Croatia fans were on the edge of their seats on Tuesday, Dec. 13 as they packed the halls of the Croatian American Club in San Pedro to watch the big screens and hold their breath. They hoped for victory as Croatia played Argentina in the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup – trying to make it to their second consecutive World Cup final.
Hundreds of Croatians were decked out in the team’s red-and-white checkered jerseys, scarves, hats and face paint.
A large Croatian population is based in San Pedro, a seaside hub through which many families arrived in this country a generation or two ago. The fans saw their team fight to the very last, but despite best efforts the game ended with a loss, Argentina beating Croatia 3-0.
The Croatian team has made it this far before. During the 2018 tournament in Russia, the team made it to the finals before losing to France.
On Tuesday, fans at the Croatian American Club’s watch party still danced and celebrated. They clapped and cheered on the team despite the loss.
The patriotic revelers watched their national team win against soccer superpower Brazil in the quarterfinals on Friday, Dec. 9. Croatia’s team was considered something of an underdog, but they won 4-2.
Throwing up their hands in disappointment and yelling at the television, fans weren’t too thrilled when Argentina scored two goals before halftime on Dec. 13 – one by soccer legend Lionel Messi.
Some were still optimistic about how the team would play. Adriana Bacelic, 35, who grew up watching games at the Croatian American Club, was there to give her sons the same thrilling experience she loved as a child.
She believed that her team would come back stronger after halftime. “We always come back and Croatia never needs to win anything because they always win our hearts,” Bacelic said. “The best part of all of this is seeing how the Croatian team plays with sportsmanship.”
Nick Susnjar was wearing his red-and-white checkered hat and had high spirits for the Croatian team.
“We’re going to fight until the end, I think we still have a really good shot of coming back,” he said. “There’s power in unity and I just feel like when we’re together we give our team more strength.”
Fans hoped for the best, but after Julian Alvarez scored another goal for Argentina, morale started to run low among Croatians.
In the end, the Croatian American Club didn’t see another win. Now Argentina will face either France or Morocco in the final.
Once the game ended, the halls of the club were nevertheless filled with applause, cheers and singing. Croatians were proud of what their teams had accomplished. Some fans remained seated, taking in the emotional moment.
Branko Grenanda said he felt a little numb about the loss but that the Croatian team fought as they always do.
“Disappointed for the loss but not disappointed for the achievement that they have made,” he said. He cited their energy level, saying, “going to so many overtimes and penalty kicks, we just ran out of the emotion, a little bit of the physical ability, I felt this game.”
Like many, Grenanda has been to all of the watch parties at the Croatian American Club since the team appeared in the tournament.
“The energy is always amazing here,” he said, “and again we should all be very proud of what (Croatia) has been able to achieve in the last World Cups. We will wait for next year.”
President of the Croatian American Club, Frame Jerkovic, was heartbroken about the loss but was happy with the turnout at the watch party.
“For a small country we’re doing great and we’re proud of our country, and the players are an inspiration to the country and the whole immigrant community,” Jerkovic said. “Saddened but proud they made it this far.”
The Croatian American Club, 631 W. Ninth St., will have a watch party on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 a.m. to cheer on the team as they play in the third place playoff.