The above photo can be found on the back cover of World Cup 2010 sticker books all across Croatia. The books contain bios for all 32 WC teams (and Croatia) and gives fans the chance to collect stickers of all the players to complete their book.
However, take a closer look at the back cover. Is it just me or is Ronaldinho/Drogba sticking a banana in Wayne Rooney’s musket while Rooney is hunting in the jungle? Ronaldniho/Drogba, who is a dark-skinned Brazilian, is lurking behind England’s Wayne Rooney while the Englishman is implied to be hunting the two Brazilians. Kaka is flying by overhead.
In how many world cultures would this be deemed appropriate? This would never fly in any multi-cultural nation, including America, Canada, England, France, and Australia. It would basically be thrown out of the ‘idea room’ in the first second in 95% of the world’s nations. Yes, Croatians are an ethnocentric bunch, but to plaster it on the cover of a World Cup sticker book meant for kids- I feel a bit ashamed.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WORLD CUP CARTOON?
Hey, I can't view your site properly within Opera, I actually hope you look into fixing this.
Dinamo fan,
I see Dinamo has signed this player, Ademi, from Sibenik. 'Good move?
It seems to me Sibenik is cashing in on their limited success from last year, having moved him and Zec.
I don't see what the big deal is.. I find the picture amusing. It's not like Drogba is the only one in the "Jungle" being hunted. Kaka is as well!
Does anyone know much about Josip Miladorvic. He's had a smashing season at Cibalia and was impressive before that at Osijek. I wander if he is the guy for Dinamo to sign to solve our defensive worries. He says he's not signing a new contract. I think this guy could be worth signing.
Its usally the players who have endorsement deals with Nike and Puma who are bitching about the ball
if the German side are use to it isn't that a bit unfair. Actually Germany was the one example i was gonna given for a team who is in full control of that ball.
The Bundesliga and other leagues have had almost a season with the ball- there was no outcry 6 months ago by those leagues about how terrible the ball is. Every WC, players whine about the ball. It's alot easier to whine about the ball than to criticize yourself or your teamates, so they use the easy scapegoat. The same complaints were heard in 06. Nowadays, who the hell remembers that WC and says; " oh, yeah, WC06- the one with the bad ball"….? No one…
And sorry, but the vuvuzela's are only allright if you have a mute button on the TV. Players can't hear one another on the pitch(or the officials). And how many spectators do you think will come back from SA saying that the vuvuzelas were great(after hearing them nonstop for every match)?
weight on a pass i mean lol…
The Vuvuzellas are fine. Its the actual football they are playing with that's a joke. If it has no weight on it then that's changes how you put force through your shot and how you put weight on a bus. Nothing was wrong with the normal football. FIFA are complete jackasses..
That ball is ruining the whole competition..
hahah who said thats Ronaldinho, thats not him, thats Drogba, its preety obvious man,The hair style & the chieseled face,Ronaldinho has a much leaner face,being a good artist myself,I know for a fact that is Drogba..
The Kaka sketch is not Rascist at all,The Drogba sketch on the other hand is a lil,only for the simple fact hes swinging from a tree, But whos to say the Roonie sketch is not Rascist,it potrays the English as Poachers & Hunters,which they were in there day,there no denying the fact England screwed alot of nations & races over..
I just heard that Danny Jordaan is considering banning the vuvuzela's for the rest of the tourney…
hi football fans,
The noisy vuvuzela horns that South African fans promise to bring to this summer's World Cup games were widely assailed during last summer's Confederations Cup by coaches, players and TV broadcasters and viewers. Yet FIFA refused to ban them while calling them a South African soccer tradition.
Let us let the vuvuzela go and get that singing spirit back. Pro passion, emotions, singings, chants and world cup feeling! Against Vuvuzela! Sign the petition now!
All signigns will be given to the FIFA by June, 26…
Sign up now at http://www.vuvuzelapetition.org
I don't think that picture brings any outrage. The guy who made it is just really not very intelligent. Its the biggest pile of crap i've ever seen and the only people who'd see it are Croatians. Outside of Croatiannobody is gonna be outraged by something that they don't see and is not mass produced.
With the betting scandal, the national stadium falling to bits and financial troubles in certain HNL1 clubs there more concerning things going on out there. The pic brings a yawn at best.
I think that its becoming more and more clear lately that the HNS needs revamping as their not acting to improve things. It is actually a good job for someone who wants to really get to work as there is so much to do to improve Croatian football. You've got to start with the stadiums and general finances of the clubs. 16 teams was a nice idea. I think the general idea was if you give more opportunities to players and clubs to play HNL1 then they'd be more motivated players and improve the feeling around different Croatian cities about their club. But various teams do not have the finances to stay in there. If we have a weak Istra, a weak Karlovac, a weak Varteks next season then its going to effect the standard. Last season Karlovac, Istra were decent and Varteks had some okay players that have moved on. Nobody also knows what Dragovoljac are gonna be like. They prob gonna have to take it down to 12 at the end of the season as certain teams are just not financially strong enough to sustain life in HNL1.
How racist towards white Brazilians to suggest they have wings and can fly. Clearly showing how Brazilian society is still segregated, with whites holding the upper echelon of society. I'm outraged. And clearly the depiction of Rooney as a hunter is meant to hark back to English colonialism of Africa and the save-trade of the past. Sickening! Lol, people are seeing what they want to see. It's a sticker book ffs, get over it.
i'm surprised there's so much communication about this subject and not so much about the world cup. U.S played yesterday. I thought they'd be comments and an article.
Simple fact of matter is this about Croatia. Some people want to get on and succede and some people want to live in past. In all countries you have a racist element of people who are basically going nowhere in their life and have nothing better to do with there time. This is normal for every country.
What i'm saying is whilst the rest of world is progressing and Didier Drogba goes on to be one of the most respected people in the world, the guy who made this is way behind. This is his big chance to shine and He can't even come up with a decent idea. Its like giving the F Grade Student the call on the idea for the book. The comparisons between what Drogba achieved in his life and this comic book moron is huge.
This is a non issue. Croatia's viewpoint does not have a major baring on the world or Europe so don't lose sleep on how the world is judging you. Also this was made by a tiny handful of people. Its not significant. I could easily write a article on how Dinamo embraced non Croatian players in recent years and how we went from a side of HNL1 journeyman that lost to Slovenian and Hungarian clubs in Europe and finished in midtable in hnl1 to a quicker more energetic side as soon as Etto, Eduardo came that could defeat Ajax and Anderlecht. Most Dinamo fans will not say our most loved player is Mandzo but actually Pedro Morales and before that it was Eduardo. Also Istra took to Matias Chago enormously during his loan spell and this guy has no interest or rush to leave Croatia. Radomir Dalovic who initially came from Red Star Belgrade loves Croatia and broke the barrier between Serb's (initially he was seen as a Serb even though he's Montenegrin) crossing over to play in Croatia. Since then NK Zagreb fans would say Dalovic legend, Rijeka fans would say he's a legend. If the Rijeka fan who was here a few weeks back was here he would tell about how much Dalovic is liked in Rijeka. So there is a lot of normal people in Croatia who are not racist. All they see if people in front of them, not the colour or background.
With Drogba there is certain people in the world who you can't disrespect. When someone is majorly talented at their profession you can't be taking cheap shots like this if you are low level as you end up looking foolish. Its like taking a pop at Usain Bolt. The guy is so wealthy and yet they paint a image living in a tree. How is that reality? Its a false image and self delusion.
Also what foriegner was involved in HNL1 scandal. That's worth considering as we heard rumours that the Brazilians in Medimurje told the match fixers to sod off when they were offered money. Perhaps there needs to be a bit of foriegn influence. In HNL1 at moment you got unsafe football grounds, people like Surjak, Mamic, Sivoncic running football clubs. Mamic's policy is that if you don't sell me a player for the price i want i'll starve you and won't buy your players again in future.
We've already had a foriegn manager debate. Also the national team players that go abroad learn so many things outside Croatia. Then once they go they can't even bare to come back. The foriegn opportunity is therefore still a big thing for Croatians.
Croatia has some things its doing okay in. But It does not have a big ethnic minority as their is not much in Croatia. There is no fantastic jobs or pay so thats also why their is not many foriegners. You have to have something to offer someone before they come to your country. Would most of you be in the U.S if not for a better life. The guys who want to hold onto this type of image inside the picture are just deluding themselves whilst the rest of the world is progressing.
Alex, I'm out of touch? Hilarious. The fact you make connections to racism from a sicker book says more about you than it does about Croatia.
Croatia has nothing more to prove or to even owe to western civilisation. In spite of that, it's ironic how the EU keeps telling the government to keep jumping higher to join. Anyway, if the Swiss don't need it, why bother? I think they're doing fine. As far as I have heard, the common Slovenian people aren't too enthusiastic about the changes brought on from them joining the EU. Taking an obscure comic out of proportion and attempting to make some generalisations out of a distorted opinion is a new low for the site and for some of the members.
