The UNTOLD STORY Behind CROATIA & Their ICONIC RISE

Imagine a young country with a population less than 4 million.
A place where international football participation only kicked off in 1994.
Yet, against all odds, this underdog soared to the pinnacle of world football, adorning their trophy room with three World Cup medals and looking at the way they're
currently evolving, it seems like it's just a matter of time before they finally win some silverware.
Today, I'm gonna answer that question once and for all and explain the miracle behind their meteoric rise...
#croatia #croatiafootballnationalteam #croatiaworldcup #croatiaeuro #modric #bilic #ciro #stimac #miroslavblazevic #rakitic #mandzukic #perisic #croatiaworldcup2022 #croatiaworldcup2018 #croatiaeuro2016 #hrvatska #hrvatskinogometni #nogometni #hns
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[@markot8927]

1:30 mark, that's not Boban, second one is not Štimac but Šuker, and you're correct with Prosinečki :)

[@ThroneFC]

My bad! Thanks for pointing out though 👍

[@user-jr6fv2es6v]

TRUE

[@segetking_6517]

That isn't Šuker, that is Štimac hahahaha. Also for Boban he has put the wrong one, that is Boban Babunski.

[@segetking_6517]

@@ThroneFC you weren't wrong for Štimac, but you have put the wrong Boban.

[@johnfor7522]

Croatia Nazi state 😂

[@frankdux2057]

Talent and national pride is the main reasons for Croatia success.

[@k.a.2253]

Yeah... it should be for everyone?

[@croatdugiotok6125]

It’s a combination of all that and genetics. Throughout the decades since independence Croatia has been successful in many sports. Basketball, tennis, handball, rowing, kickboxing, skiing, UFC, waterpolo, athletics and gymnastics. On Friday, June 22, 2018, German newspaper Bild, the 8th most circulated newspaper worldwide with over 2.5 million readers daily, named Croatia the best sporting country in the world! Bild writes that with a population of just 4.2 million, Croatia has only slightly more inhabitants than Berlin (3.5 million) - but when it comes to sports, they are anything but small. In relation to size, Croatia can be considered the best sporting nation in the world.

[@croatdugiotok6125]

@@kageryu311 very true. But many variables come into play. Upbringing. Kids in Croatia haven’t got the facilities western nations have, but are more determined to make those professional environments for that exact reason.

[@JohnJhones]

God Almighty is the reason!

[@fukingaccount]

I2a haplogroup genes on parental side and selection of people by living on the border between western and eastern world for the centuries. The similar is with Serbs and Bosnians... There are no such men on the earth Just look at the results Croatia and Serbia in the world sports...

[@losteden6390]

Their very first World Cup they nearly went all the way - they came third in the whole tournament but scored first against France in the semi finals and it was a very very CLOSE match ... Croatia had some of the very best players in their position in the world at the time - players like Suker, Boban, Prosinecki, Jarni etc .. and if Boksic who was a world class striker didn't get injured before the tournament they would have been even better . Suker , Boksic up from would have been difficult to stop. That was a world class team and they just kept going from there ... Absolutely brilliant footballing country that keeps producing brilliant talent ....

[@CryptoBeggar-fe5uc]

Lilian thouram happened. His only 2 goals in his national team career.

[@chrishanzek8930]

Croats were represented in the Yugoslav team but were underrepresented and the results of a strictly Croatian team prove this.

[@damyr]

That was because of politics. In Yugoslavian NT, players from all republics were had to be represented, as equally as they could. And that case serves as a great example how forced diversity is a very bad idea.

[@TB-pu9qm]

-Euro 1996 ref stole us against germany i 1/4... -wc98 bronze, - euro 08 turks scored in 120 and we lost on penalties in 1/4, -euro 12 ref stole us a clear penalty in group against winner spain in 90th minute in last game -wc 14 ref gave brazil litteraly 2 goals in first game, -euro 16 unlucky gola against portugal 120 min that even you mentioned, -wc 18 final first france goal was after griezman dived and second was doubtful penalty, 'wc22 semi vs argentina first goal was no penalty. Livakovic stood with both legs on the ground and argentinian just intenzionali fell on when ball was clear in croatian legs. PS. In 20 years we have more wc medals then england in whole history. We also played league of nations final.

