UEFA Euro 1996.

Croatia did not disappoint at the final tournament. On the contrary, the team created some of the most memorable moments of that European Championship. Croatia triumphed in its debut against Turkey, then sent the defending champions Denmark home, and in the quarter-final came close to beating the future European champions Germany.

The hero of the victory over Turkey was Goran Vlaović, who raced away to score the winner in the 86th minute. And Davor Šuker’s icing on the cake against Denmark (3:0) — that magnificent lob over Peter Schmeichel — still ranks among the most beautiful goals in the history of major tournaments.

After securing a place in the knockout stage, Croatia could afford a defeat to Portugal (0:3) and was fully prepared to create an upset against Germany. The Germans took the lead through a Klinsmann penalty, but shortly after halftime Šuker masterfully beat Köpke to level the score.

A few minutes later Igor Štimac was sent off, and Sammer scored a somewhat questionable winning goal (1:2). Despite the circumstances, Croatia returned home with its head held high.

By then, the football world had become well aware of the names Ladić, Bilić, Jarni, Prosinečki, Boban, Asanović, Šuker, and the rest of Croatia’s stars — and the more perceptive observers may already have sensed what was coming in France.