Why are Croatia so damn good at football?

Kieran is joined by Ian Coll - Celtic's former Head of Sports Science, now working in Croatia and Bulgaria. They discuss:
- How do they develop world-class players?
- Are players and coaches in Croatia more tactically aware?
- Are their kids more competitive and driven?
Get in touch: [e-mail]
⁠ / improving_scot⁠
Scotland football, Scottish football, podcast, Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Hibernian, Dundee, St Johnstone, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Motherwell, Ross County, Falkirk, Inverness, Partick Thistle, United, Highlights, Review, BBC, SPL, SPFL, Premiership.

[@daniel72122]

As a Croat i enjoy rooting for Scots and Irish as well! Always a joy to see us smaller nations on the big stage! And we are friendly countries to each other too!

[@fapmashina1]

Absolutely true! Many Croats are holding much of a sympathy for our Scotish and Irish friends!

[@sumi4210]

@@fapmashina1 true true always!!!

[@fapmashina1]

@@sumi4210 👍

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Thanks for the support!!!

[@Macar14]

@@ImprovingScottishFootball Yes, we hate England so we have that in common

[@markosuljada2464]

God bless Scotland, greetings from Croatia!

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Thanks :-)

[@matej560]

Jedan pokojni Hrvatski trener je rekao da je Hrvatska ne presusni izvor nogometnog talenta pozdrav Škotskoj sretno ma Euru ❤

[@pp-bb6jj]

Genetics. Fighting spirit. Nationalism. Unity. National team cult.

[@SuperMirda]

I'm not writing because I'm Croatian, but it's the truth... we have a winning mentality and strong strong patriotism, we did not win the war in the 90s by chance against a country that had weapons from the former Yugoslavia, which was at that time the 3rd strongest army in Europe and against a country that has twice as many inhabitants then us and soldiers , Napoleon Bonaparte said and you can check it, it's true, "give me 10 0000 Croats and I will conquer the whole world😊

[@MrStuartp]

They have a good long term development plan more than the genetics. Genetics is very over-rated, it is true they have traits and criteria for player selection in their national program. However, the genetics argument is so over-hyped in football, sure the tiny 1% like Messi and Neymar are genetic freaks. But most of it is the youth player development system and good sports science evidence that backs their program structure. The nationalism/pride element is also a huge part, I agree with you there.

[@jurealpeza2112]

Yes. Nationalism and unity is the main reason why Croatia achieved far greater success then Yugoslavia ever did. On paper Croatia team from 1998. with adition of other players from former yugoslav states from that generation (Savičević, Mihajlović, Mijatović, Stojković...) would be better. In reality it would be worse because it could never achieve esprit de corps like the team made up only of Croats would.

[@pp-bb6jj]

@@MrStuartp good long term development plan - no they don't. ;)) Croatian or Dinaric gene is big part.

[@MrStuartp]

@@pp-bb6jj Rubbish, genetics counts for maybe 10% of it. I have studied their national program at length, its tightly controlled and well managed in a systematic way. Go take a look at any of the vids from Romeo Jozak. Talent isn't innate, its learnt acquired through structured training.

[@antegotovina4952]

When I was a kid living in 🇭🇷 we had to try out to play for our street team....it's in our DNA. Believe me it was super competitive.

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

💪💪💪

[@rrijecanka]

Tako je Ante, it’s just in our DNA

[@ivanjagec2428]

Šipu racku.

[@bojantenja]

It wouln't be normal to got medals as often as we did in last 2 decades, and of course when Modric stops to play for national team it will be much weaker than it is with him. But Croatia will always be better than is should be based on numbers of populaton or money invested in sports. Just think about other sports... Janica and Ivica, handball, tennis,water polo, basketball...maybe Croatians are not worlds best, but just being in top 10 or even 20 is more than it should be possible.

[@HrvojeBan]

​@@bojantenjaYeah, I wrote in another comment that I'm afraid how our team will look like without Modrić, but the medals he won with Croatia will be huge motivation and proof that great success can be achieved if there is a team spirit and all players fight for the country, hopefully the "never say die" mentality that brought the medals will survive even after Modrić hangs his boots.

[@frankdux2057]

Croatia has produced some excellent players which is a big reason. They also have this fighters mentality due to the fact they had a brutal war to gain their independence. Modric for example always talks about how this inspires the players to give everything they have.

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Great point

[@eM-um2yu]

Not the point at all anymore. That is just newspapper story! We just love end enjoy football from young age

[@andrejamerseli9878]

​@@eM-um2yu Ne laži.Upravo je to razlog.Naši igraci su veliki borci i domoljubi,a to je ono što pokreće covjeka.Vjera,obitelj i domovina🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷 Plači

[@damirglavas7940]

@@eM-um2yu Šta ti opanak, lupetaš? 🤔Ti klošaru, znaš što potiče naše momke ?🙄

[@damirglavas7940]

@@andrejamerseli9878 Bravo Andrej 🤔👏Nema videa gdje se odmah ne nađe neki šupak koji počne nešo srati po našima.🤔🙄

[@capio78]

I lived in Croatia and they're very patriotic, playing for their country means much more to them than it does other nations. Also even though they're 5m people, there are Croats all around the world.

[@rrijecanka]

Yes, I am born and lived many yrs at home in Rijeka. Now I am in Sweden and when we play my heart is beating even more than earlier. And what you wrote I got hear that here in Sweden from many ppl with different nations.

[@capio78]

@@rrijecanka ;) I love Rijeka, great city thanks for your reply

[@unwokeneuropean3590]

3.8 M people. Its not about patriotism. It's about many factors Mr. Coll described in this video. The kids must love sports, not just football. They need to be passionate about everything sport related, not just football. Legendary Toni Kukoč played in NBA (with Michael Jordan) but his first loves were soccer and table tennis.

