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Croatia’s players are refusing to talk to World Cup reporters after saucy photographs were published of them bathing nude in the team’s swimming pool.
Two photographers hid in the nearby bushes and took the pictures which were published by online media and later in newspapers.
Croatia international striker Ivica Olic slammed local media for the ‘shameful’ publishing of the images. “You can write freely that it’s a real shame!” Olic lamented for the Sportske Novosti daily.
“We came here to represent Croatia, give our best, we are preparing ourselves for a difficult match against Cameroon and then such things happen.
“Is it normal? Do people really need to watch us without our underpants, do our families have to blush? Did media representatives come here for football or something else,” stressed the 34-year old, who was not nude in the photos.
On Sunday, Croatian online media published photos of several players jumping and swimming naked in a swimming pool at their Praia do Forte base.
The pictures notably featured international defenders Vedran Corluka and Dejan Lovren – from behind or covering private parts with hands. Star midfielder Luka Modric, however, had his swimming trunks on.
Publishing of the photos sparked outrage from the players, who decided to boycott all media duties, leaving coach Niko Kovac to explain their decision.
“I respect their opinion. What can I do? I cannot pull them by the ears and say: let’s go talk to media,” Kovac said. “I can’t force them to be at your disposal after what you have done to them and their families.
“How would you feel if someone took naked pictures of you? They are adamant that they won’t speak to you lot anymore and I don’t know whether the silence will end tomorrow or last until the end of our World Cup campaign.
“I respect my players’ opinion and I also know that you have done a very professional job so far but you blew it with this one. The whole world has seen the photos.”
On Monday, the photos were published on the front pages of main Croatian dailies. But, despite players’ anger, in a vivid discussion over the affair on social networks at home many, namely women, commented that they had nothing to be ashamed of as they looked ‘great in the photos.’
Croatia lost their opening World Cup match 3-1 to hosts Brazil in Sao Paulo on Thursday. Today they face Cameroon and the remaining match in their Group A against Mexico is scheduled for June 23.
