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Croatia at the UEFA European Championship

{{Short description|none}}

The UEFA European Championship is one of the major competitive international football tournaments, first played in 1960, whose finals stage has been held every four years.

The Croatia national football team has contested this tournament since 1996, having been part of Yugoslavia up until the qualifying stages for the 1992 edition. Croatia has qualified for every Euro competition except for the 2000 edition, played in Belgium and the Netherlands. The team's best performances have been reaching the quarter-finals twice — in 1996 and 2008, losing to Germany and Turkey, respectively.

Overall record

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
colspan=10|UEFA European Championship record

! rowspan="28" |

!colspan=7|Qualification record

Year

!Round

!Position

! width="20" |{{Abbr|Pld|Matches played}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|W|Won}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|D|Drawn}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|L|Lost}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}

! width="20" | Squad

! Position

! width="20" |{{Abbr|Pld|Matches played}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|W|Won}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|D|Drawn}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|L|Lost}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|GF|Goals for}}

! width="20" |{{Abbr|GA|Goals against}}

{{flagicon|France}} 1960 to {{flagicon|Sweden}} 1992

| colspan="9"|Part of {{fb|Yugoslavia}}

colspan="8"|Part of {{fb|Yugoslavia}}
{{flagicon|England}} 1996

|Quarter-finals

|7th

|4

|2

|0

|2

|5

|5

|Squad

|1st

|10

|7

|2

|1

|22

|5

{{flagicon|Belgium}} {{flagicon|Netherlands}} 2000

|colspan=9|Did not qualify

|3rd

|8

|4

|3

|1

|13

|9

{{flagicon|Portugal}} 2004

|Group stage

|13th

|3

|0

|2

|1

|4

|6

|Squad

|2nd

|10

|6

|2

|2

|14

|5

{{flagicon|Austria}} {{flagicon|Switzerland}} 2008

|Quarter-finals

|5th

|4

|3

|1

|0

|5

|2

|Squad

|1st

|12

|9

|2

|1

|28

|8

{{flagicon|Poland}} {{flagicon|Ukraine}} 2012

|Group stage

|10th

|3

|1

|1

|1

|4

|3

|Squad

|2nd

|12

|8

|2

|2

|21

|7

{{flagicon|France|1974}} 2016

|rowspan=2|Round of 16

|9th

|4

|2

|1

|1

|5

|4

|Squad

|2nd

|10

|6

|3

|1

|20

|5

{{flagicon|Europe}} 2020

|14th

|4

|1

|1

|2

|7

|8

|Squad

|1st

|8

|5

|2

|1

|17

|7

{{flagicon|Germany}} 2024

|Group stage

|20th

|3

|0

|2

|1

|3

|6

|Squad

|2nd

|8

|5

|1

|2

|13

|4

{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} {{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} 2028

|colspan=9 rowspan=2|To be determined

|colspan=8 rowspan=2|To be determined

{{flagicon|Italy}} {{flagicon|Turkey}} 2032
Total

!Quarter-finals

!7/8

!25

!9

!8

!8

!33

!34

!–

!–

!78

!50

!17

!11

!148

!50

:*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:50%; text-align:center"
style="background:white; color:red; {{box-shadow border|a|#171796|1px}}" colspan="2"|Croatia's European Championship record
style="background:white; color:red; {{box-shadow border|a|#171796|1px}}"|First Match

|{{fb|Turkey}} 0–1 {{fb-rt|Croatia}}
(11 June 1996; Nottingham, England)

style="background:white; color:red; {{box-shadow border|a|#171796|1px}}"|Biggest Win

|{{fb|Croatia}} 3–0 {{fb-rt|Denmark}}
(16 June 1996; Sheffield, England)

style="background:white; color:red; {{box-shadow border|a|#171796|1px}}"|Biggest Defeat

|{{fb|Croatia}} 0–3 {{fb-rt|Portugal}}
(19 June 1996; Nottingham, England)
{{fb|Spain}} 3–0 {{fb-rt|Croatia}}
(15 June 2024; Berlin, Germany)

style="background:white; color:red; {{box-shadow border|a|#171796|1px}}"|Best Result

|Quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008

style="background:white; color:red; {{box-shadow border|a|#171796|1px}}"|Worst Result

|Group stage in 2004, 2012 and 2024

UEFA Euro 1996

{{main|UEFA Euro 1996}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 1996}}