[@zuska168]

We never say soccer,hahaha

[@boris8077]

The answer is very simple: WE BELIEVE.

[@thomasm8510]

Best regards to my Scottish friends from croatia Croatian love Scotland

[@pato442bunker]

I met old Scott ten years ago and I asked him who you support? Answer: Scotland and anyone who plays against England. 😂😂 God bless you guys.

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Hahaha!

[@crofanatik85]

Slaven Bilic told the best example. In Germany, you go out, you got 3 football fields, they have 3 balls, everyone can play. In Croatia there is only one place to play, one ball and the rule “winner stays on”. You have to fight to be able to play.

[@Larciliaa]

And germany has 4 world cups, it cant be that bad😂😂

[@arianistvanic6772]

@@Larciliaa Croatia has been on 6 world cups and has 3 medals. Take that however you like.

[@Larciliaa]

@@arianistvanic6772 croatia has 0 world cups lol.

[@Larciliaa]

@@rtiiti8042 thats impressive. still. india has 1.4billion

[@powderskier5547]

But they are so good at all sports, including winter sports

[@bitwise.a1]

Not only football guys, skiing, athletics, basketball, handball, mma...there is just something about drive for the sport here...thanks for kind words and recognition

[@rrijecanka]

Exactly but it is very hard be so good in football. Like in skiing, what Janica Kostelic did no one will do it. And she trained outside in the wood.

[@mattbarbarich3295]

Big in tennis. Ivanisevic won Wimbledon in about 2000 and also the Davis Cup ten yrs later.

[@JeanBernard]

You have the dominant Illiryan, dinaric genetics and a special historical development. Generations of Croatians lived and fought for more than 400 years on the former turkish border and that marked them for eternity. In every battle there were always more Turks than Croats, and you had to show more creativity and bravery than your opponents. Only the hardest survived on the border. Thats the key...

[@mt-pt7cy]

Nikad nisam o tome razmišljao.. Hvala brate

[@gm9884]

Dinaric genetics is not Illiryan...Illiryan has a completely different haplogroup...The so-called Dinaric haplogroup has its origin in today's Ukraine, that's where we came from (check White Croats, Stilsko)

[@leinad6888]

Just asking myself what is left of that brave men in the population today😂😂😂

[@tomisaric9686]

@@gm9884 how can be from ukraine if its DINARIC...there is no L2 halpogroup in ukraine, that gene is originated in south croatia and herzegovina since last ice age hence the name Dinaric (from dinaric alps)..if ilirians are not the same as greeks or romans (and all historians agree), thats only other halpogroup in this region except for romans and greeks therefore it is ilirian

[@damirblazevic4823]

Dominant illyrian? Are you insane?

[@karoltomis5704]

Croats are so d*** good also on other fronts too. Greetings from Pressburg/Pozsonyi

[@miranvrdoljak3966]

Me as a Croat all i can say is that we love to compete,play and try any sport that we could do it and we hate to lose. But still most important is that back home we have different culture wit our parents/families, we have respect from older ones and even if you get one ( slap- this was not only one 😂) made us stronger or how to say respectful to each other. I live now in Germany and when i see kids here ,i feel so sorry for them.There are so week because there are educated at home very very week. When i got home before and someone older beat me there was no help home ,my father told me go out there and kick back thats how you earn respect.And this is true.Today my sons in Germany are the same like i was. Dont complain stand up and fight.Thanks God both are good in sports and school. I taught my sons that respect,hard work,Jesus is everything in life...Thats the problem in West with parents and kids: no respect,no God,No Love and a lot of LGTB nonsense ..Sorry to say it like this but the west has huge Family Cultural Problem..Thats my personal opinion what i see as a born Croat who lived in Canada and lives now in Germany.

[@lupus_croatiae]

this is all true, kids in Croatia love playing different sports, basketball, handball, volley ball, waterpolo, futsal, tennis, and martial arts are also popular. It's not uncommon to encounter kids playing with the ball all by themselves. My friend's son is 12 and he watches tactical analysis on youtube, techniques, he is eager to learn. And when it comes to football Croatia is land of opportunities, see how Dani Olmo went from Barcelona to Dinamo to try out his luck.

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

This is very interesting. in the UK, kids tend to just play one sport - and that is it! I think you guys have got the right idea.

[@soonfreeman]

Common, it's not just one... At least two or three, what about rugby and cricket? But, yeah, in generally, you, people from british isles, should be more open to other sports as well.

[@uzaidgurjee4798]

@@soonfreemancricket is only big in England in Europe because they invented it but yeah kids in uk and Ireland mainly grow up playing rugby and football which is why they’re good at those sports but in sports like basketball, hockey, Netball which a lot of countries in Europe take seriously Britain and Ireland does not. England and Scotland are the oldest national teams in association football and rugby which makes sense y they take the sports seriously but I don’t know y they don’t take basketball seriously even though kids are taught to play in primary school.

[@zoom7533]

I tell you our secret. Balls of steel.

[@ytubeu7450]

💪🇭🇷💪🇭🇷

[@zoom7533]

@@ytubeu7450 😎

[@Rastajevo]

Proud to be Croat. Croatia all the way.

[@portugal2390]

Croatia fenomeno!

[@bangi2757]

Obrigado.❤🇵🇹🇭🇷

[@ozbiljnoneozbiljan6733]

Greetings from Croatia. It is very important for us to support each other and we have a lot of compassion for other people. Croats have given a lot to the world, only people don't know it. Nikola Tesla, chemistry, tie, torpedo, hobby board, radar, fingerprint, Mate Rimac (infidelity) and so on... We are simply the best.