An black African man swinging from a tree while dropping a Banana isn't racist!??! Jesus, who's out of touch…
That's the whole problem- that certain people in Cro don't even realize how racist it is/looks. I understand, Croatia is a provincial, little homogenous country with no real racial minorities( Gypsies aside). People dont understand the connotations of racism. But as the nation becomes wealthier and it enters the EU, minorities are going to be a fact of life (for better or worse). Fact is, Croatia's going to have to come around to Western European attitudes, not the other way around.
@ alex, how is it primitive? Its not even racist. Stop having your views governed by political correctness. Honestly some of you people are off in la la land.
Haha I think Dinamo want Cesarec, but aren't happy they've had their target identified by the media so are pretending their not interested. I think that Dinamo won't bring a forward unless Mandzo is sold. Sounds like Dinamo may have made an agreement with Mandzo to stay till January, in which case Cesarec won't come as we already have Dodo, Slepicka, Sivonjic, Kramaric on the books who are all mediocre but good enough for HNL1.
Dinamo also to to play this triangle front line of Sammir – Mandzo – Morales. I like Bjelanovic, but if Dinamo are not letting Dodo or Slepicka leave then we can't afford Bjelanovic. Bjelanovic will play another season in Italy i think.
That's definitely Drogba being portrayed as a monkey..wow
Oh, and Ronaldinho doesn't have relaxed hair…
It couldn't be Ronaldinho because he's not in the WC(although the idiots who made it probably wouldn't have known that).
As for US political correctness, you do know that this thing also wouldn't have been released in any western European country (or not without big controversy). Croats love to talk about being a central European nation, part of the Habsburg empire, not a Balkan nation, blah, blah, blah, but things like this look a little…primative.
@dinamofan also heard zajec wants to go after bjelanovic.
Ziva Istina and Robert U. are in South Africa. Hopefully they share some stuff with all of us.
Boy did Greece drop the ball today against South Korea. Both Korea goals were Greece's fault. If they play like that we will roll them. No problem.
@ dear racist friend
Hey Bully-boy, nobody who is really a Hrvat would say such things in the name of the people and the nation. You speak for yourself only. Anybody that has a brain (or a set of Hrvat balls) would think otherwise. If you haven't noticed, planet earth is not only the domain of the Hrvati.
I think Dinamo has a good chance of signing Cesarec. Firstly there is no transfer fee as he is out of contract so its just wages. All we need to do is offer him something better than he is getting at Asteras Tripolis and also we need to see off Standard Liege who are also interested in him.
Cesarec has also had to rough it in his career. He's not had the easiest of careers. He went to Czech Republic early from Marsonia. He's had good spells but he's had to play with small clubs. I think Dinamo was mentioned to him earlier in the season and he said he'd be interested. He also wants to get noticed by the Croatian national team and that is more likely to happen if he came to us.
From our point of view we know that if we sold Mandzo we do not have a direct replacement yet. So we need to get Cesarec on board so we can allow Mandzo to go. Also if Mandzo goes then that is another load of money in the bank which should allow us to take a gamble of Cesarec and Leko's wages. If we can also sell Cufre then that will be release wages. I like Cufre but we already know this guy is wanted in South America so we might as well sell as he's already 32.
I noticed Hajduk are tracking some New Zealand striker. That's newsworthy. CSR could do a list of Croats playing in other countries to keep an eye out for. I think theres even a Croat in the Chile team.
To me Dinamo and Hajduk's transfer business is obvious. We both only want a striker. Dinamo needs to put all its focus on Leko and Cesarec. Both have said they come so we should go all out to get them.
With Hajduk i still think Zdravko Popovic is an obvious one. All the other names that have been mentioned like Budan, Rukavina, Budimir should be kicked into touch. I think Dinamo and Hajduk often struggle with understanding what's realistic and what's not and then in the end they just accept anything as they run out of time. I believe Dinamo did this with Papadopoulos and Hajduk did it with Rodic and Ahmad last season. I think both teams need a players who have had a little bit of success abroad, have had success, are at a small sized club, have low wage and have plenty of football ahead of them … Leon Benko, Daniel Cesarec, Zdravko Popovic and Andrej Keric all fit into this category…
…as a sign of goodwill and mi hrvati, all that, i propose you fellas go out and get yourself a nice croatian blonde girlfriend too, like this one:
http://www.break.com/pictures/blonde-is-a-state-of-mind1843777.html
Pfff, this is the crisis of the week? This issue of whether some cartoon may or may not be racist. Brazil is a world leader in banana production,(true) it's not like they were refering to it's role as world leader in zoo porn production.(also true) Has yankee political correctness totally taken over in CSR. Give me a break, why don't you take a look at cartoons that have been and in many cases still are going around the good ol' u s of a, (god bless amerika, yeehaaaaw!!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6XKQcSqabs
You posers need to move out of your moms basements and spend more time in Europe. btw, Boli me picka za NBA!
