Croatia V Serbia

[Bingo]

This evening sees the first game between Croatia and Serbia in the World Cup qualifiers since the Balkans conflict. Its sure to be a toxic affair and huge efforts have been made between the sides to calm tensions before it.

What makes it even more interesting is the history between the two managers, no love lost there but it appears they have recognised the potential for trouble and have extended the olive branch to each other for the sake of getting the game played and move on.

Very good article here about the two of them http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/27-football/777492-a-history-of-hate-cro-vs-srb-22-mar-2013

Much more than about football this one.

The balkan war largely bypassed me, was only out of school at the time, moved to Dublin for college, didn't have/need a TV and was living the good life, the outside world was off little relevance or importance. But from reading of it since, its very hard to fathom the reasoning behind it bar the usual reasons - nationalities, religion, sense of superority etc

Edit to say that the ref appointed is Nani's friend from Old Trafford 

[Wildweasel74]

It be toxic in the crowd more than the field i think. Cant believe they haven't met before now. Some old wounds die hard

[Walter Cronc]

Great article Bingo. Cheers!!

Boban the ex AC player was another madman around those times!!

[J70]

This game is even covered in the NY Times this morning, such is the significance. Apparently Mijailovic's mother is Croatian!

[Bingo]

No away fans tonight or for the return leg. They met in 1999 but Serbia was playing as Yugoslavia at the time.

This game is even covered in the NY Times this morning, such is the significance. Apparently Mijailovic's mother is Croatian!

Yeah, in the article he tells of when his family escaped to Belgrade, her brother who was a general in the Croatian army, rang and asked when they fled as he wanted to kill her husband cause he was serb. Mijailovic later saved the same uncles life when he was captured by Arkan and faced execution.

[Shamrock Shore]

Is this on any of the regular satellite sports as I sure to be suicidal watching Trap's latest attempt to have a laugh at the Irish nation and I may want to switch over after Sweden's third goal.

[ardtole]

Niall Quinn is providing commentary for Sky Sports and is willing to double up as peacemaker if need be.

[rodney trotter]

Should be hostile enough. Croatia should have too much on home turf, Vidic no longer plays with Serbia, retired after the Euro's.

[rodney trotter]

Retired after failing to make the Euro's that should have been.

Mihajlovic the Serbia coach was a genius at free kicks. Remember when Football Italia was shown on Channel 4, when he was with Sampdoria, Lazio

[Milltown Row2]

This evening sees the first game between Croatia and Serbia in the World Cup qualifiers since the Balkans conflict. Its sure to be a toxic affair and huge efforts have been made between the sides to calm tensions before it.

What makes it even more interesting is the history between the two managers, no love lost there but it appears they have recognised the potential for trouble and have extended the olive branch to each other for the sake of getting the game played and move on.

Very good article here about the two of them http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/27-football/777492-a-history-of-hate-cro-vs-srb-22-mar-2013

Much more than about football this one.

The balkan war largely bypassed me, was only out of school at the time, moved to Dublin for college, didn't have/need a TV and was living the good life, the outside world was off little relevance or importance. But from reading of it since, its very hard to fathom the reasoning behind it bar the usual reasons - nationalities, religion, sense of superority etc

Edit to say that the ref appointed is Nani's friend from Old Trafford 

This was genocide on a big scale, Id say the hatred was worse than what the SS had for the Jews. Largely filmed so there is a lot of footage of the war, the break up of the Soviet Union put nearly all those countries into conflict. Love (morbidly) all the stuff on country conflicts, if you think we had it bad here then read up on some of the stuff that went on during this conflict

[magpie seanie]

Is this on TV somewhere?

[joemamas]

Is this on TV somewhere?

Try the history channel

[magpie seanie]

It's the way you tell them....

[FL/MAYO]

Is this on TV somewhere?

Try the history channel

http://88.80.15.211/b00ha/20130321/vv514b25f6e9c63643576450-546747.html

[ziggy90]

This evening sees the first game between Croatia and Serbia in the World Cup qualifiers since the Balkans conflict. Its sure to be a toxic affair and huge efforts have been made between the sides to calm tensions before it.

What makes it even more interesting is the history between the two managers, no love lost there but it appears they have recognised the potential for trouble and have extended the olive branch to each other for the sake of getting the game played and move on.

Very good article here about the two of them http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/27-football/777492-a-history-of-hate-cro-vs-srb-22-mar-2013

Much more than about football this one.

The balkan war largely bypassed me, was only out of school at the time, moved to Dublin for college, didn't have/need a TV and was living the good life, the outside world was off little relevance or importance. But from reading of it since, its very hard to fathom the reasoning behind it bar the usual reasons - nationalities, religion, sense of superority etc

Edit to say that the ref appointed is Nani's friend from Old Trafford 

This was genocide on a big scale, Id say the hatred was worse than what the SS had for the Jews. Largely filmed so there is a lot of footage of the war, the break up of the Soviet Union put nearly all those countries into conflict. Love (morbidly) all the stuff on country conflicts, if you think we had it bad here then read up on some of the stuff that went on during this conflict

Same as, hard to believe this only happened about twenty years ago.