Chapter 104: The Zagreb Derby

Whoosh!!!The ball lightly touched the net—it was the sound of a shot. But accompanying the shot was a strange silence across the entire stadium. Everyone stared blankly ahead. In their field of vision, Suker climbed up from the ground, grinning as he raised his right hand. "That's five!!" The stadium remained silent. Besic's eyes nearly popped out. He blinked, scratched his head, then suddenly turned around:"Wait! Why was he even over there?!" Assistant coach Kleiman also remained speechless. He couldn't figure it out either. Moments earlier, the entire penalty area was in chaos. Just as the goalkeeper cleared the ball, it happened to spin toward the right side—and Suker just happened to be there. What was even crazier? This was the third time it had happened. During the training match, Suker had scored a total of five goals. Just as Davor Šuker had said. Once the restrictions were lifted, this guy took Dinamo Zagreb's attacking threat and goal-scoring ability to a whole new level. But the most unbelievable part wasn't just his scoring—it was his positioning! Aside from two normal goals, the other three were scored in such bizarre ways. It was as if the ball was magnetically attracted to Suker, always finding its way to him. It was insane! Everyone on the field began looking at Suker differently. This guy was lucky! But only Davor Šuker had a glint of light in his eyes, and a grin he couldn't suppress. "My hunch was right!" Suker had an exceptionally sharp sense for goal. This allowed him to appear in unexpected places—exactly where the ball would fall. He always managed to find himself in those strange, yet deadly positions where he could finish. In football, there have always been strikers like this—anomalies who, thanks to their unique instincts, became nightmares for defenders. The two most famous examples were Manchester United's "King of the Box," Ruud van Nistelrooy, and AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi. Their most defining traits? Positioning and goal-sense. These allowed them to appear in seemingly random—but lethal—spots on the pitch. During matches and training, Davor Šuker could already see that Suker had these qualities—a sharp instinct for goal. But Suker also had something those two didn't: technical skills. He was agile with the ball and capable of bulldozing defenses. Combining these two skills made Suker a terrifying threat in front of goal. If harnessed properly, this guy could become a nightmare for any defense! "How do you do it?" Duimović asked curiously. Three tap-ins like that—calling it all luck was too far-fetched. Suker shrugged: "Just a feeling." Duimović grinned—he wasn't buying it. But Suker was telling the truth—it was just a feeling. Of course, that "feeling" was built on elite-level game reading, positioning judgment, and countless other instincts. Suker, in his debut training match as the attacking core, had already delivered an outstanding performance. This gave Besic, who had been anxious, a little comfort. In the coming days, they just needed to solidify their tactics and patiently wait for match day. Zagreb derbies were always fiery, full of tension and conflict. Before the match, Lokomotiva Zagreb's head coach Istović stated in a media interview:"Besic's rebuild has failed. We'll prove that. He gave up a lot—and we gained a lot. A team full of young players? Besic is too naive!" Lokomotiva's star striker—and former Dinamo Zagreb player—Karnović also voiced out in an interview:"We will beat Dinamo Zagreb. We'll prove that we are the better team!" Karnović's tone clearly carried some resentment. After all, he was once Besic's trusted veteran. When he left, he still believed Besic would bring him back to Dinamo Zagreb. Because of that, he only signed a one-year contract with Lokomotiva and even rejected a high-paying extension. But afterward, Besic made no move. He continued his rebuild and cleaned house again. Veterans like Karnović were clearly unhappy—and resentful. They were fired up to win this match and show Besic just how foolish his decisions were. Love-turned-hate is a common tale in football. To be fair, Besic may have let the veterans down, but he never promised to bring them back. His goal had always been rebuilding. Truthfully, even