Croatia have thrown down the experience card more times than an ace in Vegas and it’s served them well over the years.
Their fluttering red and white check kits have won over the hipsters and their absolute unflappability continues to impress on both the world and European stage.
Despite appearing to have had the same core of players for decades, their veteran stars seem stuck in a perpetual state of Peter Pan, led by the Benjamin Button exploits of captain Luka Modric.
Modric defies the clock and the load will be lightened around him by recent domestic title winners including Man City’s Josko Gvardiol and Bayer Leverkusen full-back Josip Stanisic.
MANAGER: Zlatko Dalic
CAPTAIN: Modric wears the armband as Croatia’s all-powerful leader.
STAR PLAYER: Despite the emergence of various names in recent years, Modric still holds the key for Croatia, and the little maestro has not been overloaded at Real Madrid this season.
HOW THEY GOT THERE: Qualification was a little tight for Croatia, as they eventually saw off Wales to claim second place in Group D, just one point behind table toppers Turkey.
HOW WILL THEY DO: Dalic will ask Modric to go to the well once again and Croatia will rely on stacks of experience scattered throughout their squad.
Their secret weapon in recent tournaments has been their ability to grit through limitless periods of extra time. Getting out of a tricky group including Spain and Italy will be tough and a lack of an elite striker could cost them further on.
BEST BET: Father time is catching up with them, and with no quarter-final appearance in the Euros since 2008, that is probably about their maximum in this tournament.
CROATIA’s EURO 2024 FIXTURES & SCHEDULE
Group B
Saturday, Jun 15: Spain v Croatia, 5pm (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
Wednesday, Jun 19: Croatia v Albania 2pm (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
Monday, Jun 24: Croatia v Italy 8pm (Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig)
CROATIA’S EURO 2024 SQUAD
Dalic will confirm his final Croatia squad ahead of the June 6 deadline. Here’s the 35-player preliminary panel.
- GOALKEEPERS: Dominik Livakovic, Ivica Ivusic, Nedijiko Labrovic.
- DEFENDERS: Domagoj Vida, Josip Juranovic, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo, Martin Erlic, Marin Pongracic.
- MIDFIELDERS: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanusec, Luka Sucic, Martin Baturina.
- FORWARDS: Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Bruno Petkovic, Marko Pjaca, Ante Budimir, Marco Pasalic.
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