The Photojournalist ‘Knocked Down’ by the Fiery Ones is Coming to Croatia

The director of HTZ, Kristjan Staničić, personally contacted Yuri Cortez, a photojournalist from Agence France-Presse, who accepted the invitation with great enthusiasm and excitement as he stated that he has never been to Croatia.

“An invitation of this kind cannot be refused. It will be an honor for me to come to Croatia. After the match with the English and the celebration with the Croatian players, I feel a connection to your country for which I fervently cheered in the final,” Cortez said in a phone conversation. In his professional career, besides sports competitions, he has photographed natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and has captured scenes from war zones around the world.

Cortez gained a piece of global fame and attention by finding himself amidst the celebration of Croatian footballers after Mario Mandžukić’s magnificent goal and Croatia’s advancement to the final of the World Cup in Russia. Cortez has been invited to visit Croatia with his family, and he will do so at the end of August or in the first week of September this year. The 53-year-old Cortez is the head of the Mexican bureau of AFP, the third-largest news agency in the world, and the only things he needs to bring to Croatia are good spirits and his camera, as we are sure that this friendly and cheerful Salvadoran will not resist the numerous Croatian natural, cultural, and historical motifs and beauties.

Never. Give. Up. pic.twitter.com/Hqs2iE67KY

— Michael Regan (@MichaelRegan) July 11, 2018.

“Almost every major international competition is marked by some interesting anecdote, and what marked this World Cup was the celebration of Croatian footballers, amidst which Yuri happened to be, capturing everything with his camera and making the most original, spontaneous, and I am sure the most charming photographs of the tournament. The images of the celebration have traveled the world, which, on this occasion, besides the fiery celebration, saw the kindness and thoughtfulness of our players. Croatia is a beautiful country with warm and kind hosts, and we are happy that Yuri accepted our invitation and will have the opportunity to see this for himself,” emphasized Kristjan Staničić, director of the Croatian Tourist Board.

“Yuri’s seven-day stay and vacation in Croatia will begin in Zagreb, and after that, we will show him the best of Croatia, our coast, islands, as well as the Croatian continental offer. We will make an effort to prepare a memorable vacation for him,” Staničić added.