Croatian Fans to Get Counseling for Shock Euro 2008 Exit

One Croatian newspaper has decided that citizens are so depressed by the team’s dramatic quarterfinal exit, they need counseling.

After ninety goalless minutes of the quarterfinal against Turkey and with extra time coming to an end, Ivan Klasnic broke the deadlock in the 119th minute. Looked like a fairytale result for the Fiery Ones, especially with Ivan Klasnic scoring the winner (the Werder Bremen striker only made his post-kidney transplant comeback last November).

But Croatia were playing Turkey, and Turkey don’t quit. In the 122nd minute Semih Şentürk equalized with the last kick of extra time. The Croatian players seemed too dazed by this turn of events to take a decent penalty, so Croatia crashed out while Turkey (injuries, suspensions and all) went through to the semis.

That’s enough to get anyone down.

So newspaper Jutarnji List have called in psychiatrist Mirela Vlastelica to help Croatians deal with the shock and depression of losing a quarterfinal they must have thought was won.

Here’s Mirela Vlastelica’s advice to the nation:

“The country must look to the future,” advised Vlastelica.

“The supporters must think of September when the 2010 World Cup qualifiers begin.

“From now till then it is vital that you don’t disrupt your daily routine, do not stop working and above all do not take tranquilizers.”

Whoa… who said anything about tranquilizers? Are Croatians taking it that hard?

Bit extreme maybe. But the advice about September is spot on.

Croatia may have lost their quarterfinal in dramatic fashion, but after some of the quality football they played, the Euro 2008 displays of Luka Modric, Danijel Pranjic, Ivica Olić and others, and the goalscoring Brazilian-Croatian machine that is Eduardo to come back, there’s plenty to be optimistic about for Croatia fans.

Definitely no need for those tranquilizers.

[note: Do you want to write our Croatia blog? Mario's done excellent work throughout Euro 2008, but has decided to relinquish blogging duties. See here for more details.]