Zagreb, October 1999. Croatia vs Serbia, the first meeting since the war. A German TV crew followed both camps through the build up. Just over 27 hours before kick-off, Croatia arrive for their final session: Bokšić, Šuker, Jarni, Boban, plus the Kovač brothers and Soldo from the Bundesliga. A draw is enough for Serbia.Croatia must win.
Then the Serbians arrive. Mihajlović, Mijatović, Stanković, Savićević, a squad still called "the lost generation". Vujadin Boškov faces 400+ journalists, calm and smiling. "Even the most passionate crowd can become a burden for its own team. Besides, a draw is enough for us."
The day before the match, in a stadium corridor, Croatia's Milan Rapaić runs into Boškov, and the two joke and laugh together. The most striking words come from Croatia's assistant coach Ivan Kalinić: during the war they trained in Split, 200 metres from a barracks, hearing the shells land. "I never want to experience anything like that again. Never again."
Match day. 40,000 fans, 5,000 security staff around a half built Maksimir. Every car searched for explosives, every fan frisked down to their undershirts. On the pitch, old teammates meet. Šuker, Mihajlović, Bokšić, handshakes and smiles. Serbian anthem is drowned out by boos.
Final score: 2-2. Croatia's dream ended at the Maksimir, and Serbia got exactly what Boškov had promised: the draw that sent them to Euro 2000.
Football as a mirror of the 1990s Balkans. Rare, period footage.