The world No. 10 side face Spain in their opening game at Euro 2024 on June 15.
Fans of Dinamo Zagreb cheering the team on during a league match against fierce rivals Lokomotiva Zagreb at Maksimir Stadium on Jan 23. Lokomotiva won 3-0.
Yet, with a country of only 3.8 million people and a gross domestic product of US$78.8 billion as of 2023, there is no doubt that it has footballing pedigree. In Croatia, talent spotting is simplified with a vast network comprising about 120,000 players playing for 2,000 football clubs and academies. These clubs are split into 21 counties, across the five major regions — Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and Varazdin.
“Long term, the idea is to find talents early enough so we can attract them to play for Croatia. If they don’t have sufficient coaching wherever they are, we try to offer them a better solution.” Besides Modric, who was the first Croat to win the Ballon d’Or in 2018, there has also been no lack of inspiration since the 1998 squad, comprising the likes of Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinecki, won a bronze in their maiden World Cup appearance.
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