had no mastermind coach
Instead they were similar to recent teams of a slightly above average European side (top 12), with some competent players
Dinamo – Hajduk this afternoon at 1pm EST for the Croatian Cup – any links? Is it on HRT2?
We had an easy group Jamajka Japan Argentina.
Your article is fine Anthony-don’t listen to the haters:)
A well written article Zoric, nicely done!
I’ll add my two bits to this.
You mention that Boban displayed leadership and I agree but he wasn’t the only one. That team had a few players that would put their head in a tackle where most wouldn’t even put their foot. Notably, Bilic, Stimac, Soldo…they had character and offered their surrounding players confidence.
Mario Stanic, in my opinion, never really received the credit he deserved for his work rate and contributions in that tournament.
The team wasn’t overly talented, they didn’t usually maintain most of the possession, but they were definitely united and played with attitude.
Ciro Blazevic was never considered to be a soccer brain, but he was a psychologist. I remember people saying he was the type of guy that would go to Turkey or Greece or Italy and come home with several gifts that he would hand out to reporters. It was even reported there was a half circle around him in the parking lot while he opened the trunk of his car and handed out things he picked up at the markets in foreign countries. Ciro was far less qualified than Tomislav Ivic but he got the job done and was fortunate enough to play the fans and the media to his benefit…let’s not forget about that hat he wore in France. That was he wore was in honor of a policeman that was beaten and put in a coma…Ciro took that opportunity to demonstrate solidarity, respect and to bring awareness to that cop….the French immediately loved Ciro and Croatia! The guy was the master manipulator, his ways to motivate players were far ahead of its time and although I don’t believe he was a great tactician or strategist, he could make anyone believe they could walk on water.
The bench strength of that team was relatively thin. It had players that had no business even being on that team but you didn’t see the players or fans protest. Some of the characters helped create the environment that helped the overall morale of the team. Imagine being Anthony Seric…a guy that really wasn’t a quality to be on that team and yet, he’s smiling from ear to ear…sitting beside players he idolized…I’m pretty damn sure he was positive and didn’t cause a hissy fit for not getting much playing time.
In this upcoming tournament, I truly believe that we will go as Perisic goes. He is an interesting type of player thats not overly skilled but he’s very dangerous when his head is in the game and if he decide’s to take the challenge with his opponents, he’ll cause problems all day long. Perisic is explosive, he has speed, he causes defenders to double up on him, he switches speed and delivers great crosses and shots using either foot. Perisic has stamina and strength to beat players and also complete the play. I rate his effectiveness better than anyone we have…BUT ONLY IF HE IS IN FORM AND INTERESTED! His weakness is his brain!
If we compare the 98 team to this one, I think we are missing a couple destroyers…players that are role players and will sacrifice their body and play simple for the team. The 98 team had them and each of them knew their roles. Each player has to know their strengths and limits and play to them…I hope the Lovren’s, Brozovic’s, Pivaric’s of our team can concentrate without gaffe’s…and I hope the Perisic’s, Mandzukic’s, Rakitic’s of our team can find it in them to step it up a gear…its gonna take every ounce of concentration and work rate to have success…and maybe some luck wouldn’t be so bad either.
@ Anthony
Great article!
First paragraph is clear to me.
Disappointment of ‘96 when they lost their cool against Germany was probably the learning experience that they needed.
Not attacking against Portugal in ‘16 may be the learning experience we need for this run?
@ Svima
Ante Rebić was supported through a tough 4 years in his young career from ages 20-24.
Now he may be the X – factor for us.
Kovačić the same from Inter – Real Madrid.
Both batted injuries and loss of PT.
Ages 18-24 is when we need to support our boys.
The NT needs to support this.
Hopefully after World Cup all of our young talent gets to play and prove themselves in the nations league.
@ Liverpool FC
I fear you guys are under estimating the presence of Luka Modrić.
He is healthy and rested and will have match winning movements on display.
Plus Kiev has been a place of triumph for us!
Real Modrić … 3 – 2 LFC.
Lol it says the nation’s first time competing in THE TOURNAMENT after I talk about the 20 year anniversary of the World Cup
Re read it…..it says first major tournament
Why is everyone misreading the 1st paragraph? I talk about Croatia being in their first World Cup. I never said major tournament
We have had other teams that have had all these qualities but the only factor which has been missing is “luck.”
I would argue other Croatian teams could have made similar runs in both the Euro and WC had a “few calls not gone against Croatia or blatantly missed calls been called.”
Refer to my article- Why Does Croatia Always Underachieve In Major Soccer Tournaments?
https://croatiansports.com/?p=27171
1st major tournament? How about 2 years earlier at Euro 96 when they made the quarters and the world got to see the talent and the jerseys for the 1st time?
Good article, but it was the second major tournament, actually.
Croatia participated in Euro 96.
Lack of excuses, pride, and not relying on conspiracies got us far. We also had much better forwards. We likely have a much better midfield now though.
Any UK Croats going to the Anfield game here?