[@user-xx2dw5fz3o]

Dude, imaging us in WC 94.... I see nothing but gold, end!

[@mateokarlvonpavlovic8295]

​​@@kageryu311 lmao why do you must express hate in the video. This is video talking about croatia. And yeah england 😂😂😂 they always bootle even against worse teams.

[@markoglokevic1383]

I like how so many people called us lucky after we defeated Brazil (although for all of their simulations they got what they deserved), but when Portugal eliminated us on Euro 2016 with that one lucky attack everyone praised Portugal for eventually winning that Euro. Noone cared when we were better and lost but when we did the same thing to Brazil it was apparently undeserving.

[@ThroneFC]

You're right, some times luck is on your side, sometimes it isn't.. But football fans are biased man, that's always going to happen

[@markoglokevic1383]

@@ThroneFC yeah. It is a pitty but what can we do.

[@naisaShip]

don't even remind me of that match against Portugal, I was devastated bro😭

[@markoglokevic1383]

@@naisaShip I feel you 😢

[@stipedruzijanic1873]

we showed them in that game the true meaning of yoga bonito :D

[@bojka5578]

Luka modrić best midfielder ever Croatian pride worldwide 🤜🤙😁❤👊🥊🥊😘🇭🇷🇭🇷

[@spale_tv]

he sang a serbian war song from baja mali in front of everyone in Zagreb....lol i wouldnt say hes that proud

[@trancecod]

@@spale_tv zovi samo zovi?

[@trancecod]

@@spale_tv my problem is he was hiding taxes with mamic and lying for him. but everyone forgot that fast

[@powderskier5547]

But it's not just in football, they are winning medals and creating world champions in every sport, summer sports, waters sports, fighting sports, winter sports and even a BMX freestyle world champion, can someone please explain this?

[@Mr_Muscollo_Dalmatian]

Genetic are very giftfull for the Balkan's. Highest and one of strongest people live here

[@kenshirogokuloza864]

It is also patriotism. Strive for recognition. It all comes from a sense of unity within the community.

[@fukingaccount]

I2a haplogroup on man parental line. Plus look at the shape of Croatia. People from here were living for centuries as a warriors.

[@zdravkomikulinovic3692]

This what im gonna say will sound immense, but it is true. Croats are the only one on the Planet Earth with STILL CRO-mannion genes. Homo sapiens failed to kill them all. And swedish antropolgist found proof some 10years ago, that Croats still have significant amount of CRO-mannions genes. Plus. We all know that Croatia is the most beautifull peace of land in Europe. Magnificent. Do you know how small nation kept that piece of land for 1200 years... Fighiting for it. Franks, Germans, Romans, Ottomans, Hungarians... They all tried to take it. And all failed misserbly. Every time. Croatia never lost a war. And 7 out of 10 Croats troughout the history were professional warriors. That's how the whole world know for TIE. Croatian women would tie the tie around their hausbands neck for good luck when they would go to fight all over the Europe for $. ("give me 100 000 Croats and i will counquer the world." - Napoleon Bonaparte). But also... Croatia never attacked anyone in their history. Croatia also is the first country in the world that forbbided slavery. Dubrovnik 1416. The last war Croatia won was in 1995. Against 3d biggest army in the Europe. With embargo on weapons. No help. Noone helped Croatia... 4 years and yugoslavia's army was crushed. After you win a war in wich Croats were bigger underdogs than in every sport match they have ever been... U dont get scared, and you dont lose belief its possible. For example. Italy have never won against Croatia in football. Im not sure if they ever managed to get a draw. Also, they never won a war against Croatia. They tried so many times... So yes. Genetics. Mostly genetics.

[@igorperic6219]

Warriors

[@matej560]

Vatreni su dio nas i mi smo dio njih...Hrvatska u srcu ❤

[@SimpleGraffiti.]

Croats have a strong faith! 💪🙏🇭🇷

[@rahelhorvat1471]

we also have silver from current league of nation.