I agree with Karlo.
@dinamofan what would you say are the chances cesarec signs with dinamo?
That is meant to be racist? Talk about political correctness gone mad. How about writing about ethnic Croats that are at the World Cup, like the 5 in the Australian squad. Thats something much more relevant and newsworthy than something as silly and trivial as this sticker book.
Its starting to bite a bit now that we didn't make it. Im not sure how it is down in the USA but here in Toronto area people are so into the World Cup and being in such a multicultural city you can see hundreds of Portuguese,English, Italians,Germans, Serbs,Brazilians Slovenes,and so on driving with their flags. I always look forward to these WC and Euros but this is not really the way i was expecting.and at the moment it feels like we don't even exist.
@ Pintar,
Good to here from you. It's been awhile.
When I first saw this back in November, I couldn't believe. You have a black man shoving a banana into a white man's musket. Ok that's fine for adult humor…but what got me is the fact that this book is meant for kids 5-11 years old. Take adults out of the equation.
The other point I was trying to make is that Croatia is one of the few countries this would fly in. England. No. States. No. This is perfectly normal to Croatians.
I know they're racist but Jesus Christ.
And there's no soccer to report on. Both games today were boring. Hopefullt US England has some fireworks.
I'm trying to give you guys some content, I really am. If anyone has any ideas. Send 'em in!
I think regardless of whether or not you find it offensive, it's an assenine cover, terribly designed. And I get an imperialistic vibe from it more than anything, which is strange. Wings? No idea. Flying monkey from Wizard of Oz? That would make it even worse.
Looking forward to the Euro Qualification so Croatia is involved again. Pulling for the US and Slovenia in this one.
i agree is not a big issue as its boring… The arguement a day or so ago was that we've already done the HNL1 corruption debate 100 times. I think we've done the racism one 100 times… BORING!
Anyone else think Popovic is worth signing lol..
um why is this a big deal?
its a cartoon that shows rooney hunting two brazilians and the brazilians are messing with him. its a joke that in my eyes shouldn't be turned into a big issue.
No tears with Croatia. Just did not deserve it. Waiting for the Euro's. It'll be better then. England V USA is a bit of a non event for me. My dad got a England top, but i'm just not enthused by supporting England. I'm a neutral on this world cup.
I wanted Mexico to win today, they were playing some nice stuff. I'm supported Uruaguy V France later. Diego Forlan all the way!
@ Slaven,
Croatia's not in the World Cup. We're trying our best to keep you entertained here.
Sometime next week a post featuring the San Jose Earthquake-Tottenham game July 17th will go up. Who's going to be in California to cheer with us. We're close to sealing a session with Modric. Who's interested?
I think Argentina will win it all. That being said, my heart is with the USA!
Uncle Sam's Army – Red, White and True
STAND UP IF YOU HATE ENGLAND!!
1776
1812
1950
…can we add 2010 to the mix?
USA! USA! USA!
(there still is no World Cup without Croatia…tear)
ZDRAVKO POPOVIC
Currently plays for Atromotis in Greece top division.
Aged: 26
Hows this for a goal?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A86sIrHHUCk
Began his career at Somobor, before spell at NK Zagreb and then signed for Sesvete. Impressed there and joined OFI Crete in Greece. Scored 17 goals for Crete, before joining Atromotis last season. Injured at start of season and loaned back to Crete last season and scored 5 goals in 5 matches.
Hajduk claim they can't afford to buy Budimir and can't afford Budan. Budan's wages would be huge and Budimir's fee will be too much. I think they could get Popovic though. HNL1 should be easy for him and should collect a hatful of goals.
I have to agree. The banana is a rather obvious racial slur and, yes, it is a bit embarrassing.
So, Dinamo fan, tell us more about Zdravko Popovic. Where did he begin his career? Hajduk? Where's he playing now?
That's definitely Drogba, not Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho has tiny messed up teeth, also known as "summer teeth." Some are here, some are there.
BostonCro
Lately here it's been all about the kits and corruption in sport and now this? Must be a slow day at the office.
