With star man Luka Modric set for one last dance with his country, Croatia will push to go one step further as the side always on the cusp of history looks to switch the script.
They qualified for Euro 2024 by placing second in Group D behind Türkiye, who themselves were blossoming with fresh talent in the buildup to the tournament. Marked as the clear favourites to progress to the finals, Zlatio Dalic’s side left it late to qualify ahead of Wales with back-to-back victories closing out the qualifying process.
The team comfortably eased past North Macedonia 3-0 in a pre-tournament friendly, showcasing how the team can perform even in the absence of star man Luka Modric, who linked up with the squad late after his Champions League victory with Real Madrid.
What to expect:
The Croatians were drawn into Group B, forming a ‘Group of Death’ alongside three-time European champions Spain, current holders Italy and the very unlucky Albania. The Croatians have proved to be a tough nut to crack in the tournament setting, highlighted by a sensational run to the 2018 World Cup Final before finishing third in the 2022 edition.
Star Player:
It was Luka Modric who ran the show during the Croats’ historic 2018 World Cup push, picking up the Golden Ball and subsequent Ballon d’Or in the process. Fuelled by the reality that this may be his last major international tournament, the 38-year-old has the opportunity to end his Croatia career on a high note with one of the few trophies he’s yet to win.
The midfielder has been the cog to Dalic’s system across the past three major tournaments, but with age not on his side and his game time for Real Madrid finally reducing, it will be interesting to see how the veteran’s approach changes.
Young star:
Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol is the future for the Croatian national team. Already a starter under Pep Guardiola and Dalic with 29 caps for his country at 22-years-old, the defender is comfortable playing centre half or left back to a very high standard, offering plenty of tactical flexibility.
Bought in the summer for €90m, Gvardiol has hit the ground running in Manchester. Chipping in with an unexpected flurry of goals to help his side to the Premier League title, he enters the Euros in great form with plenty of confidence.
Manager:
Long-term boss Zlatko Dalic took charge in 2017, and has overseen the growth of the most competitive Croatia side in recent history. He has crafted a squad completely capable of shaking up the competition, building around Modric to create the ultimate underdog side.
Despite finding himself amongst difficult opposition, Dalic’s record of progressing deep into tournaments, paired with the fact that Croatia have never been eliminated in the group stage during his seven-year tenure, puts the side in a promising position in Germany.
Schedule:
Spain v Croatia – 15/06/2024 – Olympiastadion Berlin
Croatia v Albania – 19/06/2024 – Volksparkstadion
Croatia v Italy – 24/06/2024 – Red Bull Arena Leipzig