In the year 1903 the first two football clubs in Croatia were founded: PNiSK (Prvi nogometni i sportski klub - First Football and Sport Club) and HASK (Hrvatski akademski sportski klub - Croatian Academy Sport Club), both from Zagreb. 3 years later, these 2 teams played the first Croatian football match: HASK - PNiSK 1:1. After this match, many football clubs were founded all around Croatia: Slavija Trsat (1905), Concordia Zagreb (1906), Segesta Sisak (1906), Croatia Zagreb (1907), Hajduk Split (1911), Gradjanski Zagreb (1911) and many other more or less known.
In 1907 a first Croatian National team played 2 matches vs. one of the leading teams of Central Europe - Slavia Prague. In the year 1912 the HNS (Croatian Football Federation) was founded. The first Croatian championship was played in 1912/13 and won by HASK Zagreb.
After World War I, HNS continued local competitions. Then, after Croatia joined the Serbian and Montenegrin Kingdoms to found the Yugoslav Kingdom, the JNS (Yugoslav Football Federation) was founded in Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Its first president was also Croat, the former president of HASK - Hinko Wurth. In 1920 the Yugoslav National team played its first match, vs. Czechoslovakia (0:7). In 1923 the first Yugoslav championship was played and won by Gradjanski Zagreb. Until 1940 the Croatian teams played in the Yugoslav championship.
Gradjanski Zagreb won the title in 1923, 1926, 1928, 1937 and 1940, Hajduk Split in 1927 and 1929, Concordia Zagreb in 1930 and 1932, HASK Zagreb in 1938.
From 1939 to 1941 Croatia was an autonomous part of Yugoslavia, so the Croatian National team played first official matches (Zagreb, 1940: Croatia - Switzerland 4:0)
During World War II, Germany and Italy founded the NDH (Independent State of Croatia). In 1941 HNS joined FIFA and the Croatian national team played games vs. Germany, Italy and their allies. During this period Gradjanski Zagreb had one of the best ever teams (in 1944 they defeated Hungarian champions Nagyvaradi AC by 4:0). During this period Hajduk escaped from Split to the free island Vis resisting the regime. In 1945, when Yugoslav troups liberated Croatia of Germans, all clubs which played in NDH competitions were destroyed together with their large archives, which were completely burned.
After WW2, communist Yugoslavia was founded. The Yugoslav National team played its first games in 1946, and in 1946/47 season the first Yugoslav league competiton was played, won by Partizan Belgrade, with a team consisting of 10 Croatian players, which were forced to play for them. The new club Dinamo Zagreb, founded on ground of former HASK, Gradjanski and Concordia, won the next championship. Until 1991 Dinamo won the title in 1948, 1954 and 1958, and Hajduk in 1950, 1952, 1955, 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1979.
The Yugoslav National team won the 1960 Olympic gold medal, played in the 1962 World Cup semifinals, and 1960 and 1968 Europe Championship finals. The Youth National team won the Youth World Cup in 1987. Dinamo Zagreb won the UEFA Fairs Cup in 1967 and reached the final in 1963.
In 1990, Croatia declared independence and the Croatian National team played its first match on the 17th October 1990 vs USA (2:1). In 1991 Serbs started a war against Croatia and almost all sports activities were abandoned. Nevertheless, in 1992 the Croatian League started, under war conditions. Teams from occupied and shelled towns played in the nearest safe places.
The Croatian National team has been very successful. In its first competition, the European Championship 1996, Croatia were quarter-finalists, and in the 1998 World Cup they won the bronze medal!
The Legends
The greatest players in Croatian history were: Ico Hitrec, Vilim Sipos, Franjo Glaser, Milan Antolkovic, August Lesnik, Franjo Wolfl, Ivan Jazbinsek, Ratko Kacian, Jozo Matosic, Frane Matosic, Zvonimir Cimermancic, Miroslav Brozovic, Mirko Kokotovic, Stjepan Bobek, Zlatko Cajkovski, Zvonimir Monsider, Bernard Vukas, Ivica Horvat, Vladimir Beara, Bruno Belin, Branko Zebec, Zeljko Matus, Drazan Jerkovic, Slaven Zambata, Stjepan Lamza, Rudolf Belin, Josip Skoblar, Jure Jerkovic, Dragan Holcer, Ivica Surjak, Franjo Vladic, Velimir Zajec, Zlatko Kranjcar, Marko Mlinaric, Zlatko Vujovic, Zoran Vujovic, Nenad Gracan, Drazen Ladic, Tonci Gabric, Aljosa Asanovic, Igor Stimac, Slaven Bilic, Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Alen Boksic, Robert Jarni, Mario Stanic, Zvonimir Soldo, Dario Simic, Dado Prso and many other names well known to football experts around the world.
Croatia also had many famous coaches. Here are the names of the most famous: Luka Kaliterna, Zlatko Cajkovski, Branko Zebec, Ivica Horvat, Zeljko Cajkovski, Drazan Jerkovic, Tomislav Ivic, Miroslav Blazevic, Otto Baric, Stanko Poklepovic, Vlatko Markovic, Ivan Djalma Markovic, Mirko Jozic, etc.
1940 1. Zagreb 02.04.1940. Croatia - Switzerland 4:0 Friendly 2. Bern 21.04.1940. Switzerland - Croatia 0:1 Friendly 3. Budapest 02.05.1940. Hungary - Croatia 1:0 Friendly 4. Zagreb 08.12.1940. Croatia - Hungary 1:1 Friendly 1941 5. Wien 15.06.1941. Germany - Croatia 5:1 Friendly 6. Bratislava 08.09.1941. Slovakia - Croatia 1:1 Friendly 7. Zagreb 28.09.1941. Croatia - Slovakia 5:2 Friendly 1942 8. Zagreb 18.01.1942. Croatia - Germany 0:2 Friendly 9. Genova 05.04.1942. Italy - Croatia 4:0 Friendly 10. Zagreb 12.04.1942. Croatia - Bulgaria 6:0 Friendly 11. Bratislava 07.06.1942. Slovakia - Croatia 1:2 Friendly 12. Budapest 14.06.1942. Hungary - Croatia 1:1 Friendly 13. Zagreb 06.09.1942. Croatia - Slovakia 6:1 Friendly 14. Bucurest 11.10.1942. Romania - Croatia 2:2 Friendly 15. Stuttgart 01.11.1942. Germany - Croatia 5:1 Friendly 1943 16. Zurich 04.04.1943. Switzerland - Croatia 1:0 Friendly 17. Zagreb 10.04.1943. Croatia - Slovakia 1:0 Friendly 18. Bratislava 06.06.1943. Slovakia - Croatia 1:3 Friendly 1944 19. Zagreb 09.04.1944. Croatia - Slovakia 7:3 Friendly 1956 20. Zagreb 12.09.1956. Croatia - Indonesia 5:2 Friendly 1990 21. Zagreb 17.10.1990. Croatia - United States of America 2:1 Friendly 22. Rijeka 22.12.1990. Croatia - Romania 2:0 Friendly 1991 23. Murska Sobota 19.06.1991. Slovenia - Croatia 0:1 Friendly 1992 24. Melbourne 05.07.1992. Australia - Croatia 1:0 Friendly 25. Adelaide 08.07.1992. Australia - Croatia 3:1 Friendly 26. Sydney 