By Burnett Munthali

Here is Croatia, the team that will play against Argentina tonight Tuesday 13 December 2022 at 21:00 hours (9:00 PM)

The Croatia national football team (Croatian: Hrvatska nogometna reprezentacija) represents Croatia in international football matches.

It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), the governing body for football in Croatia.

It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions.

The team’s colors reference two national symbols: the Croatian checkerboard and the country’s tricolour. The team is colloquially referred to as the Vatreni (‘Blazers’) and Kockasti (‘Checkered Ones’).

Croatia

Nickname(s)
Vatreni (‘Blazers’)
Kockasti (‘Checkered Ones’)
Association
HNS
Confederation
UEFA (Europe)
Head coach
Zlatko Dalić
Captain
Luka Modrić
Most caps
Luka Modrić (160)
Top scorer
Davor Šuker (45)
FIFA code: CRO

FIFA ranking
Current
12 3 (6 October 2022)

Highest
3 (January 1999)

Lowest
125 (March 1994)
First international
Croatia 4–0 Switzerland
(Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 2 April 1940)
as FIFA member
Slovakia 1–1 Croatia
(Bratislava, Slovakia; 8 September 1941)
as modern Croatia
Croatia 2–1 United States
(Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 17 October 1990)
as FIFA member
Australia 1–0 Croatia
(Melbourne, Australia; 5 July 1992)

Biggest win
Croatia 10–0 San Marino
(Rijeka, Croatia; 4 June 2016)

Biggest defeat
Spain 6–0 Croatia
(Elche, Spain; 11 September 2018)

World Cup
Appearances
6 (first in 1998)
Best result
Runners-up (2018)

European Championship
Appearances
6 (first in 1996)
Best result
Quarter-finals (1996, 2008)
Nations League Finals
Appearances
1 (first in 2023)
Medal record
FIFA World Cup
2018 Russia Team
1998 France Team

Historically, sides represented sovereign entities such as the Banovina of Croatia from 1939 to 1941 and the Independent State of Croatia from 1941 to 1944. Since 1994, the modern-day team has qualified for every UEFA European Championship tournament since 2004, reaching the quarter-finals twice (1996, 2008).

In 1998, they competed in their first FIFA World Cup, finishing third place behind Brazil with the tournament’s top scorer, Davor Šuker. Twenty years later Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup Final with France, finishing second place with the tournament’s best player, Luka Modrić.

They maintain sporting rivalries with Italy and Serbia, both of which have led to disruptive matches.

Since 1994, the Vatreni have qualified for every UEFA and FIFA tournament except for Euro 2000 and the 2010 World Cup.

Croatia entered FIFA ranked 125th in 1994; they ascended to third place following their 1998 World Cup campaign.

This marked the fastest, most volatile ascension in FIFA ranking history and made them the youngest team to occupy the Top 10 in the World Ranking. In July 1998, Croatia recorded its highest-ever Elo rating of 2,006 points.

The team represents the second-smallest country by population and land mass to reach a World Cup Final, behind Uruguay and Netherlands respectively.

At the World Cup, Croatia holds World Cup records for most penalty shoot-outs played (2), most penalty shoot-outs won (2), most penalties saved in a match (3), and most extra time periods played (3), among other team records.

They are one of three teams—along with Colombia and France—to be named FIFA Best Mover of the Year more than once, winning the awards in 1994 and 1998.