Croatia v United States (1990)
Encyclopedia
On October 17, 1990 Croatia
hosted the United States
in an international friendly in Zagreb
's Maksimir stadium
. This was Croatia's first international match.
took place from April 22 to May 7 of 1990. Subsequently, a riot took place
on May 13, 1990 in Maksimir during a match between the Croatia
n club Dinamo Zagreb
and the Serbia
n club Red Star Belgrade
. Croatian midfielder Zvonimir Boban
was suspended by the Belgrade
-based Football Association of Yugoslavia
for six months, causing him to miss the FIFA World Cup 1990 and the pre-tournament exhibitions. Yugoslavia's World Cup 1990 tuneup in Maksimir on June 3 saw the local Croatian fans booing the Yugoslav anthem and team, and cheering for the opposing Netherlands side which won the match 2-1. On September 26, Hajduk's game against Partizan Belgrade
at Poljud stadium was cancelled after fans stormed the pitch and tore down the Yugoslav flag.
. Croatian businessman Jure Klarić financed the $90,000 needed for the Americans to subsequently travel to Zagreb.
The exhibition took place on October 17, 1990. The match took place at the same time as the final of the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, in which several young Croatian talents played for Yugoslavia (Zvonimir Boban
, Davor Šuker
, Robert Jarni
, Igor Štimac
, Robert Prosinečki
and Alen Bokšić
). The exhibition was permitted by the Croat secretary of the Football Association of Yugoslavia, Ante Pavlović, who suspended the decision of the association's own committees regarding the match.
Despite conflicting with the Yugoslav juniors' match in the European finals, the match drew 30,000 spectators. Croatia won the match 2-1. The match was officiated by a group of Italian officials consisting of Sergio Coppetelli, Dario Boemo, and Giancarlo Dal Forno, with the Croat Atif Lipovac being the fourth official.
The match marked the debut of the Croatian national team's checkered jersey, designed by Miroslav Šutej
who also designed the modern Flag of Croatia
and the banknotes for the Croatian kuna
.
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
hosted the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in an international friendly in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
's Maksimir stadium
Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium is a stadium in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Maksimir. It is primarily the home of Dinamo Zagreb, the top football team in the country. It is also home to Dinamo Zagreb's farm team NK Lokomotiva....
. This was Croatia's first international match.
Background
Croatia's first democratic parliamentary electionsCroatian parliamentary election, 1990
Parliamentary elections were held in Croatia on 22 April 1990, with a second round of voting on 6 May. The first free elections since multi-party politics were introduced, they resulted in a victory for the Croatian Democratic Union, which won 55 of the 80 seats...
took place from April 22 to May 7 of 1990. Subsequently, a riot took place
Dinamo Zagreb-Red Star Belgrade riot
The Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot was a football riot that took place on May 13, 1990 at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, Croatia between the Bad Blue Boys and the Delije...
on May 13, 1990 in Maksimir during a match between the Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n club Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
GNK Dinamo Zagreb, commonly referred to as Dinamo Zagreb , or by their nickname Modri are a Croatian football club based in Zagreb. They play their home matches at Stadion Maksimir. They are the most successful club in Croatian football, having won thirteen Croatian championship titles, ten...
and the Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n club Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
. Croatian midfielder Zvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban is a Croatian former football midfielder who played most of his professional career for Serie A club Milan, with whom he won four Serie A titles and the Champions League. He was a member of the Croatia national team which attained third place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with Boban...
was suspended by the Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
-based Football Association of Yugoslavia
Football Association of Yugoslavia
The Football Association of Yugoslavia was the governing body of football in Yugoslavia, based in Belgrade, with a major administrative branch in Zagreb....
for six months, causing him to miss the FIFA World Cup 1990 and the pre-tournament exhibitions. Yugoslavia's World Cup 1990 tuneup in Maksimir on June 3 saw the local Croatian fans booing the Yugoslav anthem and team, and cheering for the opposing Netherlands side which won the match 2-1. On September 26, Hajduk's game against Partizan Belgrade
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
at Poljud stadium was cancelled after fans stormed the pitch and tore down the Yugoslav flag.
Game
The United States was on a tour of Europe where the team was already scheduled to play PolandPoland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
. Croatian businessman Jure Klarić financed the $90,000 needed for the Americans to subsequently travel to Zagreb.
The exhibition took place on October 17, 1990. The match took place at the same time as the final of the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1990, which spanned two years , had 30 entrants. San Marino competed for the first time. USSR U-21s won the competition....
, in which several young Croatian talents played for Yugoslavia (Zvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban is a Croatian former football midfielder who played most of his professional career for Serie A club Milan, with whom he won four Serie A titles and the Champions League. He was a member of the Croatia national team which attained third place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with Boban...
, Davor Šuker
Davor Šuker
Davor Šuker , is a retired Croatian footballer. He played as a striker for a number of European clubs as well as the Croatian national team, where he is the all-time top goal scorer with 45 goals....
, Robert Jarni
Robert Jarni
Robert Jarni is a retired Croatian footballer who played as left winger or wingback. He is now a manager, but is currently without a club after resigning from his managerial post at Istra 1961 in September 2010....
, Igor Štimac
Igor Štimac
Igor Štimac is a retired Croatian football player. He is now a football agent and a manager...
, Robert Prosinečki
Robert Prosinecki
Robert Prosinečki is a Croatian football manager and former football midfielder. Prosinečki is regarded by many as the player with best technique that ever played in and for Croatia. Former national squad teammate Zvonimir Boban, humbly, also agreed with this. His dribbling is considered...
and Alen Bokšić
Alen Bokšic
Alen Bokšić is a former football attacker from Croatia. He was a renowned forward known for his technique.-Career:Bokšić was born in Makarska and started his career in the club Zmaj from Makarska. As a young player he moved to Hajduk Split and was introduced into the first team . With Hajduk, he...
). The exhibition was permitted by the Croat secretary of the Football Association of Yugoslavia, Ante Pavlović, who suspended the decision of the association's own committees regarding the match.
Despite conflicting with the Yugoslav juniors' match in the European finals, the match drew 30,000 spectators. Croatia won the match 2-1. The match was officiated by a group of Italian officials consisting of Sergio Coppetelli, Dario Boemo, and Giancarlo Dal Forno, with the Croat Atif Lipovac being the fourth official.
The match marked the debut of the Croatian national team's checkered jersey, designed by Miroslav Šutej
Miroslav Šutej
Miroslav Šutej was a Croatian avant-garde painter and graphic artist.Šutej was born in Duga Resa in 1936. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb and was an associate in Krsto Hegedušić's master's workshop...
who also designed the modern Flag of Croatia
Flag of Croatia
The flag of Croatia is one of the state symbols of Croatia. It consists of three equal size, horizontal stripes in colours red, white and blue. The flag combines the colours of the flags of the Kingdom of Croatia , the Kingdom of Slavonia and the Kingdom of Dalmatia...
and the banknotes for the Croatian kuna
Croatian kuna
The kuna is the currency of Croatia since 1994 . It is subdivided into 100 lipa. The kuna is issued by the Croatian National Bank and the coins are minted by the Croatian Monetary Institute....
.
Croatia v United States 1990
Squads
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