ZAGREB, Croatia -- Croatias World Cup qualification celebrations have been marred by apparent pro-Nazi chants by fans and defender Joe Simunic. Jason Garrison Jersey . Croatia qualified for the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Iceland on Tuesday. Video footage shows Simunic taking a microphone to the field after the match and shouting to the fans: "For the homeland!" The fans respond: "Ready!" That was the war call used by Ustashas, the Croatian pro-Nazi puppet regime that ruled the state during World War II when tens of thousands Jews, Serbs and others perished in concentration camps. The Australian-born Simunic, who faces disciplinary action by FIFA, defended his action. "Some people have to learn some history. Im not afraid," the 35-year-old Dinamo Zagreb defender said. "I did nothing wrong. Im supporting my Croatia, my homeland. If someone has something against it, thats their problem." In a statement released Wednesday on Dinamo Zagrebs website, Simunic rejected "any political context of my statement which was driven solely by my love toward my people and my country, and not by hatred and destruction." "The thought that anyone could associate me with any form of hatred or violence terrifies me," the statement added. The same chant coupled with the Nazi salute has often been used by Croatian fans in the past. FIFA and UEFA have often sanctioned the Croatian Football Association because of their behaviour. Two weeks ago, FIFA fined Croatia 35,000 Swiss francs ($38,000) for incidents including fans making salute gestures during its previous match in Zagreb, a 2-1 loss to Belgium on Oct. 11. FIFA said Wednesday it was considering disciplinary action. "We are in the process of analyzing the different match officials reports and gathering information," FIFA said in a statement. Simunic faces a possible suspension which could apply to matches in Brazil at the World Cup. Croatias former prime minister and now independent MP, Jadranka Kosor, described Simunics act as "harmful, pitiful, illegal and unconstitutional." Kosor added: "It is pathetic that people who perceive themselves as big patriots actually hurt Croatia the most with such chants." At the 2006 World Cup, Simunic was the player who received three yellow cards in one match against Australia before being sent off. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. Deryk Engelland Golden Knights Jersey . TSN 1290s Jordan Cieciwa, Big Marv and Toby are here to give their predictions on who will leave with the belt and who will take some of the other key bouts on the card. Johny Hendricks vs. http://www.goldenknightsproshop.com/authentic-griffin-reinhart-golden-knights-jersey/ . Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Michael Brantley also homered and the Indians beat the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins 9-4 Thursday for their first three-game winning streak this season.An unexpected loss derailed the Toronto Maple Leafs from their hottest stretch of the season, but a return home could again right the ship. The Maple Leafs look for their NHL-leading 15th home win when they face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier will get the nod in net for the Maple Leafs. Toronto (19-10-3) had won six consecutive games before Thursdays 4-1 loss at lowly Carolina. The stretch included quality wins over Vancouver, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Detroit (twice) due in large part to phenomenal goaltending. Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer combined for a league-best .956 save percentage Dec. 6-16 and allowed 1.67 goals per game. Star forwards Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk also played well during the streak, with each picking up seven points. But on Thursday, neither the goaltending nor the scoring were present. We got outworked. Its as simple as that, coach Randy Carlyle said. We didnt do enough to give ourselves a chance, and when we finally got back into the hockey game we took ourselves out with some undisciplined acts. I dont think we were mentally ready to go out and play the type of game that was required. Simple as that. The Maple Leafs struggles against lesser competition has become an alarming trend. Five of their eight losses since the start of November have come against teams currently with a .500 or worse record - a description that also fits the Flyers (11-14-6). There are games where some are going to be easier to be jacked up more for than others, Van Riemsdyk told Torontos official website. T.J. Tynan Jersey. But our job as hockey players is to get ready for everyone the same, is to prepare the same and hopefully be ready to play. A return to the Air Canada Centre could re-energize the Maple Leafs. Since opening the season 1-4-0 in Toronto, they have won 13 of 16 there and the last five. Philadelphia has failed to string together much success, proven again by its just-completed four-game homestand. After knocking off New Jersey and Carolina, the Flyers fell to Tampa Bay on Tuesday and in a shootout to Florida on Thursday. They scored once in each loss after totaling nine goals in the two wins. We gotta stay positive in this locker room, captain Claude Giroux told the teams official site. If we do, were gonna start winning. Were gonna start believing that we are a playoff team and when we do, were gonna be pretty dangerous. The Flyers saw their streak of eight games with a power-play goal come to an end Thursday. They rank near the top of the league with 25 goals on the power play but own one of the worst penalty-kill percentages at 75.5. Goaltender Steve Mason suffered an upper-body injury during Fridays practice and will miss Saturdays game for the Flyers. Starting in his place will be Ray Emery, who beat the Devils 4-1 in his last start Dec. 11 after losing his previous four behind a 4.35 goals-against average. Hell face the NHLs top offense as the Maple Leafs average 3.38 goals. Toronto won the first two meetings last season before losing 4-2 in Philadelphia on March 28. Stitched NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Youth NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys ' ' '