[@zdravkomikulinovic3692]

He was in Hajduk youth team. I remember him. All the best Ian. Marc Rocon was in Zlatko Dalić team when we won 2nd place in 2018. He is also from Scotland. You can maybe bring him for your next guest on this subject ;)

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

That's a great suggestion - I will try and get him on the podcast!

[@svjetlanawiesler8698]

❤🇭🇷❤️The Best... Magic and amazing man in the world. Luka Modric. 💫And Team with mega Power and Engoy. ❤️Fun and Yoy 🇭🇷🥰

[@kbronx1911]

Croatia continued the streak that has been going on since 2013 and Mario Mandžukić, who scored at Wembley in Bayern's triumph against Borussia Dortmund, for a 2:1 victory. For the eleventh year in a row, Croatia has a player in the final of the Champions League, and that is something we can and should be proud of. greetings to friendly Scotland... 🍻👌⚽️

[@pablodiablo3312]

I remember a reporter asked the croatian trainer Ciro Blazevic after the World Cup 1998! in France: how can such a small country like Croatia be so good in football? His answer was, if you go by the resident, China would win every 4 years the world cup.... I think Scottland can reach the same level of Croatia but you need talents, hard work and a good managment! Respect to Scottland from Croatia

[@user-jr6fv2es6v]

HI THERE! I GREW UP IN MAKARSKA, TOWN NEAR SPLIT, BORN IN 78. MY CITY WAS IN GENERAL RUGBY CITY BUT I TRAINED AS WELL AND FOR FREE WATERPOLO, RAWING, SOCCER, HANDBALL, TENIS AND HIKING. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SKILLFUL I AM AND I AM NOT SPECIAL AT ALL

[@agnezabarutanski1963]

We are actually quite talented and quite successful in all other sports too, but since we've been consistently punching over our weight in football, all spotlights have turned to our football team in recent years. In my opinion, the main reason why we are good at football is that kids don't learn how to play it in clubs on grass pitch, but on asphalt, primarily on handball courts typical for Croatian elementary schools (38x18m on average, with 3x2m goals). Kids often play "victoria", which is outdoor footsal, but played only on one half of the handball court - neutral goalkeeper is forced to defend everything and two teams consisting of 2-4 players are playing on a small surface, which forces the kids to develop creativity and ball controll. Once you have that first touch, rolling, passing, shooting and nutmegging covered, you start training in a club before age 10 and by the age of 15 you already have highly technically skilled players that only need to put up some stamina and gain some understanding of tactics. Equally impotrtant - for everyone that wears that red and white checkers kit, it's a question of life and death to give their best against the strongest teams in order to show that although we have a limited pool of people, we still possess great talent and superior fighting spirit. Cheers!

[@lipamare9192]

Odlican komentar!!! Pozdrav🇭🇷🙏

[@lukakrkoc6197]

Every kid in Croatia want to play football,but you must know that it's not just football a sport we are good at ( just look the number of olimpic medals for Cro )...we also have one of the best football academy (Dinamo Zagreb)and most important we have this passion for game and our country,all that together put us high in position of world football,I personally love Scotish football and national team and I wish you all the best,Best regard's from Croatia🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️🇭🇷

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Thanks :-)

[@SinaKingOfBakelite]

Niko Sigur DM, Martin Baturina LM, Luka Sucic RM is croatian next big 3.

[@mariorodic3970]

Don't worry Brave hearts, your time is coming! Greetings from Split, CRO!

[@losteden6390]

They are fantastically talented in a lot of sports . Talent simple, they also have fantastic genetics which helps with that ...

[@balkanboy864]

Proud to be a Croat !

[@DeliriumElectric]

As a Croatian, I can say that yes we have a fire in our belly. We are competitive, it's just in our nature. We do everything to the fullest. When we eat, we eat. When we laugh, we laugh. And when we play sport, we play! Caged street soccer is what is needed here in Australia. Lots of parks here with basketball rings, and tennis courts, but virtually no facilities where a group of kids can go and start playing soccer. Also futsal..... that should be more encouraged, especially at a younger age

[@stjemata]

In the Croatian football team, you have a Scotsman who is very responsible for the success of the Croatian football team. Marc Rochon. Maybe they could invite him for an interview.

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Yeah - that's a great idea!

[@bobifirmino1724]

Croatia Europian Brasil 💪 We have football i DNA

[@ScottishT]

Ian was excellent, really enjoyed that guys

[@leont4944]

As a Croat, I can honestly say that Ian's feedback on the differences is spot on. - We are a SUPER competitive nation. No matter what we do, we try to beat everyone else at it, every day. No exceptions. - No matter if you're doing PE, you're at a local pitch with your friends, you're training at your club or playing other teams. There's only one rule - winner stays on. So as a kid, you're willing to do ANYTHING just to beat the older guys and finally get a chance to stay on the pitch for the next match. That just builds you up as a competitor from childhood. - We're really patriotic. We understand we're a small nation, we don't have the best standard of living and we went through hardships in recent history so everything we do, we put our hearts into it and sports are the best way for us to show the world who we are. That's why our national team is sprinting in the 120th minute though they can hardly stand on their own feet. - We're very vindictive and stubborn people. We love nothing more than when someone insults or underestimates us. It literally feeds that fighting spirit within us and makes us believe we can beat ANYONE at ANYTHING. As a reminder, check what was the first thing Modric and Rakitic commented after beating England in 2018. It wasn't "Yey, we're in the WC Final". - Our genetics are good - we're often tall, physically strong, quick, agile and, therefore, good at sports. That helps more than you know. - We're a pretty educated nation and one that has a culture of coffee drinking at caffe's for HOURS each day, speaking with friends about football in a way that goes WAY beyond the standard "Did you see that goal" or "Yeah, he's a cracking player". We discuss tactics, player movements, pressing styles, the history of football, how a player would fit into another tactical system etc., which is why Ian was mentioning kids asking detailed tactical questions at the age of 13. - We have a strong sense of family and unity when our national team is playing. For 4 years, people from Zagreb and Split can't stand each other but when the national team is playing in a WC, we'd destroy anyone who would say a bad word about one of our cities, players or our country. It's like 2 brothers who constantly fight but God forbid anyone else touches the other brother :) And in conclusion...as people, we're very passionate maniacs who would give you their own bed if you needed a place to stay at but who would also take EVERYTHING you own if you backstabbed them after :)

