- 25 Jun 08, 12:20 PM
Vienna
Prior to the start of Euro 2008, the BBC ran a campaign across its various outlets asking "who will you support?" in the absence of the home nations. Presenters were asking guests, reporters, etc what their thoughts were. But, when the question was put to me on Radio 5 Live, I could only say who I was looking forward to watching, rather than winning. I really didn't mind who won.
But those thoughts of ambivalence disappeared after spending time with Croatia. In my first blog, I wrote about what a character their coach Slaven Bilic is. Since then, having seen them overcome the handicap of losing star striker Eduardo to win all three group games, including a hugely courageous performance against Germany, I have to admit to feeling utterly deflated by their dramatic quarter-final defeat by Turkey.
I'll explain why. Many journalists formulate or amend their views on certain clubs depending on how they're treated. If the press officers are rude and obstructive, you can dread going there. If, however, the press officers are friendly and efficient - such as John Simpson of West Brom, for example - it makes life so much easier and you can get on with doing your job. Croatia have been a joy to deal with - press officers, players and manager alike.
As soon as Bilic came off the pitch after the penalty shoot-out defeat in Vienna, I was poised with mic in hand to interview him. I half expected him to either go straight to the dressing room or to at least be curt with his answers. But no. Despite clearly being distraught at having lost the game in the way they did, he still came over, smiled, shook my hand and tried to put his emotions into words. He was full of dignity and gave Turkey credit when he could easily have just said that the better team had lost.
I then moved to the "mixed zone" to try to catch a few words from the English-speaking players. This area's not for the faint-hearted. Barriers are erected behind which journalists gather, jockeying for position, trying to persuade players to stop for interviews on their way from the dressing room to the team bus.
Cameraman Jon had reserved us a spot near the dressing room, but he was mightily annoyed when a rather large Turkish man with an enormous bouffant barged in, leaving us barely any room. He can get quite feisty, our Jon, a handy trait in these situations.
As expected, the Turkish players waltzed through with smiles on faces looking like they had a party to get to. Colin Kazim-Richards was happy to stop and talk - in his broad cockney accent, of course - about his team's victory, while humbly admitting that he personally didn't have a great game. Then the Croatian players trudged through, some looking as though they'd suffered a bereavement, others looking like they wanted their mums.
Niko Kranjcar fell into the latter category. "Niko, a quick word for the BBC, please?" I asked more in hope than expectation. His eyes were moist and bright red. He shook his head and went straight to the bus. I couldn't blame him. Who'd want to face the media after having victory ripped away from you like a carpet beneath your feet? But credit to Josip Simunic and Vedran Corluka. Both stopped for us and spoke eloquently despite looking thoroughly dejected.
The Croatia players were staying in the same hotel as us and I'm told that a few stayed up drowning their sorrows until the early hours. In the morning, as they waited to leave the hotel, we thought it would be nice to end the chapter of our coverage of the team by asking Mr Bilic if he would speak to us for one last time. The press officer Davor had already said that Bilic wouldn't speak, but I thought it was worth asking the man himself as he'd been so good with us over the past three weeks.
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I saw he was hunched on a bar stool, smoking a cigarette whilst texting on his mobile phone. I felt uneasy at the prospect of disturbing him but wanted to at least pose the question. I tapped him on the shoulder and, instead of telling me to get lost, he again smiled and shook my hand. I commiserated with him about the nature of the defeat and asked whether he'd mind speaking to the BBC for one last time. Initially, he wasn't keen but fortunately for us changed his mind and agreed to the interview.
Visibly shattered with sunken eyes, Bilic said he'd found the defeat so hard to take that he'd come back to the hotel after the game and told his son that he was going to quit management altogether. After a few hours' sleep, he realised he'd been a little hasty and needed more time to think. He didn't rule out a future move to England, which he described as his second home.
England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 partly because of the qualities of this man and his team, but, on the basis of what we've witnessed over the past three weeks, perhaps they could learn a thing or two from the Croats about humility and conduct, if not how to take a penalty.
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Bilic is a truly decent bloke, was a terrific player and an excellent coach. We'd welcome him back at Upton Park!
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Blimey Jacqui, what a great article.
As an Everton fan who has followed Bilic's career closely over the years, I am not surprised by his dignity but you tell a great story.
I spent 24hours in Vienna in the company of, I guess 40,000 Croats last week and suggest the English fans could also learn from their Croatian counterparts. Unbelievable support during the match, exspecially the crescendo in extra time. Afterwards: disappointed, but philosophical and still proud.
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Bilic was full of dignity?
Shame for a certain Monsieur Blanc that he wasnt so dignified during the 1998 World Cup huh?
I dont believe in Karma but.........
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"He [Bilic] was full of dignity and gave Turkey credit when he could easily have just said that the better team had lost."
No, Jacqui, the better team did not lose. Croatia did not play good (despite what Shearer and Hansen might have told you). They had very little penetration, and if anything, Turkey played the better football in extra-time.
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Nice article.