=Qualifying=

{{Main|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 4}}

{{UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying group tables|Group 4|showteam=CRO|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

=Group stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 1996 Group D}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Ladić

| SW = Jerkan

| RCB = Bilić

| LCB = Štimac

| RWB = Stanić

| LWB = Jarni

| CM = Prosinečki

| RAM = Boban (c)

| LAM = Asanović

| RCF = Vlaović

| LCF= Šuker

| caption = Croatia's 3-5-2 lineup in the Euro 1996

}}

{{UEFA Euro 1996 group tables|Group D|showteam=CRO}}

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 1996 Group D|d2}}

----

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 1996 Group D|d4}}

----

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 1996 Group D|d5}}

=Knockout stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 1996 knockout stage}}

;Quarter-finals

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 1996 knockout stage|qf3}}

UEFA Euro 2004

{{main|UEFA Euro 2004}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2004}}

=Qualifying=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Group 8}}

{{UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying group tables|Group 8|showteam=CRO|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

;Play-offs

{{main|UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying play-offs}}

{{Football box

|id=Croatia v Slovenia

|date=15 November 2003

|time=17:30 UTC+1

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

|score=1–1

|report=[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/73611--croatia-vs-slovenia/ Report]

|team2={{fb|SVN}}

|goals1=Pršo {{goal|5}}

|goals2=Šiljak {{goal|22}}

|stadium=Maksimir Stadion, Zagreb

|attendance=34,657{{UEFA match attendance|73611|Croatia v Slovenia, 15 November 2003|access-date=18 November 2020}}

|referee=Markus Merk (Germany)

}}

{{Football box

|id=Slovenia v Croatia

|date=19 November 2003

|time=17:30 UTC+1

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

|score=0–1

|report=[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/73612--slovenia-vs-croatia/ Report]

|team2={{fb|CRO}}

|goals2=Pršo {{goal|61}}

|stadium=Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana

|attendance=8,500{{UEFA match attendance|73612|Slovenia v Croatia, 19 November 2003|access-date=18 November 2020}}

|referee=Urs Meier (Switzerland)

}}

Croatia won 2–1 on aggregate and qualified for UEFA Euro 2004.

=Group stage=

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Butina

| RCB = R.Kovač

| LCB = Šimunić

| RB = Šimić

| LB = Živković (c)

| DM = Tudor

| CM = N.Kovač

| RAM = Roso

| LAM = Rapaić

| RCF = Šokota

| LCF= Pršo

| caption = Croatia's 4-4-2 lineup in the Euro 2004

}}

{{main|UEFA Euro 2004 Group B}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2004 Group B|transcludesection=standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2004 Group B|transcludesection=b1}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2004 Group B|transcludesection=b4}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2004 Group B|transcludesection=b5}}

UEFA Euro 2008

{{main|UEFA Euro 2008}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2008}}

=Qualifying=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group E}}

In the qualifiers, Croatia was drawn into Group E of Euro 2008's qualifications, along with Andorra, England, Estonia, Macedonia, Israel and Russia.

