Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

{{See also|2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I}}

Croatia was in Group I of UEFA's World Cup qualifications. They played alongside Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland and Kosovo. Croatia finished as runner-up in the group and entered the second-round play-offs where the team beat Greece and qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Croatia national team was led by manager Ante Čačić until 7 October 2017 when he was, due to a series of bad results, replaced by Zlatko Dalić.{{cite news|title=Čačić smijenjen, Zlatko Dalić novi je izbornik!|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/zlatko-dalic-novi-je-izbornik-vodi-hrvatsku-vec-protiv-ukrajine-1199449|accessdate=12 June 2018|publisher=vecernji.hr|date=7 October 2017|language=Croatian}}

;Standings

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group I|show_matches=yes}}

The results of the group stage

{{football box collapsible

|time = 20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)

|date= {{Start date|2016|9|5|df=y}}

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score=1–1

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332124/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017849/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|TUR}}

|goals1=Rakitić {{goal|44|pen.}}

|goals2 =Çalhanoğlu {{goal|45+3}}

|location = Zagreb, Croatia

|stadium =Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

|attendance=0

|referee=Szymon Marciniak (Poland)

|result=D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|time = 20:45 (UTC+2)

|date= {{Start date|2016|10|6|df=y}}

|team1={{fb-rt|Kosovo}}

|score=0–6

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300361568/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2019957/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=

|goals2=Mandžukić {{goal|6||24||35}}
Mitrović {{goal|68}}
Perišić {{goal|83}}
Kalinić {{goal|90+2}}

|location = Shkodër, Albania

|stadium=Loro Boriçi Stadium

|attendance=14,612

|referee=David Fernández Borbalán (Spain)

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|time = 19:00 (UTC+3)

|date= {{Start date|2016|10|9|df=y}}

|team1={{fb-rt|FIN}}

|score=0–1

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332120/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017859/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=

|goals2 =Mandžukić {{goal|18}}

|location = Tampere, Finland

|stadium =Tampere Stadium

|attendance=15,567

|referee=Ruddy Buquet (France)

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|time = 18:00 (UTC+1)

|date= {{Start date|2016|11|12|df=y}}

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score= 2–0

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332118/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017847/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|ISL}}

|goals1= Brozović {{goal|15||90+1}}

|goals2 =

|location =Zagreb, Croatia

|stadium =Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

|attendance=0

|referee=Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|time = 20:45 (UTC+1)

|date= {{Start date|2017|03|24|df=y}}

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score= 1–0

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332123/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017848/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|UKR}}

|goals1= Kalinić {{goal|38}}

|goals2 =

|location =Zagreb, Croatia

|stadium =Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb

|attendance=27,351

|referee=Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|id=Iceland v Croatia

|date={{Start date|2017|6|11|df=y}}

|time=20:45
(18:45 UTC±0)

|team1={{fb-rt|ISL}}

|score=1–0

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332114/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017851/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=Magnússon {{goal|90}}

|goals2=

|location=Reykjavík, Iceland

|stadium=Laugardalsvöllur

|attendance=

|referee=Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|id=Croatia v Kosovo

|date={{Start date|2017|9|3|df=y}}The game was originally scheduled for 2 September, but due to heavy rains in Zagreb was postponed for the next day.

|time=14:30
(14:30 UTC+2)

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score=1–0

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300361569/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2019962/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|KVX}}

|goals1=Vida {{goal|74}}

|goals2=

|location =Zagreb, Croatia

|stadium=Stadion Maksimir

|attendance=6,838

|referee= Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)

|result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|id=Turkey v Croatia

|date={{Start date|2017|9|5|df=y}}

|time=20:45
(21:45 UTC+3)

|team1={{fb-rt|TUR}}

|score=1–0

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332110/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017863/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=

• Tosun {{goal|75}}

|goals2=

|location =Eskişehir, Turkey

|stadium=New Eskişehir Stadium

|attendance=28,600

|referee=Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|id=Croatia v Finland

|date={{Start date|2017|10|6|df=y}}

|time=20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score= 1–1

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332117/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017850/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|FIN}}

|goals1=Mandžukić {{goal|57}}

|goals2=Soiri {{goal|90}}

|location =Rijeka, Croatia

|stadium=Stadion Rujevica

|attendance=7,578

|referee=Daniel Stefanski (Poland)

|result=D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|id=Ukraine v Croatia

|date={{Start date|2017|10|9|df=y}}

|time=20:45
(21:45 UTC+3)

|team1={{fb-rt|UKR}}

|score= 0–2

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276483/match=300332111/index.html Report (FIFA)]
[http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2018/matches/round=2000717/match=2017855/index.html Report (UEFA)]{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=

|goals2=Kramarić {{goal|62}} {{goal|70}}

|location =Kyiv, Ukraine

|stadium=Olympic Stadium

|attendance=60,200

|referee=Felix Brych (Germany)

|result=W

}}

;The results of the second-round play-off

{{football box collapsible

|id=Croatia v Greece

|date={{Start date|2017|11|9|df=y}}

|time= 20:45
(20:45 UTC+2)

