DPA/Zagreb


The turtle may have tipped Brazil to win but many Croats do not believe that their team will lose the World Cup opening game against the hosts today.
Named Cabecao (Big Head), the turtle is the “official” World Cup psychic, Brazil’s answer to the German octopus Paul, who correctly predicted several winners at the 2010 World Cup.  
“I believe in God and Croatia, not some turtle,” one reader commented on a Vecernji List report on the prediction.
“They placed a nice fresh fish on the Brazil’s side and a rotten one on Croatia’s. Go Fiery!” another comment said, while some suggested it was time for turtle-fin soup.
Remarks by Brazil’s football legend Pele, who warned compatriots against relaxing and said that Croatia is to be respected, were far more welcome and appreciated. “These Brazilians will pay for their haughtiness,” a fan said.
“They only talk about the final, but already in the opener we’ll show them where they belong.”
But when not speaking under the anonymity of web portals, the fans appear a bit more reserved.
“Let’s be honest, anything but Brazil’s triumph will be a major sensation,” Damir Spanic from Zagreb said.  
Pranks, fan and expert talk aside, the nation has been trembling in anticipation of the World Cup for days.  
Though a young country which split from former Yugoslavia in a war 23 years ago, it is a regular at the World Cup and was a stunning third in France 1998.
As always, the expectations are high. And more than ever since 16 years ago, they are realistic to the actual strength of the squad led by Real Madrid star Luka Modric.