[@powderskier5547]

This was a great well put together video on Croatian football, well done. Just want to say Croatia's next generation of footballers are looking mighty good as well, cant wait for it

[@jalaopaydefrf]

Great video! Greetings from Zagreb, croatia! I think the main reason for our success is the spirit of our players.

[@Get-this-egg-to-1k]

Great Video! I love how you recognise how our country has been performing so well in the World Cup and not just saying it’s luck! This video deserves way more views and you deserve more subscribers!

[@ThroneFC]

Defintely not luck! Croatia has a recent history when it comes to football in the international stage, but as the years pass, more and more fans will recognize that the country is up there at the level of those elite sides.like Spain, England and others

[@zdravkomikulinovic3692]

Ibrahimović (croatian mother) Đoković (croatian mother) Maradona (croatian grandmother) Messi (croatian grandmother)

[@Juggernautblaaa]

Didn't know about Maradona - which is great, but Messi grandmother is blatant lie. I fact checked it.

[@anteandrovic]

they both sound like lies but havent checked

[@spale_tv]

you guys think everyone is croatian lmfao.......tesla and the list keeps going. Just stop. Do we really want to start looking at the bloodlines of you're players ?! Halh of them have serbian roots

[@slusajBraco]

​@@spale_tvaccording to your historical Jovan Deretic whole europe has serbian bloot. Whole historically big leaders were serbians. According to him Jesus was serb and God ten commands were written on serbian l. Nation builded on lies.

[@BljakFujToKaka]

Not only that, Maradona's daughter first name is Dalma by the region in Croatia, Dalmatia👍

[@whitemetal6831]

Bro said recent history for a country that formed in the 7th century..

[@ThroneFC]

I meant recent history when it comes to football in the international stage.

[@uzaidgurjee4798]

He’s obviously talking about football🤦‍♂️

[@Mind_Up_Now]

Croatia legends written in Gold 🥇 ❤

[@markoglokevic1383]

Thank you for this, great video. Love it!

[@ThroneFC]

Thank you for the support, I'm glad you liked it!

[@TomislavBaric-gj4vv]

Great video. Thanks

[@dado82]

Fun fact: The most legendary flying knee strike wasn't made by Mirko Filipović but by Zvonimir Boban 2:43 hehe 🤣🙃

[@labazetta]

Tako je ZDS

[@AntonioBoban2]

Finally bro😭🥳

[@zuska168]

Everything well said. As a Croatian thank you sating the history of ouer foodball,and success.

[@ToMbA_La_BoMbA]

Its not just a football. Google: The History of Croatian sports.

[@spale_tv]

oh it is

[@ToMbA_La_BoMbA]

@@spale_tv Play games with one view because you don't know what you're talking about. Name a team sport (except cricket and rugby) in which Croatia did not win medals. From handball, basketball, volleyball, waterpolo. Then skiing, tennis, rowing, karate, judo, high jump, gymnastics, MMA, boxing, javelin throwing, etc., etc.

[@jackhemingway1405]

My grandpa and few uncles were soldiers fighting against the attacking serbia. They were lucky to return home alive.

[@gulinp1]

We were at our best in 1998. If only Boksic didn't break leg. Even without him, it's stubborness of our coach late great Čiro Blazevic that costed us world cup title. He had personal beef with Prosinecki. Same Prosinecki who made mockery of Neatherland for 3rd place. Silver in 2018 is our greater achivment, but 1998 had everything to win it. That team had world class players at every position ( where 2018 had some issues, same with 2020)

[@robipindric7654]

To be perfectly honest i think generation of 98 wasn't better than that in 2018 player wise. I do agree that despite arguably a slightly weaker team,our best chance was in 98. It was very close against France. And Brazil played like shit in that final game.

