Dražen Ladić

Croatian War of Independence narrated trough the experiences of the players of the National Soccer Team who won the third place during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, in France. Their victory delivered joy to a war­torn population and it is the highest achievement of a post­Yugoslavian nation in soccer competitions.

The 1998 World Cup in France was a huge celebration for the home nation. France eventually became world champions for the first time ever after defeating Brazil in the final. Croatia played in its first World Cup tournament and surprisingly took bronze, with the team's star striker Davor Suker becoming the tournament's top scorer.

Croatia’s achievement in coming 3rd at the 1998 World Cup in France was staggering. A nation barely established took on and beat the world’s powerhouse nations, coming within a whisker of lifting the trophy. But, this is much more than just a story about a talented football team, it is the tale of a nation emerging from the wreckage of the Balkan war and the disintegration of Yugoslavia to stand proudly as an independent country on football’s grandest stage.