Opinions, analysis and commentary
When Luka Modric takes the field for Croatia’s Group L opener against England on June 17, he will be 40 years old and appearing at his fifth World Cup. Behind that single number sits the most extraordinary overperformance relative to population size in modern tournament history , a run built on penalties, podiums, and one player who has defined a nation’s footballing identity for two decades.
Croatia have qualified for seven World Cups since their debut at France 1998, missing only the 2010 edition. That debut set the tone immediately , Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot with six goals, Croatia eliminated Germany 3-0 in the quarter-finals, and a 2-1 bronze-medal win over the Netherlands announced a nation that punches far above its weight.
What followed was a decade of frustration: group-stage exits in 2002, 2006, and 2014. The pattern since has been unmistakable , every time Croatia advance from the group stage, they reach at least the semi-finals.
Russia 2018 was when everything converged. Croatia beat Denmark and Russia on penalties, overcame England 2-1 in extra time in the semi-finals, and reached a first-ever World Cup final , losing 4-2 to France. Modric won the Ballon d’Or that year, ending the years-long Messi-Ronaldo monopoly.
Four years later in Qatar, Croatia claimed a 2-1 victory over Morocco in the third-place play-off. Three semi-final appearances across 1998, 2018, and 2022. Two bronze medals and one final. Croatia hold the record for the most penalty shootout wins in World Cup history , four across those two tournaments combined.
No context sharpens Croatia’s achievement more than population. With approximately 4.15 million people, Croatia became the smallest European nation, and the smallest country overall since Uruguay in 1950, to reach a World Cup final. Their 2018 opponents, France, had a population more than 15 times greater.
Croatia’s overall World Cup record stands at 13 wins, 8 draws, and 9 losses across 30 matches, with 43 goals scored and 33 conceded. Spain, Germany, and Brazil, nations with populations ten to fifty times larger, have not matched three podium finishes across six appearances.
At 40, Modric enters his fifth World Cup as Croatia’s most-capped player with 196 international appearances and 28 international goals. Despite a broken cheekbone last month, he is expected to be fit for the June 17 opener against England. Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic have recovered from injury, while Ivan Perisic, who has scored in the last three World Cup tournaments, also returns.
Martin Baturina, Luka Sucic, and Petar Sucic represent the next generation auditioning to replace Modric long-term. The squad carries both a farewell and a future simultaneously.
Croatia is in Group L alongside England, Panama, and Ghana. They qualified with seven wins and one draw from eight matches, scoring 26 goals and conceding just four. England arrive as heavy favourites, eight wins from eight qualifiers without conceding a single goal.
A draw or win against England on June 17 opens the group wide. A defeat means Croatia needs maximum points against Panama and Ghana. Either way, the Croatia World Cup 2026 squad Modric legacy rests on how far this generation can go in one final campaign together.
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How many World Cups has Croatia qualified for?
Croatia has qualified for seven World Cups, every edition since their debut at France 1998 except 2010. They’ve reached the semi-finals three times, in 1998, 2018, and 2022, finishing third twice and runners-up once.
What is Croatia’s best World Cup result?
Croatia’s best World Cup result is the 2018 final, where they lost 4-2 to France. They also claimed bronze medals in 1998 and 2022, making them one of the most consistently successful nations relative to population size in tournament history.
Is Luka Modric playing at the World Cup 2026?
Yes, Luka Modric is expected to play at the World Cup 2026 despite suffering a broken cheekbone last month. At 40, he will appear at his fifth World Cup as Croatia’s most-capped player with 196 international appearances.
What group is Croatia in at the World Cup 2026?
Croatia is in Group L alongside England, Panama, and Ghana. They qualified with seven wins and one draw from eight matches, scoring 26 goals and conceding just four.
Who are Croatia’s key players at the World Cup 2026?
Alongside Modric, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic are Croatia’s most experienced players for 2026. Martin Baturina, Luka Sucic, and Petar Sucic represent the next generation auditioning for long-term roles in the squad.
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