Defeat fails to deflate Croatians

By Tom Geoghegan
BBC News Online in Chelsea

At the final whistle, the 120 Croatia fans leapt up and celebrated as if they had won the match.

Crammed into the top room in The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea, they launched into what one bystander explained was a favourite national song.

Jubilation greeted the goals

She said: "It roughly means 'Tonight is our party and we're going to drink and dance'."

They had cheered on their team with a fierce intensity that never threatened to change to bitterness when England's 4-2 victory was confirmed.

Underlining this positive attitude, Anita Stulic, 27, said: "Of course we're going to celebrate. I wish Croatia had won but I'm going to party anyway. It was a great game."

Maia Palecek said: "We won in our hearts. We had a great day and that's the most important thing. It's only a game. I don't feel sorry for the players, they get paid more than surgeons who save lives."

No hard feelings - Marina and boyfriend Geoff

She said it was her first Croatian gathering since moving to London 12 years ago and she had loved it.

The room was arranged by the president of the Croatia Students and Young Professionals Network, Marko Krznaric, who asked the pub to show Croatia's Euro 2004 games, as it did in the World Cup.

Arriving at the pub before the match, it looked like a haven for England fans, with St George's flags fluttering and hundreds of England supporters at the bar preparing for the big game.

Upstairs, the red and white colours remained but it was chequered - except for one England shirt.

One Welsh

Geoff Noden, 27, was accompanying his Croatian girlfriend Marina Pusic, 26, and they brought a flag each for their country.

She joked: "I know he won't behave himself so I told him he had to go downstairs."

CROAT TERRACE CHANTS Ma daj, sudac, jesi slijep? (Come on ref, are you blind?) A koji Wayne? (Wayne who?) Ne mozete proci Igora Tudora (You'll never beat Igor Tudor) Sjecate li se Ivanisevica i Henmana? (Remember Ivanisevic and Henman?)

The crowd, which was mostly female, was drawn from Croatian nationals and descendants, plus one Welshman.

The cheers which followed the national anthem were replaced by boos when Posh Spice loomed into view on the big screen.

But minutes into the match, Niko Kovac's goal sent the fans into delirium - as one girl remarked: "I'm in dreamland."

Reality set in before half-time with two England goals, but optimism prevailed.

For some it was too much to bear

Iva Stanishic, 27, said: "Croatia will win 3-2. Goran Ivanisevic won and we have to win too, it's our day. England has the Queen and the pound so you have to give us this."

For Croatians, sport is a source of immense national pride, especially for a nation which declared its independence in 1991.

Tommy Slavich, 33, explained: "It's about national pride for a relatively young country.

"Football has put us on the map more than anything else. It show people we're here and we exist."

We lost, but let's party anyway

The tension remained throughout the second half, when every Croatian save, kick and intervention was greeted with a roar.

And the party showed no sign of flagging at the final whistle. Geoff consoled Marina with a hug and she said she'd cheer on England from now on.

Others climbed on the tables and continued the celebrations.

"Look on the bright side, there's always the tennis," said one.