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Croatia celebrates first Euro victory

CROATIANS took to the streets late yesterday to celebrate their squad defeating Ireland 3-1 in their first game at Euro 2012.

More than 1,000 people gathered at the capital Zagreb's main square to watch the match on a giant screen broadcast live from Poznan, Poland.

"Victory is ours!" shouted the fans, many dressed in the national squad's football shirts or wearing hats in Croatia's red and white check.

"(Mario) Mandzukic, Mandzukic!" and "(Nikica) Jelavic, Jelavic!" they chanted, reciting the names of the Croatia goalscorers against the Irish.

"It was an excellent match, a key one for us. The quarter-finals is now almost certain," enthused Marko Dasic, 25, wrapped up in a Croatian flag told AFP.

"We played above all expectations. Italy will be the next 'victim'," said 33-year-old Robert Horvat.

Vecernji List, the biggest-circulation daily, described the victory over Ireland as "crushing".

"The Azzurri (Italy) are the next!" read a headline of the paper's online edition.

After the match many fans stayed in the main Ban Josip Jelacic square to dance and sing popular pop songs

"I'm so glad. It's nice to have some good new in these difficult times of crisis," said 22-year old student Anja Borkovic, who watched the game in a cafe which, like many others in Croatia, provided large screens for their guests to enjoy the Euro 2012 matches.

Croatia, quarter-finalists in 2008, still have plenty to do if they are to progress in the tournament.

They will next play Italy, also in Poznan in four days, before taking on defending champions Spain on June 18 in Gdansk.

Slaven Bilic's squad has been badly hit by injuries with defender Dejan Lovren, midfielder Ivo Ilicevic and veteran striker Ivica Olic all forced to miss the championships.--AFP

 

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