the title-winning Dinamo Zagreb team wasn't the squad Besic truly wanted. His ambitions went far beyond that. And for those ambitions, he was willing to take risks. Faced with his old protégé's public criticism, Besic gave no reply. The match would be his answer. Amid this fiery buildup, the 2003/2004 Croatian League entered its fourth round. Zagreb Derby: Lokomotiva Zagreb (home) vs. Dinamo Zagreb Dinamo Zagreb and Lokomotiva Zagreb were based on opposite sides of Zagreb. Dinamo in the Maksimir district. Lokomotiva in the Kranjčević district. These two clubs were sworn city rivals. Historically, Dinamo Zagreb dominated the Croatian league—even back in the Yugoslav era, they were a major force. In contrast, Lokomotiva, despite a long history, spent much of it in the lower divisions. To Dinamo, this "poor neighbor" was an unworthy rival. They didn't even acknowledge the term "Zagreb Derby." But in recent years, Lokomotiva had been bought by a Croatian real estate tycoon, who poured money into the club. Their strength grew steadily. Last season, they even took players from Dinamo and battled Hajduk Split for the title. Although they lost the title by two points, they had proven themselves as rising powerhouses. Karnović, Kacalida, Šimunić, and Butina formed a core lineup that made the entire league wary. After three rounds this season, Lokomotiva and Hajduk were unbeaten with perfect records—first and second in the league. Dinamo Zagreb, with one draw, sat third. This derby was not just a grudge match—it was a clash of titans. The attention and hype were immense. Kranjčević Stadium. Smaller than Dinamo's Maksimir Stadium, but the atmosphere was electric. Given Lokomotiva's strong form and star players, they had attracted a wave of new fans. Blue-and-white striped shirts filled the streets, with fans marching toward the stadium waving scarves and chanting loudly. The stadium could hold 10,000—and it was packed. Lokomotiva gave Dinamo only 1,000 away tickets, but many more fans still showed up. For Dinamo supporters, this match meant everything—they craved revenge! Eastern Gate of the stadium. Amid cheers and chants, Dinamo Zagreb's players arrived and entered the stadium. "So lively!" Suker felt a surge of excitement. From Zagreb's north to its south, they saw waves of Dinamo fans. Clearly, this match meant the world to them. "Show them what you've got!" Davor Šuker smiled, patting Suker on the shoulder. Inside the locker room, the team quickly changed into training kits and began warming up. There were no changes to the starting eleven. During the warm-up, Dinamo players were showered with taunts and insults from the home crowd. Though they'd experienced away games before, the abuse still stung. "Let's destroy them!" Srna fumed. "Let's give them something to remember!" Duimović clenched his fists in anger. Instead of fear, the crowd's insults fueled their fighting spirit. Warm-up done, the players returned to the dressing room. Suker and the rest of the starters donned their yellow away kits. Suker tied his boots, took a deep breath. This match—this stage—was his to seize. Now, he had to perform. Broadcast commentary: "This is the 2003/2004 Croatian First League season—Lokomotiva Zagreb vs. Dinamo Zagreb!" "A fierce city derby! What kind of fireworks will we see today?" "We know Lokomotiva well—players like Karnović, Dehak, Mitrić, and Pirvaloci all used to play for Dinamo. Add to that national team goalkeeper Butina and center-back Šimunić—they're stacked. That's why they're undefeated." "In contrast, Dinamo Zagreb is rebuilding. Coach Besic has formed a young team led by Davor Šuker. Can they avenge last season's defeat?" "Karnović and the other ex-Dinamo veterans—facing their old coach and club—how will they perform? Can they prove they're better?" "Dinamo's youth—Suko, Modrić, Vukojević—have all impressed in the first three rounds. Especially Suko, who's been unstoppable on the flanks. Can he break through today against a mighty Lokomotiva?" Starting Lineups: Lokomotiva Zagreb (4-4-2): GK: Butina Def: Šipetić, Šimunić, Dehak, Mitrić Mid: Ilahint, Kacalida, Pirvaloci, Čot FW: Karnović, Dabrović Dinamo Zagreb (4-2-3-1): GK: Gresteć Def: Pranjić, Jarni, Štimac, Srna Mid: Valjević, Vukojević, Duimović, Modrić, Suker FW: Davor Šuke