Croatian fans were heading for Poland in droves to support their national side after their Euro 2012 opening win against Ireland, travel agencies in Zagreb said on Thursday.

“A real sports euphoria was missing” ahead of the European Championship, that opened earlier this month and travel arrangements were sold mainly to corporate clients, said Nikolina Frklic, spokeswoman for the Atlas agency, told AFP.

“However, the situation has really changed” after Sunday’s 3-1 win, she added.

National television estimated that some 15,000 fans were expected in Poznan, Poland, to support Slaven Bilic’s side, who play their second Group C game against Italy on Thursday evening.

Croatia, quarter-finalists in 2008, are currently leading in the group with three points, with a victory against the Azzurri going a long way to secure a place in the quarter-finals for the former Yugoslav republic.

After Italy, Croatia are taking on defending champions Spain on June 18 in the northern city of Gdansk.

A special charter flight for the Italy tie was sold out while another for the match against Spain had only a few places left, Frklic said.

The one-day arrangement for Spain is sold at some 630 euros.

Many Croatians flew by low-cost companies to Berlin before taking a train to Poland. Hundreds of others have taken trains and buses from Croatia itself.

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