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Amid ‘Kill’ Chants, Croatia and Serbia Set Peaceful Example Amid ‘Kill’ Chants, Croatia and Serbia Set Peaceful Example
(about 1 hour later)
ZAGREB, Croatia — For all the talk of conciliation, for all the pleas for tolerance before the game and for all the statements from players and coaches that the war should take a back seat to the soccer, the crowd at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb found it harder to forget and forgive on Friday.ZAGREB, Croatia — For all the talk of conciliation, for all the pleas for tolerance before the game and for all the statements from players and coaches that the war should take a back seat to the soccer, the crowd at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb found it harder to forget and forgive on Friday.
As the players of the Croatia and Serbia national soccer teams took the field for their much-anticipated World Cup qualifying match, a banner was unfurled under three stands for the home supporters. It read: “Through the rough times and through the battles we defended honorably our homes. The ones who defended our land didn’t die in vain. Our flag is flying and we don’t have to hide it anymore.”As the players of the Croatia and Serbia national soccer teams took the field for their much-anticipated World Cup qualifying match, a banner was unfurled under three stands for the home supporters. It read: “Through the rough times and through the battles we defended honorably our homes. The ones who defended our land didn’t die in vain. Our flag is flying and we don’t have to hide it anymore.”
Deafening boos followed the Serbian national anthem. The chant “Vukovar, Vukovar” rained down, a reference to the Croatian city on the Serbian border destroyed during the civil war. When striker Mario Mandzukic capitalized on a defensive error to put Croatia ahead, 1-0, early in the first half, a new chant was begun: “Kill the Serbs.”Deafening boos followed the Serbian national anthem. The chant “Vukovar, Vukovar” rained down, a reference to the Croatian city on the Serbian border destroyed during the civil war. When striker Mario Mandzukic capitalized on a defensive error to put Croatia ahead, 1-0, early in the first half, a new chant was begun: “Kill the Serbs.”
Perhaps it was too much to expect, given the symbolism that the Maksimir Stadium holds in Croatia. It was here, in 1990, that a match between Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade degenerated into a riot and was called off. To many Croatians it is considered the first battle of the war for independence, and it led thousands of the hard-core fans on both sides to form fighting units during the civil war. Outside the Maksimir’s west stand, a large memorial stands to mark the game and the Dinamo fans who died fighting for independence. In the end, it was a one-sided game. Croatia beat Serbia, 2-0, at Maksimir Stadium, further enhancing its prospects of qualifying for the World Cup and virtually ruining Serbia’s chances. Yet the match had always been about much more than just World Cup qualification.
In the end, it was a one-sided game. Croatia beat Serbia, 2-0, further enhancing its prospects of qualifying for the World Cup and virtually ruining Serbia’s chances of making it to Brazil. Yet the match had always been about much more than just World Cup qualification. The memories of the Yugoslav conflict are still raw, though diminishing with each passing year. Both football associations had agreed to bar away fans, to reduce the chances of a confrontation at both this game and the return match in Belgrade later in the year. The only Serbians allowed to attend were officials and journalists.
Both football associations had agreed to bar away fans, to reduce the chances of a confrontation at both this game and the return match in Belgrade later in the year. The only Serbians allowed to attend were officials and journalists. The day before the match, on the outskirts of Zagreb, a busload of Serbian journalists allowed to travel there was met by three Croatian riot vans, two police cars and several police motorcycles. One police officer boarded and addressed the crowd over a loudspeaker: “You should not,” he gravely intoned, “respond to any provocation.” The focus was also on the coaches: Croatia’s Igor Stimac and Serbia’s Sinisa Mihajlovic. Both were sent off during the last Yugoslav Cup final, between their old sides, Hajduk Split and Red Star Belgrade, in 1991.
The motorcade flashed through the streets of the Croatian capital, attracting the gaze of confused onlookers before arriving at the hotel. But there was no welcoming party, or provocation. There was heavy security, too, for the arrival of the Serbian team on the same day. Several thousand Croatian fans had greeted them with banners and flags, but the buildup to the game passed peacefully. Only a few fans, in the hours before the kickoff, sang nationalist songs and made their Nazi-like straight-armed salutes, in Zagreb’s main square. In December they spoke for the first time since then, agreeing to bury the hatchet and lead by example.
Before the match, the focus was also on the coaches: Croatia’s Igor Stimac and Serbia’s Sinisa Mihajlovic. Both were sent off during the last Yugoslav Cup final, played between their old sides, Hajduk Split and Red Star Belgrade, in 1991. Croatia, as expected, dominated. Soon after the first goal came a second, from striker Ivica Olic. Serbia pressed in the second half but could not overtake the world’s No. 9 team.
The two exchanged words of such ferocity that they had not spoken for two decades. Mihajlovic, who grew up in the Croatian border town of Vukovar with a Croat mother and a Serb father, went on to become a symbol of Serbian nationalism. Stimac played much the same role for Croatia, helping lead the national team to third place at the World Cup in 1998. At the final whistle, the Croatian and Serbian players shook hands cordially, many of them too young to remember the horrors of war. Most poignantly, the two coaches embraced. They had promised peace for 90 minutes. But peace had spilled over its allotted time.
In December the two spoke for the first time since that match in 1991 to discuss the potentially explosive World Cup draw that had placed Croatia and Serbia in the same group. They agreed to bury the hatchet and lead by example.
Croatia, as expected, dominated. Soon after the first goal came a second, from striker Ivica Olic. Serbia pressed in the second half but could not overtake the world’s ninth-ranked team.
At the final whistle, the crowd exploded in celebration. On the field, the Croatian and Serbian players shook hands cordially, many of them too young to remember the horrors of a war that had defined their parents’ generation. But most poignantly, the two coaches embraced in the center circle. They had promised peace for 90 minutes. But peace had spilled over its allotted time.
“I think that we saw a very fair game tonight from both sets of players,” said Mihajlovic, who had instructed his players to clap during the Croatian national anthem. Of his players, he said: “They gave a very good example for the people back home how they should be on the pitch. We must be satisfied with that.”“I think that we saw a very fair game tonight from both sets of players,” said Mihajlovic, who had instructed his players to clap during the Croatian national anthem. Of his players, he said: “They gave a very good example for the people back home how they should be on the pitch. We must be satisfied with that.”
The nature of some of the chants Friday is likely to be investigated by both the Croatian Football Federation and FIFA. “I didn’t hear anything; it is difficult as I was concentrating on the game,” Stimac said. “If there was anything not allowed, I sincerely apologize from everyone here. Stimac also spoke about the meaning of the postgame embrace.
“I thought the atmosphere was great.” “It sends a very clear message,” he said. “Let’s forget the past, we have a great future. We cannot build a future on the past. We are neighbors. There is plenty to live for in front of us.”
He also spoke about the meaning of his embrace of Mihajlovic.
“It sends a very clear message,” Stimac said. “Let’s forget the past, we have a great future. We cannot build a future on the past. We are neighbors. There is plenty to live for in front of us.”
NOTES
In other qualifying matches, Teemu Pukki’s goal in the 78th minute gave Finland a 1-1 draw in Spain, which is now under pressure to beat Group I-leading France in Paris on Tuesday. Defender Sergio Ramos had given Spain a 1-0 lead. ... Portugal overcame a 3-1 deficit to tie host Israel, 3-3. Both teams trail Group F-leading Russia by four points. ... England walloped San Marino, 8-0, scoring that many goals for the first time since 1987 and setting up next week’s game against group rival Montenegro. ... Sweden stuttered to a 0-0 draw against Ireland in Group C and slipped further behind leading Germany. (REUTERS)