[@bangi2757]

First the foundations and basics: Biggest difference: Croatians was fight for their independence in bloody four-years war, Scottish people was refuse their independence in free referendum. Main and crucial difference in mentality and spirit. Now we can start talking about football. Greetings to all Scotish people in friendly Sotland and world wide from Croatia. ❤

[@mynick937]

Way I look at it. Doing sports in Croatia was always encouraged. We had a saying "In healthy body, healthy spirit" We also had that war for independence that we won and on that wings of pride as a nation we wanted to show the world who we are in world cup in France. Nobody ever heard about Croatia then,we practically didn't exist on the map for 1000 years and suddenly we won bronze medal. Generations where looking up to those players. Modrić and the rest were that generation. All that your guest said is true. It's important to say that when you look at population of Croatia, it's not just 4 million. When you add Croatian emigration that number is more like 8 million. For example Rakitić is Croat from Switzerland with dual citizenship. Best USA player Pulišić is Croat who decided to play for USA. Zlatan Ibrahimović could've played for Croatia but he wasn't called to the team when he was young like Rakitić. If we had Zlatan in Russia,we would walk through to the gold. It's not just football. We have Olympic gold and world championship winners in skiing and we have snow in part of country for 2 months without any ski track. Brother and sister Kostelic. Goran Ivanišević whose father almost sold everything he had to finance his training. Split has most medal winners per Capita in the world. It sounds like bragging but it's just a fact. I hope that next generations inspired by Modrić and team are coming in the future. Interesting fact: Maradona´s grandfather was Croat,his mother´s name was Dalma,named after Croatian region of Dalmatia.Thing that lot of our emigrants did to never forget where they came from.Another famous Argentinian player Tomas Felipe Carlovich was also a Croat.

[@damirblazevic4823]

Inspired by Modrić? I hope not... lying little cowardly cnut

[@ytubeu7450]

Maradona je jednoj kćeri dao ime Dalma. I rekao je samo njemu da je bolji,, EL TRINCHE KARLOVICH,,

[@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-bronze- 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. 20 years we have more wc medals then england in whole history. We also played league of nations final.

[@fear416]

If Croatia has a "style" of play it's the style of improvisation and grit. Mourinho would call it the basics of football and life.

[@bojka5578]

Modrić best midfielder ever 💪🤜🤛👍🤙❤😘🇭🇷🇭🇷👊🥊🥊💪Croatian pride worldwide

[@gentz8310]

I agree, as a kid (12/13y) we played many times against older guys. Be it football, handball or basketball. We played all games. And, if you have sunny weather, it's easier.😉

[@TheAlogoc]

The secret is in Futsal. Every kid in Croatia starts whit Futsal. School tournaments,Winter tournaments, Summer tournaments .

[@gelend]

Croatia is also top class in handball,fighting sports,waterpolo and in top 20 in tenis,basketball etc...and football is passion...to our Scotish friends - when your childrens are in football academies let them play and eojoy,not only run and tactic tasks,that to,but let the Scotish kids play football as agame on individual levels...with speed and driblings,let them play as a playfull kids,to enjoy in game and have a passion in it...hope Scot will be top too,bye

[@sanmarco3283]

Greetings to Ian. He is right. When I was a kid, in a period of a few years I trained football, waterpolo, tennis, basketball and judo. 2 and sometimes 3 sports at the same time. We had, and still have, lots of neighborhood tournaments or leagues in what we call "small or mini football" 3x3 or 4x4 with small goals to the hip. That's really helpful in developing technique, fast thinking on the small field, competitiveness...

[@juresibenik5281]

Our population pool is actually around 7.5-8 million because of "big" immigration. Half of our national team players throught history werent born in Croatia. Rakitic(Switzerland) Kovacic(Austria) Lovren(Bosnia and Hercegovina) Mario Pasalic(Germany) Marco Pasalic(Germany) Stanisic(Germany) etc etc. So we actually have a pool of 8 million people to create a player from and not around 4. But its still impressive

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@frankdux2057]

Most of those players families left because of the war. So it’s not surprising that they play for Croatia. Bosnia Hercegovina is divided into three ethnic groups. Croats Serbs Muslims. Most of the Muslims play for Bosnia Hercegovina. While most of the Croats and Serbs play for their ethnic countries. It’s complicated lol.

[@juresibenik5281]

@@frankdux2057 No one said they shouldnt play for Croatia. We are just stating that we have a pool of 8 million people

[@randyledirt1493]

Yeah so does Turkey, so does Morocco, Belgium Germany and France exploit their immigration system, with much larger population numbers….Scotland and Ireland do it too, anyone with a Scottish or Irish ancestry somewhere down the line can play for Scotland and Ireland

[@miha2451]

​@randyledirt1493 yeah but we are using native croatians who migrated away, not non natives brought in like france or belgium, whole different cup of cake

[@gm9884]

Genetics - we are good in many sports...very competitive, fighting mentality, football is very popular, kids are playing it everywhere...ones selected and recognized, best of them end up in ALL great leagues, we are everywhere: from Italy, Germany, Spain, England, France - in the best clubs...also in many other countries: from China, Korea, Turkey, Russia, Arab countries, our football experts work all over the world and that's why we have a lot of experience and well-rounded knowledge of global football...90% of Croats, around the world prefer to play for Croatia (because of many reasons but mostly because of patriotic reasons: we were waiting almost 1000 years to have our own country AGAIN, we were big kingdom once but due to historic events parts of it were conquered by different countries, that's why a lot of Croats live all around the world)... the exception is only Australia, I believe it's due to long distance from us, but they play MAJOR role in Australian football

[@mario2967]

Croatian football teams does not have the big money to buy foreign players like Scottish Teams, so the free slots for home grown player are more available. Additionally, in Croatia is the detection of children with good sports talent very important to promote and develop them further, this is done by the school teacher and sport coaches. And the biggest strength is the mentality to win and enjoy various sport.

