Croatia CRO

Croatia arrive at the 2026 World Cup ranked 11th in the world by FIFA, with Zlatko Dalic once again at the helm of a nation that has punched well above its weight on football's grandest stage. Back-to-back semi-final appearances in 2018 and 2022 have cemented their reputation as genuine tournament operators, and Dalic will be looking to go one better this time around.

Tactically, Croatia look set to revert to a back four after a recent wing-back experiment delivered mixed results. It is a pragmatic reset from a coach who knows his squad intimately and understands where its best football comes from.

The Vatreni's greatest asset remains their experience and the winning mentality that has defined their recent World Cup campaigns. At the heart of it all is Luka Modric, still a midfield maestro capable of dictating tempo and unlocking defences at the highest level. Around him, Mateo Kovacic provides drive and craft, while Dominik Livakovic offers reliability between the sticks and Josko Gvardiol brings composure and quality from the back. Up front, Ante Budimir and Petar Musa give Dalic genuine options, and younger names — Martin Baturina, Petar Sucic, Toni Fruk, Igor Matanovic, Luka Vuskovic, Martin Erlic, and Ivor Pandur — add depth and intrigue to the squad picture.

The question hanging over Croatia, however, is whether the old guard can still sustain the physical demands of a deep tournament run. All that accumulated experience comes with accumulated miles in the legs, and sapping temperatures could test their limits when it matters most. How well Dalic blends the battle-hardened core with fresher legs may ultimately define how far this side travels.