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Croatia 2022 World Cup Guide | All you need know
2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia will be looking to build on their success story from the last edition as they try to go one better in Qatar.
Led by their talisman and skipper Luka Modric, the Croatian side will miss the services of some of their big names in the current FIFA World Cup, but can still go the distance with the experience of players they have at their disposal. Ahead of the showpiece event in Qatar, here is all you need to know about the 2018 World Cup runners-up.
Qualification campaign for Croatia
An uneasy World Cup qualification path saw them square off against Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta as they negotiated a tricky course. Zlatko Dalić’s side conceded just six goals in the qualifying, as they had one of the strongest defenses in the qualifying rounds. Boosted by the firepower of Luka Modric, the 2018 runners-up will be one of the favorites to clinch the glory. Croatia collected 23 points from a possible 30 and lost only one match on their way to the World Cup.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Croatia | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 4 | +17 | 23 |
| 2 | Russia | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 6 | +13 | 22 |
| 3 | Slovakia | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 14 |
| 4 | Slovenia | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 14 |
| 5 | Cyprus | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 21 | −17 | 5 |
| 6 | Malta | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 30 | −21 | 5 |
World Cup Group Details
Croatia will be one of the favourites to win their group as they are fielded by the likes of Canada, Morocco, and the 2018 third-placed team Belgium. Croatia will start their World Cup journey against African side Morocco on Wednesday (November 23) at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.
They will then lock horns against Canada at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan in what will be the North American side's first World Cup in 36 years. The contest will take place on Sunday (November 26). The group, however, will end with a blockbuster tie against Belgium at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan in what could be a potential group decider.
| Sr. No | Team |
| 1 | Belgium |
| 2 | Canada |
| 3 | Morocco |
Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivica Ivusic (Osijek), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb)
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Mario Pasalaic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg)
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (Tottenham), Andrej Kramaric (1899 Hoffenheim), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split)
Players to watch out for Croatia
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea)
Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur)
Team Details
| Nickname(s) | Vatreni (The Blazers) Kockasti (The Checkered Ones) |
| Head coach | Zlatko Dalić |
| Captain | Luka Modrić |
| Most caps | Luka Modrić (154) |
| Top scorer | Davor Šuker (45) |
World Cup history
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1998) |
| Best result | Runners-up (2018) |
FIFA Rankings
| Current | 12 (6 October 2022) |
| Highest | 3 (January 1999) |
| Lowest | 125 (March 1994) |
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