Croatia
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Croatia
FIFA #48CRO
How they play
Absorb, break, punish.
World ranking
#11
Confederation
UEFA · Europe
How they play
Absorb, break, punish.
Signature moment
The 2018 World Cup semifinal against England should have broken Croatia — they were level at 1-1 deep into extra time, legs gone, crowd against them. Instead, Ivan Perišić and Mario Mandžukić dragged them over the line and into the final. A nation of four million people had somehow reached the biggest game in football. Luka Modrić cried. The internet cried. Your uncle who 'doesn't watch soccer' cried.
The ones to watch
- Luka ModrićMFThe heartbeat of Croatian football for nearly two decades — when he finally hangs up his boots, a whole era ends with him.
- Dominik LivakovićGKThe goalkeeper who became a penalty-shootout legend and turned Croatia's 'we'll grind it out' reputation into a full personality.
- Joško GvardiolDFThe heir apparent of Croatian football — a defender so good that elite clubs were basically fighting over him before he was old enough to rent a car.
- Marcelo BrozovićMFThe engine room who does all the unglamorous work that makes Modrić look like a wizard — unsung, essential, relentless.
- Ante BudimirFWThe rugged striker who embodies Croatia's blue-collar ethos — not the prettiest player on the pitch, but absolutely the one you want when it matters.
One email the morning of their opener. Nothing else.
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