The two ambassadors exchange barbs over who will support whom in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Everybody in Croatia watched yesterday’s World Cup match between Croatia and Denmark, which Croatia won after a penalty shootout and in that way qualified for the quarterfinals where it will play against Russia. Among those watching were apparently both the American and the Russian ambassadors in Zagreb, reports Večernji List on July 2, 2018.
It seems that US Ambassador to Croatia Robert Kohorst was particularly pleased with Croatia’s opponents in the quarterfinals.
The US Ambassador wrote that Croatia will play against Russia and added: “Croatia vs. Russia – Guess everyone knows who I am rooting for.”
However, the Russian Embassy did not remain silent and soon responded to Kohorst on its official Facebook page. “Will the United States perhaps pay for LNG terminal, help Agrokor, or abolish visas for Croats”, asked the Russian Embassy, accompanied by several smiling emoticons.
The (probably) good-humoured barbs between the two ambassadors apparently did not draw interest from Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who told reporters on Monday morning that he did not know about them.
Considering the level of Russian influence in the Croatian economy, Agrokor, and energy markets, it is difficult not to ask ourselves whether it would be wise for the Croatian football team to defeat Russia and eliminate it from the tournament. We will know soon enough.
Translated from Večernji List (reported by Karolina Lubina).