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Very interesting!! Thank you for sharing.

[@TheMaxvix]

Thank you for the compliments about our sport🍀

[@ivanpoljak8240]

Hajduk has a coach at younger team ages Boro Primorac. He was Arsen Wenger's right hand at Arsenal for over 15 years. Since he came, Hajduk's school has improved

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

very interesting!

[@dariolivaja978]

@@ImprovingScottishFootballand Boro Primorac is also a legendary Hajduk Split player, that’s why he is now again in the Hajduk youth system although the biggest clubs in the world wanted him… You know he is that good when Arsene always wanted him by his side…

[@croatiandon7846]

Football Mozart - Luka Modrić. Handball Mozart - Ivano Balić. Basketball Mozart - Dražen Petrović. all three so unique and magical in their sports.

[@rrijecanka]

It’s in our DNA. Even Zalatan’s mom is from Dalmatia like Modric and many others great players (not only in football). We are playing on the streets as a children with heart. And its not only football. How many ppl know who is Janica Kostelic. What she did in skiing no one will change that. Tnx for this video. I am from Rijeka but listening Ian C. how he loves Hajduk it’s just fantastic even that’s not my club. ❤️ 🇭🇷

[@hajduksplit_913]

Zlatan Ibrahimovićs Mother and Luka Modrić are nearly from neighbouring villages. And there are many more from Zadar Area. Livaković, Vrsaljko, Pršo, Gvardiol...

[@matijakumaric4851]

Zašto spominješ Dalmaciju odvojeno i drugo serem ti se na gayduk

[@markmusic5303]

Beautifully spoken, very nice conversation!

[@histriamagna1014]

🇭🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Greetings from Croatia.

[@stevepodrebarac2303]

As a Croatian living in Canada it’s really upsetting how poor our grassroots programs are. We have all the resources but no desire for football. During winter most kids play hockey and the football kids need to practice on their own time. Come spring the hockey kids are lost. Very frustrating for the kids interested in football. Good luck at the Euros 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇭🇷💪

[@saellenx3528]

When I was a kid we played football in the snow here in Croatia. It was most fun I had in my life.

[@shogunbj]

One thing that stands out is that we Croats are generally very competitive. We like to compete in everything. We have competed between ourselves since our young age. Every game at school, home or playground is a serious competition. That is how we are raised, to compete and not to give up. Also, we learn the importance of high performance, so even if you lose, make sure you give the best you can. You will be then treated as a winner. Another thing is that we do play multiple sports since young age. Even if the kid is not meant to be a professional athlete, he will go and train some sport. Sport is part of our culture. it's healthy, and it's important to learn how to lose as well as how to win. Sport is a foundation for all of our goals in the future. The importance of being a team player, sharing, protecting, being healthy, etc. Last and most important is that we have a strong education in sports. Kids start to train early in the school. They are very young when they start to understand the tactical part of the sport. They are educated to be proud of the national sport legacy, which is strongly involved in parenting and comes from home, school, and club. So the magic juice is: competitive nature + education + to be proud.

[@juricapuljiz5738]

In Croatia we try out everything, street basketball, football, tennis, handball or even martial arts, depends on opportunities in your city/town, definitely every street match is competitive, we also have football tournaments for amateurs all over the country during summer, its tradition, hopefully new technologies wont keep kids at home more than before.

[@2slowDD]

As Croatian this was a interesting podcast for me to watch. Why is our national football team doing so great over the years? 1) National pride We are still a relatively young country. If you are old enough you can still remeber the war here. That war actually started at the Dinamo Zagreb pitch. And our players consider a great honour playing for our country, that's why most of them usually perform better for the national team. 2) We are among poorer countries in the EU. Why is that important? Our youth considers football as a possibility to make something of them selves. If they succeed a transfer to Dinamo ZG or Hajduk, they consider it as a possible lucrative contract for a bigger top 5 leagues team, and they are set for life. Our local leagues suck, whenever a player shows some promise, it's transferred, and we don't like our league. Our football infrastructure is plain bad (that may change soon), our economy is bad, and some kids have only sports to turn to. If you are from the wealthier nation you may get to complacent, that's not the case here. You might say there is a lot even poorier countries out there, and you are wright. It's not only about that, you need other factors as well. 3) We have a long-lasting sports tradition. Each of us is encouraged to try some/any sport from when we can walk. Later we push the ones where we show aptitude for. 4)Fuel the fire Our national team(s) success only adds fuel to the fire. The better we do at world stage, the more kids wants to join, train, play. One day we will become complacent as well, luckily, that day hasn't arrived yet. 😉

[@ImprovingScottishFootball]

Thanks for sharing these thoughts - and for watching the podcast :-)

[@dariolivaja978]

@@ImprovingScottishFootballofc the War DIDN’T start at Maksimir, the home of Dinamo Zagreb, that myth told by Dinamo fans should be debunked and forgotten…

[@damirblazevic4823]

The war didn't start at Dinamo's stadium. You purger cnuts need to stop spreading that lie

[@miroslavpendelj9685]

Ako smo toliko siromašni, kako veliš, što je s Bugarima, Rumunjima, Srbima... pa i s Portugalcima i Grcima? Mislim da je dočekana neovisnost, nakon toliko stoljeća, ipak najjači "fuel"! Slovenci su bogatiji, Crnogorci siromašniji, i? Nič.

