Croatia

🌍 World Cup Story

Croatia are perhaps the greatest footballing story of the post-Yugoslavia era. A nation of 4 million people, independent only since 1991, they reached the World Cup final in 1998 at just their second appearance — losing to hosts France 2-1. In 2018 in Russia they went one better: reaching the final (losing to France 4-2) through a series of comeback victories — defeating Denmark, Russia, and England from behind or through extra time. Luka Modrić, who won the Golden Ball as best player, delivered one of football's greatest individual tournament performances. In 2022 they finished third again. Modrić is now 40 but has shown no signs of declining; his influence on the game is incalculable. This may be his last World Cup — and Croatian football's last hurrah before a transition to a new generation.