Croatia World Cup 2026: Can old dogs repeat the same tricks?

Croatia are still reminiscing over their run to the World Cup final in 2018, and they are set to meet England again in 2026, this time in Group L. 

Below you can find my Croatia World Cup 2026 odds, as I take a look at their squad and hopes for this summer’s tournament.

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Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull City).

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Sutalo (Ajax Amsterdam), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (AC Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Petar Sucic (Inter Milan), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).

Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg).

Croatia are back at another World Cup, having reached the semi-final in 2022, and the final in 2018. In 2024, they were knocked out of a tough group that contained Spain and Italy but this ageing squad are back for another crack at things. 

Their qualifying campaign was simple enough, seven wins and one draw took them to North America, although given Czech Republic finished second and Faroe Islands third - it was a relatively simple task on paper.

World Cup Odds

Zlatko Dalic has been manager since 2017, and he has carried a core of the squad across his entire reign. Luka Modric, now 40, is remarkably still captain of this Croatia side as he closes in on 200 caps, while Ivan Perisic and Mateo Kovacic are also both still involved. 

Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramaric are both 34 years old to boot, and while there are a couple of top talents such as Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol and Bayern Munich’s Josip Stanisic who should be key figures in the defence. 

There’s obviously serious quality in this Croatia side and importantly, tournament experience. We’ve seen them be the kings of extra-time and penalties in recent years, so they are a side to avoid in the knockouts. 

However, they cannot keep going forever and this is going to be a very hot World Cup indeed. With England up first, ageing legs and searing temperatures might not be a good mix…

Group L Fixtures:

17 June 3pm local (9pm BST) - vs England (Arlington)

23 June 7pm local (24 June 12am BST) - vs Panama (Foxborough)

27 June 5pm local (8pm BST) - vs Ghana (New Jersey)

Key Player: Josko Gvardiol

I wanted to pick Modric, and there’s a good argument to be made that if he can find form in the USA, then Croatia should be able to progress. 

However, defenders never get any credit and so I’m running with Man City man Gvardiol. He was the breakout stat of the 2022 World Cup, even if he will still see Lionel Messi in his nightmares after he was turned inside-out in the semi-final.

Gvardiol is going to have to do a decent amount of work, and I’m slightly concerned that he is only just returning from a broken tibia, having missed a lot of the season for Manchester City.

He should be fit to start in this tournament, either as part of the back three, at left-back, or centre-back. His versatility will be crucial, but this feels like a big tournament for him to establish himself as one of the best in the world.

Football Odds

Prediction: Last 32

I think we are at the end of the road for this Croatia outfit. This is a reasonable group on paper, given they should beat Panama, but they will tussle it out with Ghana for second spot. 

If they finish second then Colombia could await, and I’m not sure that they can get the better of the South Americans at this stage. Gvardiol aside, there are very few of this squad at the peak of their powers, and Croatia’s Golden Generation is now over. 

Modric should wave goodbye to international football this summer, but it won’t be a fairy tale ending. 

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