Croatia team UEFA EURO 2024
Composition of the Croatian national team
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Nediljko Labrović.
Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Josip Juranović, Joško Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Martin Erlić, Marin Pongračić.
Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Marcelo Brozović, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Lovro Majer, Luka Ivanušec, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina.
Forwards: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Bruno Petković, Marko Pjaca, Ante Budimir, Marko Pašalić.
History of the Croatian football team
The Croatian national football team, often referred to as “Vatreni” (the fiery ones), has made a name for itself at the European Championships and is one of the most consistent teams in Europe. Since their first participation in the Euro in 1996, Croatia have repeatedly put in impressive performances and established themselves as serious competitors.
At the 1996 European Championships in England, Croatia surprised the football world when they made it to the quarter-finals in their first appearance in a major tournament. The team showed a remarkable mix of talent and tactical discipline. However, Croatia lost in the quarterfinals to Germany, who later won the title.
The 2008 European Championship was another highlight for Croatia. Under the leadership of Slaven Bilić, the team played a strong group stage, winning all three games, including a notable win against Germany. In the quarter-final against Turkey, Croatia led until injury time, but lost on penalties, which was a bitter disappointment for many fans.
At the 2016 European Championships, Croatia once again managed to successfully get through the group phase and qualify for the knockout rounds. The team put in impressive performances, including a memorable 2-1 win against Spain. However, in the round of 16, Croatia lost to Portugal, who later won the tournament.
The recent participation in the 2020 European Championships, which took place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, once again showed the strength of the Croatian team. With players like Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić and Mateo Kovačić, Croatia reached the round of 16, but lost in an exciting game against Spain after extra time.
Croatia has established itself as one of the consistent forces at the European Championships. With a mix of experienced stars and emerging talent, the team remains a strong contender for future European titles. The passion and fighting spirit of the “”Vatreni”” make them a team that should not be underestimated in any tournament.