Group A: Croatia

12:48 - 10 June 2014

Croatia played in their first World in France 98, winning the third place bronze. Can they achieve the same feat after missing the South Africa 2010 edition?

CROATIA

Current FIFA Ranking:

Coach:

Defenders:Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld, Danijel Pranjic (both Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa).

Midfielders:Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Sammir (Getafe), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka).

Forwards:Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina).

Key player:

Luka Modric

Player To Watch:

Ivan Rakitic

Journey To Brazil:

Croatia earned 16 points from their first six fixtures but then lost three games for the first time in a qualifying campaign: twice against Scotland and at home to Belgium.
Beat Iceland 2-0 on aggregate in Play-off qualifier.

World Cup Profile:

Debuted the World Cup in 1998
Finished third on their World Cup debut in 1998
Failed to progress from the group stage in 2002 and 2006
Did not qualify for the 2010 tournament.
Mario Mandzukic, Croatia's top qualifying scorer, suspended for opener against Brazil after sending off against Iceland.
Niko Kranjcar out of World due to a hamstring injury.