[@2slowDD]

@@miroslavpendelj9685 Kao sto si mogao procitati, na kraju tocke 2, ti je tocno to. Nije to jedini razlog, ali "pomaze". Nije nas badava toliko u dijaspori koliko u HR. P. S. Grci i Portugalci su prvaci EU.

[@mariomihaljevic2223]

Because we are f_____g Croats! 🔥💪..

[@machopiaggio6007]

Good report, kudos! 😊 Some +20 years ago, after Croatia's third place in France World Cup in '98, at one breakdance event, my crew and I met a great breakdance team from Italy who definitely wanted to play a few football matches with us, and they said that they were very good at it, and that we take care A LOT... We didn't really think we were good in football at all at that time, we played football everyday like all other kids after elementary school for couple of hours, but since we hung out a lot those days (lot of beer and weed), we said let's play a few games on the shortened fields with them... I think it ended 10:0, 10:3, and 10:2 for us, easy like Sunday morning... 😊 Greetings for better Scottish football, kisses from Croatia... ❤

[@bicharka1]

I can tell you without a podcast - Because we feel inferior to everyone else, always feel second best and try to prove ourselves much more than the rest. That shows. 😊

[@dantetomic7049]

The success is mainly due to a variety of reasons but least as a result of good infrastructure or planning. The region has produced many talented and successful sportsman and women. The now defunct Yugoslavia was always a football powerhouse, never short of talent , but always a underachiever in big tournaments. Yugoslavia was always a powerhouse in Basketball, Waterpolo and Handball. Croatian football success is thanks to a number of factors and one of them is a constant supply of natural born talent, rather than having good facilities. The Hajduk Split junior side that played in last year’s European junior finals, owes its success to talent and not to having first class facilities. I remember when I was young, we used to play outdoors in all kinds of weather all day and night in summer. I was multitalented in almost all sports, I played football, basketball, handball, tennis, table tennis, baseball, cricket and almost every other sport really well. When I arrived in Australia in 1980, I think that I was good enough to play for the Australian national team for both Basketball and football without exaggeration. My technical skills in both basketball and football were so superior in contrast with my Australian teammates of the period. In the 1970s I trained with both Hajduk Split and Jugoplastika junior teams, both being European powerhouses in their respected sports in the seventies ( Hajduk Split was amongst the best teams in Europe in the mid seventies, while Jugoplastika was a three time European champion in the 80s. ), a remarkable achievement, considering that both Hajduk and Jugoplastika come from a city with a population no bigger than a average London suburb. However, I am afraid that Croatia’s sporting fortunes might not be so rosy in the coming future, basketball in Split is barely alive and Hajduk is struggling, not having won the national championship for nearly 20 years. Kids seem to be spending less and less time playing sports outdoors, preferring to do it indoors on the TV screen with a joystick in hand.

[@pellevanlig245]

Actually 3.8 mil. Have always respected you and always will !!! / A Croatian

[@mt-pt7cy]

Hrvata ima između 7 i 8 milijuna,i kad bi trebalo većina bi bila tu

[@pellevanlig245]

@@mt-pt7cy Da, ali pukom mukom ih ima svuda po svijetu osim u domovini. Pitanje je koliko se miliona moze nadodati broju od 3,8 mil. Europa, Sjeverna i Juzna Amerika te Australija.

[@mt-pt7cy]

@@pellevanlig245 Europa 5.3 milijuna,Sj Amerika 1.2 milijuna,možda i više,Južna Amerika od 500-800 tisuća i ostalo(Australija, Novi Zeland..) oko 350 000

[@pellevanlig245]

@@mt-pt7cy Nemam te podatke uopce. Predpostavljao sam da Europa prednjaci. Iznenadili su me podaci iz Sjeverne Amerike ali i iz Australije . Da , N. Zeland sam potpuno zaboravio. Pitanje je isto tako koje su sve generacije ubrojene u te brojke. Proslo je vec dosta godina od tog prvog vala migracije iz 19.st, npr utemetelji Punta Arenas (jug Cilea).

[@dinkoz1]

In 2008 or 2009, I had a beer with one of the Croatian national football and handball players, and I think it was a matter of motivation. There is no greater honor and pride than being invited to the national team, the family's pride is greater than all the other things they have achieved in their career, success in teams outside of Croatia, money or fame. This motivates today's generation, especially after the World Cup and the second place. It is clear to the kids that they have to play outside of Croatia if they want financial success, but they also want to stay to be candidates for the national team, because more of those who play in domestic clubs get invited. The goal is not only money and fame, the goal is to be so good that you get that invitation. I talked to the exchange kids from England, their goal is first money, girls, parties, expensive cars, etc., the national team was in 7-8 place. Their mentality is "I come first" instead of "the team comes first".

[@damirblazevic4823]

You are delusional. Half of the country doesn't give a flying fuck about the so called "national team".

[@sedeslav]

I am a Croatian and I am thankful for your affirmative video about my country. I will just add one thing (maybe not noticeable at first glance...) Our climate! It is so mild and almost perfect for outside activities like football is. As I know your climate is not very good. That is a little, but significant difference and our advantage. (Btw :I was a goalkeeper for 14 yers :) )

[@ilijamrkonjic3686]

Sport istt Love !!

[@viktorkalinski3728]

I'm from Croatia, and one of answer is like boris8077 said.... We believe. every child , every granny . all nation is in state of trans... second... Zlatko Dalić is great shrink. he can see who is in which state of mind , and mange his team very very good... Distribution of power and strength... WC matches are not short distance running it is a box match in 12 rounds... and lastly .... We like to compete with everyone... Win or lose , WE ARE NOT AFFRAID !!! Zlatko is a man who can pump your confidence , and put right words in right time to increase already big motivation....