Over the course of qualifying, Croatia racked up nine wins, two draws, and one loss. Croatia's loss was a 2–0 defeat at Skopje, Macedonia. Croatia and Romania became the final teams to record their first loss, both on the 17 November 2007 matchday, in a qualification cycle where every team suffered at least one defeat. Croatia gathered numerous headlines after knocking England out on the final matchday, with a 3–2 victory at Wembley Stadium.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/the_limey/11/30/limey/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604144311/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/the_limey/11/30/limey/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 4, 2011 | work=CNN | title=With McClaren out, England needs something Special | date=30 November 2007 | accessdate=30 April 2010}}

Croatian striker Eduardo was the second-highest goalscorer in qualifications with ten goals, trailing Northern Ireland's David Healy.

{{UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying group tables|Group E|showteam=CRO|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

=Group stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 Group B}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Pletikosa

| RCB = R.Kovač

| LCB = Šimunić

| RB = Ćorluka

| LB = Pranjić

| LCM = Modrić

| RCM = N.Kovač (c)

| RM = Srna

| LM = Rakitić

| SS = Kranjčar

| CF= Olić

| caption = Croatia's 4-4-2 lineup in the Euro 2008

}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2008 Group B|transcludesection=standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2008 Group B|transcludesection=b1}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2008 Group B|transcludesection=b3}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2008 Group B|transcludesection=b5}}

=Knockout stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2008 knockout stage}}

;Quarter-finals

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2008 knockout stage|qf2}}

UEFA Euro 2012

{{main|UEFA Euro 2012}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2012}}

=Qualifying=

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group F}}

{{UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying group tables|showteam=CRO|Group F|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

;Play-offs

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs}}

{{Football box

|id=Turkey v Croatia

|date = 11 November 2011

|time = 21:05 UTC+2

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

|score = 0–3

|report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/2008824--turkiye-vs-croatia/ Report]

|team2 = {{fb|CRO}}

|goals2 = Olić {{goal|2}}
Mandžukić {{goal|32}}
Ćorluka {{goal|51}}

|stadium = Türk Telekom Arena, Istanbul

|attendance = 42,863{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/11/11/europe/european-championships/turkey/croatia/1219245/|title = Turkey vs. Croatia - 11 November 2011 - Soccerway}}

|referee = Felix Brych (Germany) }}

{{Football box

|id=Croatia v Turkey

|date = 15 November 2011

|time = 20:05 UTC+1

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

|score = 0–0

|report = [https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/2008828--croatia-vs-turkiye/ Report]

|team2 = {{fb|TUR}}

|stadium = Maksimir Stadium, Zagreb

|attendance = 26,371{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/11/15/europe/european-championships/croatia/turkey/1219248/|title = Croatia vs. Turkey - 15 November 2011 - Soccerway}}

|referee = Pedro Proença (Portugal) }}

Croatia won 3–0 on aggregate and qualified for UEFA Euro 2012.

=Group stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2012 Group C}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Pletikosa

| RCB = Ćorluka

| LCB = Schildenfeld

| RB = Srna (c)

| LB = Strinić

| LCM = Modrić

| RCM = Vukojević

| RM = Rakitić

| LM = Perišić

| RCF = Jelavić

| LCF= Mandžukić

| caption = Croatia's 4-4-2 lineup in the Euro 2012

}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2012 Group C|transcludesection=standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2012 Group C|transcludesection=c2}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2012 Group C|transcludesection=c3}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2012 Group C|transcludesection=c5}}

UEFA Euro 2016

{{main|UEFA Euro 2016}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2016}}

=Qualifying=

{{Main|UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group H}}

{{UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying group tables|Group H|showteam=CRO|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

=Group stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2016 Group D}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Subašić

| RCB = Ćorluka

| LCB = Vida

| RB = Srna (c)

| LB = Strinić

| LCM = Modrić

| RCM = Badelj

| AM = Rakitić

| LW = Perišić

| RW = Brozović

| CF= Mandžukić

| caption = Croatia's 4-2-3-1 lineup in the Euro 2016

}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2016 Group D|transcludesection=standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2016 Group D|transcludesection=d1}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2016 Group D|transcludesection=d3}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2016 Group D|transcludesection=d6}}

