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Croatia media: ‘two years we fight for this and then someone robs us’ Croatia media: ‘Two years we fight for this and then someone robs us’
(about 1 hour later)
It was the morning after the night before. Croatia had made its population proud but had also come away with nothing from their opening game of the World Cup. Their game, of course, was against the hosts, Brazil, and they had lost after conceding a controversial penalty.It was the morning after the night before. Croatia had made its population proud but had also come away with nothing from their opening game of the World Cup. Their game, of course, was against the hosts, Brazil, and they had lost after conceding a controversial penalty.
And, as one would expect, the headlines in the Croatian media on Friday morning were exclusively reserved for the referee, Yuichi Nishimura. As one would expect, the headlines in the Croatian media on Friday morning were exclusively reserved for the referee, Yuichi Nishimura.
“Two years we fight for this and then someone robs us,” screamed Jutarnji list. “Croatian supporters – sheep sheared by Fifa,” said Index.hr.“Two years we fight for this and then someone robs us,” screamed Jutarnji list. “Croatian supporters – sheep sheared by Fifa,” said Index.hr.
Initial media reaction was so focused on the officiating that hardly any of them bothered with a proper analysis of the game. Sportske novosti, the only daily sports newspaper in the country, said “[Luka] Modric and [Ivan] Rakitic sacrificed themselves for [Mateo] Kovacic, and he did nothing …”, and then, confusingly, concluded that “Croatia played well” after all. The initial media reaction was so focused on the officiating that hardly any of them bothered with a proper analysis of the game. Sportske novosti, the only daily sports newspaper in the country, said: “[Luka] Modric and [Ivan] Rakitic sacrificed themselves for [Mateo] Kovacic, and he did nothing …”, and then, confusingly, concluded that “Croatia played well” after all.
Tportal.hr also blamed the referee, but offered a few other reasons for the defeat too: a great performance by Brazil’s Oscar, Niko Kovac’s tactical approach without a true holding midfielder and the coach fielding Nikica Jelavic. In general, the Hull City’s centre-forward is viewed as the weakest Croatia performer and there was some lament on why Eduardo was left on the bench while others thanked God that Mario Mandzukic will be back for the matches against Cameroon and Mexico following his suspension for a red card dating back from the qualifying play-off against Iceland last November. Tportal.hr also blamed the referee, but offered a few other reasons for the defeat too: a great performance by Brazil’s Oscar, Niko Kovac’s tactical approach without a true holding midfielder and the coach fielding Nikica Jelavic. In general, the Hull City’s centre-forward is viewed as the weakest Croatia performer and there was some lament on why Eduardo was left on the bench.
England legend Gary Lineker, meanwhile, has won himself a considerable number of new fans in the country with comments he made on Twitter. “It’s a tight call for Brazil’s man of the match between Neymar and the Referee,” is the most-quoted one. Others thanked God that Mario Mandzukic will be back for the Group A matches against Cameroon and Mexico following his suspension for a red card dating back from the qualifying play-off against Iceland last November.
The former England striker and TV presenter Gary Lineker, meanwhile, has won himself a considerable number of new fans in the country with comments he made on Twitter. “It’s a tight call for Brazil’s man of the match between Neymar and the referee,” is the most-quoted one.