Group L · Match 22Full time
- H. Kane (P) 12'
- H. Kane 42'
- J. Bellingham 47'
- M. Rashford 85'
- M. Baturina 36'
- P. Musa 45'+5'
Croatia
Group LFIFA ranking #10UEFACRO
Finalists 2018 · Third place 2022
Profile
A nation of under four million people keeps producing World Cup deep runs with remarkable consistency: runners-up in 2018, third place in 2022, and a quarter-final run in 2022 that included victories on penalties over Japan and Brazil before losing to Argentina. Luka Modrić, who turned 40 in 2025, extends his remarkable international career for one more tournament — the man who won five Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and was named FIFA's best player in 2018. Joško Gvardiol has become one of Manchester City's most important defensive players and represents the next generation of Croatian excellence. Mateo Kovačić provides the technical midfield quality from his City partnership with Gvardiol. Coach Zlatko Dalić has built a system that extracts maximum performance from a nation punching far above its weight. England, Ghana and Panama make up Group L — and Croatia, as ever, will be determined to outlast every expectation placed on a country of their size.
Croatia fixtures
Group L · Match 46Full time
- É. Bárcenas 61'
- A. Budimir 54'
- P. Sucic 90'+2'
Group L · Match 68Full time
- P. Sucic 31'
- I. Perisic 68'
- N. Vlasic 83'
- D. Luckassen 73'
- K. Oppong 90'+4'
Round of 32 · Match 84Full time
- R. Dias 17'
- C. Ronaldo (P) 68'
- G. Ramos 90'+4'
- I. Perisic 53'
- L. Modric 59'
- I. Perisic 90'+8'
Players to watch
Luka Modrić
Midfielder · AC Milan
The greatest Croatian footballer in history and a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Modrić was named the best player in the world in 2018. At 40, his passing vision, creative intelligence, leadership and extraordinary technical ability in tight spaces remain the foundation of everything Croatia does in midfield at this World Cup.
Joško Gvardiol
Defender · Manchester City
One of the most complete young centre-backs in European football, Gvardiol has established himself as an essential player in Manchester City's Champions League campaigns. His combination of pace, powerful defending, technical quality on the ball and ability to drive forward from the back make him one of the best left-sided defenders at this tournament.
Mateo Kovačić
Midfielder · Manchester City
A technically elegant midfielder whose dribbling ability and close control allow him to operate in the tightest spaces, Kovačić has won the Champions League with both Real Madrid and Manchester City. His ability to carry the ball under pressure, combine quickly in one-touch sequences and cover vast amounts of ground gives Croatia a dynamic midfield engine.