If the national team from Croatia goes on to win the World Cup, the former Miss Croatia has promised to fulfill a massive promise she made to the country.
After beating Brazil in a penalty shootout, Croatia advanced to their third World Cup semi final and second in a row.
They’ve made it to the last four three times, in just seven World Cups, and out of those they didn’t qualify for one, which is an unbelievable record.
More than 90 minutes had been played in every game leading up to the final four years ago, and again in this tournament, proving that they are now masters of extra time and penalties.
Off the field, one of their fans has been stealing the spotlight in Qatar while their players have been making waves and breaking World Cup records.
Ivana Knoll, a former Miss Croatia, has made news on multiple occasions, largely because of the stunning outfits she wore at those events, which were designed to reflect the colors of the Croatian flag.
The men of the Middle East are so offended by Knoll’s clothing that they have been taking pictures to illustrate their disapproval, and she has been accused of being “disrespectful” to the host nation.
Zlatko Dalic’s men have an extra reason to win now that the guys in her own country are interested in what she plans to wear in the near future.
German reporters asked Knoll, who was dressed as a Croatian flag, what she would do if her team won the World Cup. She responded, “If that happens, the flag falls…” and said she would strip down in celebration.
The 30-year-fashion old’s choices have defied norms in the Arab country, where both men and women are expected to cover their bodies in public.
She has said before that she didn’t know the rules because, “At first, I assumed that because it was hosting the World Cup, nothing would be off-limits to the spectators.
“The rules came as a complete surprise to me. To violate the dress code, one must not expose any skin below the waist, including the shoulders, knees, and neck.
My immediate thought was, “OMG, I don’t even have clothes covering that all.”
The Croatian team is playing Argentina in the semifinals on Tuesday, so she will likely be there for at least two more games, including the chance at a third-place playoff if Croatia loses.
Even after defeating tournament favorites Brazil, the victorious team showed dignity, as evidenced by Ivan Perisic’s kid running to console Neymar.
After Real Madrid replacement Rodrygo missed a penalty, 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric was quick to console him, saying, “I was his age when I missed a key penalty in the 2008 Euro.”
We should applaud his bravery and resolve for choosing to be the one to suffer the first penalty, as it will only serve to fortify his resolve.
