Croatia‘s performance in this year’s World Cup is worthy of praise (the European nation reached the 2018 World Cup final), and Croatian fans have a lot to celebrate. Aside from donning their country’s iconic red and white colors, fans have also been wearing water polo caps in recent years.
@UniWatch @PhilHecken this Croatia fan is wearing a water polo cap at the World Cup! pic.twitter.com/CnfzJ6QNaU
— Griffin Smith (@BurnerGSmith) December 1, 2022
The main reason Croatian fans wear water polo caps dates back to Euro 2016. On that occasion, Croatian defender Vedran Corluka suffered a serious head injury in the team’s opening game against Turkey. Although there were many bandages wrapped around the head, the bleeding could not be stopped. Their physiotherapist Nderim Redzaj then advised Corluka to wear a water polo cap to prevent further bleeding.
Corluka was therefore able to play the full 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw.
Those intrigued by #Croatia 🇭🇷 fans in the crowd v #Japan wearing water polo 🤽♂️ caps – I took some poolside pics 📸 of their team winning 🥇 gold @London2012 Olympics and they were unrelenting, outstanding, instant icons. 🌊 #CROJAP #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/HDQTeUuYUH
— helenjerome (@helenjerome) December 5, 2022
“The water polo cap is a symbol for strength and also determination to never give up,” Croatia fan Tomislav Rozic told FIFA in 2018.
The evolution of Vedran Corluka’s headwear at #EURO2016 #CRO pic.twitter.com/beJcNXDVvM
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 17, 2016