Croatia’s last showing at a major international tournament saw them finish as runners-up in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. At the last Euros, Croatia went out in the last-sixteen to eventual tournament winners, Portugal.
With one of the older squads attending this summer’s competition, Croatia will be hoping to call on that experience as the tournament progresses.
The team at Last Word on Football has put together a country profile so that you can have the complete rundown ahead of the competition kicking off in a few days.
Everything You Need to Know About Croatia Ahead of Euro 2020
Who is the Croatia National Team Coach?
Zlatko Dalic replaced Ante Cacic as Croatia’s national team manager in October 2017. Dalic was immediately tasked with leading his team to the World Cup finals in Russia the following year.
He surpassed all expectations when, not only did Dalic help Croatia qualify, he took his side all the way to the final where they would eventually succumb to a hugely talented France side.
Born in Livno, a town in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dalic may not be a household name to many football fans as he enjoyed a somewhat modest playing career from the early 1980s up until 2000. He never played international football.
At 54, Dalic will be hoping to spring a few more surprises on the international stage this summer.
Who Has Been Selected in the Croatia Squad For Euro 2020?
At 35, Luka Modric is now in his fifteenth year as an international player for Croatia. With players like Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic no longer on the scene, a lot of responsibility rests on the shoulders of Modric going into the Euros.
The Croatia squad has plenty of talent throughout with the likes of Duje Caleta-Car, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic, Ante Rebic, and Andrej Kramaric all capable of making an impact in any game.
Goalkeepers – Lovre Kalinic (Hajduk Split), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Simon Sluga (Luton Town)
Defenders – Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Domagoj Bradaric (LOSC Lille), Mile Skoric (Osijek), Dejan Lovren (Zenit St Petersburg), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Duje Caleta-Car (Marseille), Josip Juranovic (Legia Warsaw)
Midfielders – Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Internazionale), Milan Badelj (Genoa), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (CSKA Moscow), Ivan Perisic (Internazionale), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Luka Ivanusec (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards – Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Josip Brekalo (Wolfsburg), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Ante Rebic (AC Milan), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb)
Croatia Will Be Hoping Tricky Spell Is Behind Them
In the period from last September to March of this year, Croatia suffered six defeats in nine games. They conceded 21 goals over the same spell, an average of 2.33 per game.
Dalic and co did bounce back with wins against Cyprus and Malta and, most recently, a draw with Armenia in a friendly.
However, those games will have done little to inspire much confidence ahead of the Euros.
Instead, people may point towards their two defeats to France, two to Portugal, and one each against Slovenia and Sweden as cause for concern, all within the last nine months.
Group Stage Fixtures
Croatia are in Group D of the European Championship alongside England, the Czech Republic, and Scotland.
They will start their tournament against England at Wembley before playing their other two group fixtures at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Croatia v England – June 13, 2pm BST
Croatia v Czech Rep – June 18, 5pm BST
Croatia v Scotland – June 22, 8pm BST
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