Croatia

Croatia are the ultimate tournament team — a nation of four million that has produced a World Cup finalist (2018) and third-place finisher (2022) in consecutive editions, an achievement that defies all logic of footballing demographics. Luka Modrić, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, may be playing in his final World Cup, but his passing genius and leadership continue to elevate everyone around him. The transition to the next generation is already well underway: Joško Gvardiol has become one of the world's premier defenders at Manchester City, combining physical dominance with remarkable comfort on the ball. Lovro Majer's creative vision from midfield, Mateo Kovačić's relentless engine, and the goal threat of Bruno Petković give Croatia a balanced and battle-tested squad. Coach Zlatko Dalić has an extraordinary ability to forge unbreakable team spirit and extract maximum performance in pressure moments — Croatia have won six of their last seven penalty shootouts at major tournaments. With a squad that blends Champions League experience from Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Atlético Madrid with the fierce national pride that defines Croatian football, the Vatreni are once again dark horses capable of reaching the semi-finals and beyond.