Croatia is in the grip of ESC fever
Published: Tuesday, May 7th 2024, 14:10
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Croatia is eagerly awaiting the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC): The international betting agencies currently see the country's representative Baby Lasagna as the favorite to win the 68th ESC in Malmö. While Baby Lasagna will compete in the first semi-final on Tuesday with "Rim Tim Tagi Dim", the focus in his home country is already on Saturday's final.
In the capital Zagreb, a public viewing of the ESC final is being organized for the first time in history. "Zagreb is ready for the Eurosong", wrote the city administration on X, formerly Twitter, possibly also alluding to the great expectations in the Adriatic country. The event will take place on Saturday on Europe Square. Such events were previously reserved for important matches of the Croatian national football team.
The atmosphere is also somewhat reminiscent of football fever: Baby Lasagna was presented with a Croatian national team jersey with his name and the number 1 by the national football association HNS. "The number was not chosen at random," emphasized the HNS on Instagram. The euphoria in Croatia is reportedly huge. Even people who don't usually follow the Song Contest want to watch the event this time to cheer on Baby Lasagna.
Song seems to unite Croatia
Unlike last year, when the rock band Let 3 caused controversy in the country, Baby Lasagna's song about leaving one's country in search of a better life seems to unite Croats. The support is demonstrated in a video in which hundreds of people of all ages, including police officers, nurses and firefighters, from five Croatian cities dance to "Rim Tim Tagi Dim".
The anticipation of a possible victory is also triggering speculation in Croatia about the venue for the next ESC. Arena Zagreb, the largest sports and concert hall in the country, is being touted as a hot candidate. According to media reports, the operator has already been asked to keep the date free for 2025. The ESC has already been held in Zagreb once before, in 1990, when the former Yugoslavia hosted the 35th edition. A year earlier, the Croatian group Riva had won for the former common state in Switzerland.
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