Episode 83
Dobro jutro, prijatelji! For all of you World Cup soccer fans out there, this show is for you! Join us as we learn some words you’ll hear during Croatia’s participation in the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Ajmo, Hrvatska! Gol!
Lesson - Nogomet
game - utakmica
World Cup/Championship - Svjetsko prvenstvo
team - ekipa
croatian team - reprezentacija (vatreni)
country/state - država
Group F - grupa F
Canada - Kanada
Morocco - Maroko
Belgium - Belgija
stadium - stadion
goal - gol
Super Slatko Report
In this edition of the SSR, DJ Moe will get us up to date on Croatia’s soccer history and possible future! You can tell we’re excited. We hope you are, too!
Let’s begin with Croatia being admitted into FIFA, prior to being admitted Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. So once Croatia gained its independence, they were admitted into the FIFA organization, that was in 1992. Six years later, Croatia made its 1st World Cup appearance in 1998.
In their debut year, Croatia were dropped into group H.
For those of you unfamiliar with the tournament, all the participating countries are randomly drawn and placed into groups of 4, using letters of the alphabet. Those 4 teams then play each other once, with the top 2 teams moving on to the next round.
So along with Croatia in Group H, there is also:
Argentina
Jamaica
Japan
In their 1st game, Croatia beat Jamaica 3 to 1
In their 2nd game, they beat Japan 1 to nothing
And in their 3rd game they lost to Argentina 1 to nothing.
In their group, they placed 2nd behind Argentina and advanced to the 2nd round, better known as the round of 16. Croatia then went on to beat Romania, 1 to nothing
In the quarter finals, they played a heavily favored German squad and won 3 to nothing.
After this surprise win, they moved onto play the host France and lost 2 to 1.
Narrowly missing the tournament Final, Croatia instead played in the semifinal matching up against a strong Netherlands team, in a battle for 3rd place. Croatia won that game, beating the Netherlands 2 to 1 and took home 3rd place.
Remember, all of this happened in their 1st tournament!
Worth mentioning, Croatian Striker, Davor Šuker also earned the tournament's Golden Boot honors for his six goals.
Fast forward to 2018, now Croatia’s 5th appearance at the World Cup.
This time around, Croatia landed in Group D.
Along with
Nigeria
Iceland
And Argentina again.
This time Croatia won their group, by beating each team.
2 nothing over Nigeria
2 to 1 over Iceland
And
3 to nothing over Argentina.
Croatia, full of momentum cruise into the round of 16.
Here they run into a mighty Denmark squad that was tied 1 to 1 and went to Penalty Kicks,
Croatia wins in PK’s.
Off to the Quarter Finals where they would take on the Russian team, again the game stayed level, this time 2 to 2. They go to Penalty Kicks again and once again, Croatia prevails.
Off to the semi finals where Croatia lines up against England, remember this is where in 1998, Croatia fell to France. Croatia finds another gear and beats England 2 to 1.
Croatia goes onto the Final to face the French team once again.
This time, Croatia wasn’t able to overcome France and fell 4 to 2.
Taking home a very respectable 2nd place finish.
And once again, a Croatian takes home the Golden Boot, Super Slatko Alumni, Luka Modric.
So what does World Cup 2022 have in store for Croatia?
We don’t know, we’ll have to wait and find out.
At this time, we know Croatia is in Group F
Along with:
Belgium
Canada
Morocco
The World Cup starts November 23rd.
We will definitely be watching, we hope you get the chance whereever you are as well.
Good luck to Luka Modric and the Croatian National team.
And that’s it for the Super Slatko Report.
