The Qatar World Cup is now down to 8 teams. Croatia repeated as quarterfinalists having made it to the final in the last edition in 2018. Behind an excellent midfield trio and key players at the sharp end of the pitch, Croatia will be a tough out for any of the teams remaining. Here at Last Word On Football, we ask the question: Can Croatia win the World Cup in 2022?
Can Croatia Win the World Cup 2022 Behind Star Men?
⭐️ Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars ⭐️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/yXpb4JA0pB— HNS (@HNS_CFF) December 8, 2022
Midfield Maestros
The strongest part of this team is its midfield. Three excellent technicians who can orchestrate and dictate any game. Captain Luka Modrić is still the main man at 37 years old, as he goes so does Croatia. His silky passing and quick thinking free up space for the other two to operate and control proceedings around him. Mateo Kovačić will need to have a big remainder of the tournament if the Croatians have any hopes of lifting the trophy. The Chelsea man has had his injury problems this year so staying fit will be key over the next three games in such short succession. Kovačić’s ability to carry the ball over distance will make him a threat and help transition from defence to attack.
That transition from defence to attack starts with Marcelo Brozović. His play as the number six will likely decide the fate of this team in this tournament. His ability to read space around him and defend pockets in front of the back line helped stabilise Croatia and give them balance. The midfield three will all need to be at their best to advance to the final.
Dynamic Front Men
The last World Cup saw the retirement of Mario Mandžukić leaving Croatia to search for their new number 9. That role in this tournament has been split up with three different players occupying the number 9 role from the start in the four games played.
Marko Livaja got the start in both the second and third group games against Canada and Belgium respectively while Andrej Kramarić got the start in the first. However, it was Bruno Petković who got the start in the game against Japan in the round of 16. Who starts is less important than what they can provide, goals. The Croatians were held scoreless in two of the three group games and only scored once against Japan, with the goal coming from a wide player. Croatia needs its nine to be a blunt force in the box. They are at their best when Ivan Perišić and company are putting in dangerous balls for those nines to feed off.
Ivan Perišić himself is one of the key men to watch out for. Perišić comes up with big goals time and time again, no bigger this tournament than the leveller against Japan to force extra time. The Tottenham Hotspur man is the main threat out wide with a great 1v1 ability to attack with either foot, swing dangerous crosses into the box, or swarm the back post for a thumping header or easy tap-in.
Will Croatia Win
Ultimately it will take a miracle to get past tournament favorites Brazil, Argentina, or the Netherlands and one of the four from the other side. Croatia has the top-end players to get them there, the fight and spirit to believe it to be possible, and with a little bit of luck you just never know.