[@juresibenik5281]

​@@robipindric7654 I agree 2018 was way better. Modric,Rakitic,Perisic,Mandzukic,Brozovic,Lovren,Kovacic had wayyyyyyyyyyy better carriers than Boban ,Prosinecki ,Boksic,Bilic,Stimac and Suker. They all have more than 300 appearences in first 11 squad at the biggest clubs in the world. Suker, Prosinecki were basically substitutes and second options at their clubs, at least the big clubs they played for. Prosinecki wasnt able to stay at Barcelona or Real Madrid for more than 1 seasson. Boban was second option at Milan 70% of his carrier, and Bilic,Asanovic,Stimac never even played for the biggest clubs. But people are just beeing people. Nostalgia... Also the game against France 1998 ,we werent even close to win it,yes we took a lead at the end of the first half, but france was looking way stronger during the whole match, it was obvious to anyone who is objective. Even with Blanc red card 25 minutes before the end of the match we werent able to create a clear chance for the whole 25 minutes. And the bronze medal match against Netherlands we were the weaker side and were very lucky to take that bronze because of crazy Ladic saves and Kluivert having an awfull day missing at least 5 100% chances 🤣 Contrary to 2018 final where we never looked as a weaker side but because of some stupid mistakes ,both ours and refs we eneded up loosing 4:2 which looks like an easy game for France , but it really wasnt. Its one of the most weirdest and unrealistic scores iv seen in my life based on how the game was played. France was 3:1 up with 1 attempt to goal ,that says it all about the game, total shitshow 🤣 owngoal from a fake faul by diver Grizzman and doubtfull penalty. 2 goals for France with 0 attempts to goal from open play. Crazy game

[@Mizpah5]

Technically superb players. National pride.

[@jaylenbarnes2.079]

Great Video I love watching Croatian sports succeed

[@ThroneFC]

I'm glad you liked it Jaylen 🤙⚽

[@MaoriLore]

6:07 that footage is from US, the game being watched is croatia - brazil world cup quarter final 2022

[@hjhj742]

Thank you for making distinction from Jugoslavia/Serbia.

[@roberthanzic]

nice, ty...... 🥃🇭🇷

[@Matteo3166]

Thank you very much for not mentioning Euro 2008.

[@ThroneFC]

That was kinda disappointing really, finishing above Germany but then losing to Turkey in that thrilling match. Either way, nobody was beating Spain that year

[@Matteo3166]

Thanks for mentioning it haha@@ThroneFC

[@PeoplecallmeLucifer]

5:00 Slaven Bilić did way more than you might think. He was brave enough to kick out some "big names" and give a chance to younger and untested players. and with that act he layed the foundation Zlatko Dalić built upon masterfully

[@domagojmartinic2945]

vidiš ta priča ne drži vodu. Naime Bilić je iz prve postave koja je igrala na SP '06 maknuo (trajno, bio je sitno u kvalifikacijama, ali zato nije išao EP '08) Marka Babića i Darija Šimića (igrao je cijele kvalifikacije u prvoj, pred turnir je završio na klupi). Prše i Tudora nije bilo jer se Dado oprostio, a Tušo je stalno vukao ozljede i umirovio se 2008.g. (svejedno bi ih Bilić zvao da su bili slobodni). Igrače koje nije zvao na sljedeće EP su bili zamjene poput Tomasa, Tokića, Vranješa i Bošnjaka. On dakle nije ništa krucijalno rezao od stare ekipe (Za Dadu i Tušu nije imao izbora), već je doveo u prvih 11 ekspresno Modrića, Eduarda i Ćorluku te izvadio iz naftalina zaboravljenog Petrića. Kroz 2007. su se priključili reprezentaciji Rakitić i Pranjić te je time stvoren temelj za srebro u Rusiji.

[@danijeltakac7252]

1:33 min thats Suker in the middle and not Stimac

[@slavenpetanic]

Proud to be CROAT !! 🇭🇷🇭🇷

[@ThroneFC]

You should be🇭🇷👏

[@marinkovich87]

All of this information is well known, and available on the Wikipedia with just a couple of clicks. Very thin with additional details, unfortunately. 1:30 only Prosinečki is correct. Runtime under 7 minutes is short to cover everything, but you could easily skipped everything from 1991 - 1996, and 1999 to 2006, and talk more about the Slaven Bilić era who is responsible directly for creating our second Golden Generation which eventually lead to Dalic who did what he did. Anyway, thanks for covering our national team. Keep it up.

