FIFA+, a new first-class, free digital platform created to unite football fans worldwide with sports they love, is the exclusive venue for a new feature-length documentary by acclaimed director Louis Myles Croatia: Defining A Nation, reports HNS.
The film, available since May 30, is an intimate portrait of the power that football had in uniting the nation during the extreme conditions of Croatia’s struggle for political independence in the 1990s. In addition, it shows the path of Croatia outside the football fields and a group of footballers whose lives were intertwined with the nation’s birth through the great success they achieved.
The story was told through interviews with several former Croatia national team players who became synonymous with this period of football and political history, including conversations with Zvonimir Boban, Igor Štimac, Robert Prosinecki, Davor Šuker, and Slaven Bilić.
The film was directed by award-winning director Louis Myles (Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football, Liverpool FC: The 30-Year Wait) and produced by journalists Mark Pougatch, Ana Muhar Blanquart, David Kempshall, and James Craggs.
Speaking about the film, Louis Myles says: “This story is so important and filming with FIFA+ was amazing. It is a rich and deep story full of weight, hope, and optimism. I hope the world will enjoy the experience and learn about the heroism of small groups of brave individuals who left a deep mark on all who came after them.”
FIFA+ editor James Abraham added: “The goal of the original content published by FIFA+ is to revive football as a game and untold stories. Croatia: Defining A Nation is a story that does just that and is a brilliant display of the power of football to unite.”
President of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, said:
“We are honored that FIFA has chosen this topic as interesting and significant for its new program, FIFA+, and I thank everyone who participated in making the film, including our football legends who have made key contributions to making the film. I am glad that many younger national team players, who cannot remember the 1990s, could see how important our football team was in creating a national identity in that period. During that difficult time, and especially in 1998, the Vatreni introduced the whole world to Croatia and gave us an exceptional incentive in our homeland, inspiration, and confidence that our little Croatia can be very big, globally successful, and recognizable. “
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