12.07.1992. Australia - Croatia 0:0 Friendly 27. Zagreb 22.10.1992. Croatia - Mexico 3:0 Friendly 1993 28. Zagreb 25.06.1993. Croatia - Ukraine 3:1 Friendly 1994 29. Valencia 23.03.1994. Spain - Croatia 0:2 Friendly 30. Bratislava 20.04.1994. Slovakia - Croatia 4:1 Friendly 31. Gyor 18.05.1994. Hungary - Croatia 2:2 Friendly 32. Zagreb 04.06.1994. Croatia - Argentina 0:0 Friendly 33. Tel-Aviv 17.08.1994. Israel - Croatia 0:4 Friendly 34. Tallinn 04.09.1994. Estonia - Croatia 0:2 ECh (Q) 35. Zagreb 09.10.1994. Croatia - Lithuania 2:0 ECh (Q) 36. Palermo 16.11.1994. Italy - Croatia 1:2 ECh (Q) 1995 37. Zagreb 25.03.1995. Croatia - Ukraine 4:0 ECh (Q) 38. Vilnius 29.03.1995. Lithuania - Croatia 0:0 ECh (Q) 39. Zagreb 26.04.1995. Croatia - Slovenia 2:0 ECh (Q) 40. Kyjiv 12.06.1995. Ukraine - Croatia 1:0 ECh (Q) 41. Zagreb 03.09.1995. Croatia - Estonia 7:1 ECh (Q) 42. Split 09.10.1995. Croatia - Italy 1:1 ECh (Q) 43. Ljubljana 15.11.1995. Slovenia - Croatia 1:2 ECh (Q) 1996 44. Rijeka 28.02.1996. Croatia - Poland 2:1 Friendly 45. Zagreb 13.03.1996. Croatia - South Korea 3:0 Friendly 46. Varazdin 26.03.1996. Croatia - Israel 2:0 Friendly 47. Osijek 10.04.1996. Croatia - Hungary 4:1 Friendly 48. London 24.04.1996. England - Croatia 0:0 Friendly 49. Dublin 02.06.1996. Ireland - Croatia 2:2 Friendly 50. Nottingham (ENG) 11.06.1996. Turkey - Croatia 0:1 ECh 51. Sheffield (ENG) 16.06.1996. Croatia - Denmark 3:0 ECh 52. Nottingham (ENG) 19.06.1996. Portugal - Croatia 3:0 ECh 53. Manchester (ENG) 23.06.1996. Germany - Croatia 2:1 ECh 54. Bologna (ITA) 08.10.1996. Bosnia-Herzegovina - Croatia 1:4 WCh (Q) 55. Zagreb 10.11.1996. Croatia - Greece 1:1 WCh (Q) 56. Casablanca 11.12.1996. Morroco - Croatia 2:2,6:7(p) Tournament 57. Casablanca (MAR) 12.12.1996. Croatia - Czech Republic 1:1,4:1(p) Tournament 1997 58. Split 29.03.1997. Croatia - Denmark 1:1 WCh (Q) 59. Split 02.04.1997. Croatia - Slovenia 3:3 WCh (Q) 60. Thesalonikki 30.04.1997. Greece - Croatia 0:1 WCh (Q) 61. Tokyo 08.06.1997. Japan - Croatia 4:3 Tournament 62. Sendai (JAP) 12.06.1997. Croatia - Turkey 1:1 Tournament 63. Zagreb 06.09.1997. Croatia - Bosnia-Herzegovina 3:2 WCh (Q) 64. Kobenhavn 10.09.1997. Denmark - Croatia 3:1 WCh (Q) 65. Ljubljana 11.10.1997. Slovenia - Croatia 1:3 WCh (Q) 66. Zagreb 29.10.1997. Croatia - Ukraine 2:0 WCh (Q) 67. Kyjiv 15.11.1997. Ukraine - Croatia 1:1 WCh (Q) 1998 68. Osijek 22.04.1998. Croatia - Poland 4:1 Friendly 69. Pula 27.05.1998. Croatia - Slovakia 1:2 Friendly 70. Rijeka 03.06.1998. Croatia - Iran 2:0 Friendly 71. Zagreb 06.06.1998. Croatia - Australia 7:0 Friendly 72. Lens (FRA) 14.06.1998. Jamaica - Croatia 1:3 WCh 73. Nantes (FRA) 20.06.1998. Japan - Croatia 0:1 WCh 74. Bordeaux (FRA) 26.06.1998. Argentina - Croatia 1:0 WCh 75. Bordeaux (FRA) 30.06.1998. Romania - Croatia 0:1 WCh 76. Lyon (FRA) 04.07.1998. Germany - Croatia 0:3 WCh 77. Saint-Denis 08.07.1998. France - Croatia 2:1 WCh 78. Paris (FRA) 11.07.1998. Netherlands - Croatia 1:2 WCh 79. Dublin 05.09.1998. Ireland - Croatia 2:0 ECh (Q) 80. Valletta 10.10.1998. Malta - Croatia 1:4 ECh (Q) 81. Zagreb 14.10.1998. Croatia - Macedonia 3:2 ECh (Q) 1999 82. Split 10.02.1999. Croatia - Denmark 0:1 Friendly 83. Athina 10.03.1999. Greece - Croatia 3:2 Friendly 84. Zagreb 28.04.1999. Croatia - Italy 0:0 Friendly 85. Sevilla 05.05.1999. Spain - Croatia 3:1 Friendly 86. Skopje 05.06.1999. Macedonia - Croatia 1:1 ECh (Q) 87. Seoul (KOR) 13.06.1999. Croatia - Egipat 2:2 Tournament 88. Seoul (KOR) 16.06.1999. Croatia - Mexico 2:1 Tournament 89. Seoul 19.06.1999. South Korea - Croatia 1:1 Tournament 90. Beograd 18.08.1999. Federal Rep. Yugoslavia - Croatia 0:0 ECh (Q) 91. Zagreb 21.08.1999. Croatia - Malta 2:1 ECh (Q) 92. Zagreb 04.09.1999. Croatia - Ireland 1:0 ECh (Q) 93. Zagreb 09.10.1999. Croatia - Federal Rep. Yugoslavia 2:2 ECh (Q) 94. Saint-Denis 13.11.1999. France - Croatia 3:0 Friendly 2000 95. Split 23.02.2000. Croatia - Spain 0:0 Friendly 96. Zagreb 29.03.2000. Croatia - Germany 1:1 Friendly 97. Wien 26.04.2000. Austria - Croatia 1:2 Friendly 98. Zagreb 28.05.2000. Croatia - France 0:2 Friendly 99. Bratislava 16.08.2000. Slovakia - Croatia 1:1 Friendly 100. Bruxelles 02.09.2000. Belgium - Croatia 0:0 WCh (Q) 101. Zagreb 11.10.2000. Croatia - Scotland 1:1 WCh (Q) 2001 102. Rijeka 28.02.2001. Croatia - Austria 1:0 Friendly 103. Osijek 24.03.2001. Croatia - Latvia 4:1 WCh (Q) 104. Varazdin 25.04.2001. Croatia - Greece 2:2 Friendly 105. Varazdin 02.06.2001. Croatia - San Marino 4:0 WCh (Q) 106. Riga 06.06.2001. Latvia - Croatia 0:1 WCh (Q) 107. Dublin 15.08.2001. Ireland - Croatia 2:2 Friendly 108. Glasgow 01.09.2001. Scotland - Croatia 0:0 WCh (Q) 109. Serravalle 05.09.2001. San Marino - Croatia 0:4 WCh (Q) 110. Zagreb 06.10.2001. Croatia - Belgium 1:0 WCh (Q) 111. Seoul 10.11.2001. South Korea - Croatia 2:0 Friendly 112. Gwangju 13.11.2001. South Korea - Croatia 1:1 Friendly 2002 113. Rijeka 13.02.2002. Croatia - Bulgaria 0:0 Friendly 114. Zagreb 27.03.2002. Croatia - Slovenia 0:0 Friendly 115. Zagreb 17.04.2002. Croatia - Bosnia-Herzegovina 2:0 Friendly 116. Pecs 14.05.2002. Hungary - Croatia 0:2 Friendly 117. Niigata (JAP) 03.06.2002. Croatia - Mexico 0:1 WCh 118. Ibaraki (JAP) 08.06.2002. Italy - Croatia 1:2 WCh 119. Yokohama (JAP) 13.06.2002. Ecuador - Croatia 1:0 WCh 120. Varazdin 21.08.2002. Croatia - Wales 1:1 Friendly 