[@ThroneFC]

Thanks for pointing out some of the flaws. My goal is always to improve 👍

[@matijacrgonja4355]

Im so proud for my natonal team !!!!! Croatia will only be best.

[@ThroneFC]

🇭🇷💪❤️

[@matijacrgonja4355]

@@ThroneFC Im not a liard, Croatia will be only best from the time that coming....?! Thanks ThorneFC from respond and all the best from Croatia 🙏⚽✌️🇭🇷❤️

[@ThroneFC]

@@matijacrgonja4355 Vjerujem da je Hrvatska već sada vrhunska momčad. Jedini razlog zašto ih se još uvijek smatra "underdogs" je taj što još uvijek imaju noviju povijest u međunarodnom nogometu. Za koju godinu bit će respektirani kao Španjolska, Portugal ili Engleska, samo je pitanje vremena. Oprostite ako sam napravio puno grešaka

[@KRILNIK_45]

"I'm looking for more respect for Croatia"🔥🇭🇷🔥💪 "Out of 29 games, we lost only two. We won two medals in six months, no one has done that. That's why I was bothered by the treatment of our players at the awards. Croatia must have much more respect from everyone, especially from FIFA and UEFA. I'm not saying this by heart, our results show it. Sometimes I have the impression that we are bothering everyone. We are messing with the top of those who number 200 million, and there are only three of us. What are we going to do to them, we're just bothering them. Our defiance and spite is so strong that we always prove ourselves. That's why it bothered me and that's why I was the only selector who didn't want to vote,'' he added. Dalić believes that Croatian players are too underestimated: "It's the same with transfers. There was a lot of talk about why I can't go to a big club. I'm not in any agency, I don't have an agent, I don't have anyone. I don't have anything and I don't need it. In these agencies, several of the same names are constantly being used. The money is divided there and that's how these transfers end. We are not in it. If one of our players had an English or Spanish passport, it would cost ten times more. But let us show them everything on the field.''

[@ThroneFC]

Croatia is defintely on the right path. In just a couple of years, most people will see your national team as a big threat, just like Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands and others.

[@dinodoljanin2713]

Pssssst 🫢 let them all do their dance, and let us do ours dance.

[@goricaj1]

Love Modric BUT SUKER is my favorite of all time Croat

[@danac1]

Did u say recent history?

[@ThroneFC]

I'm not fully aware of the context but I think I meant recent history when it comes to football as an independent Nation. Not recent history of your people

[@AntonioBoban2]

This is too big topic for a 6 min long video... You tried to cover too much and ended covering nothing

[@ThroneFC]

I covered exactly what I said I would in the title and intro I never make long videos if it's the first time I'm covering a topic, since I don't know if people will care or not. So I keep it short, but informative, and if they engage a lot with it or ask for more, then I go back and make a deeper dive.

[@hrvojecerovski5876]

As a Croat I thank you and you did great job in such a short Video. We couldnt have done it better than you in those 6mins. Cheers!

[@ThroneFC]

@@hrvojecerovski5876 thank you, I'm glad you liked it 🙏

[@powderskier5547]

You are wrong, he did a great job in such a short video

[@boris4237]

There is 8 million Croats in the world, don't count only ones that live in Croatia.

[@matijakumaric4851]

Ima nas oko 10 miliona ne 8

[@ytubeu7450]

Maradona 50% Croat.

[@matijamikulcic3079]

1:57 ?

[@frankorajkovic]

Bro good video but you missed the main point behind Croatia success. We are rebelious by nature, since ww were chilldren. All male children in Croatia LIVE FOOTBALL. We would be on playing ground playing football all day, come home to eat, get beaten up by our parents cause we are at football field all day, and then we would go back to the fileld 🙂 Look how creative our players are, From our best players, to some you never heard off. That's in common to each one of us - we learned to play football on streets with our friends There's no way you could stop that, as I said, Croats live football ❤️

[@ThroneFC]

I love your passion🔥🇭🇷

[@zagrepcanin82]