Croatia was a good team but there are obviously a lot of good teams at this Euro. As Holland found out.
BTW, it's Kranjcar, not Krancjar. The nj sounds like a Spanish tilde-n, and the c has a 'hook' on it to produce the name "kran-char".
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I thought that was a good article.
Just a few points:
1) Bilic cheated in 1998 and deprived Blanc from playing in the final. I believe he has since apologised but he shouldn't have done it in the first place.
2) His team play some excellent football and has come fairely close to matching the quality of the first (and best) Croatian team (1994-1998).
3) From what I recall Turkey had one shot on target in 120 minutes. I stand to be corrected but I really can't remember any saves made by Pletikosa.
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Words of praise for Croatia AND West Brom?
Does she have a thing for Adrian Chiles?
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4. At 2:31pm on 25 Jun 2008, LetsPlay352 wrote:
"He [Bilic] was full of dignity and gave Turkey credit when he could easily have just said that the better team had lost."
No, Jacqui, the better team did not lose. Croatia did not play good (despite what Shearer and Hansen might have told you). They had very little penetration, and if anything, Turkey played the better football in extra-time.
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You mean 10 minutes? Shame that for the other 110 minutes they tried to do anything but defende. I am afraid but Turkey does not deserve to be there, they have had amazing luck in the end of 3 games (good on the players to believe in it) but they were outplayed in each of those games... The best team lost end of
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Best team, better team... In the end what matters is the scoreboard...
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Jaqui a first Class Article croatia and turkey have been a breath of fresh air in this tournment of which i think has been a really good tournment i like bilic a lot he talks sense comes across as a decent guy i think we will see him manage at a top club sooner rather than later. keep up the good work
P.S. Ignore lets play352 doesnt know what hes talking about.
fez:)
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I have (since the game at Wemble) converted from a half hearted English fan to a happy Crotia fan.
I adored watching their matches and also enjoy the team ethic and the style and wit of Slaven Bilic. He has done a great job there and all I can say now is that I am going to wait for a few months then get my self a cheap Croatia shirt! It's going to be amazing... roll on the World Cup, surely now you can see Croatia getting to knock out stages in that?
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Would have been a great article but I did read the last paragraph.
You couldn't resist could you?
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Bilic is a really engaging guy, he seems to be really likeable and a brilliant guy to play for.
But....... everytime I think about what a great guy he is I also think about what he did to Laurent Blanc, which is a shame.
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People criticising Bilic for the Blanc incident - it was a red card - and ten years on, why can't someone change? I bet you guys are the type who don't talk to your family because 15 years ago someone ate your share of the cake at xmas dinner
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I chose to support Croatia in the 1998 World Cup because of the style of football they played then and have followed them ever since.
I had very high expectations of Croatia this tournament and they didn't disappoint; it was a footballing travesty when Turkey equalised and it hurt seeing the Croatian players after the shootout. The best footballing sides in the tournament have been Croatia and Russia and it would have been fitting for the two dark horses to meet in the final.
Great article and I hope Bilic and the team use the heartbreak of exiting this tournament to motivate themselves in the World Cup qualifiers and the tournament itself when they get there.
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Bilic deprived a man of the greatest day of his professional life by cheating - it wasnt just a "red card 10 years ago".
It was the only chance Blanc had at playing in the World Cup final, the pinnacle of his career, and it was in his home nation which would have made it even more special.
Unfortunately, people who are in the public eye will only be judged on certain actions, we will never get to know their real character, or whether they have "changed" or not.
Bilic, as a public figure, will be defined by certain actions and, like it or not, the Blanc incident is one he will be judged on - and one that will help define him in the eyes of some football fans. Thats harsh but true.
I will repeat that he seems a great guy, and brilliant manager, but that incident will always sour his reputation.
If you are English Batistu-Tai then I presume that you have totally forgiven Maradona for punching the ball into the net in 1986?
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Having watched the game in a bar in Split, it made a plesent change not to see the place being trashed afterwards. Can't imagine the same thing after an England game...
Didn't get much sleep that night though!
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How can you as a Wolves fan offer any praise for that lot down the road? Fozzy will not be amused.
But you are right about Bilic. I remember after Croatia v England game asking him for a word at the team hotel when he was with his family. He said "give me a break I haven't seen the kids for a week."
Half an hour later he came over to a colleague and I in the bar and said:"I'm off outside for a cigarette if you want to have a chat."
A true gent and a first class football manager. We will taek him at Wolves any day.
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sorry beat hollow that was 10 years ago if every footballer was udged like that there would always be spots found. and he ha apologized and blanc accepted so who are you blancs twin brother
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All this about Bilic's approachability is very well, but being an attractive woman no doubt helps. Personally, I have difficulty forgetting how he fell to the ground feigning a head-butt in the 1998 World Cup semi-final, resulting in Laurent Leblanc's sending off. Leblanc was suspended for the final as a result. Leblanc THEE honourable sportsman. Probably why I remain suspicious of Bilic now.
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