BELGRADE, Serbia — As Croatian supporters celebrated their team's successes draped in the red-and-white checkerboards of their national emblem, the resonant power ballads of Marko Perković, known as Thompson, dominated the scene. These gatherings, whether in Toronto or Philadelphia, weren't just about soccer; they were cultural rallies, fueled by music that stirs deep nationalistic sentiments.

Hrvoje Klasić, a prominent Croatian historian, notes, “He’s become an inseparable phenomenon anytime Croatia plays or participates in any kind of competition, especially sporting events. People both at home and abroad view him as synonymous with love for one’s country.”

Thompson, named after the submachine gun he wielded during the tumultuous Balkan wars of the 1990s, stands as Croatia's most beloved and controversial musical figure. His song "Lijepa Li Si" has become an unofficial anthem at Croatian matches, despite its chorus that echoes the sentiments of a wartime Croat state in Bosnia, led by figures later convicted of war crimes.

The lyrics in Thompson’s catalog often venture further into explicit territory, with tracks starting with "Za dom spremni," a salute akin to "Sieg Heil," used by Croatia's World War II-era Ustashe regime. Such content has led to concert bans across several European countries, including the Netherlands and Germany.

Yet, within Croatia, Thompson's appeal seems undiminished. A concert last summer in Zagreb attracted over 500,000 attendees, marking it as the largest in the country's history. The crowd freely chanted Ustashe slogans, unchallenged by authorities, demonstrating a troubling leniency towards such divisive expressions.

This phenomenon isn't isolated to Croatia. Post-communist Europe has seen a surge in historical revisionism, where countries like Hungary, Ukraine, and others have recast controversial figures from their past as patriots, attempting to reclaim suppressed national identities or rectify discontent with current standings.

In 2018, the celebration of Croatia's near World Cup victory saw Thompson share the victory bus with the team, with star midfielder Luka Modrić requesting his performance, signaling a deep and complex relationship between national pride and historical accountability.

As nations navigate their identities in a modern context, the intersection of music, history, and nationalism creates a powerful, if contentious, mix. Croatia's ongoing struggle with its past—treating symbols of a fascist puppet state as heritage rather than acknowledging their criminality—continues to provoke debate both domestically and internationally. The resonance of Thompson's music at sports events underscores this national conflict, blending love for country with darker historical echoes.