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Team Croatia Nude Photos Leaked, Media Blackout Sworn By Players

Team Croatia Livid After Nude Photos Leak
A woman views the daily newspaper '24 Sata' (24 Hours) showing photos of several Croatia's players naked by their swimming pool in Brazil, at a bar in downtown Zagreb, Croatia, on June 16, 2014. Croatia international striker Ivica Olic slammed local media for the 'shameful' publishing of photographs which showed teammates swimming naked at their World Cup base in Brazil, a local paper reported on June 16. Publishing of the photos sparked outrage from the players who decided to boycott all media duties leaving coach Niko Kovac to explain their decision. 'Goli' means 'Naked' in Croatian. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
STR via Getty Images
A woman views the daily newspaper '24 Sata' (24 Hours) showing photos of several Croatia's players naked by their swimming pool in Brazil, at a bar in downtown Zagreb, Croatia, on June 16, 2014. Croatia international striker Ivica Olic slammed local media for the 'shameful' publishing of photographs which showed teammates swimming naked at their World Cup base in Brazil, a local paper reported on June 16. Publishing of the photos sparked outrage from the players who decided to boycott all media duties leaving coach Niko Kovac to explain their decision. 'Goli' means 'Naked' in Croatian. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Croatia’s national soccer team is on a strict no-reporters diet after their players were caught with their pants down – literally.

Hiding behind ferns at the team's Praia do Forte hotel, photographers snapped revealing photos of defenders Vedran Corluka and Dejan Lovren enjoying the hot tub, naked, on Thursday. They lost their opening match to Brazil only hours earlier.

“They are determined that they will not speak to the media,” Croatia coach Niko Kovac told reporters on Sunday. He defended his team’s decision and said he wasn’t sure how long the media ban will last.

The NSFW images were published in 24Sata, a Croatian tabloid, over the weekend.

“I can’t force them to be at your disposal after what you have done to them and their families,” he continued.

“I respect my players’ opinion and I also know that you have done a very professional job so far but you blew it with this one. The whole world has seen the photos.”

But things may be getting hot and steamy sooner than later for the team as they make their way north to play in severe heat and humidity at the Manaus pitch against Cameroon on Wednesday.

With files from the Associated Press

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