<p>Croatian football fans have had plenty to celebrate in recent years. </p>
<p>The European nation reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final and progressed to the semifinals four-and-a-half years later in Qatar.</p>
<p>Croatia has been blessed with some of the world's best players and also boasts some of the most die-hard supporters around. </p>
<p>Aside from donning their country's iconic red and white colours, fans have also been wearing water polo caps in recent years — including at Euro 2024, where they opened their tournament with a mouth-watering clash against Spain in Berlin.</p>
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<h2>Why do Croatia fans wear water polo caps?</h2>
<p>The main reason for the unusual piece of supporter headwear dates back to Euro 2016.</p>
<p>Croatia defender Vedran Corluka copped a nasty head wound in the team's opening match against Turkey that wouldn't stop bleeding despite a plethora of bandages.</p>
<p>In Croatia's next game against the Czech Republic, their physiotherapist Nderim Redzaj suggested Corluka wear a water polo cap to prevent further bleeding. The cap in question was on hand thanks to team doctor Boris Nemec, who was gifted it by water polo Olympic gold medalist Paulo Obradovic.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">💪 <a href="https://t.co/YVB0v9WlYl">pic.twitter.com/YVB0v9WlYl</a></p>
— Paulo Obradovic (@pauloobradovic) <a href="https://twitter.com/pauloobradovic/status/516564233975529473?ref_src=tw… 29, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<p>The solution worked well with Corluka able to play the full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw and ever since fans have embraced the attire in full force.</p>
<p>"The water polo cap is a symbol for strength and also determination to never give up," Croatia fan Tomislav Rozic told <a href="https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/2018russia/news/honourin…; target="_blank">FIFA</a> in 2018. </p>
<p>Rozic was one of many fans who wore the cap in Russia four years ago and his headwear can now be found in the FIFA World Football Museum. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The evolution of Vedran Corluka’s headwear at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO2016?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">…; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CRO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CRO<…; <a href="https://t.co/beJcNXDVvM">pic.twitter.com/beJcNXDVvM</a></p>
— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/brfootball/status/743861080531755008?ref_src=twsrc%… 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Croatia's water polo history</h2>
<p>Water polo itself is also quite popular in Croatia with the nation boasting an impressive history of success in the sport. </p>
<p>The men's national team won gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, claimed silver four years later. The were crowned European champions in 2022 but lost their title earlier this year — perhaps ominously — against Spain.</p>
<p>Croatians are proud of their record in water polo and this gives their football fans just one more reason to embrace the caps when watching the action in Germany.</p>