[@srbce8355]

Croats are very good in all sports, its genetics.They are probably athletically most gifted white nation on the planet.In certain parts of Croatia, people are taller than dutch average.Split ( second largest city in Croatia ) has the most NBA players per capita for example

[@TP-gx8qs]

Agree. And you also have the best rangers and travelers in the world.

[@adrianoadriano7772]

@@TP-gx8qs hihi bilo kuda balegari svuda....micite mi ovog bradatog sa komentara

[@Mr_Muscollo_Dalmatian]

True. Average sport kid have here to train is at least 5 . When summer comes just swim and play waterpolo Ski WC winers Ivica and Janica Kostelić Maradona grandmother side was from Korčula😅😂

[@markobakovic627]

Scotts are same mentality like us ❤

[@mashinajoe]

Hello 👋 Greetings from Sydney Australia. We're good at waterpolo and handball too. Elite.

[@zagrepcanin82]

though not my native language but i think title should be Why is Croatia....or maybe you think there are more CroatiaS??? p.s we love Scotish folk...always have been in great terms with lads

[@andrejamerseli9878]

Hrvatska moja najljepša na svijetu 🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷❤️❤️❤️

[@izzzy03]

i think that great impact is practice in youth academies in Croatia, where kids rotate positions, so they can find role in teams where can play better and improve and grow more

[@drophatinc]

One of our trainers was asked why Croatia played so well in the last few World Cuos and he said that it was a combination of our size, strength, diet, pride in our country and belief in our overall mission. Croats are very relaxed and confident when it comes to Sport. We fear absolutely nobody. I love Scotland!

[@zuska168]

At first a interesting theme .Second we love you Scottish people.I am a Croatian woman and not so interested vin foodball,but when the national team plays for a European cup,or World cup we all Croatian became as one.Old ,young,small,wemen,men ...all.That are our genes.We allways had to defend us.So we learned how to be the best in every bettle.Sport is a cind of bettle.We than become one ,,Brave heart,, so we have much the same as nations.We love to be brave,good,the best,smart for tackticks,but allways clean and ownest.Like a good worrier.We dont like dirty playing. So Dalić says ,,we are a family,,so they play like that,all together . The great Ćiro Blažević said to his team,,My Sons...,, So they play the best like sons do for his father.The coach and the team must be one.One nationality,heart,body,love for Croatia and its people,the fans.And it's true ouer kids love all sports,they want to be the best .They like if we parents are proud of them.And allways simple,and natural play and joy.We love enjoying life,our nature,see,sun,ear.And we love dear God,Jesus,that helps allso .

[@jankopandza1072]

After WW 2 our president Tito decided that sport should be priority and physical activity for both males and females . It was presented as being fit = healthy body = healthy mind. It was adopted very quickly and if you check results Yugoslavia did after WW 2 on world stage in many different sports you will understand how that mentality has stayed with the people from this region .. Germany did a research about this topic many years ago and this was the number one reason they presented as why are Croats / Serbs and others from this region so good in sports... by the way Big support for your channel . By default we love Scottish people. :)

[@darrenstewart2507]

In Croatia do the kids enter a youth academy system like they do in Scotland at around 6-9 years old? I’m just interested that if they do when do they get the time to play other sports if they are performing structured training 4 nights a week and playing matches at the weekend? Or do they enter a pro youth system at an older age? Really interesting to listen to this podcast. Keep up the good work guys 👍

[@bojanbilandzija9761]

Talking about croatian players playing in our league at 7.5 per team. This is a historical low and going in the wrong direction

[@BlueNotaMaestro]

He's right, (people think it's only in Brasil) Croatian kids, like Brazilian kids, play football for fun from early on daily, basically everyone plays football. So it's not just a few clubs, but 4 million players (boys and girls, from generation to generation) regularly kicking the ball. For parents it's the cheapest way of keeping kids occupied

[@mariostekic]

Croats loves Scottish and Irish people, Catholic brothers 💪❤

[@damirblazevic4823]

Maybe you should explain to the Scots that they are catholic 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Macar14]

If we have less corrupted politicians we would have far better infrastructure. What we are doing at football is insane.

[@anteandrovic]

as a croat i most enjoy the the scotlands game when they kick the english ass....

[@ivanmarijanovic4956]

Nice promotion for Croatian sport we fainting to the end

[@igorsvacic217]

trivia: from last twelve CL finals not a single one was without a croatian player in it. PS. thank you Kieran for everything you gave to the team I support . Hajduk Split

[@master-kq3nw]

We are small country but good in football 👍

[@hobbyjay6803]

Genetics and competetive mindset, very simple answer...Football, Basketball, Tennis, Waterpolo, Handball, Skiing, Combat sports.... it's simply genetics and athletism from that part of Balkans which makes a difference.

[@miha2451]

Honestly, we are one of the last native majorty populace in EU. U cant expect an immigrant to burn for your country same way as a native will, and no 2,3,7 etc generation doesnt make them native, immigrants always feel more connection to their origin culture, best example are croatian immigrants born abroad with thos countries investing massive ammounts into them for them just to choose croatia in the end. Sadly with more immigrants in croatia our sports will go down in next 5 to 15 years

[@damirblazevic4823]

It must be so nice to be so racist

[@miha2451]

Didnt know immigration is a race 🤔 ❤

[@damirblazevic4823]

@@miha2451 Don't be ridiculous

[@damirblazevic4823]

@@strklo Of course. As evidenced by oh so difficult process of gaining citizenship for Eduardo da Silva and Sammir 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@IWATPITW]

I'm Croatian. Its not just croatians. If you want to read its about genetics. Haplogroup I2 is the answer. Dominant haplogroup in Balkans mostly present croatians and serbs. The main trait of that haplogroup is something that can be translated as DEFIANCE. Just check the sport achievements not just football, look at all the sports. Look at combat sports, look at history wars, look at ww2 partisan resistance. Look at homeland war in Croatia. We are, due to extremly hard history over thousand of years, naturaly selected that only thoese who can performe beyond our wildest immagination when faced with greatest obsticles survive. So when we have to fight the hardest we go even harder.