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score=4–1

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276503/match=300417852/index.html#nosticky Report (FIFA)]
[https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2023296--croatia-vs-greece/ Report (UEFA)]

|team2={{fb|GRE}}

|goals1=

• Modrić {{goal|13|pen.}}
• N. Kalinić {{goal|19}}
• Perišić {{goal|33}}
• Kramarić {{goal|49}}

|goals2=

Papastathopoulos {{goal|30}}

|location =Zagreb, Croatia

|stadium =Stadion Maksimir

|attendance=30,013

|referee=Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|id=Greece v Croatia

|date={{Start date|2017|11|12|df=y}}

|time=20:45
(21:45 UTC+3)

|team1={{fb-rt|GRE}}

|score= 0–0

|aggregatescore = 1–4

|report=[https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=276503/match=300417851/index.html#nosticky Report (FIFA)]
[https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2023300--greece-vs-croatia/ Report (UEFA)]

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=

|goals2=

|location =Piraeus, Greece

|stadium=Karaiskakis Stadium

|attendance=18,667

|referee=Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)

|result=D

}}

Altogether 26 players appeared in the qualifying matches. Domagoj Vida is the only player that appeared in all 12 matches playing the full 90 minutes of all games. Mario Mandžukić was the top scorer with 5 achieved goals.

Filip Bradarić, Duje Ćaleta-Car and Dominik Livaković did not appear in any of the qualifying matches but made the final World Cup squad.

Complete list of players in the qualifying matches

{{football box collapsible

|date=23 March 2018

|time=01:00 (UTC+1)

|team1={{fb-rt|PER}}

|score=2–0

|report= https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/24/world/friendlies/peru/croatia/2702128/

|round=Friendly match

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=Carrillo {{goal|12}}
Flores {{goal|48}}
Yoshimar Yotun {{sentoff|2|57|75}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Hard Rock Stadium

|location=Miami, United States

|attendance=46,893

|referee=Ismail Elfath (United States)

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=27 March 2018

|time=04:00 (UTC+1)

|team1={{fb-rt|MEX}}

|score=0–1

|report=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/28/world/friendlies/mexico/croatia/2705431/

|round=Friendly match

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals1=

|goals2=Rakitić {{goal|62|pen.}}

|stadium=AT&T Stadium

|location=Dallas, United States

|attendance=79,128

|referee=Mario Alberto Escobar (Guatemala)

|result=W

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=3 June 2018

|time=16:00 (UTC+1)

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score=0–2

|report=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/06/03/world/friendlies/brazil/croatia/2759797/?ICID=HP_MS_01_05

|round=Friendly match

|team2={{fb|BRA}}

|goals1=

|goals2=Neymar {{goal|69}}
Firmino {{goal|90+4}}

|stadium=Anfield

|location=Liverpool, England

|attendance=36,584

|referee=Michael Oliver (England)

|result=L

}}

{{football box collapsible

|date=8 June 2018

|time=18:00 (UTC+2)

|team1={{fb-rt|CRO}}

|score=2–1

|report=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/06/08/world/friendlies/croatia/senegal/2745804/

|round=Friendly match

|team2={{fb|SEN}}

|goals1=Perišić {{goal|63}}
Kramarić {{goal|78}}

|goals2=Sarr {{goal|48}}

|stadium=Stadion Gradski vrt

|location=Osijek, Croatia

|attendance=15,998

|referee=Ádám Farkas (Hungary)

|result=W

}}

Croatia was drawn into Group D. Croatia's opponents in the first stage were Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland.

Coach: Zlatko Dalić

A 32-man preliminary squad was announced on 14 May 2018.{{Cite news |url=http://hns-cff.hr/news/18000/dalic-klupski-trofeji-su-dokaz-kvalitete-nase-reprezentacije/ |title=Izbornik hrvatske reprezentacije Zlatko Dalić objavio je danas širi popis od 32 igrača koji kandidiraju za nastup na FIFA Svjetskom prvenstvu u Rusiji ovoga ljeta. |last=hns-cff.hr |date=14 May 2018 |work=hns-cff.hr |access-date=14 May 2018 |language=Croatian}} The squad was reduced to 24 players on 21 May.{{cite news |url=http://hns-cff.hr/en/news/18052/head-coach-dalic-presents-24-man-croatia-squad/ |title=Head coach Dalić presents 24-man Croatia squad |website=hns-cff.hr |publisher=Croatian Football Federation |date=21 May 2018 |access-date=21 May 2018}} The final squad was announced on 4 June.{{cite news |last=Radičević |first=Vlado |url=https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/zlatko-dalic-donio-najtezu-odluku-visak-postao-igrac-koji-to-sigurno-nije-ocekivao-foto-20180604 |title=Zlatko Dalić donio najtežu odluku; višak postao igrač koji to sigurno nije očekivao |trans-title=Zlatko Dalić made the toughest decision; the surplus became a player who did not expect it |website=Tportal.hr |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=4 June 2018 |language=Croatian}}

{{nat fs g start}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=Dominik Livaković|sortname=Livakovic, Dominik|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1995|1|9}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Dinamo Zagreb|clubnat=CRO}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2|pos=DF|name=Šime Vrsaljko|sortname=Vrsaljko, Sime|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1992|1|10}}|caps=35|goals=0|club=Atlético Madrid|clubnat=ESP}}

{{nat fs g player|no=3|pos=DF|name=Ivan Strinić|sortname=Strinic, Ivan|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1987|7|17}}|caps=43|goals=0|club=Sampdoria|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=FW|name=Ivan Perišić|sortname=Perisic, Ivan|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1989|2|2}}|caps=66|goals=18|club=Inter Milan|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=DF|name=Vedran Ćorluka|sortname=Corluka, Vedran|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1986|2|5}}|caps=99|goals=4|club=Lokomotiv Moscow|clubnat=RUS}}

{{nat fs g player|no=6|pos=DF|name=Dejan Lovren|sortname=Lovren, Dejan|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1989|7|5}}|caps=39|goals=2|club=Liverpool|clubnat=ENG}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7|pos=MF|name=Ivan Rakitić|sortname=Rakitic, Ivan|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1988|3|10}}|caps=92|goals=14|club=Barcelona|clubnat=ESP}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8|pos=MF|name=Mateo Kovačić|sortname=Kovacic, Mateo|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1994|5|6}}|caps=41|goals=1|club=Real Madrid|clubnat=ESP}}

{{nat fs g player|no=9|pos=FW|name=Andrej Kramarić|sortname=Kramaric, Andrej|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1991|6|19}}|caps=31|goals=9|club=1899 Hoffenheim|clubnat=GER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=MF|name=Luka Modrić|sortname=Modric, Luka|other=captain|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1985|9|9}}|caps=106|goals=12|club=Real Madrid|clubnat=ESP}}

{{nat fs g player|no=11|pos=MF|name=Marcelo Brozović|sortname=Brozovic, Marcelo|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1992|11|16}}|caps=35|goals=6|club=Inter Milan|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=GK|name=Lovre Kalinić|sortname=Kalinic, Lovre|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1990|4|3}}|caps=11|goals=0|club=Gent|clubnat=BEL}}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=DF|name=Tin Jedvaj|sortname=Jedvaj, Tin|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1995|11|28}}|caps=12|goals=0|club=Bayer Leverkusen|clubnat=GER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=MF|name=Filip Bradarić|sortname=Bradaric, Filip|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1992|1|11}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Rijeka|clubnat=CRO}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=DF|name=Duje Ćaleta-Car|sortname=Caleta-Car, Duje|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1996|9|17}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Red Bull Salzburg|clubnat=AUT}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=FW|name=Nikola Kalinić|sortname=Kalinic, Nikola|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1988|1|5}}|caps=42|goals=15|club=Milan|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=FW|name=Mario Mandžukić|sortname=Mandzukic, Mario|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1986|5|21}}|caps=83|goals=30|club=Juventus|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=FW|name=Ante Rebić|sortname=Rebic, Ante|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1993|9|21}}|caps=16|goals=1|club=Eintracht Frankfurt|clubnat=GER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=MF|name=Milan Badelj|sortname=Badelj, Milan|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1989|2|25}}|caps=38|goals=1|club=Fiorentina|clubnat=ITA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=FW|name=Marko Pjaca|sortname=Pjaca, Marko|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1995|5|6}}|caps=16|goals=1|club=Schalke 04|clubnat=GER}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=DF|name=Domagoj Vida|sortname=Vida, Domagoj|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1989|4|29}}|caps=59|goals=2|club=Beşiktaş|clubnat=TUR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=22|pos=DF|name=Josip Pivarić|sortname=Pivaric, Josip|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1989|1|30}}|caps=19|goals=0|club=Dynamo Kyiv|clubnat=UKR}}

{{nat fs g player|no=23|pos=GK|name=Danijel Subašić|sortname=Subasic, Danijel|age={{Birth date and age2|df=yes|2018|6|14|1984|10|27}}|caps=38|goals=0|club=Monaco|clubnat=FRA}}

{{nat fs end}}

{{See also|2018 FIFA World Cup Group D}}

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d2}}

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d3}}

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=d6}}

=== Round of 16 ===

{{#lst:2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|r16-4}}

=== Quarter-finals ===

{{#lst:2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|qf4}}

=== Semi-finals ===

{{#lst:2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|sf2}}

=== Final ===

{{See also|2018 FIFA World Cup final}}

{{#lst:2018 FIFA World Cup Final|final}}

{{:2018 FIFA World Cup Group D|transcludesection=standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline}}

{{Croatia at the FIFA World Cup}}

{{Countries at the FIFA World Cup by year}}

Category:Countries at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Category:Modern history of Croatia