Zagreb recovers the last occupied territory

After the negotiated two-year process, the region of Eastern Slavonia and the Town of Vukovar on the banks of the Danube are peacefully reintegrated under Croatian sovereignty. The last territory under the UN administration is thus restored to Croatia which finally, seven years after its declaration of independence, regained its full territorial integrity. UNTAES thus became the first UN mission with a successful outcome within the set time limits. Although many Serbs decided to stay, others chose to settle in Serbia even before Croatian jurisdiction was restored to the area.

1998

8 July

Photo: FIFA / Getty Images

Croatia third in FIFA World Cup in France

Davor Šuker, Golden Boot of the tournament who scored six goals, here facing Fabien Barthez and Bixente Lizarazu, during the semi-finals of the World Cup which Croatia lost 2:1 to France. In their first-ever time in the FIFA World Cup, Croatia reached the semi-finals, after beating Germany 3:0. For the players in the checkerboard shirts, it was an epic achievement when they reached 3rd place, behind France and Brazil, and ahead of the Netherlands whom they beat 2:1 in the 3rd/4th Play Offs. Apart from Davor Šuker, in this "golden generation" under the guidance of Miroslav Blažević, there were many other gifted players, such as the captain Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinečki, Aljoša Asanović, Slaven Bilić, Igor Štimac, Robert Jarni, Goran Vlaović and Mario Stanić.