Croatia reaches elite status

Set ablaze by patriotism, German put-downs and a two-year-old loss, Croatia claimed a triumph for soccer's small powers and for its fledgling nation's pride.

"When I heard (German coach) Berti Vogts called us a small country, this raised our morale by 200 percent,'' exulted star striker Davor Suker. "We were fired up to send the Germans packing. This shows that small can beat big.''

Croatia is the first team since Portugal in 1966 to reach the semifinals in its World Cup debut. Portugal by that time had been around for centuries. Croatian statehood is just getting started.

The Croatian team didn't exactly come out of nowhere. The core of the squad, including playmaker Zvonomir Boban of AC Milan, goes back to the Yugoslav team that won the 1987 world youth championship.

AP PHOTO Croatia's Goran Vladvic (19) and Zvonimir Soldo (14) battle for a header with Germany's Jorg Heinrich as Dietmar Hamman (16) watches. Croatia advanced to the semifinals of the World Cup with its 3-0 victory over the highly touted Germans.

When Yugoslavia broke up and Croatia gained independence in a 1991 war, most of its talent went to clubs in Western Europe. The national team surged onto the world stage in the 1996 European Championship, in which it was ousted in a rough quarterfinal by Germany, the eventual champion.

Croatia got revenge in Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal with a 3-0 victory.

Aided by the 40th-minute expulsion of German defender Christian Woerns after a tangle with Suker, the Croats got a goal in first-half injury time from Robert Jarni.

The Germans, seeking their fourth world title, never recovered and, with a man advantage, the Croats were free to run a sparkling counterattack game after the break.

Croatia's bench jumped up to celebrate when Goran Vlaovic knocked in goal No. 2 in the 80th minute, and Suker added to the Germans' misery with a classy close-range goal five minutes from the end, the Real Madrid striker's fourth of the tournament.

"For 45 years in Yugoslavia, we never played with the same fire as we are for Croatia,'' said defender Igor Stimac, whose sending off in the 1996 game helped down the Croats then.

Among those celebrating among some 7,000 Croatian fans in Gerland Stadium was President Franjo Tudjman.

"We were very motivated, also because our president was here'' Stimac said. "I've been dreaming for two years about meeting Germany again.''

The Adriatic country of 4 million people was savoring the biggest sports success in its young history.

"The country is exploding with joy tonight,'' Suker said. "I'm really proud to be a Croat.''

Finals Week

Tomorrow: Brazil vs. Netherlands 3 p.m. ESPN

Wednesday: France vs. Croatia 3 p.m. ESPN

Saturday: 3rd-place match 3 p.m. ABC

Sunday: World Cup Championship match 3 p.m. ABC

07-06-98