In this article, you will get to know about Croatia national football team Players, Coach, FIFA Rankings, nicknames, and History. The Croatia national football team (Croatian: Hrvatska nogometna reprezentacija) represents Croatia in men’s international football matches and is controlled by the Croatian Football Association (HNS). The team was recognized by both FIFA and UEFA following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The sides were active during periods of political turmoil, representing sovereign entities such as the Banovina of Croatia from 1939 to 1941 or the Independent State of Croatia from 1941 to 1944.
Today’s team has played competitive matches since 1994 beginning with the 1996 European Championship qualifying campaign. In 1998, they competed in their first FIFA World Cup, finishing third and providing the tournament’s top scorer, Davor Suker. Twenty years later, Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final, providing the tournament’s best player, Luka Modrić. They are one of the youngest national teams (since their formation) to reach the knockout stage of a major tournament, as well as the youngest team to occupy the top 10 in the FIFA world rankings.
Team Profile summary
| Association | Hrvatski nogometni savez (HNS) |
| Nickname(s) | Vatreni (The Blazers) |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| FIFA code | CRO |
| FIFA rank | 10 (26 November 2023) |
| Most Caps | Luka Modrić (148) |
| Top Scorer | Davor Šuker (45) |
| Home stadium | Stadion Maksimir |
| Head coach | Zlatko Dalić |
Croatia national football team History
Croatia has been playing football since the early 20th century, but the country was not independent until the 1990s. Croatian players have previously competed in the teams of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1919-1939), Croatia’s Benuevina (1939-1941), the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945) and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-1990).
For Yugoslavia periods, see Yugoslavia national football team.
Shortly before World War II, political conditions in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia allowed Croatian sports teams to compete under the Croatian flag, thus making Croatia’s first international match a 4-0 victory over Switzerland. can go. Played on April 4, 1940, in Zagreb, 1940. During World War II, the Croatian Football Federation, representing the rebellious puppet independent state of Croatia, joined FIFA and played pivotal power teams. During this time, the team recorded record defeats: Germany 5-1 Croatia to Vienna, Austria (15 June 1941) and Germany 5-1 Croatia to Stuttgart, Germany (1 November 1942).
Croatia national football team Home Stadium
Most of Croatia’s home games take place at Zagreb’s Stadium Maximir, which is also the home ground of the local football club Dynamo. The site, built-in 1912 and renovated in 1997, is named after the neighborhood around Maximiser. It was one of two venues for the UEFA Euro 1976 hosted by Yugoslavia, next to the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade. He has hosted national team matches since Croatia’s competitive home debut against Lithuania.
The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) had earlier agreed with the government on extensive plans to renovate the stadium and increase its capacity to 40,000 seats. This suggestion was rejected.
Croatia national football team Kit
Croatia’s national football team (Croatian: Hrvatska nogometna reprezentacija) represents Croatia in men’s international football matches and is controlled by the Croatian Football Association (HNS). Following the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the team was recognized by both FIFA and UEFA. The parties were active in periods of political turmoil, representing autonomous institutions, such as the Bonovina of Croatia from 1939 to 1941, or the independent state of Croatia from 1941 to 1944.
The modern Croatian jersey was designed in 1990 by Miroslav Schجtez, who also designed the country’s flag, coat of arms, and banknotes. The red and white form is based on the Croatian chessboard (hovahovnica), which has been used to represent the Croatians since the Middle Ages.
Although various changes have been made by kit manufacturers since the original release, the design of the jersey has remained constant over the years and has served as a blueprint for some other Croatian national sports teams and organizations. Common combinations include red and white checkered shirts, white shorts and blue socks, which reflect the tricolor of the country’s flag.
The off-kits used by the team are blue for a period of time, with red and white checkers added as trim. Croatia has moved to use deeper kits such as deep navy and black checkered designs that were prominent in the 2018 World Cup campaign. Veterans are often required to use their away kits even when playing at home or being listed as a “home” team in neutral locations, as teams also use the red and white scheme, often red home kits. And use white. Far cut or vice versa. Since both kits collide with Croatian checkers, repeated use of the remote kit has become necessary.
Who are Croatia National Football team players?
