Tonights show was hosted by Duško Ćurlić and Danijela Trbović, and as with the semi final yesterday evening, was held in the Cristal Hall of the Hotel Kvarner in Opatija.Opening the show were last years Croatian representatives Kraljevi Ulice featuring 75 Cent who sang their 2008 entry Romanca.
A total of 16 finalists competed for the right to represent Croatia in Moscow. Ten were invited directly by broadcaster HRT and last night six songs joined them from the semi final. The running order tonight was as follows :-
Ana Bebić- Mrzim Spore Stvari
Hari Rončević i Kvartet Bravo- Još Uvik
Ruswaj- Što Će Mi Ljubav
Mijo Lešina- To Nisam Ja
Dražen Žanko- Samo Ti
Franka- Pjesma Za Kraj
Mario Battifiaca- Ma Gdje Bila
Viva- Opet
Ivo Gamulin Gianni- Daj Mi Jedan Razlog
Feminnem- Poljupci U Boji
Denis Dumančić- Srce Moram Seliti
Danijela Pintarić- Zlatna Rijeka
Čager Zoc i Papak Dance Company -Ritam Da Se Ritam
Tomislav Bralić & Klapa Intrade- Ne Damo Te Pismo Naša
Igor Cukrov- Lijepa Tena
Aria- Istina Je
Following the performances, a lengthy interval act took place which included Paul Young performing a collection of his greatest hits. This evenings result was decided by a combination of public televoting and jury voting. Igor Cukrov finished in second place with both the jury and televoting which was enough to carry him to victory.
Croatia qualified from the Semi-Final last year in Belgrade, and Kraljevi Ulice featuring 75 Cent finished in 21st place in the Final. Igor Cukrov will compete in the Second Semi Final of Europe's favourite TV-show on Thursday 14th May in Moscow.
Croatia has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest as an independent nation since 1993. Their best result to date is 4th place which was achieved by Maja Blagdan with the song Sveta Ljubav in 1996 in Oslo, and also by Doris Dragovic in 1999 in Jerusalem with Marija Magdalena. Croatia also won the first edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 when Dino Jelusić took the title in Copenhagen with his catchy song Ti Si Moja Prva Ljubav.
