Croatia captain Darijo Srna is an unusually emotional player. No wonder a Bosnian Muslim family with a dramatic history.
It was a sweltering evening in Vienna, the lawn at the Ernst Happel stadium looked like the scene of a horrific traffic accident. Everywhere men were around in blue shirts, some with the face in the grass, some on their knees, all staring blankly into nothingness. Croatia had just completed the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after losing on penalties against Turkey. One player seemed to be very close to defeat. Darijo Srna was sobbing like a little child. The team of doctors tried to calm him, his coach Slaven Bilic was sitting next to him pointed out to him over the head and held his hand. Even referee Roberto Rosetti seemed to make him worry. But Srna was inconsolable. He cried and cried until he had no more tears.
A year later he was crying again, but this time with joy. His club Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup had just gewonnen.Sein father was an orphan adopted in Slovenia and "I am a very emotional person and I guess some things just too much to heart," says Srna. . "I've been through in my lifetime, but ultimately it has helped me to strengthen my character," Croatia coach Slaven Bilic says of his protege to "kicks and slide tackles not stop him. Even if he is lying on the floor and writhes in pain, he gets back up and keeps running as if he was Robocop. "Srna is a fighter. His determination that it is not just on the pitch, but in real life as our own, he owes not least a strong awareness of how precious and fragile life is. His father Uzeir has experienced as a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) incomprehensible suffering. During the Second World War would Uzeir, then a little boy was almost killed when Serb nationalist militias, the Chetniks murdering covered by Bosnia and razed his village to the ground. Uzeir survived, but his pregnant mother and his sister were burned alive. His father was later killed by a ricochet. The orphaned boy was adopted by a Slovenian family and was given a new name, but his brother, Safet it was after a long search, locate, and took him back to Bosnia. Uzeir was goalkeeper and ended up in the Croatian Metković where Darijo came in 1982 with the world.
The life story of his father was always a special motivation for Srna. "My family had to make many sacrifices so that could be a successful football player out of me. I had no other choice but to "create, Srna said. His parents were also keen to make him a good education. Sometimes they had to literally drag him from the football field, however, that he did his homework. When they realized how serious it was him with the professional career, she supported him by force. As a boy, helped his family Darijo, vegetables to sell in the market. He saved enough money to buy his first pair of football boots. "My father was furious and took it away from me to them back to the store" to bring recalls Srna. "But then he came home with the best shoes they had on offer." From his first major content Srna his father bought a Mercedes. Shakhtar played as 2009, the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul, he let fly at his own expense 125 friends and relatives. In Ukraine, he often donates tickets to orphans. "Everything I've achieved, I have," thanks to my family, everyone says er.Nicht wanted him as captain of the Croatian national team captain NationalmannschaftDer has a brother with Down syndrome, to which he devotes each of its gates. His name is Igor, Darijo tattooed on his chest. Even the names of his wife and his daughter Mirela Kassia he has to leave as well as his family name, stand on his body. Nevertheless, a great fighting spirit does not guarantee a successful career as a footballer. Srna had to be everything he has achieved, work hard. As a youngster he played for Hajduk Split, but despite his obvious talent, the club would let him draw near. Hajduk is notorious for such misperceptions - including Zvonimir Boban and Luka Modric were once not for "deemed good enough." Had not been the great AC Milan for the then 16-year-old is interested, would probably also Srna on the right side of the midfield as both can be used also in the back four is not obliged. Hajduk got to know Slaven Bilic Srna, who returned from England in 2000 and his long career did end with a final season in Split before he took over the coaching job at the club. The two have always had a special bond with each other, which certainly played a role, as Bilić decided two years ago to determine Srna captain of the Croatian national team.
Srna went to Donetsk in 2003 and had shared with the team continued to develop, what with multiple championships and eventually winning the European Cup was rewarded. Srna turned down offers from England and Spain, led Shakhtar last year to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Yet not everyone agreed, as Srna after the World Cup qualifiers failed as the new captain of the Croatian national team was. Critics said he was too emotional and not able to keep in the heat of his emotions in check. Others presented again his leadership qualities into question, or felt, if only behind closed doors, his faith as a problem. "The media doubted that I would be the right person for the job, but Slaven gave me confidence," said Srna. Croatia is plagued by more bad than good qualification for Euro 2012. Because of the ongoing recession, it was the mood in country not already ordered for the best. This was not least the team to feel, to endure the harsh criticism of had to. "Sometimes I had the feeling of being on trial for multiple murder," admits Srna. "In the meantime, I've even consulted a psychiatrist to cope with the pressure. I needed this assistance. "
When drawn against Croatia in the playoffs just got to Turkey, the increased expectations in the country indefinitely. The local football fans demanded no less than "retribution" for the defeat of 2008 - and were not disappointed: the Croats won the first leg 3-0 in Turkey, so that the leg was a mere formality. But in no way means that the bitter defeat was made four years ago forgotten. "Oh no," said Bilic, "the game of 2008, we will pursue our lifetime." Now Croatia is again here, with largely the same team as four years ago, but it is also four years older and more experienced. The only player the team of 2008, which still plays at the same club as then, Srna. He feels at home in Ukraine and want to be absolutely still a dream come true with the national team: "Because of our quality, we can" survive the group stage, he says. "But it would be great to go one step further and reach the semi-finals - for then we play in my Ukraine" Given the group opponents Spain, Italy and Ireland, this goal seems almost unattainable. On the other hand, dreams sRNAs are mostly true. Maybe the demons of Vienna at last come to rest.
