|
|
| |
| ||
| ||
|
|
 Emotional roller coaster Croatia revels in soccer shocker, hurts after tennis loss
Posted: Sunday July 05, 1998 04:50 PM
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) -- Croatia fell just short Sunday of pulling off its second sporting miracle in 24 hours. On the heels of its shocking 3-0 upset Saturday of Germany to reach soccer's World Cup semifinals, Goran Ivanisevic lost a tense, five-set match to Pete Sampras in Sunday's Wimbledon final. "God could not give us both victories," said Livio Baric, a construction worker. "We made a history last night, Goran can do it next time." But his friend Ljubo disagreed: "Goran deserved to win Wimbledon. We deserved the victory last night, too." "So small, but so good," he said of this country of 4.5 million people. A few disappointed cries filled the capital streets Sunday as Ivanisevic lost in his third try at winning Wimbledon, falling to five-time champion Sampras 6-7 (7-2), 7-6 (11-9), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Otherwise, Croatia was sleepy and quiet as most people took a rest after all-night celebrations following the soccer team's shocker over Germany. Most of the country went to bed at dawn and woke up to a rainy afternoon to watch live TV coverage of Ivanisevic's match. The streets of Zagreb were deserted during the match, unusual for Sunday afternoons when residents like to stroll around and meet for after-lunch coffees. Television commentator, Mico Dusanovic, uttered a long unhappy sigh when the fifth game finished. "This was a great match," he said. "But it will take time for all of us to get over it."
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
