Croatian football team welcomed in Zagreb after World Cup elimination

The Croatian national football squad returned to Zagreb on Friday afternoon after exiting the World Cup with a 2‑1 loss to Portugal in the round of 16. Their plane landed at the city airport just before 15:00, and a large crowd of supporters gathered to greet them with chants, singing patriotic songs such as “Lijepa li si” and “If You Don’t Know What Happened”.

Fans rushed the terminal, prompting police to intervene and manage the flow so the players could pass safely. Several members of the team, including Petar Sučić, Martin Baturina, Dominik Livaković, Luka Sučić, Ivor Pandur, Igor Matanović, Luka Vušković, Mario Pašalić, Ante Budimir and others, emerged to sign autographs and pose for photos. Coach Zlatko Dalić also addressed the media, accepting responsibility for the defeat and urging dignity in loss. Not all players returned to Zagreb; captain Luka Modrić and a few others headed straight to holiday destinations.

The reception highlighted the strong fan support for the “Vatreni” despite the early exit, with applause, songs, and a festive atmosphere at the airport.