=Knockout stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage}}

;Round of 16

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2016 knockout stage|g3}}

UEFA Euro 2020

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2020}}

=Qualifying=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group E}}

{{UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying group tables|Group E|showteam=CRO|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

=Group stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 Group D}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Livaković

| RCB = Vida

| LCB = Lovren

| RB = Juranović

| LB = Gvardiol

| LCM = Kovačić

| RCM = Brozović

| AM = Modrić (c)

| LW = Perišić

| RW = Vlašić

| CF= Petković

| caption = Croatia's 4-2-3-1 lineup in the Euro 2020

}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2020 Group D|transcludesection=standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2020 Group D|transcludesection=D1}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2020 Group D|transcludesection=D3}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2020 Group D|transcludesection=D5}}

=Knockout stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2020 knockout stage}}

;Round of 16

{{#lst:UEFA Euro 2020 knockout stage|R16-5}}

UEFA Euro 2024

{{main|UEFA Euro 2024}}

{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2024}}

=Qualifying=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group D}}

{{UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying group tables|Group D|showteam=CRO|show_matches=yes|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

=Group stage=

{{main|UEFA Euro 2024 Group B}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

|GK = Livaković

|RB = Stanišić

|RCB = Šutalo

|LCB = Pongračić

|LB = Gvardiol

|RCM = Modrić (c)

|DM = Brozović

|LW = Sučić

|LCM = Kovačić

|RW = Majer

|CF = Kramarić

| caption = Croatia's 4-3-3 lineup in the Euro 2024

}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2024 Group B|transcludesection=Standings|showteam=CRO}}

{{:UEFA Euro 2024 Group B|transcludesection=B1}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2024 Group B|transcludesection=B3}}

----

{{:UEFA Euro 2024 Group B|transcludesection=B6}}

;Ranking of third-placed teams

{{:UEFA Euro 2024|transcludesection=third|showteam=GrB}}

List of matches

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
Year

!width=100|Round

!width=120|Opponent

!width=80|Score

!width=50|Result

!width=100|Venue

!Croatia scorers

rowspan="4" align=center|{{flagicon|ENG}} 1996rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|TUR}}align=center|1–0align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WNottinghamVlaović
{{fb|DEN}}align=center|3–0align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WSheffieldŠuker (2), Boban
{{fb|POR}}align=center|0–3align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LNottingham{{sort dash}}
Quarter-finals{{fb|GER}}align=center|1–2align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LManchesterŠuker
rowspan="3" align=center|{{flagicon|POR}} 2004rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|SUI}}align=center|0–0align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DLeiria{{sort dash}}
{{fb|FRA|1974}}align=center|2–2align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DLeiriaRapaić, Pršo
{{fb|ENG}}align=center|2–4align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LLisbonN. Kovač, Tudor
rowspan="4" align=center|{{flagicon|AUT}} {{flagicon|SUI}} 2008rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|AUT}}align=center|1–0align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WViennaModrić
{{fb|GER}}align=center|2–1align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WKlagenfurtSrna, Olić
{{fb|POL}}align=center|1–0align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WKlagenfurtKlasnić
Quarter-finals{{fb|TUR}}align=center|1–1 {{aet}} {{pso|1–3}}align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DViennaKlasnić
rowspan="3" align=center|{{flagicon|POL}} {{flagicon|UKR}} 2012rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|IRL}}align=center|3–1align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WPoznańMandžukić (2), Jelavić
{{fb|ITA}}align=center|1–1align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DPoznańMandžukić
{{fb|ESP}}align=center|0–1align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LGdańsk{{sort dash}}
rowspan="4" align=center|{{flagicon|FRA|1974}} 2016rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|TUR}}align=center|1–0align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WParisModrić
{{fb|CZE}}align=center|2–2align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DSaint-ÉtiennePerišić, Rakitić
{{fb|ESP}}align=center|2–1align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WBordeauxKalinić, Perišić
Round of 16{{fb|POR}}align=center|0–1 {{aet}}align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LLens{{sort dash}}
rowspan="4" align=center|{{flagicon|Europe}} 2020rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|ENG}}align=center|0–1align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LLondon{{sort dash}}
{{fb|CZE}}align=center|1–1align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DGlasgowPerišić
{{fb|SCO}}align=center|3–1align=center bgcolor="#bbffbb"|WGlasgowVlašić, Modrić, Perišić
Round of 16{{fb|ESP}}align=center|3–5 {{aet}}align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LCopenhagenPedri (o.g.), Oršić, Pašalić
rowspan="3" align=center|{{flagicon|Germany}} 2024rowspan="3"|Group stage{{fb|ESP}}align=center|0–3align=center bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|LBerlin{{sort dash}}
{{fb|ALB}}align=center|2–2align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DHamburgKramarić, Gjasula (o.g.)
{{fb|ITA}}align=center|1–1align=center bgcolor="#ffffbb"|DLeipzigModrić

