Croatia fans in São Paulo celebrate the team’s victory

The dispute for a place in the semifinals of the World Cup in Qatar between the Brazilian national team and the Croatian national team, brought together, today (9), the opposing supporters of Tite’s national team at the headquarters of the Society Friends of Dalmatia (southern region of Croatia ), in the east zone of São Paulo. Fans of the runner-up team in the 2018 World Cup, in Russia, led by coach Zlatko Dalic, watched the game that took place at the Cidade da Educação stadium, and celebrated the first victory over Brazil in a World Cup. The victory came after a draw in overtime and the 4-2 on penalties. The independent artist Aline Bischoff, 26 years old, granddaughter of Croatians on her mother’s side, was radiant with the victory, and her belief is that, this time, the cup will be red and white. She pointed out that if Brazil won, happiness would be the same, because there is love for both nations. “But after so much war, so much suffering, our first World Cup will come. We are cheering a lot. Croatia has a chance, they played very well. For me, cheering for Croatia is a way of honoring my grandparents who came to Brazil”, he said. Professor Carlos Alberto Majer, 58 years old, is the grandson of Croats and obtained his dual citizenship in 2007. He showed his divided heart by wearing a T-shirt with the colors of the two flags. “I wear this T-shirt to play football on Sunday mornings and I make a point of spreading a bit of Croatian culture. This T-shirt means a heart that belongs to two nations.” For him, the game was difficult as expected, because they are two very consistent selections. “Regardless of the result, my team always wins, so I’m already guaranteed the next stage. I’m celebrating just the same. Next week I’ll be wearing Croatia’s shirt”, he said. Businessman Gabriel Farac, 28 years old, son of a Croatian father, dedicated the victory to his father, who preferred to watch the game at home. The homage comes due to tradition and recognition that Croatia’s history has always been one of struggle and determination. “It’s a country that gained independence very recently, so that just shows that the strength, the dedication that Croatia has had throughout its history, is transmitted in the game.” Farac believed Croatia’s only chance of beating Brazil was to go to penalties, as it did. For him, Brazil is a stronger, younger team. He also said that he loves Brazil, but emphasized that he is proud to be part of the Croatian nation. “It’s the country where I live, where I have my job, my company, but Croatia is the country of my father’s family and seeing the victory I know makes that part of the family happy, the part of the family that still live there”. He also thanked the Brazilians who were at the association to watch the match. “This is very nice, it’s very sporty, this attitude of everyone hugging each other is very nice. I wish that more and more Brazilians could get to know the culture of our country, which is also very beautiful”, he said with emotion. Brazilian, Lucas Melo Dantas, 31 years old, was in the association at the invitation of the boss, who is Croatian. He said he was hopeful with the possibility of a victory for Brazil, at least in extra time after Neymar’s goal. Lucas said that the experience of watching the game on the opposing field was innovative and “a very nice invitation” from his friend. “Unfortunately Croatia came in the second half of extra time and ended up scoring that little goal. Then came the penalties, and I thought, let’s at least guarantee the penalties. The fans now are for Argentina, because my heart is Latin America. We respect Latin America”, he said. With the victory, Croatia enters the field in the new knockout round on Tuesday (13th), at 4 pm, at the Lusail Stadium, against the winning selection of Argentina and Holland. The Qatar Cup is the first held in the Middle East and had the participation of seven of the eight teams that have already lifted the cup. For the second consecutive edition, four-time champion Italy failed to qualify and Germany, Uruguay and Spain have already been eliminated. The tournament is being played at the end of the year, and not in its usual period, June and July, because of the heat in the host country during the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Agência Brasil