It seems like players i mention end up transfering to the club i say should sign them at moment. Maybe clubs are nicking my ideas lol… But theres another player whose done well in Greece in last 2 seasons named Zdravko Popovic … If your reading this in Hajduk Split, that's the striker to go for… If we sign Cesarec and Hajduk sign Popovic i can see a fierce fight for title this season. Both are a sensible age Cesarec is 27 and Popovic is 26 i think. Both are mobile and have a good finish and would benefit from the moves.
i'm not sure its conveying any message to be honest. What's Kaka doing? How come he's got wings… its confusing. Its like that picture of dogs sitting around the table playing cards… I donno what's going on there…
I think i've said this a lot before but i wouldn't put judge all Croatians by one man's actions. The guy who made this is obviously a dufus… I think you might have being best going with the HNL1 scandal story rather than this one. The guy's picture doesn't even make sense..
hopefully this will be knocked of the headlines soon and replaced by DINAMO COMPLETE CESAREC SIGNING 🙂
The big teeth are a dead give away for Ronaldinho. I can see a small resemblance to Drogba, but either way it still conveys the same message.
And Croatians don't know where Rooney comes from and it makes no difference to them. He's a twat…end of story. But a world class player nonetheless. I guess this is what happens when you don't make the Cup.
Croatia not making WC really kicking in now. Watching memories like this-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nUVjWuOOWs
brings a tear to my eye. oh well just gonna have to go for australia *sigh*
Wow I'm glad to hear were finally going after Daniel Cesarec. If we can get him in we can actually let Mandzo go..
If Mandzo went and Cesarec came we'd finally stop all the atmosphere around the club and we'd have a more focused striker. With wages considering the ridiculous wages given to Kovac, Biscan and Papadopoulos when they didn't deserve it, i'm sure we can give Cesarec a decent wage. Its also good this guys served his dues and had to bounce back in his career. That will make him a more level headed and determined player that many of our current crop.
If we can get Cesarec and Leko in and leave it at that, i'll be a lot happier about the season. We've already let Vrdoljak go for a good price and Mandzo can follow and we can keep the rest.
In defence i'm still a bit concerned that Biscan, Cufre and Simic are past it. Prob keep Biscan as a squad player, but Cufre perhaps we should open up the door to Argentine clubs as we'll definitely get a bid. Then we prob can get a younger defender in. I don't think theres a lot else to do.
1. Loncaric
2. Tomecak, 3. Ibanez
4. Barbaric, 5. Biscan
6. Calelo, 7. Leko
8. Badelj
10. Sammir, 11. Morales
9. Cesarec
Subs
12. Kramaric, 13. Slepicka. 14. Dodo. 15. Ademi. 16. Vrsaljko. 17. Keleva. 18. Etto. 19. Antolic. 20. Simic
As a squad that could prob reach Europa Liga group stage. Sell Mandzo, Cufre, Sivonjic, Chago and prob can get by on that.
What's going on in this picture exactly as it don't seem to make much sense to me. I don't get that at all. I think that's supposed to be Didier Drogba. I think Croatia needs to be careful as the world is evolving and if Croatia is still gonna stay stuck in the past it could be the new third world. I mean this whole HNL1 stuff for example is an example of scavaging basically and doing ANYTHING to survive and pay your bills. That's not a country Croatia want's to start to become.
I mean what was the person hoping to achieve by painting Didier Drogba one of the richest footballers in the world in this way. I'm sure the guy hardly lives in trees. Might be more fitting to paint him living in a gold house. As for Wayne Rooney. This guy is from a council estate and brought up on boxing. So what's with the upper class English image. The people in that life style don't follow football they follow Cricket and Rugby. If this is for kids your not teaching them anything at all.
I actually find it odd why Croats would be multi ethnic. Its hardly a closed culture as Croats are spread all over the world. Most on this site aren't from Croatia. Also it seems to me the ambitious of every Croatian footballer to leave and go to another country. I often here the words 'get a foreign transfer' mentioned all the time when associated to any HNL1 player.
I don't think Croatia has a major issue as a whole, but obviously theres some frustrated people who have to take there general annoyance out on someone. I don't think Drogba will be losing any sleep about the sticker book. That's if he can sleep on that broken arm of his.
The sticker album should have contained Drogba's broken arm, Robben's pointless backheel that made him injured and Heskey's challenge on Ferdinand. That would have been funnier. A load of the world's best playing writhing around in agony. That seems the topic of this world cup so far.
There are books like these sold in the States. Not the same company though. This book is only from Croatia.
Panini makes the State-side sticker book I believe.
Do you know if these are available in the US or just Croatia? I'd really like to get a variant sticker book instead of the ones they sell here.
Thanks!