Pristupio: 12.03.2005.
Poruka: 10.027
Darío Cvitanich, Croatian tango
Published: 19 August 2007
by Diego Sanchez
Dario Cvitanich (16-05-84, Baradero, Argentina) was until very recently
one of so many forwards in the Argentine league, but his career took a
180º turn when he dynamited the Newell’s goal with 3 strikes in 17
minutes. Who is that boy?
At the end of the Second World war, in the former Yugoslavia and under
the regime of Tito, thousands of Croatians opposed to his power
undertook a trip without return – destination Argentina - becoming
political emigrants. Today there are more than 250,000 descendants of
Croatians that live in Pampero country being, after Bosnia-Herzegovina,
the second most welcoming. At the present time, the third generation
exist totally integrated in social and work life, and soccer is no
exception to this phenomenon.
Dario Cvitanich (16-05-84, Baradero, Argentina) was until very recently
one of so many forwards in the Argentine league, but his career took a
180º turn when he dynamited the Newell’s goal with 3 strikes in 17
minutes. Who is that boy? Where did he come from? What is the origin of
his last name? This last question is the one that had the most
consequences. Due to his Croatian great-grandfather, the leaders of the
Balkan federation heard “siren songs” after his hat trick. The same
ones that tried to recruit Daniel Bilos in vain, this time they had the
OK of the football player. The “big shot” of the Croatian Federation,
Zorislav Srebric, made clear that he really likes Darío, “I’m thinking
of speaking with my contacts in Argentina and with the player, it is an
interesting possibility for both sides”. Zorislav knows very well what
he says, Croatia has the custom of picking up soccer players of its
origin all over the world, the many Australians and the case of the
“Swiss” Ivan Rakitic proving the point. Darío already initiated the
proceedings to obtain double nationality, the first step required with
a fixed target, to play with Croatia. “That a national team of the
level of Croatia is paying attention to my origins is all a surprise,
it’s something to be proud of and the prize of work and effort”. He
knows that a call-up by Argentina is a utopia, “Argentina has enormous
players, people of a very high level. In my position there are forwards
of great prestige, clearly I would love to play with the Albiceleste,
but it seems impossible”, although he recognizes that they propose to
him to go with the Balkans, he would not doubt it, “If they call me to
the Croatian national team I wouldn’t think twice about it, I’m going”.
Darío is a perfect mix of the privileged genetics of his origins, the
Argentine art and spark with the Balkan competitiveness and character,
that class of qualities that give him an extra identity as a forward.
To the Croatian leaders he reminds them much of Goran Vlaovic. Darío
isn’t very tall, 1.75m, but he finishes very well with his head, is
very quick with and without the ball at his feet and his constant
mobility, he likes to retreat to the edges and back to midfield to
start play, these are attributes that approximate him still more to the
style of Goran.
It is the globalization of football, that it crosses borders and allows
the children of the children who once left their mother country are
able to recover the lost years of their ancestors, or others who arrive
with hopes can also be contributors to the successes of the country
that welcomes them. And perhaps in 2008, in the EURO of
Austria-Switzerland, the Croatian strike force is formed by Eduardo
Gives Silva and Darío Cvitanich. Samba and tango in the service of
Croatia.
tako je to kad smo napadački orijentirana zemlja u sportskom smislu.
