The Croatian Head of the Nation was present in the stadium to cheer her team in the World Cup final match of football in 2018. Her name was
- (a)Kolinda Garber Kitarovic
- (b)Jacinda Arden
- (c)Theresa May
- (d)Joyce Banda
Correct — A, Kolinda Garber Kitarovic. The booklet's spelling is Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who was the President of Croatia (2015–2020). She attended the 2018 FIFA (football) World Cup final in Moscow to support Croatia, who had reached their first-ever World Cup final and lost 4–2 to France. Her presence in the rain, hugging the players, made global headlines — which is what the question refers to.
- (b)Jacinda Arden — The booklet writes 'Jacinda Arden' — Jacinda Ardern was the Prime Minister of New Zealand, not the head of Croatia.
- (c)Theresa May — Theresa May was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time; she has no connection to Croatia.
- (d)Joyce Banda — Joyce Banda was a former President of Malawi (2012–2014); she was neither Croatia's head nor in office in 2018.
Croatia, a nation of about four million, stunned the football world by reaching the 2018 FIFA World Cup final in Russia. Its captain Luka Modrić won the tournament's Golden Ball (best player). The country's President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović — Croatia's first woman President — became the public face of the team's support.
The distractors are all prominent women leaders around 2018 (Ardern of New Zealand, May of the UK, Banda of Malawi), so the question tests whether you can attach the right leader to Croatia. Anchor 'Croatia 2018 World Cup ↔ President Grabar-Kitarović'.
- Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović — President of Croatia (2015–2020), the country's first woman President
- Croatia reached its first FIFA World Cup final in 2018, losing 4–2 to France
- Croatia's Luka Modrić won the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball (best player)
- The 2018 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Russia
- Matching a famous woman leader to the wrong country
- Confusing a head of state (President) with a head of government (Prime Minister)
MPPSC static GK regularly asks FIFA World Cup facts and 'which leader belongs to which country' — keep recent World Cup hosts, finalists and award-winners handy.
Who among the following won the “Golden Ball” Award in the FIFA World Cup – 2022?
- (a) Luka Modrić
- (b) Lionel Messi
- (c) Ronaldo
- (d) Diego Forlán
Answer(b) Lionel Messi
Same theme — MPPSC's recurring static GK on the FIFA (football) World Cup; here the 2022 edition's Golden Ball, while the 2019 question tested the 2018 edition. (Note: option (a) Luka Modrić is the Croatian who won the 2018 Golden Ball.)
- practice — not a real PYQ
Croatia lost the 2018 FIFA World Cup final to which country?
- (a)Germany
- (b)France
- (c)Argentina
- (d)Brazil
Answer(b) France — 4–2 in Moscow.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who won the Golden Ball (best player) at the 2018 FIFA World Cup?
- (a)Kylian Mbappé
- (b)Luka Modrić
- (c)Lionel Messi
- (d)Harry Kane
Answer(b) Luka Modrić of Croatia.