Zagreb: Her pictures and videos of entering the Croatian dressing room and hugging bare-bodied footballers after the semifinal win over England have already gone viral worldwide on the social media. Imagine PM Narendra Modi doing the same to any of India’s sportsperson or any team after achieving a milestone.
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic however, is not worried. She said here Saturday irrespective of whether Croatia lose or win, she would again go to the dressing room to congratulate the entire team for the stupendous show they have put up during the tournament. She also said she could not wait for the World Cup final against France, as officials worked overtime to meet the huge demands from fans needing passports.
“I feel extremely excited, I don’t know how I will wait until Sunday,” said Grabar-Kitarovic, who is going to attend the game. “Regardless of Sunday’s result, which I believe will be a victory, we are winners.”
She asserted that the current set of players had surpassed the achievements of the team that finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France.
Grabar-Kitarovic said she would probably give a Croatia jersey to her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron after sending one to Russian President Vladimir Putin and presenting one to British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier in the tournament.
“I go for the final not only as a politician or president… but as a passionate fan of Croatian football… as someone who played football in childhood,” Grabar-Kitarovic said “I hope for fair play and a good atmosphere,” she added, but did not want to predict the result. “I’m not good at that. The result is not important, only that it is a victory.”
