Resilient Croats remain dangerousge ous customersusto

IT’S been feasst or famine for Crroatia across their ffive previous World Cup appearancess, which have comprised a third-place finish, three group-sttage exits and a run to the 20188 final.

Croatia took everyyone by surprise in Russia fouur years ago having looked anything but potentiial world champions in the build-up and appearred to be on a similar path heading to Qatar.

They made heavy weatherw of a far from stellar quaalifying group, edging out Ruussia for top spot by a single ppoint off the back of a mixed sshowing at Euro 2020.

However, Croatia’ss recent qualification for the Nations League finals, via a runr which included away wins in France and Denmark was a timely reminder they can sttill mix it with the best.

Only five of the 11 players who started the 20188 final remain, many of thee others retiring and severaal current members of the pparty likely to follow suit aftter Qatar. The elder statesmen still present remmain quality operatoors though, with skipper Luuka Modric, who earned Fifa’s Player of the Tournnament and Ballon d’Or prizzes for his exceptional showingg at the 2018 World Cup, thee pick of the bunch. Ivan Periisic and Domagoj Vida still hhave plenty to offer too but age has diminished this team’s ability to control games as successfully as in the past.

Goals are also a concern. Ante Rebic is out of favour, leaving Dalic with a far from prolific pair of Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir, who have notched a combined 20 goals in 85 international matches.

But what they lack in goals and game management, they make up for in determination. The class of 2018 proved to be a resilient bunch, coming from behind in every knockout game until the final, and Zlatko Dalic’s new charges have retained that never-say-die attitude.