It was a sweltering evening in Vienna, the lawn at the Ernst Happel stadium looked like the scene of a horrific traffic accident. Everywhere men were around in blue shirts, some with the face in the grass, some on their knees, all staring blankly into nothingness. Croatia had just completed the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 after losing on penalties against Turkey. One player seemed to be very close to defeat. Darijo Srna was sobbing like a little child. The team of doctors tried to calm him, his coach Slaven Bilic was sitting next to him pointed out to him over the head and held his hand. Even referee Roberto Rosetti seemed to make him worry. But Srna was inconsolable. He cried and cried until he had no more tears.
A year later he was crying again, but this time with joy. His club Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup had just gewonnen.Sein father was an orphan adopted in Slovenia and "I am a very emotional person and I guess some things just too much to heart," says Srna. . "I've been through in my lifetime, but ultimately it has helped me to strengthen my character," Croatia coach Slaven Bilic says of his protege to "kicks and slide tackles not stop him. Even if he is lying on the floor and writhes in pain, he gets back up and keeps running as if he was Robocop. "Srna is a fighter. His determination that it is not just on the pitch, but in real life as our own, he owes not least a strong awareness of how precious and fragile life is. His father Uzeir has experienced as a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) incomprehensible suffering. During the Second World War would Uzeir, then a little boy was almost killed when Serb nationalist militias, the Chetniks murdering covered by Bosnia and razed his village to the ground. Uzeir survived, but his pregnant mother and his sister were burned alive. His father was later killed by a ricochet. The orphaned boy was adopted by a Slovenian family and was given a new name, but his brother, Safet it was after a long search, locate, and took him back to Bosnia. Uzeir was goalkeeper and ended up in the Croatian Metković where Darijo came in 1982 with the world.
The life story of his father was always a special motivation for Srna. "My family had to make many sacrifices so that could be a successful football player out of me. I had no other choice but to "create, Srna said. His parents were also keen to make him a good education. Sometimes they had to literally drag him from the football field, however, that he did his homework. When they realized how serious it was him with the professional career, she supported him by force. As a boy, helped his family Darijo, vegetables to sell in the market. He saved enough money to buy his first pair of football boots. "My father was furious and took it away from me to them back to the store" to bring recalls Srna. "But then he came home with the best shoes they had on offer." From his first major content Srna his father bought a Mercedes. Shakhtar played as 2009, the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul, he let fly at his own expense 125 friends and relatives. In Ukraine, he often donates tickets to orphans. "Everything I've achieved, I have," thanks to my family, everyone says er.Nicht wanted him as captain of the Croatian national team captain NationalmannschaftDer has a brother with Down syndrome, to which he devotes each of its gates. His name is Igor, Darijo tattooed on his chest. Even the names of his wife and his daughter Mirela Kassia he has to leave as well as his family name, stand on his body. Nevertheless, a great fighting spirit does not guarantee a successful career as a footballer. Srna had to be everything he has achieved, work hard. As a youngster he played for Hajduk Split, but despite his obvious talent, the club would let him draw near. Hajduk is notorious for such misperceptions - including Zvonimir Boban and Luka Modric were once not for "deemed good enough." Had not been the great AC Milan for the then 16-year-old is interested, would probably also Srna on the right side of the midfield as both can be used also in the back four is not obliged. Hajduk got to know Slaven Bilic Srna, who returned from England in 2000 and his long career did end with a final season in Split before he took over the coaching job at the club. The two have always had a special bond with each other, which certainly played a role, as Bilić decided two years ago to determine Srna captain of the Croatian national team.
Srna went to Donetsk in 2003 and had shared with the team continued to develop, what with multiple championships and eventually winning the European Cup was rewarded. Srna turned down offers from England and Spain, led Shakhtar last year to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Yet not everyone agreed, as Srna after the World Cup qualifiers failed as the new captain of the Croatian national team was. Critics said he was too emotional and not able to keep in the heat of his emotions in check. Others presented again his leadership qualities into question, or felt, if only behind closed doors, his faith as a problem. "The media doubted that I would be the right person for the job, but Slaven gave me confidence," said Srna. Croatia is plagued by more bad than good qualification for Euro 2012. Because of the ongoing recession, it was the mood in country not already ordered for the best. This was not least the team to feel, to endure the harsh criticism of had to. "Sometimes I had the feeling of being on trial for multiple murder," admits Srna. "In the meantime, I've even consulted a psychiatrist to cope with the pressure. I needed this assistance. "
When drawn against Croatia in the playoffs just got to Turkey, the increased expectations in the country indefinitely. The local football fans demanded no less than "retribution" for the defeat of 2008 - and were not disappointed: the Croats won the first leg 3-0 in Turkey, so that the leg was a mere formality. But in no way means that the bitter defeat was made four years ago forgotten. "Oh no," said Bilic, "the game of 2008, we will pursue our lifetime." Now Croatia is again here, with largely the same team as four years ago, but it is also four years older and more experienced. The only player the team of 2008, which still plays at the same club as then, Srna. He feels at home in Ukraine and want to be absolutely still a dream come true with the national team: "Because of our quality, we can" survive the group stage, he says. "But it would be great to go one step further and reach the semi-finals - for then we play in my Ukraine" Given the group opponents Spain, Italy and Ireland, this goal seems almost unattainable. On the other hand, dreams sRNAs are mostly true. Maybe the demons of Vienna at last come to rest.
