Croatia's national football team receive heroes' welcome in Zagreb

​Croatia's footballers, who won the third place in the World Cup in Qatar on Saturday, were given a heroes' welcome in the capital city on Sunday evening.

After their plane landed at Franjo Tuđman Airport shortly after 1700 hours, the tourism and sports minister, Nikolina Brnjac, and other officials were there to meet the bronze medallists, The team then headed for the main square by bus on a route where traffic was specially regulated. Already along the route, thousands of people, most of whom were dressed in red and white chequered jerseys, were standing and waving national flags to greet the country's sporting heroes.

Like four years ago, when the national team won the silver at the World Cup in Russia, a welcome ceremony and a special programme were organised in Zagreb's main square, which was full of singing and chanting fans, many carrying flags and national insignia, since the afternoon, braving the freezing temperatures.

In the afternoon, Interior Minister Davor Božinović, said that already an estimated 80,000 supporters had swarmed the main square and he expected even more fans later in the evening.

The arrival of the national team at the main square at about 1930 hrs Sunday was the climax of the ceremony, and a delighted crowd erupted with joy.

Several top officials, including Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and a few cabinet ministers were also in the crowd.

Croatia won the first bronze at the World Cup in France in 1998, when the national team's coach was Miroslav Ćiro Blažević.

Four years ago, Croatia, led by coach Zlatko Dalić, reached the finals in Russia when they were beaten by France.  

During the last football championships, Croatia reached semi-finals in which they were beaten by Argentina. In the third-place play-off, Croatia, under the baton of the coach Dalić, defeated Morocco (2-1) and thus won the bronze.

(Hina/FaH)

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