The following is the squad for international friendly fixtures against Slovenia on 26 March 2022 and Bulgaria on 29 March 2022. Caps and goals as of 29 March 2022, after the match against Bulgaria.
| No | Position | Player Name | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Dominik Livaković | 09-01-1995 (27) | 29 | 0 | Dinamo Zagreb |
| 12 | GK | Ivo Grbić | 18-01-1996 (26) | 2 | 0 | Lille |
| 23 | GK | Ivica Ivušić | 01-02-1995 (27) | 3 | 0 | Osijek |
| 2 | DF | Mile Škorić | 19-06-1991 (30) | 7 | 0 | Osijek |
| 3 | DF | Borna Barišić | 10-11-1992 (29) | 24 | 1 | Rangers |
| 5 | DF | Duje Ćaleta-Car | 17-09-1996 (25) | 22 | 1 | Marseille |
| 6 | DF | Marin Pongračić | 11-09-1997 (24) | 4 | 0 | Borussia Dortmund |
| 19 | DF | Borna Sosa | 21-01-1998 (24) | 5 | 0 | VfB Stuttgart |
| 20 | DF | Joško Gvardiol | 23-01-2002 (20) | 10 | 1 | RB Leipzig |
| 21 | DF | Domagoj Vida (vice-captain) | 29-04-1989 (32) | 97 | 4 | Beşiktaş |
| 22 | DF | Josip Juranović | 16-08-1995 (26) | 16 | 0 | Celtic |
| DF | Dejan Lovren | 05-07-1989 (32) | 70 | 4 | Zenit Saint Petersburg | |
| 7 | MF | Nikola Moro | 12-03-1998 (24) | 1 | 0 | Dynamo Moscow |
| 8 | MF | Mateo Kovačić | 06-05-1994 (27) | 77 | 3 | Chelsea |
| 10 | MF | Luka Modrić (captain) | 09-09-1985 (36) | 148 | 21 | Real Madrid |
| 11 | MF | Lovro Majer | 17-01-1998 (24) | 5 | 2 | Rennes |
| 13 | MF | Nikola Vlašić | 04-10-1997 (24) | 35 | 7 | West Ham United |
| 15 | MF | Mario Pašalić | 09-02-1995 (27) | 36 | 6 | Atalanta |
| 16 | MF | Kristijan Jakić | 14-05-1997 (24) | 3 | 0 | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 4 | FW | Ivan Perišić | 02-02-1989 (33) | 113 | 32 | Internazionale |
| 9 | FW | Andrej Kramarić | 19-06-1991 (30) | 67 | 18 | 1899 Hoffenheim |
| 14 | FW | Marko Livaja | 26-08-1993 (28) | 13 | 2 | Hajduk Split |
| 17 | FW | Ante Budimir | 22-07-1991 (30) | 10 | 1 | Osasuna |
| 18 | FW | Mislav Oršić | 29-12-1992 (29) | 16 | 1 | Dinamo Zagreb |
Who are the Croatia national football team captain and coach?
Luka Modrić is the captain of Croatia’s national team.
Croatia national football team captain
Luka Modrić is the captain of Croatia’s national team. Have a look at the profile summary of Croatia’s current captain.
Profile summary
- Name: Luka Modrić
- Date of birth/Age: Sep 9, 1985 (36)
- Place of birth: Zadar
- Citizenship: Croatia
- Height: 1,72 m
- Position: Central Midfield
- Current international: Croatia
- Caps/Goals: 148 / 21
Croatia national football team Coach
Zlatko Dalić is the coach of Croatia’s national team. Have a look at the profile summary of the team’s current coach.
Profile summary
- Name: Zlatko Dalić
- Date of birth/Age: Oct 26, 1966 (55)
- Place of birth: Livno
- Citizenship: Croatia
- Agent: Football Area
- Avg. the term as coach: 1.68 Years
- Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1
Who are Croatia’s most famous players?
Central midfielders Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić, who play for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, are the stars of Croatia’s current crop, but the team’s “golden generation” – which finished third at the 1998 World Cup – featured some incredible players. The creative talents of Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinečki in midfield, as well as the goals of Davor Šuker, were among the best in the world for a large chunk of the 1990s.
Croatia national football team world rankings
Croatia has dropped one place to No. 10 in the latest FIFA rankings which were released on Thursday.
Croatia’s national football team trophies
Major tournament
- FIFA World Cup
- Third place: 1998
- Runners-up: 2018
Minor tournament
- Hassan II Trophy
- Champions: 1996
- Kirin Cup
- Runners-up: 1997
- Korea Cup
- Champions: 1999
- Lunar New Year Cup
- Third place: 2006
Other awards
- Best Mover of the Year
- 1994
- 1998
Has Croatia ever won the World Cup?
No. Before Russia 2018, their best finish was third place, achieved in 1998 at their first World Cup after independence.
Source: FootballArroyo.co.uk
