By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Croatia failed. Again. In yet another big tournament, they couldn’t reach their goals. The country that won four consecutive medals (1992-1995) after it declared independence is once again looking for a way to the podium.
One more link in the big chain of Croatia’s “lost opportunities” was added in Lille, where Perasovic’s players lost to the Czech Republic in the first knockout game. The coach resigned only a few months after taking over the technical leadership, but the problem seems to be bigger than that and the… curse has lasted exactly 20 years.
Since 1996 seven different coaches have come and gone (Petar Skansi, Bosko Bozic, Aleksandar Petrovic, Neven Spahija, Jasmin Repesa, Josip Vrankovic and Velimir Perasovic) with Repesa having had two different terms and being the longest serving of all.
This year’s example
This year’s team looked as though it had no chemistry or cohesion, no passion or a game plan, but it’s a pity for a team that has the talent of Tomic, Bogdanovic, Hezonja, Saric, etc. not to be able to win what they should be able to win based on their value.
It’s telling that – with the bright exception of Krunoslav Simon – no one from Croatia’ first-class players had a higher average of points in the EuroBasket compared to the previous season. It’s as though as soon as they put on the jersey of their national team, all the Croatians become worse players.
Croatia was defeated by Greece in Zagreb in the “final” for the top spot of the group, but also by Georgia in the mediocre game of the final fixture of the group stages. However, despite the win over Slovenia, they didn’t look very convincing that they could make the big leap. In the most crucial game of the tournament, Croatia committed 24 errors against the Czech Republic and only dished 13 assists (when their opponents had 12 errors and 27 assists!) and looked as though they didn’t have a plan, a clear division of roles and a guard leader-facilitator that would be able to provide direction for the team in the most critical moments.
It’s a fact that, for years now, Croatia doesn’t have a quality guard. Hence Draper was naturalized to play or Lafayette (he started preparation this year but he got injured and was replaced) in previous years. He too, though, has to be the naturalized player with the smallest participation compared to all the others playing in the EuroBasket. Draper, who is distinguished for his organizational and defensive qualities, played only 8 minutes per game and was the tenth player on the rotation! Of course, this is not the only problem for Croatia, but the use of Draper clearly shows that a clear head and a clear plan were lacking.
The roller coaster of failures
Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and participated for the first time as an independent country in the Olympic Games of Barcelona, when they won the silver medal. In the next two EuroBaskets (1993 and 1995) and the next Mundobasket (1994) they won the bronze medal with that amazing team of Petrovic (he only participated in the Olympics), Radja, Kukoc, Vrankovic, Perasovic and others.
However, in the last 20 years Croatia counts only “lost opportunities.” Eurohoops.net looks back on the games that were lost but that could have changed the fate of the team.
Mundobasket 2014 (14th)
Croatia-France 64-69
Round of “16”
Eurobasket 2013 (4th)
Croatia-Lithuania 62-77
Semifinal
Spain-Croatia 92-66
Third place game
Eurobasket 2011 (13th)
Croatia eliminated in the first Group phase as fourth behind FYROM, Greece and Finland.
Mundobasket 2010 (14th)
Serbia-Croatia 73-72
Round of “16”
Eurobasket 2009 (6th)
Slovenia-Croatia 67-65
Quarterfinals
Olympic Games 2008 (6th)
Spain-Croatia 72-59
Quarterfinals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek22bcQLFLs
Eurobasket 2007 (6th)
Lithuania-Croatia 74-72
Quarterfinals
Eurobasket 2005 (7th)
Spain-Croatia 101-85
Quarterfinals
Eurobasket 2003 (9th)
Russia-Croatia 81-77
Round of “12”
Eurobasket 2001 (7th)
Turkey-Croatia 87-85
Quarterfinals
Eurobasket 1999 (11th)
Croatia eliminated in the second Group phase fifth with 3-3 wins behind Lithuania, Italy, Turkey and Germany.
Eurobasket 1997 (11th)
Croatia eliminated in the second Group phase fifth with 1-4 wins behind Italy, Yugoslavia, Spain and Poland
Olympic Games 1996 (6th)
Australia-Croatia 73-71
Quarterfinals