Not only the larger centres of Zagreb and Split are guaranteed to be immersed in total shutdown mode.
Villages such as Otok and Samatovci, the hometowns of Ante Milanovic-Litre’s parents, will be hanging on every free kick, each counter-attack.
“Back in Croatia,” says the Calgary Stampeders’ 23-year-old running back, “you might as well declare Sunday a national holiday.”
A happy roll of the eyes.
“And if they win …”
Champions of the world.
Milanovic-Litre’s father Petar arrived in Canada in 1988 out of a torn homeland at age 28, bringing an inherent love of the world game of football along in his luggage.
While growing up, the entire family caught the bug while heading back to Croatia the for vacation every four years or so to visit the of family of his dad and mom Mandy.
“My dad, he was always such a huge supporter. He just loves soccer,’’ says the second-year Stamp, a Simon Fraser alumnus. “When we were in elementary school he’d pull me, my brother and sister out of class to go and watch the games.
“It’s part of our pulse.
“A lot of people come around and joke about it now, you know, me being Croatian and them in the final, but I can’t explain to them just how important this is to us.
“It’s so much more than a game. So much more than soccer.
“Some of my fondest memories are being with my dad, watching the Croatian national team. We’d watch and my dad would point at the TV and say: ‘That guy, he’s only an hour away from our village.’ Such a small network. People draw these crazy connections to the players. And that only adds to it.”
Running back Ante Milanovic-Litre wears Croatian-themed wristbands against Ottawa on July 12, 2018.
Croatia’s amazing run to this World Cup Final against powerhouse France, has been punctuated by extra-time tension and the excruciating drama of spot-kicks.
Only 90 minutes, or 120, or 120 and penalties at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium remain.
Win or lose, though, the names of Modric, Rakitic, Mandzukic, Vida, Strinic, Perisic, Lovren and the rest have already etched their names in the country’s folklore.
“When I was at the Croatian Centre in Vancouver during the bye week, watching the Russia game,’’ says Milanovic-Litre in amazement, “there were grown men crying.
“In tears, they were so happy.
“I mean, the emotion … You could see how much this means to them.
“For a nation of four million people, being small as it is, only 20 years old, to have gone through so much, this is so much more than a game. This is an inspiration for life. It gives everyone something to be so proud of.
“Look at the U.S. Didn’t even qualify. Three hundred and sixty million people. Croatia, four million. The whole of Croatia is smaller than most major U.S. cities.
“But Croatia’s there. In the final. That’s unbelievable.”
Those family soccer ties do run deep. Once, star defender Dario Šimić visited the Milanovic-Litre home and stayed for dinner.
“At the time, he was the most capped player for Croatia,’’ the bruising back reports. “He sat in our house. That was mind-blowing! To have a Croatian national hero in our house?
“We had half the neighbourhood come over.”
Given an extra day, Final Sunday, free from practice by coach Dave Dickenson, Milanovic-Litre is readying to be put through an emotional wringers during the big match. He may well head up to Edmonton to be with family, even if plans aren’t finalized yet.
“But wherever I do go to watch,’’ he says, needlessly, “I’ll be surrounded by checkered jerseys.
“You can be sure of that.”