FIFA President attends Croatian Football Federation centennial

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter attended the festivities to mark the 100th anniversary of the Croatian Football Federation today in Zagreb. Held in the Croatian National Theatre, the historical and enthralling ceremony was also attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanovic, the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia Vito Tursic, the Minister of Science, Education and Sports Zeljko Jovanovic, the UEFA President and FIFA Vice-President Michel Platini and of course the President of the Croatian Football Federation Davor Suker. “Today is a historic day for Croatian football. I want to congratulate all those who have helped build its history, development and success, and in particular today's Chairman of the Croatian FA, Davor Suker," said President Blatter. "He symbolizes the numerous great football names coming from this country. I want to thank Croatian football for what it has brought to the development of the game internationally and I wish Croatian football the very best for the years to come." We are proud to be from a generation which won a bronze medal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, but now we have to look towards the future. Davor Suker, President of the Croatian Football Federation Chairing the Croatian Football Federation since July 2012, former star striker Davor Suker was capped 68 times with the Croatian national team, for which he scored no less than 45 goals. "We are proud of celebrating 100 years of football in Croatia. We are proud to be from a generation which won a bronze medal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup™ in France, but now we have to look towards the future," Suker said. "Football brings people together. We have a responsibility towards the Game, we have to follow the principles of fair play. Players, officials, fans, all together. We also need facilities with the highest standards." Croatia participated to three FIFA World Cups to date (1998, 2002 and 2006). It recorded its biggest success in 1998 in France with an impressive bronze medal. Croatia are currently second in their qualifying group for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014. Before the Centennial ceremony, the FIFA President was received by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic. The pair enjoyed a very friendly, in-depth and fruitful discussion, mostly about the social dimension of football, its development and its role for education. From FIFA