Unhappy finalist of the last World Cup in Russia, the Croats arrive in Qatar with a generation that is certainly aging but which will be able to rely on its experience.
Many names were already there in 2018 and will once again participate in the World Cup.
Among them, the 2018 Ballon d'Or Luka Modric, a true master of his selection.
Surrounded by Kovacic and Brozovic, the Croatian star will wield a world-class midfielder.
The story
Croatia was banned from the 1994 World Cup because some qualifying matches had already been played before the country was created, recognized by FIFA in July 1992.
Team form
With 4 wins in their last 4 games, Croatia secured their qualification for the Final Four of the Nations League.
Winners in particular of reigning world champion France (0-1) on the lawn of the Tricolores, the Croats showed that their aging generation could still shine.
If their game is no longer as flamboyant as it once was, the effectiveness is still very real.
Certainly a team that risks, as always, causing a lot of problems for the top names, although we can only classify them as much as possible with the status of outsider of the competition.
The list of 26 players
As expected, coach Zlatko Dalic will be able to count on a very technical midfielder with his playmaker Luka Modric surrounded by Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic.
Only selected on the side of Ligue 1, we can find the midfielder of Rennes Lovro Majer.
Two absences to note: the 2018 vice-world champions Ivan Rakitic and Ante Rebic are absent due to their lack of playing time in Sevilla and AC Milan.
Goalkeepers:
Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (NK Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atlético Madrid)
Defenders:
Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Dejan Lovren (Zénith Saint-Petersburg), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Borna Sosa (VfB Stuttgart), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich) , Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb)
Midfielders:
Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Kristijan Jakic (Frankfurt), Luka Sucic (Salzburg) )
Forwards:
Ivan Perisic (Tottenham), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split)
The probable composition
Apart from their nugget from RB Leipzig Josko Gvardiol, in defense, the Croats rely on a team with an average age of around 30 springs.
Experience therefore but also a lack of speed now.
There will therefore be a contrast between control and rhythm but Croatia have the right hair to scratch in this competition.
On paper anyway, the names speak for themselves (Modric, Perisic, Kovacic…).
Their age too.
Croatia
Player to watch: Luka Modric
Luka Modrić (left) at home in Zagreb (Croatia), against Denmark on September 22.
Pixsell / Icon Sports
Still as virtuoso despite his 37 years, the 2018 Ballon d'Or has lost some of his physique of yesteryear but in no way his ability to deliver caviars to his Real Madrid teammates.
From the top of his 154 selections, Luka Modric is the essential player of Croatia.
Boss of the midfield, he is also responsible for converting penalties.
Without him, this team no longer has the same face.
Croatia team match schedule
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