It wasnB次元官网网址檛 the outcome they were looking for, but the cheers of fans gathered at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Victoria on Sunday were still aplenty despite CroatiaB次元官网网址檚 4-2 loss to France in the World Cup final.
It was standing room only in a sea of red and white checkered attire as Croatian fans across the region gathered in Gordon Head to watch their team B次元官网网址� in the final for the first time in history B次元官网网址� battle France for the title.
Standing room only at the Cultural Centre in where fans are on the edge of their seats for this
B次元官网网址� Victoria B次元官网网址 (@VictoriaB次元官网网址)
Roko Nikolic, a second-generation Croatian-Canadian and UVic student, said heB次元官网网址檇 been waiting to see Croatia reach this level of play his whole life.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people were actually surprised with our performance from the beginning,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 become surreal. It hasnB次元官网网址檛 hit home for a lot of people, that weB次元官网网址檙e here, weB次元官网网址檙e in the final.B次元官网网址�
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Surrounded by his family, Nikolic said heB次元官网网址檚 been at the Croatian Cultural Centre for each game, cheering alongside fans of his team, and others. B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檝e gained in having everybody come together and cheer together B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 invaluable for the community.B次元官网网址�
| A Croatian fan sits with her eyes glued to the screen and her hands glued to each other in prayer during the World Cup final, Sunday. (Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS) |
In the front row, neck craned at a screen projecting the match, Stephanie Kalabric sat with her three daughters and son, all soccer players themselves, wearing the same lucky jerseys theyB次元官网网址檝e sported for each game during World Cup action.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e already won,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e come together as a community B次元官网网址� not only Croatian people, but people all over Victoria who support us.B次元官网网址�
Kalabric said her husband hasnB次元官网网址檛 washed his shirt since the World Cup started and Croatia started winning.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just a small little country, we only have 4.5 million people, and look how far weB次元官网网址檝e come,B次元官网网址� she said, adding a win would have been nice, but B次元官网网址渟econd place is still amazing.B次元官网网址�
