Croatia at a glance
Croatia compete in Group L with England, Ghana, and Panama. The Vatreni are tournament veterans, having reached the 2018 World Cup final (loss to France) and the 2020 Euro semifinals. The rematch with England in Dallas is the marquee fixture, with Croatian tactical sophistication and English athleticism clashing.
Group L fixtures
- England vs Croatia — AT&T Stadium, Arlington (17 June, 20:00 UTC).
- Panama vs Croatia — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (23 June, 23:00 UTC).
- Croatia vs Ghana — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (27 June, 21:00 UTC).
Key players to watch
- Luka Modrić (MID) — Real Madrid midfielder; vision, passing, and leadership anchor Croatia's system.
- Ivan Perišić (FW) — aging winger; experience and cross delivery offer set-piece threat.
- Joško Gvardiol (DEF) — center-back; progressive passing and ball-playing ability unlock Croatian build-up.
- Marcelo Brozović (MID) — midfielder; press resistance and tempo control stabilize midfield.
- Mateo Kovačić (MID) — midfielder; technical quality and progression offer creative outlet.
- Dominik Livaković (GK) — shot-stopper and leader; communication and penalty-saving guide Croatian defense.
Predicted starting lineups
Official starting lineups will be confirmed closer to kick-off. The XI below reflects the predicted selection based on current form and squad news.
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Croatia squad overview
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Nediljko Labrović. Defenders: Joško Gvardiol, Dejan Lovren, Borna Barisic, Sime Vrsaljko. Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Lovro Majer, Mario Pašalić. Forwards: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Bruno Petković.
Tournament path
Croatia are Group L underdogs but dangerous. A top-two finish likely draws the Group K runner-up (Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, Congo DR) in round of 32. If Croatia upset England, tournament narrative shifts and confidence soars for deep runs.
Strengths
- Tournament experience — 2018 final run gives Croatia confidence in high-pressure moments.
- Midfield mastery — Modrić, Kovačić, and Brozović offer press resistance and tempo control.
- Ball-playing defense — Gvardiol and Vrsaljko combine recovery speed with progressive passing.
- Tactical discipline — Croatia's shape is compact and difficult to penetrate through direct play.
Weaknesses
- Aging core — Modrić at 40+ and Perišić at 37+ raise durability concerns.
- Striker consistency — without Mandžukić, Croatia lack elite goal-scoring depth.
- Tournament history — despite 2018 final, Croatia have not won major trophies; mental pressure persists.
- Defensive transitions — when Croatia lose possession, fullbacks can be caught open.
Predictor strategy
Croatia are underdogs to England but dangerous. Ghana and Panama are favorable — lock Croatia wins with confidence. England match could swing on set pieces or late counter-attacks. Kramarić is a premium goalscorer; Modrić offers assists through midfield distribution.