World Cup: Herd’s trash talk enlivens divided loyalty meeting of Croatian-Canadians

tomtidgewellNovember 26, 2022

The Canadian-Croatian has a tough decision to make about who to root for on Sunday, but it’s not a difficult decision for Croatian-born keeper Milan Boljan.

Canadian goalkeeper Milan Boljan reacts during Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Canada at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. Photo credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP /PNG

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Dave Sorick couldn’t stop laughing at the thought.

After “F-Gate” led by Canadian director John Hardman, Infuriated the whole country with his post-match comments, Soric couldn’t help but wonder what Canadian goalkeeper Milan Boljan (born in Knin, Croatia) would say when they face off in the World Cup group stage in Qatar on Sunday morning. .

“I want to see him start speaking s*** in Croatian to some guys. John started it. I want Milan to finish it,” said the Croatian-Canadian Vancouver resident. rice field.

“Something like ‘Ajde picka,'” he exclaimed when asked what Borjan would say. (age-appropriate folks, do it through google translate at your own risk)

“This is a very possible scenario. Milan speaks the language…he may be speaking Croatian to them trying to get into their heads. I might get a response from the Croatian, I think he’s going to say some little jabs.

“You’re walking on barrels of dynamite here. If Milan says so to Marco Libaya, there could be World War III there,” Soric said of the Croatian striker.

It takes context to understand why Hardman was left naked on the front page of 24sata, Croatia’s largest newspaper and news site, except for a small maple leaf.

Croatian tabloids appeared very unforgiving of Hardman and put him on the cover, despite Dalic’s insistence that “Croatia will speak on the pitch.”

“You have a mouth (tongue),” this says next to, well, a stripped herdsman. “But do you have a ball too?” pic.twitter.com/Z7b4Ncdomk

— Juraj Vrdoljak (@JurajVrdoljak) November 25, 2022

Croatia has just become a country since 1991, when the War of Independence ended and Yugoslavia was split into six independent republics. Borjan, for example, was born in Knin, a heavily Serb region of Yugoslavia that eventually became part of Croatia. His stance on being Serb rather than Croat is well documented.

Since independence, Croatia has hosted five World Cups and is ranked 3rd in the world, finishing 3rd in its debut in 1998 and 2nd in Russia in 2018. The list of famous athletes from Croatia or claiming Croatian heritage is quite long despite her population being only 4 million people. Their soccer team pride is fierce and earned.

“I assure you that there is no country in the world that comes this close on a per capita basis.

So hardman was perceived slightly A high test poured into the combustion chamber for Sunday’s match, which was a must-win for both teams. But it has also led to a split in loyalty to those who claim heritage or citizenship in both countries.

In 2018, Port Coquitlam’s Joseph Stancic learned a lesson as he celebrated Croatia’s 2-1 extra-time win over England in the semi-finals.

“There was tension at the last World Cup,” he laughs. “Me and my (British) in-laws haven’t spoken for a while.

“I think I’m going to watch the game (Sunday) with no emotion. I’m 50/50. I don’t know which way to go. I don’t know how to cheer for something or be happy or sad. For example, when Canada or Croatia scored, we couldn’t cheer for the goal.”

48-year-old Stancic, born here to Croatian parents, has been there many times and takes great pride in what this small country has achieved on the world stage. But he’s equally invested in Les Rouge’s return to the World Cup, unbelievable for his stars who had to line up to see his two nations play against each other. Hmm.

“Just the fact that Canada is in the World Cup, what they have to accomplish, to win the last six games in the snow and wind…it was incredible what they did. ” said Stancic.

“And when you get in there, you have 32 teams, which means there’s a 1 in 8 chance that they’re in the same group. At that point, do you think there’s a 12% chance they’ll play each other? And it happened, which is pretty cool.

Soric added: It’s like gluttony. I never imagined Croatia or Canada would play. I was licking my chops when I saw the draw before this tournament. I mean, I’ve always been to Croatia, but this is the first time we’re in the same group.

“But I have to go with Croatia,” he added. “It’s the team I’ve cherished the most in my life. If Canada wins, I’ll be happy too. Canada has the potential to win, just like Croatia plays hockey against Canada.”

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