How will Croatia fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SamRCox_ as he looks at the Kockasti in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...


Croatia History at the World Cup

Since becoming an independent FIFA nation, Croatia have qualified for all but one World Cup (2010).

Their run to the final in 2018 was their best performance to date, going one better than their semi-final exit at the 1998 tournament when the iconic Davor Ε uker won the Golden Boot. 

Luka Modric won the Golden Ball in 2018, as the Croatians defeated England, Russia and Denmark in the knockout rounds after progressing from a group with Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria.

Their defeat to France in the final was their joint-heaviest in World Cup history, losing by two clear goals for just the third time. 

In 2014, Croatia failed to make it out of their group for a third straight World Cup entry. That tournament did feature their largest World Cup win, however, as they beat Cameroon 4-0 in the round-robin. 

Overall, the Croatians have won 11 of their 23 World Cup matches, drawing four others. They have averaged over a goal per match with 35 scored, but have also conceded over a goal per match with 26 goals against in the competition.


Croatia Nickname

The Croatian team are known as the Kockasti, which means β€˜the chequered ones’. This is due to their chequered logo on the national flag and the trademark red and white pattern on their home kit.

Fans might also hear them referred to as Vatreni, meaning β€˜The Blazers’.


World Cup 2022 Group

Croatia are in Group F for the 2022 World Cup, alongside Belgium, Morocco and Canada.

They are online betting favourites for their first two fixtures at the end of November, and will hope to have their place in the last 16 wrapped up before they face Belgium at the start of December. 

Croatia Fixtures:

  • Croatia vs Morocco – 23rd November 2022

  • Croatia vs Canada – 27th November 2022

  • Croatia vs Belgium – 1st December 2022


Croatia Kit World Cup 2022

The chequered pattern isn’t going to shock anyone, but Nike have taken a gamble with the Croatian World Cup home kit, leaving a curious white patch on the chest. The centralised swoosh and logo look good, yet the ensemble doesn’t quite work.

A navy blue away kit has light blue checks across one of the shoulders, fading on the chest. The most Marmite kit of the World Cup.


Who is The Croatia Manager?

Zlatko DaliΔ‡ is the current Croatia manager. DaliΔ‡ led the Croatians to the World Cup final four years ago, but saw his team knocked out at the last 16 of the European Championships last summer. 

The Livno native has won half of his matches in charge of Kockasti, the worst winning percentage since Zlatko Kranjčar.


Best Croatia Player

Even having just celebrated his 37th birthday, there is still an argument that Luka Modric is Croatia’s best player. Class, after all, is permanent.

Modric will be joined by his long-time midfield accomplices Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic at the World Cup, while Tottenham’s Ivan Perisic remains a regular. 

Chelsea target Josko Gvardiol has the highest market value.


Croatia Odds at 2022 World Cup

Behind only Belgium in World Cup betting for Group F at 11/4 to win the section, Croatia are expected to make it into the knockout rounds, but a quarter-final appearance is unlikely with odds of 3/1.

They are way out at 25/1 to repeat their placing of runners-up from 2018. 

Bet on Croatia at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!


 

Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.