From the Special Rapporteur on Croatia
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The wider center of Dubrovnik fell silent with a sixth strike. The Croats wore football jerseys, sat in the gardens of restaurants equipped with widescreen screens, on which only one program plays today. We are watching the Croatia-Czechia football match from the heart of Dubrovnik and we are thinking about how much we will show the joy of a possible goal in the Croatian goal.
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“The Czechs played well on Monday, but wait until we paint it on Friday,” the local suffocated in front of us a few hours back. We are cautioned not to support the wrong team.
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Even waiters today distribute one chilled Ožujsko after another in Croatian jerseys. With 17 minutes played, Coufal nearly put the visitors another one up as he broke through in the middle and fired from just outside the box, but his shot passed just over the bar. Three minutes later, the crowd shouts: “No, no, no, no, no, oooo” – when the ball moves dangerously in front of the Croatian goal.
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1: 0 for the Czechs. We give good advice and rejoice only internally, the remaining 80 people in the square shake their heads unhappily. Some people get up from their chairs two minutes later and expect Rebić to change their chances.
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At half-time, we turn to the fan in a jersey and ear flaps in Croatian colors. When we admit to him that we are from the Czech Republic, he rolls his eyes. “Well, well, you’re good. My heart is bleeding when I say that, but I’m afraid you’ll win, “he says unhappily. “Who knows who will win, what do you think?” Asks the waiter at one zero for the Czechia. “We support the Czech Republic.” “Then you should leave,” he says with a smile.
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Three minutes later, the Croats score. The waiter runs out of the restaurant and points a finger at our table. “Ah, here you go! And do it again! ”He laughs, and eighty people turn in our direction.
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Even small children stand under the screens and shout en masse: “Croatia! Croatia! “
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However, despite all hopes, the match ends in the silence of the draw.
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