Soccer
Croatian football will always have a special place in the hearts of French fans. In 1998, the team almost blocked the way of the future French world champions in the semi-finals, opening the scoring before losing 2-1 to Lilian Thuram's famous double. Davor Šuker, top scorer at the World Cup in France, then won the bronze medal with the Croatian team.
Twenty years later, the Croatian team finally reached the final of a major tournament and found themselves facing Kylian Mbappé and Paul Pogba's France. If it is already a consecration for Ivan's generation Rakitić, the memory of the defeat in 1998 in the semi-final traumatized fans across the country. This time, Luka Modrić and his team-mates believe it is true, thank God in the penalty shoot-outs for them, in the Round of 16 against Denmark and against Russia in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Croatia beat England 2-1 after extra time and was considered by many commentators as the team that offered the most enjoyable game of the 2018 World Cup. Even if in the end, it is always France who wins; the Croats will be beaten 4 to 2. Consolation prize: Modrić is voted best player of the competition.
The Croatian world vice-champions still go home as heroes. On July 16, their plane, coming from Moscow, was escorted into national airspace by two air force fighters. Red carpet on the tarmac and double-decker bus for players who have to join the Ban Square Jelačić in Zagreb where several hundred thousand people are waiting for them. A huge popular jubilation, which will be repeated in Zadar, in the hometown of Luka Modrić, captain of the national team and Real Madrid midfielder. Fans who will meet again a few months later to celebrate their captain again, who will win the Golden Ball in December 2018 in Paris in front of Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann. While the vast majority of the chequered team play for the big clubs, Croatian teams such as Hajduk Split or Dinamo Zagreb (whose stadiums are still very hot) have more difficulty on the European stage.Handball, basketball and water polo
In handball too, the Croatians regularly make their mark on the international scene. Olympic champions in 1996 in Atlanta and 2004 in Athens, European runners-up in 2008 and 2010 and world champions in 2003, they have often faced the indomitable French in recent years in major competitions. A team from France, led by brothers Luka and Nikola Karabatić, of Croatian origin...
In basketball, Croatia had some very good years just after the break-up of Yugoslavia. With Toni Kukoč, the young Croatian team reached the final of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, simply beaten by Michael Jordan's invincible Team USA (who also teamed up with Kukoč at the Chicago Bulls). While today's basketball selection is more discreet, this is not the case for water polo, which won the silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and gold at the 2007 World Championships and 2012 Games. In short, a discipline in which the country excels.In individual sports, great champions too
In individual sport too, many Croatians stand out. In tennis, the country has always produced excellent players, starting with Goran Ivanišević in the 1990s, winner at Wimbledon and world No. 2 in 1994. Recently, the Croatian Davis Cup team hurt the Blues by winning the last edition of the event in Lille in 2018. Led by Tsonga, Chardy and Puglia, the French team folded under the blows of Marin Čilić and Borna Ćorić.
For summer Olympic sports, it is behind Blanka Vlašić that the country pushes forward. The Split native holds the second best performance in the world ever in high jump (2.08 m) and is preparing for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. In winter, Croats are also passionate about skiing. The most important name in this discipline is Kostelić: Ivica, the brother, and Janica, the sister. Ivica distinguished herself in slalom (world champion in 2003, winner of the Crystal Globe in the specialty in 2002) then won three silver medals at the Winter Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014). Janica was the queen of the Salt Lake City Olympics (2002), where she won the giant, after the combined and slalom, in addition to super G silver! For her 20th birthday, Janica Kostelić became the first skier to win three gold medals in the same Games. At the 2006 Turin Olympic Games, she won gold in combined and silver in super G, after winning three more gold medals at the 2005 world championships in Bormio. Following her injuries, she retired in 2007 at the age of 25. A legend.On land, discovering nature
In this country of sportsmen, there are many activities. On land, it is easy to discover the Croatian landscape. Inland Croatia is indeed a paradise for walkers and other lovers of active holidays in the middle of nature. Tourists hike the classic hiking trails, but also ride mountain bikes or horses. There are many possibilities: you can organize hikes in Plitvice Lakes National Park (including lakes and waterfalls), canyon explorations in Paklenica National Park, lynx hunting in Risnjak National Park, hiking trails at Premužić to the Young Bear Sanctuary, mountain bike treks in Istria or Velebit National Park, or horseback riding days at national park ranches. Anyway, no time to get bored!
