Croatia
Pedigree For Croatia, reaching the semifinals in 1998, in its World Cup debut, was remarkable enough. Getting all the way to the final four years ago was one of the most astonishing performances in the tournament’s history. Croatia, as a rule, should not be discounted.
Ambition Croatia earned its place in Qatar with relative ease, but its showing in last summer’s European Championship — where it was eliminated, in one of the most chaotic games in human history, by Spain in the last 16 — indicates that a repeat of four years ago may be a step too far.
The Story The core of the team that carried Zlatko Dalic’s team to the 2018 final remains in place, including the apparently ageless Luka Modric. As with several other teams, there is a feeling that Croatia’s stars have gathered in the hope of a golden, glorious sunset.
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