=By opponent=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
Opponent

!{{abbr|2=games played|Pld}}

!{{abbr|2=games won|W}}

!{{abbr|2=games drawn|D}}

!{{abbr|2=games lost|L}}

!{{abbr|2=goals for|GF}}

!{{abbr|2=goals against|GA}}

!{{abbr|2=goal difference|GD}}

bgcolor=#FFFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|ALB}}

1010220
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|AUT}}

110010+1
bgcolor=#FFFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|CZE}}

2020330
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|DEN}}

110030+3
bgcolor=#FFCCCC

|align="left"| {{fb|ENG}}

200225-3
bgcolor=#FFFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|FRA}}

1010220
bgcolor=#FFFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|GER}}

2101330
bgcolor=#FFFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|ITA}}

2020220
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|POL}}

110010+1
bgcolor=#FFCCCC

|align="left"| {{fb|POR}}

200204-4
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|IRL}}

110031+2
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|SCO}}

110031+2
bgcolor=#FFCCCC

|align="left"| {{fb|ESP}}

4103510−5
bgcolor=#FFFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|SUI}}

1010000
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|align="left"| {{fb|TUR}}

321031+2

Players with most appearances

class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
Rank

!Player

!Matches

!Years

align=center|1Luka Modrićalign=center|162008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024
align=center|2Ivan Perišićalign=center|132012, 2016, 2020, 2024
align=center|3Darijo Srnaalign=center|122004, 2008, 2012, 2016
align=center|4Vedran Ćorlukaalign=center|112008, 2012, 2016
align=center rowspan=3|5Ivan Rakitićalign=center rowspan=3|102008, 2012, 2016
Marcelo Brozović2016, 2020, 2024
Andrej Kramarić2016, 2020, 2024

Goalscorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
Rank

!Player

!Goals

!Years (goals)

rowspan=2 align=center|1

|Luka Modrić

rowspan=2 align=center|42008, 2016, 2020, 2024
Ivan Perišić2016 (2), 2020 (2)
rowspan=2 align=center|3

|Davor Šuker

rowspan=2 align=center|31996
Mario Mandžukić2012
align=center|5

|Ivan Klasnić

align=center|22008
rowspan=15 align=center|6

|Zvonimir Boban

rowspan=15 align=center|11996
Goran Vlaović1996
Niko Kovač2004
Dado Pršo2004
Milan Rapaić2004
Igor Tudor2004
Ivica Olić|2008
Darijo Srna|2008
Nikica Jelavić2012
Nikola Kalinić2016
Ivan Rakitić2016
Nikola Vlašić2020
Mislav Oršić2020
Mario Pašalić2020
Andrej Kramarić2024

Awards

See also

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Croatia national football team}}

{{UEFA Euro Countries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Croatia At The Uefa European Football Championship}}

Category:Countries at the UEFA European Championship