Excellent video we are not young country-....lmfao...we are here for 1500y and we were kingdom for 1000y about football....due to political reasons we were robbed of 3 world cups,1998,2018 and 2022 and european championship in 1996 and Yugoslavia was robbed of very first world cup in Uruguay 1938 if you would take a look of sports in general we are world champion not doubt in that.most Olympic medals per capita. the only sports we are not good at are curling,rugby,baseball,lacross,badminton,trampoline,...hehehehe we have best female skier in history,best basketball club in 20th century,best waterpolo club in history,best waterpolo league in the world,we are in top 3 in handball,rally 3x european champion in a row is croatian,....etc etc. but if you would take a look that best coach in american football in history is croatian,nba changed rules because of croatian player in 1950s,we had/have boxing champions,world,olympic and european champions in martial arts sports....etc etc... even F1 champion was born in Croatia...Mario Andretti. Maradona is ours too...r.i.p Diego so all that fighting spirit is coming from that fact we had to fight empires and kingdoms and all kinds of invaders in past 1500y.

[@ThroneFC]

Just a clarification, I meant that Croatia has a recent history in International football, not as a country

[@croatiansensation1554]

Our superior dna

[@danielmbc]

TUGA🎉🎉

[@ThroneFC]

💪🇵🇹

[@danielmbc]

Tens de fazer um video sobre o pontapé do Pepe!!

[@cavo_ledeni1395]

U said croatia has recent history..croatian people exist since the 6-7 century..we are known warriors..facts..through the history we were occupied by many other countries,but now we have our own country and nobody will destroy it or take it from us but our own politicians 😅

[@ThroneFC]

Recent history in football

[@oberauKroat]

what is here untold_______

[@ThroneFC]

Just because you know something , it doesn't mean everyone knows it as well.

[@tihaking9669]

Thank you for your video.

[@ThroneFC]

👍🙏

[@jukawa2600]

Prgava familija

[@pellevanlig245]

Just to be able to talk about Cro only without mentioning other former countries. Such a shame.

[@ThroneFC]

I didn't understand, can you rephrase that?

[@pellevanlig245]

@@ThroneFC Let them stand on their own for their falls and rises. Don´t mention CRO in the context of the former regime. The others only gain on the achievements of the Croatian players.

[@kenanderkroate]

Lets be real i dont think my country has what it takes to win gold😢

[@goodside1807]

We will one day we just have to belive

[@sonda_O.o]

Well, they won't with that attitude 😂

[@TB-pu9qm]

Unfortionaly, They need to stop to play beautiful in crucial games. They need to play hard, dive, cheat to win it. When you win noone will remember exept that other team. We know it because we were that other team.

[@dinodoljanin2713]

I got news for you and all out there buddy... Only thing why we still have Modrić in the team is bcs we did not won gold yet. If we won gold against Spain in league nations Modrić would of been in national retierment now. He is not playing euro2024 to get to quarterfinals or semifinals. He knows exatcly what he wants and what is he going for on Euro 2024. If He belives ... who are you not to belive. Remember that game b4 Brazil. We aaaaall knew we gonna win. There is a singularity dot out there somewhere in the space where all our stupid bullheaded croats mind meet if we all belive in the same thing. And when that happens, that force is unstopable. So get your sorryass in the order soldier !!

[@FilK79]

Serbia was the strongest during Yugoslav national team.

[@aleksandarblaze6324]

😢

[@FilK79]

@@aleksandarblaze6324 the most number of national team players, the most number of club titles.... dont pretend you dont know. Serbia in Yugoslavia was like Russia in USSR, Croatia was like Ukraine at most.

[@ThroneFC]

You're right! And soon I will make a video trying to figure out why Serbia hasn't yet reached their full potential in the international stage.

[@aleksandarblaze6324]

@@ThroneFC because they can't leech money out of Slovenia and Croatia anymore

[@matijacrgonja4355]

Hahaha😂😂😂

[@Zli0106]

Hrvatska uzima Euro 2024.....sve ćemo pregazit!

[@Melle-vx4ww]

And how many players and coaches did Bosnia give you? Ciro Blazevic and Zlatko Dalic, Bosnians.🙂 You are still stealing our sports talents, as well as many other things, for example the electricity from Lake Busko, but that is another topic.