June 17, 2023 – If the Croatian football team become champions, if they bring the historic trophy – there will be a welcome party.
As Sportske Novosti writes, the Croatian national team is entirely focused on the UEFA Nations League final. For that reason, the Croatian football association does not want to deal with the organization of the reception, they say.
And there might be a bit of disappointment factoring into that. In December, preparations for the welcome reception in Zagreb were started in earnest, and then the team lost to Argentina in the semi-finals. But if the Croatian football team become champions, the welcome reception is happening.
It is a decision of the HNS – only to celebrate the first place. If the national team returns to Zagreb with gold medals and a trophy, they will come to Ban Jelačić Square. If they lose to Spain, however, nothing significant will happen. The players will each go their own way, most on a holiday. The Nations League is not the World Cup to have parties of such scale for silver.
Zagreb to Handle the Celebration if Croatian Football Team Win
Zagreb mayor Tomislav Tomašević called HNS president Marijan Kustić, and they agreed that the city should take over the organization. On Monday, the Croatian football team will take off from Rotterdam by charter around 11 a.m. The flight should land in Zagreb at 12:20 p.m. If people gather in the streets, there is an option to hire an open bus. It is summertime, after all, and the first day when there will be no school. It is possible that many, especially children, will want to greet the Vatreni.
However, if there is little interest, they will go to the Square by classic bus. They should be in the Zagreb city centre around 2 pm, and the reception would last approximately an hour. Many things will happen spontaneously, and it could take longer, though.
The city of Zagreb has given a concession on the Square to the “Mi Hrvati” fan club to watch the match, so the reception may be organized in cooperation with them. The City of Zagreb will decide which singers will appear.
All in all, according to the current attitude of the HNS, the reception is happening only if the Croatian football team wins gold.
