Miljenko Matijevic was born in Croatia’s capital Zagreb in 1964. He became one of the greatest singing stars in entire rock history. In the recent years his popularity has spread to the Far East, especially in South Korea, where he had numerous appearances. His unique voice continues to attract millons of listeners throughout the world, for classic songs like “She’s Gone”, “Can’t Stop Me Lovin’ You”, “I’ll Never Let You Go”, “We All Die Young”, etc. Miljenko: “Thank you to my country with all my heart for opening your arms and showering us with such a graceful experience. I hope everyone enjoys what we have created.”
Category: Entertainment
Photo of the Year and the Family of the Year for 2018
As a photo of the year we have chosen a detail from spectacular return of Croatian national team to the city of Zagreb, with a bus reliably driven for several hours by a nice lady (on the photo) along impossibly stuffed streets, without any accident or any injury. This is a feat maybe even more amazing that the wins of Croatian national football team agains teams like Argentina (led by outstanding world class Messi), England and the Russian Federation. As the family of the year we have chosen the family of Luka Modrić, sharing in this way the opinion of millions of fans throughout the world.
Nikolina Sustic Stankovic of Croatia ultramarathon world champion in 2018
Nikolina Šustić Stanković is the world ultramarathon world champion (100 km!) for 2018. This is one of the greatest achievements of Croatian sports. Native of the city of Split, employed as a computer software tester, she leads a humble life, and became a top sportswoman without any trainer whasoever! This makes her achievment even more amazing. The city of Split is a cradle world class sportsmen and sportswomen: Goran Ivanišević (tennis), Toni Kukoč (basketball), Blanka Vlašić (high jumping), Ivano Balić (handball), … , to name just a few.
Luka Modric winner of 2018 Balon d'Or
Carlo Ancelotti (director of Real Madrid): Nobody represents the values of this club, both on and off the pitch, better than Modric Luka Modrić with his family Luka Modrić’s family decorated with…
Steve Novosel Croatian-American jazz bassist and educator
Steven (Steve) Novosel is an American professional jazz bassist and educator whose 40-plus year career has spanned numerous genre, from traditional jazz to swing, bebop, mainstream and avant garde. Born in Farrell in 1940, Pennsylvania outside Pittsburgh in 1940, Novosel is of Croatian-American heritage. Although left-handed, Novosel mastered the double bass playing it in a right-hand set up.
Dr. Bozo Skoko published “Understanding Croatia – A Collection of Essays on Croatian Identity” 2018
Through a collection of essays about Croatian identity, image, politics, culture, way of life and special traits, the book speaks about Croats, their history, finding its way in the European Union, and mentality. It was written on the basis of numerous facts and studies, nevertheless, it is very readable, entertaining and educational. For this reason, it will undoubtedly be an excellent handbook for getting to know Croatia and the Croats.
World Cravat Day 18th October – the origin of the CRAVAT and of its universally known name is Croatia
CRAVAT, the universaly known name of the necktie, has its origin in the name ov Croats. As an unavoidable fashion element, especially for representative pruposes, it can be met in the remotest parts of the Globe. It is without any doubt the most widespread fashion element in the world, bearing a national name. On the photo on the left is Ivan Gundulic (1589-1638), distinguished Croatian Renaissance writer from Dubrovnik, bearing the earliest known version of the Cravat. World Cravat Day, established by Academia Cravatica in Zagreb, is celebrated each year on 18th October.
Nenad Bach, Dragica Kragic and Sven Maricic participating at prestigious MTF Stockholm Sep 7-9 2018
The talks stage features an incredible lineup of inspiring people from around the world in conversation – representing all areas of industry, academia, the arts, sciences and public life. Rather than a series of keynotes, speeches, panel sessions or powerpoint presentations, the magazine-style interviews and intimate performances at MTF Stockholm provide a personal insight into the world and the stories of each of these amazing individuals. Three Croatian representatives are invited: Nenad Bach (with his project World Peace In One Hour ), Danica Kragić (a leading expert in robotics) and Sven Maričić (expert in 3D printing).
Anthological events behind fantastic Croatian games at FIFA World Cup in 2018
Croatian presence at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russian Federation has caused unprecedented interest world-wide for various reasons. First of all, due to the quality of players like Madrić, Rakitić, Mandžukić, Lovren etc., their determination in each game to show the maximum, and above all, on the human side. Presence of their wives and children added a special flavor, as well as respect for sportsmen from other countries, since today there are not easy opponents. Probably the most interesting was exceptionally warm reception of Croatian players not only in their homeland, but also wroldwide. On the photo Luka Modrić with his beautiful wife Vanja Bosnić.
Silver medal of diamond glitter for Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup final with golden France
Croatia celebrates on of the greatest successes in its sports history – the second place at the FIFA World Cup Tournament in Moscow. We mention the deserving players: Mandžukić, Rebić, Modrić, Perišić, Rakitić, Brozović, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić, and the deserving coach Dalić. We believe that the Croatian team has shown the most attractive football play during the World Cup tournament. It is no surprise that Luka Modrić (on the photo) has won the prestigious Golden Ball – Balon d’or. Luka Modrić shares his second name with Professor Paul L. Modrich, USA, 2015 Nobel prize winner Chemistry, who has Croatian roots. We also add a lovely story about the most famous photographer at the moment, thanks to the goal od Croatia.
