Croatia
Group:
F
First Match:
November 21, 2022, 6 PM SGT
Stadium:
Al Bayt Stadium
Croatia finished first in qualifying after trailing Russia by two points heading into the final match of the season. They won the match 1-0 thanks to their own goal in the final minute of play.
After they got to the final in Moscow, they lost to France by a score of 2-4, one spot higher than their previous best performance, a third-place result in 1998. Before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the Round of 16, Croatia had advanced to that stage in 2017.
Spain scored four goals, including two in overtime, to earn a 3-3 draw in regulation. Croatia made it all the way to the championship game four years ago despite not winning a single match in regulation, so they will enter any overtime period feeling sure of winning.
Key Player: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Given that Modric is 37 years old, this tournament is almost certain to be his swan song. Modric, who just celebrated his tenth year with Real Madrid, has been instrumental in the club's success, helping them win 9 titles overall and 5 Champions Leagues.
He won the Ballon d'Or and was named the World Cup's best player four years ago. Regardless of the country's fortunes this winter, he will go down in history as the country's most-capped player.