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Croatia national football team

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Article Genealogy
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Croatia national football team
NameCroatia
NicknameVatreni (The Blazers)
AssociationHrvatski nogometni savez
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
CoachZlatko Dalić
CaptainLuka Modrić
Most capsLuka Modrić (174)
Top scorerDavor Šuker (45)
Home StadiumVarious
FIFA TrigrammeCRO
FIFA Rank10
FIFA max dateJanuary 1999
Elo Rank11
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Croatia national football team. The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football and is governed by the Hrvatski nogometni savez (Croatian Football Federation). Nicknamed Vatreni (The Blazers), the team has been a consistent force in world football since its independence, known for its technical skill and tenacious performances in major tournaments. Their greatest achievements include finishing as runners-up at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and third place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

History

The modern team played its first official match in 1990 against the United States while still part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Following Croatia's independence, the team was recognized by FIFA and UEFA in 1992. Their debut major tournament was a spectacular success at UEFA Euro 1996, but their iconic moment came at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where a golden generation led by Davor Šuker finished third. The team experienced a period of transition before re-emerging as a global power under managers like Slaven Bilić and Zlatko Dalić, culminating in their historic run to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, losing to France. They have also been consistent qualifiers for the UEFA European Championship, with notable campaigns in 2008 and 2022.

Team image

The team's traditional home kit features the iconic red-and-white checkerboard pattern (šahovnica), derived from the national coat of arms. Their primary crest is the historic Croatian interlace symbol. Major kit suppliers have included Nike, and their matches are passionately supported by fan groups like The Bad Blue Boys. The team's anthem, "Lijepa naša domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland), is a powerful symbol of national pride. Key rivalries include matches against neighboring nations like the Serbia and Slovenia.

Results and fixtures

Recent competitive cycles have seen the team compete in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League. Their schedule includes upcoming matches in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group, which features opponents like Wales and Turkey. The team's calendar is also built around major final tournaments, such as their participation in the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals, where they faced the Netherlands and Spain.

Players

The current squad is a blend of legendary veterans and emerging talents, managed by Zlatko Dalić. The undisputed leader is captain and Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modrić of Real Madrid. Other key figures include defender Domagoj Vida, midfielder Marcelo Brozović of Al Nassr, and forward Ivan Perišić of Hajduk Split. The new generation is represented by players like defender Joško Gvardiol of Manchester City and midfielder Luka Sučić of Red Bull Salzburg. Historical greats beyond Šuker include Robert Prosinečki, Zvonimir Boban, and Ivan Rakitić.

Honours

The team's honours on the world stage are highlighted by their runner-up finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and third-place finishes at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup. In continental competition, their best result at the UEFA European Championship was reaching the quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008. They have also achieved success in the UEFA Nations League, finishing as runners-up in the 2023 edition. Individual players have won prestigious awards, such as the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Luka Modrić, 2018) and the FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe (Davor Šuker, 1998).

See also

* Hrvatski nogometni savez * Croatia national under-21 football team * Croatia women's national football team * Stadion Maksimir * Stadion Poljud * FIFA World Cup * UEFA European Championship

References

Category:Croatia national football team Category:National sports teams of Croatia Category:UEFA national association football teams