[@matijakumaric4851]

Sve si dobro napisao osim dio o tzv"srbima" ne postoje srbi to su popravoslavljeni Hrvati

[@IWATPITW]

@@matijakumaric4851 Pa i mi i srbi i bosnjaci i crnogorci smo genetski jako blizu. Jako zanimljive stvari mozes vidjet kad gledas haplogrupe na balkanu. Ja se ne bi toliko vezao za hrvatski ili srpski rod, niti jezik. To je nešto sto smo mi primili od tada vladajućeg sloja koji je dosao iz prostora Ukrajine - a to su slaveni. Ako pogledas i mi i srbi imamo manji dio slovenske krvi u usporedbi sa I2 haplotipom (mađari su više sloveni od srba). A definitivno govorimo slavenskim jezikom i mi i srbi. I taj jezik nije ni srpski ni hrvatski to su izvedenice iz staroslavenskog. Isto ko sto smo mi srbi i hrvati postali nekad davno jer se nase ilirsko zajednicko podrijetlo izgubili zbog toga što su nas rimljani podcinili. A ilirsko nema veze s albanskim da se to ne miješa to je dokazano isto kroz genetska testiranja. Znaci mi smo starosjedioci ovog dijela europe, a pod mi mislim i hrvati i srbi i bosnjaci i crnogorni samo sto se tad nismo tako zvali niti smo bili katolici ni muslimani nego pogani i plemena.

[@ytubeu7450]

Nemanjići su klečali pred Papom. Prodali veru za doručak.

[@IWATPITW]

@strklo I'm not answering to you but to someone reading this who might be confused by bunch of fake stuff you wrote: 1. Someone saying he is 100% pure croat by dna testing and than saying he knows something about genetics = wrong 2. Saying less than 40% croats have I2 haplo while failing to understand its still number one among haplotype distribution (r1b, slavic - being second) = failure of logic 3. Saying he is 100% pure croat while his tata(father) having albanian/greek haplotype = stupid

[@James-tz5kh]

Always the bridesmaid never the bride , many countries don't celebrate second, winning is key to success despite what people say

[@damirblazevic4823]

What are you talking about?

[@TheKres7787]

As a Croat who lived in Serbia for a while in my youth, whenever football is mentioned I remember a Serbian friend from school who was trashing me in football every time. The guy was on another level. I was always decent (not great) at football, and played it with great interest throughout much of my youth, but at random. So since that guy wounded me in term of football skills, I think we were perhaps lucky with 2 generations of footballers. It must take a lot of generations to produce the likes of Modric for our pop number. I would like to see how well we do over a longer time period. I understand this could well just be my football PTSD from that Serbian friend.

[@damirblazevic4823]

Over a longer period? What are you talking about?

[@TheKres7787]

@@damirblazevic4823 all our football results were made by 2 generations? If it was say 5 generations of different footballers hence, that'd be far more legit

[@damirblazevic4823]

@@TheKres7787 from 1996 to 2022...

[@TheKres7787]

@@damirblazevic4823 modric played from 2006 till today. Can we expect each of our gen to have a modric? We got other great players ofc, but modric is x2 great players worth

[@damirblazevic4823]

@@TheKres7787 So what?

[@zeljkak7390]

it is simple, we love play football

[@seljak90]

We like sports but football is No 1. Croatian football team was going down but than our new coach mr. Zlatko Dalić came and he was the right man on the right place in right time. So, we have great coach and not only the great players. We were also good in basketball but we lost something and we can't go back to the throne. We have great results in combat sports. Insane results. Winners of K1, MMA... We had great achievements even in winter sports too while we didn't have snow season as long as it takes for winter sports and no infrastructure for winter sports at all. A lot of it is due to efforts of families, parents who invest a lot in talented kids, not the system.. Speaking about Đoković's success, he was trained in tennis academy lead by a Croat Niki Pilić. Now he is with Goran Ivanišević. How many Croats would like to exchange sports' successes for normal economical environment... Sport is one of the last thing we are good at.

[@ytubeu7450]

Pa i Novak je pola Hrvat. Majka.

[@sam.victor470]

Scotland has a population much inflated by lots of 'settlers from south of the border'; although still relatively poor as a country, the kids don't kick a tennis ball (or tin can) around in the street any more, to hone their skills. The modern game lacks Scottish football heroes like Kenny Dalgleish, Alan Hanson and many Chelsea FC historical stars like Pat Nevin and Charlie Cooke.

[@ilijamrkonjic3686]

Sport isst namber One !!

[@anelkoopacak1462]

Croatians excels in most other sports, not just football.

[@danigomb]

was good

[@danieldekovic9706]

When you ask why Croats are so good in football, but we are not only good in football, then you have to understand one thing. In 1991 when Croatia was on attack around 1,500 Croatian man stand up against 40.000 man, around 700 tanks and armed vehicles, all aviation that JNA had and all armed vessels they had and send them in Vukovar. And they were surrounded with out any possibility to get any armor or any kind of help. What they did? They stood till the last bullet. Many others will just surrender to save their lives, but we are not that kind. And this was not first time in our history. And that is way Croatian sport is in that level. And this is not only football.

[@Tommie.ManicGK]

We just are 😉