121. Osijek 07.09.2002. Croatia - Estonia 0:0 ECh (Q) 122. Sofija 12.10.2002. Bulgaria - Croatia 2:0 ECh (Q) 123. Timisoara 20.11.2002. Romania - Croatia 0:1 Friendly 2003 124. Sibenik 09.02.2003. Croatia - Macedonia 2:2 Friendly 125. Split 12.02.2003. Croatia - Poland 0:0 Friendly 126. Zagreb 29.03.2003. Croatia - Belgium 4:0 ECh (Q) 127. Varazdin 02.04.2003. Croatia - Andorra 2:0 ECh (Q) 128. Stockholm 30.04.2003. Sweden - Croatia 1:2 Friendly 129. Tallinn 11.06.2003. Estonia - Croatia 0:1 ECh (Q) 130. Ipswich 20.08.2003. England - Croatia 3:1 Friendly 131. Andorra la Vella 06.09.2003. Andorra - Croatia 0:3 ECh (Q) 132. Bruxelles 10.09.2003. Belgium - Croatia 2:1 ECh (Q) 133. Zagreb 11.10.2003. Croatia - Bulgaria 1:0 ECh (Q) 134. Zagreb 15.11.2003. Croatia - Slovenia 1:1 ECh (Q) 135. Ljubljana 19.11.2003. Slovenia - Croatia 0:1 ECh (Q) 2004 136. Split 18.02.2004. Croatia - Germany 1:2 Friendly 137. Zagreb 31.03.2004. Croatia - Turkey 2:2 Friendly 138. Skopje 28.04.2004. Macedonia - Croatia 0:1 Friendly 139. Rijeka 29.05.2004. Croatia - Slovakia 1:0 Friendly 140. Kobenhavn 05.06.2004. Denmark - Croatia 1:2 Friendly 141. Leiria (POR) 13.06.2004. Switzerland - Croatia 0:0 ECh 142. Leiria (POR) 17.06.2004. Croatia - France 2:2 ECh 143. Lisboa (POR) 21.06.2004. Croatia - England 2:4 ECh 144. Varazdin 18.08.2004. Croatia - Israel 1:0 Friendly 145. Zagreb 04.09.2004. Croatia - Hungary 3:0 WCh (Q) 146. Goteborg 08.09.2004. Sweden - Croatia 0:1 WCh (Q) 147. Zagreb 09.10.2004. Croatia - Bulgaria 2:2 WCh (Q) 148. Dublin 16.11.2004. Ireland - Croatia 1:0 Friendly 2005 149. Jerusalem 02.02.2005. Israel Croatia 3:3 Friendly 150. Zagreb 26.03.2005. Croatia Iceland 4:0 WCh (Q) 151. Zagreb 30.03.2005. Croatia Malta 3:0 WCh (Q) 152. Sofia 04.06.2005. Bulgaria Croatia 1:3 WCh (Q) 153. Split 17.08.2005. Croatia Brazil 1:1 Friendly 154. Reykjavik 03.09.2005. Iceland Croatia 1:3 WCh (Q) 155. Valletta 07.09.2005. Malta Croatia 1:1 WCh (Q) 156. Zagreb 08.10.2005. Croatia Sweden 1:0 WCh (Q) 157. Budapest 12.10.2005. Hungary Croatia 0:0 WCh (Q) 158. Coimbra 12.11.2005. Portugal Croatia 2:0 Friendly 2006 159. Hong Kong 29.01.2006. South Korea Croatia 2:0 Friendly 160. Hong Kong 01.02.2006. Hong Kong Croatia 0:4 Friendly 161. Basel 01.03.2006. Croatia Argentina 3:2 Friendly 162. Wien 23.05.2006. Austria Croatia 1:4 Friendly 163. Osijek 28.05.2006. Croatia Iran 2:2 Friendly 164. Wolfsburg 03.06.2006. Poland Croatia 1:0 Friendly 165. Genθve 07.06.2006. Spain Croatia 2:1 Friendly 166. Berlin 13.06.2006. Brazil Croatia 1:0 WCh 167. Nόrnberg 18.06.2006. Croatia Japan 0:0 WCh 168. Stuttgart 22.06.2006. Croatia Australia 2:2 WCh 169. Livorno 16.08.2006. Italy