Holiday snaps! Piled-on AFP World Cup photographer gets Croatia invite

AFP photographer Yuri Cortez, who unwittingly became part of the celebrations of Croatia in their World Cup semi-final match against England, gestures during an interview with AFP in Mexico City on July 12, 2018.
When Croatia scored the goal against England that took them into the World Cup final on Wednesday, AFP photographer Cortez unwittingly became part of the celebrations as he was buried under a pile of joyous players. / AFP PHOTO / BERNARDO MONTOYA

Yuri Cortez, the AFP photographer who became a World Cup sensation after he kept shooting pictures despite being piled-on by Croatia players, has been invited to the European country for a week’s holiday.

“Only make sure to bring your goodwill and camera and please indicate when you would like to visit Croatia,” said the Croatia tourism office.

“Very happy,” replied Mexico-based Cortez when contacted by Croatia’s tourist boss Kristjan Stanicic.

“We talked for a few minutes. He said he wanted to invite me to discover the country, its beauty, its food…and just tell them where I wanted to go.”

https://twitter.com/YuriYurisky/status/1017318208989204481

Stanicic said: “After Zagreb, we are going to show Yuri everything that is best in Croatia, our coasts, our islands and continental Croatia.”

Cortez unwittingly became part of Croatia’s celebrations when Mario Mandzukic scored in extra-time to give them a 2-1 win against England in the World Cup semi-final.

The striker ran to a corner of the pitch at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium to share his joy with his teammates.

“I was just changing my lens as the players ran towards me,” said Cortez, who was positioned next to the pitchside advertising boards.

“They just kept coming towards me and they fell on me! It was a crazy moment, they were delighted. Then they suddenly realized that I was underneath them.

Quick as a flash, he picked up his camera and took some remarkable close-up shots of the Croats’ joy.

“Then they asked me if I was OK. Another one picked up my lens and another player (Domagoj Vida) gave me a kiss.”