CROATIA NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM

The Croatia national football team (Croatian: Hrvatska nogometna reprezentacija) represents Croatia in men’s international football and is governed by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS). A member of both UEFA and FIFA, the team’s identity is closely tied to national symbols, most notably the Croatian checkerboard and the red, white, and blue tricolour. The team is popularly known as the Vatreni (“Blazers”) and the Kockasti (“Checkered Ones”).

Since 2000, Croatia has qualified for nearly every major international tournament, with the exceptions of UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The team has achieved remarkable success at the FIFA World Cup, finishing as runners-up in 2018 and securing third place in both 1998 and 2022. Individual accolades include Davor Šuker, who won the Golden Shoe and Silver Ball in 1998, and Luka Modrić, who earned the Golden Ball in 2018 and the Bronze Ball in 2022. Croatia has also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA European Championship twice (1996 and 2008) and finished as runners-up in the 2023 UEFA Nations League.

Upon joining FIFA in 1994, Croatia was ranked 125th in the world. Following an impressive debut World Cup campaign in 1998, the team skyrocketed to third place in the FIFA World Rankings, becoming the youngest national team ever to break into the top 10. Known for their technical skill, tactical discipline, and passionate fan base, Croatia has established itself as a respected and competitive force in international football.