For climbing enthusiasts, the Velebit Mountains in the Paklenica region are particularly famous. The pleasant climate makes it possible to practice in spring, summer and autumn (having taken care to check the weather forecast before leaving anyway). Every spring, a major international competition is held here, the Big Wall Speed Climbing, which brings together climbers from all over the world. A little further south, in the Omiš region, you can climb the cliffs of the Biokovo Nature Park. Finally, some sites have been developed in Istria or the Adriatic islands. For skiing, it is on the Papud Mountains or near Zagreb (Sljeme) that you will find beautiful slopes.
Finally, Croatia has many hunting grounds where European big game abounds. Deer can be found here, mostly hunted in September in the basin along the Sava River. Many foreign hunters come to Croatia to track bears, deer, lynx and other small game such as rabbits, foxes and migratory birds.
For fishing, the most beautiful rivers are between Zadar and Split, on the rivers of Zrmanja, Cetina or Gacka near the town of Otočac, between Senj and the Plitvice Lakes. The Gacka River is perfect for fishing enthusiasts and experienced anglers alike. You can also spend days fishing for trout on the banks of the Drave or Kupa rivers.On the water... but especially underwater!
With its large coastline, rivers and waterfalls in the national parks, Croatia is an ideal destination for sports holidays. It offers the opportunity for many water activities, starting with swimming! The field? There are many pebble beaches, a little less sand, pontoons and miles of coastline where you can settle down
Although the coastline allows for all kinds of nautical activities (jet-skiing, sea kayaking, sailing, etc.), it is mainly scuba diving that attracts visitors. It must be said that the wild beauty of the Croatian coast and its 1,200 islands is a real paradise for divers. The water is particularly blue and transparent and offers excellent visibility up to 30 m; sea temperatures are very pleasant from May to October
To the north and centre of the coast the sea is shallow, while after the Palagruža threshold the deep waters of the South Adriatic Basin begin. There are diving clubs all along the coast and in all the islands
In national parks, diving is only allowed to divers accompanied by a school. One of the most coveted places is the Kornati National Park. In its clear waters, you can, with just a mask and a snorkel, come across protected species. Mljet, another mythical island south of Dubrovnik, further from the coast, is less known to divers than the Kornati. It is also a top diving spot in the Southern Adriatic. Here, too, many protected species can be found in crystal-clear water. You will have to pay for an entry permit to enter these national parks, but it's well worth the experience, as well as venturing into the many shipwrecks that populate the bottom of the Adriatic. Some of them, dating back to ancient times, are still loaded with their amphoras as in Cavtat. Others were sunk during the Venetian period or during the battles of the last wars of the 20th century. All of them are home to flora and fauna that are worth the descent, full of adventure!
In addition to the national parks, there are many spots to go for a walk with your flippers.
In Istria, several wrecks are still sleeping, such as the ferry Baron Gautsch.
In the Gulf of Kvarner, off the island of Krk, two wrecks have been located: the ship Lina, which sank in 1914 during a storm and is now between 22 m and 55 m deep, and the Peltastic, which is just a few metres from the surface
Opposite Zadar, the south-western part of the island of Premudace is a famous site known as the 'cathedral', a group of interconnected underwater caves.
Central and Southern Dalmatia is a great playground for more experienced divers with deeper seabeds than the North
Between the islands of Brač and Hvar, in particularly fishy water, you can venture into caves, tunnels and some small cliffs
In Dubrovnik, a few kilometres south of the old city, one can access the wreck of the Seka od Mrkana, an Italian Navy transport ship that sank in 1943, hit by an Allied mine. The vessel is aground between 23 m and 52 m deep
In the bay of Cavtat, you can admire, at a depth of 30 m, the famous wreck of the Pithos, which dates back to the 4th century BC and where amphoras and huge terracotta jars are still found.