Croatia and France in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Moscow
This is the greatest succes of Croatian football in history, surpassing the third place of Croatian soccer team in 1998 during the FIFA World Cup in France. We recall the names of Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban and Slaven Bilić from 1998, and the names of Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić and Dejan Lovren in 2018. Before arriving to the final match, Croatian won in matches with very strong teams: England, Russian Federation, Denmark, Argentina and Nigeria. Furthermore, we indicate in this article some very interesting historical and cultural contacts between Croatia and France. On the photo Domagoj Vida immediately after the match with England, with his kids and the kids of Ivan Perišić.
Croatia 2 – 1 England media reports from the FIFA Word Cup semifinals in Moscow 2018
EUROSPORT: What an incredible achievement! Croatia are into their first ever World Cup final as a nation. England just couldn’t see the game out. They had chances in the first half, Kane in particular missed a sitter, but you have to admire the way Croatia wrestled back control over the course of the match. “For Croatian football and for Croatia as a country, this is history being written,” Coach Zlatko Dalic said. On the photo Dejan Lovren, one of the pillars of Croatian defense. The team is filled with stars from top to bottom, and the teamwork and determination has set this team apart from the rest. Meanwhile, England will face Belgium on Saturday in the third-place match.
Croatia – England semifinal soccer match at FIFA World Cup 2018 in Moscow
In 2007, Croatia has won 3 – 2 in a soccer match with England in London at Wembley, in a qualification match for European championships. Due to this win, Russia was placed second in the group, just after Croatia, while England was placed the third. As Slaven Bilić, Croatian coach at that time, explained, the Croatian team was at that time simply better than the English team. How strong various soccer teams are today has been shown by Iceland, by winning in a match with England at EURO 2016. On the photo Dr. Kathy Wilkes, Oxford, distinguished English humanist, who spent very turbulent years 1991 and 1992 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. We owe her our eternal gratitude. When she died in 2003, according to her wish she was burried in Croatia.
Croatia 2 (4) – Russian Federation 2 (3) at the FIFA World Cup 2018
Croatia has won in a dramatic soccer match with Russian Federation, which was the host country of the FIFA World Cup Tournament 2018. On the photo Luka Modrić, captain of Croatian team. We indicate several very interesting historical and cultural contacts with Russia. Recall that the Croatian win in a soccer match with England in 2007 enabled Russia to participate at the European Championship in 2008. On that occasion, Russian fans activated a web site called Thank You Croatia! – Spasibo Horvatiya! .
Croatia 1 (3) – 1 (2) Denmark at the FIFA World Cup 2018
Croatia has won in a dramatic soccer match with Denmark to the quarter-finals of the World Coup 2018 tournament. Ejnar Dyggve (1887-1961), distinguished Danish historian and archaeologist (on the photo), is important for his scholarly studies of the history of the southern parts of Croatia, in particular of the region of Split. A well known cartoon movie figure Professor Balthazar is very popular in Scandinavia, including Denmar. We also mention Karin Michaelis, who wrote an article in Danish about Croatian politician and martyr Stjepan Radić, who was assassinated in the Belgrade Parliament in 1928.
Toni Kukoc's Induction Speech to FIBA Hall of Fame
One of the most influential players in European, international and NBA basketball, Toni Kukoc is being honored with induction to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. The 6ft 10in (2.08m) forward left his mark everywhere he played thanks to his exciting style and a leadership quality that resulted in numerous titles at both the club and national team levels. A native of Split, Croatia, he grew up playing at Jugoplastika where he developed his game into one that would inspire generations of players to come. He was a long and lanky point power forward with exceptional court vision and passing skills. He could also run the floor, finish and shoot well from outside.
Croatia 2 – 1 Iceland at the FIFA World Cup 2018
On the photo Zlatko Dalić, coach of Croatian national soccer team, which won in a match with Iceland 2 – 1. Zlatko was born in the city of Livno in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and now lives in Croatia. Iceland was among the first countries which diplomatically recognized Croatia, on 19th December 1991. An interesting connection between Croatia and Iceland is the fact that Ivica Kostelić is married with Elin Arnarsdottir from Iceland. In Croatia’s capital Zagreb there is a street named after Iceland (Islandska ulica), about 700 m of length.
Croatia 3 – 0 Argentina at the FIFA World Cup held in the Russian Federation 2018
After defeating Nigeria 2 – 0, Croatia achieved sensational 3 – 0 result against a very strong Argentinean team, led by Messi, the best contemporary soccer player. Some of the Croatian players are of world-wide fame, like Luka Modrić (captain), Ivan Rakitić (on the photo), Mario Mandžukić, Ivan Perišić, Dejan Lovren, Mateo Kovačić etc., directed by Zlatko Dalić as a coach. The match took place in Nižni Novgorod in the Russian Federation. The greatest Croatian success at previous FIFA World Cup championships was achieved in 1998, when our national team won the third place, with players such as Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, Slaven Bilić etc., under the baton of Ćiro Blažević.
When you want to lift your spirits sky high, come to Croatia!
Visit the city where Marin Čilić found his love! Visit and discover Mario Mandžukić’s Slavonia and its tremendous food and wine. Visit the National Parks approved by Ivan Rakitic. See a concert in Pula’s Arena -– approved by the 2CELLOS. Visit the birth town of Luka Modrić (on the photo). Hit the basket on Dražen Petrović’’s court like Dario Šarić. See one of the most beautiful Croatian buildings in the birth town of Dario Šarić. Visit one of the sunniest coast lines in Euope and find out who is the biggest Croatian musician in Croatia and it’s not Maksim Mrvica.