Australia's Croatian community celebrates first World Cup final

As Croatia beat England to qualify for their first World Cup final, the Croatian community in Australia gathered in large numbers to rejoice over the victory.

Croatian supporters at King Tom Club, Sydney Source: SBS

Croatians are passionate fans when it comes to sport and do not hesitate to show their pride regardless of where in the world they find themselves.

This morning, thousands of Croatians gathered in Croatian sport and social clubs across Australia to cheer for Croatia's team Vatreni - The Blazers.

The fact that the game started at 4am did not stop hundreds of people pouring into Sydney's Croatian Club, King Tom, in Edensor Park to watch the game and hope for the best. The sleep-deprivation on such a cold morning paid off for Australia's Croatian community with Mario Mandzukic scoring 2:1 against England - an opponent many Croats felt were far too confident in the lead-up to the match.

For many Australian residents with Croatian roots, being so far from their homelands during such a historic moment, further fuelled their passionate support for their team. 

Thanks to school holidays, many youngsters also got to attend the World Cup event at the Croatian Club, where they were among the loudest to cheer for Modrić, Rakitić, Subašić and others.

It had been two decades since Croatia had got within this kind of reaching distance from the World Cup. At the 1998 World Cup in France, they had come third.

Young supporters at the King Tom club Source: SBS

Some Australian-Croatians were lucky enough to be in Croatia to witness their team's success.

Sydney writer Frances Farac Vidakovic, currently holidaying in Korcula in Croatia expressed on social media what many are feeling today: “It honestly feels like I’m dreaming right now," she wrote on Facebook.

"To be here in Croatia right now with my family and friends experiencing this excitement, surreal buzz, undeniable hope, pure joy and anticipation - honestly there are no words to describe this amazing out-of-this-world feeling. “

The Croatian checkers can be seen everywhere around Australia this week: flying proudly on building sites in Melbourne; at the Croatian Catholic Centre in Wollongong, and from The Rocks' Charles Bilich Gallery at Sydney Harbour.

Charles Bilich Gallery, Sydney Source: Courtesy of Alenka AtBillich

There is another night of cheering and hoping, as Croatia faces France in the finals in the early hours of Monday.  

And, there is no doubt that Croatian community will be awake and cheering on.