Croatia
World Cup hopefuls stay focused before showdown
Mar 22, 2013 00:01 EDT
With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe's leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.
Croatia, Serbia meet for the first time since war
Mar 21, 2013 21:59 EDT
Croatia and Serbia's footballers play each other for the first time since independence on Friday, in a highly charged tie given wider significance by political, cultural and historical ties and fresh memories of war.
Croatia coach vows 'spectacle' with Serbia
Mar 21, 2013 15:01 EDT
Croatia coach Igor Stimac on Thursday promised a spectacular World Cup qualifier with former foe Serbia as the visiting team arrived in Zagreb amid tight security.
Croatia coach Stimac vows 'spectacle' with Serbia
Mar 21, 2013 13:11 EDT
Croatia coach Igor Stimac on Thursday promised a spectacular World Cup qualifier with former foe Serbia as the visiting team arrived in Zagreb under tight security measures.
Dinamo v Red Star - the match that heralded war
Mar 20, 2013 13:47 EDT
It was already one of the main Yugoslav league derbies for decades but the now notorious match between Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade on May 13, 1990 became a symbol of the bloody conflict in the Balkans.
Philippines seeks UN protection for peacekeepers
Mar 20, 2013 12:10 EDT
The Philippines has asked the United Nations to provide more protection to its peacekeeping forces, Manila said Wednesday after announcing its troops would remain in the Golan Heights after a recent abduction.
Balkan game fails to live up to the past
Mar 20, 2013 07:28 EDT
Football was a vehicle for national pride in the former Yugoslavia, enjoying support from the political elite and state policies designed to create competitive teams and world-class players.
Trio pull out of Scotland squad
Mar 18, 2013 12:57 EDT
Ross McCormack, James Forrest and Danny Fox have all withdrawn from Scotland's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia, the Scottish Football Association announced on Monday.
Croatia pledges to tackle hooliganism
Mar 18, 2013 11:48 EDT
Croatian officials on Monday pledged to tackle hooliganism with UEFA's help following a recent strong warning of the European football's ruling body over the issue.
Neureuther pips Hirscher to slalom win
Mar 17, 2013 08:08 EDT
Germany's Felix Neureuther won the final World Cup slalom of the season here on Sunday as he pipped Crystal Globe winner Marcel Hirscher into second.
No need for Croatian motivation: Mihajlovic
Mar 16, 2013 09:34 EDT
Serbia coach Sinisa Mihajlovic said his players would need no motivating ahead of the country's World Cup Group A qualifiers against neighbours and rivals Croatia on March 22 in Zagreb, and then Wales four days later at home.
EU puts off rebel arms decision on Syria anniversary
Mar 15, 2013 23:39 EDT
Syria's devastating conflict entered its third year with no agreement among EU leaders on British and French calls for an easing of the bloc's embargo to allow arms supplies to the rebels.
EU puts off rebel arms decision on Syria anniversary
Mar 15, 2013 20:21 EDT
Syria's devastating conflict entered its third year on Friday with no agreement among EU leaders on British and French calls for an easing of the bloc's embargo to allow arms supplies to the rebels.
Dinamo Zagreb chief detained for hate speech
Mar 15, 2013 15:07 EDT
Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb's chief Zdravko Mamic was detained here on Friday after making racial slurs against an ethnic Serb minister, police said.
Syria accuses Jordan of opening borders for jihadists
Mar 15, 2013 10:36 EDT
A Syrian security official on Friday accused Jordan of opening its borders to jihadist fighters and allowing weapons bought by Saudi Arabia in Croatia to be smuggled into the country.
Push to arm rebels on Syria anniversary
Mar 15, 2013 08:45 EDT
Syria's devastating conflict entered its third year on Friday with EU leaders frustrated over the failure of diplomacy to end the bloodshed pressing to arm rebels despite Russian objections.
UN pleads for Syria aid, warns of threat to region
Mar 14, 2013 06:38 EDT
The UN urged governments on Wednesday to unlock the funds it desperately needs to assist one million refugees who have fled Syria's war, which a charity said increasingly features child soldiers.
Philippines to keep its UN forces in Golan Heights
Mar 14, 2013 05:44 EDT
The Philippines said Thursday it would keep its contingent of United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels held 21 of them hostage for three days last week.
UN pleads for Syria aid, warns of threat to region
Mar 13, 2013 16:38 EDT
The UN urged governments on Wednesday to unlock the funds it desperately needs to assist one million refugees who have fled Syria's war, which a charity said increasingly features child soldiers.
Allen named in Wales squad despite injury
Mar 13, 2013 13:01 EDT
Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen was on Wednesday named in the Wales squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Croatia, despite requiring surgery on a shoulder injury.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| Republic of Croatia
Republika Hrvatska
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Anthem: Lijepa naša domovino Our beautiful homeland | ||||||
 Location of Croatia (green)
on the European continent (dark grey) — [Legend] | ||||||
| Capital (and largest city) | Zagreb 45°48′N 16°0′E / 45.8°N 16°E | |||||
| Official languages | Croatian1 | |||||
| Demonym | Croat, Croatian | |||||
| Government | Parliamentary republic | |||||
| - | President | Stjepan Mesić | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Jadranka Kosor | ||||
| - | President of Parliament | Luka Bebić | ||||
| Establishment | ||||||
| - | Principality | 7852 | ||||
| - | Kingdom | 925 | ||||
| - | Union with Hungary | 1102 | ||||
| - | Joined Habsburg Empire | 1 January 1527 | ||||
| - | Independence from Austria–Hungary | 29 October 1918 | ||||
| - | Joined Yugoslavia3 | 29 November 1943 | ||||
| - | Declared independence | 25 June 1991 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 56,594 km2 (126th) 21,851 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 1.09 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 4,489,409[1] (122nd) | ||||
| - | 2001 census | 4,437,460[2] | ||||
| - | Density | 81/km2 (115th) 208/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $82.407 billion[3] (70th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $18,575[3] (48th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $69.357 billion[3] (64th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $15,633[3] (43rd) | ||||
| Gini (2008) | 29 (low) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | 0.871[4] (high) (45th) | |||||
| Currency | Kuna (HRK) | |||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .hr | |||||
| Calling code | 385 | |||||
| 1 | Also Italian in Istria and languages of other national minorities (Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Serbian, etc.) in residential municipalities of the national minorities. | |||||
| 2 | Shortly after the reign of Prince Višeslav, Franks were defeated in 803. | |||||
| 3 | Before co-founding the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia, Croatia co-founded the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on 1 December 1918. | |||||