Croatia 0:2 Friendly 170. Moskva 06.09.2006. Russia Croatia 0:0 ECh (Q) 171. Zagreb 07.10.2006. Croatia Andorra 7:0 ECh (Q) 172. Zagreb 11.10.2006. Croatia England 2:0 ECh (Q) 173. Ramat Gan 15.11.2006. Israel Croatia 3:4 ECh (Q) 2007 174. Rijeka 07.02.2007. Croatia Norway 2:1 Friendly 175. Zagreb 24.03.2007. Croatia Macedonia 2:1 ECh (Q) 176. Tallinn 02.06.2007. Estonia Croatia 0:1 ECh (Q) 177. Zagreb 06.06.2007. Croatia Russia 0:0 ECh (Q) 178. Sarajevo 22.08.2007. Bosnia Herzegovina Croatia 3:5 Friendly 179. Zagreb 08.09.2007. Croatia Estonia 2:0 ECh (Q) 180. Andorra La Vella 12.09.2007. Andorra Croatia 0:6 ECh (Q) 181. Zagreb 13.10.2007. Croatia Israel 1:0 ECh (Q) 182. Rijeka 16.10.2007. Croatia Slovakia 3:0 Friendly 183. Skopje 17.11.2007. Macedonia Croatia 2:0 ECh (Q) 184. London 21.11.2007. England Croatia 2:3 ECh (Q) 2008 185. Split 06.02.2008. Croatia Netherlands 0:3 Friendly 186. Glasgow 26.03.2008. Scotland Croatia 1:1 Friendly All-time table: opponents P W D L GF GA Andorra 4 4 0 0 18: 0 Argentina 3 1 1 1 3: 3 Australia 5 1 2 2 10: 6 Austria 3 3 0 0 7: 2 Belgium 4 2 1 1 6: 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 4 4 0 0 14: 6 Brazil 2 0 1 1 1: 2 Bulgaria 6 3 2 1 12: 5 Czech Republic 1 0 1 0 1: 1 Denmark 5 2 1 2 7: 6 Ecuador 1 0 0 1 0: 1 Egypt 1 0 1 0 2: 2 England 5 2 1 2 8: 9 Estonia 6 5 1 0 13: 1 France 4 0 1 3 3: 9 Germany 7 1 1 5 8: 16 Greece 4 1 2 1 6: 6 Hong Kong 1 1 0 0 4: 0 Hungary 8 3 4 1 13: 6 Iceland 2 2 0 0 7: 1 Indonesia 1 1 0 0 5: 2 Iran 2 1 1 0 4: 2 Ireland 5 1 2 2 5: 7 Israel 6 5 1 0 15: 6 Italy 6 3 2 1 7: 7 Jamaica 1 1 0 0 3: 1 Japan 3 1 1 1 4: 4 Korea, South 5 1 2 2 5: 6 Latvia 2 2 0 0 5: 1 Lithuania 2 1 1 0 2: 0 Macedonia 6 3 2 1 9: 8 Malta 4 3 1 0 10: 3 Mexico 3 2 0 1 5: 2 Morocco 1 0 1 0 2: 2 Netherlands 2 1 0 1 2: 4 Norway 1 1 0 0 2: 1 Poland 4 2 1 1 6: 3 Portugal 2 0 0 2 0: 5 Romania 4 3 1 0 6: 2 Russia 2 0 2 0 0: 0 San Marino 2 2 0 0 8: 0 Scotland 3 0 3 0 2: 2 Serbia Montenegro 2 0 2 0 2: 2 Slovakia 12 8 2 2 32: 16 Slovenia 8 5 3 0 13: 6 Spain 4 1 1 2 4: 5 Sweden 3 3 0 0 4: 1 Switzerland 4 1 1 2 4: 2 Turkey 3 1 2 0 4: 3 Ukraine 5 3 1 1 10: 3 United States of America 1 1 0 0 2: 1 Wales 1 0 1 0 1: 1 ------------------------------------------------- total: 186 92 54 40 326:192
Thanks to Roberto Di Maggio for update
Prepared and maintained by Igor Kramarsic and Bojan Puric for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Authors: Igor Kramarsic (kigor@riteh.hr) and Bojan Puric (Bojan.Puric@public.srce.hr)
Last
updated: 16 May 2008
(C) Copyright Igor Kramarsic, Bojan Puric and RSSSF 1997/2008
You
are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the authors. All rights reserved.