Croatia’s run to the World Cup final in 2018 set a new standard for them as an independent nation, after previously reaching the semifinals of France 1998.
With a squad full of UEFA Champions League talent, Zlatko Dalic’s side finally came together on the world stage four years ago to see off Denmark, Russia and England before losing out to France for the title.
However, they have since regrouped, despite exiting the last 16 for Euro 2020, and Dalic will be looking to coax another appearance at a major tournament from his veteran stars in Qatar.
Captained by Real Madrid star Luka Modrić, Croatia will boast one of the most experienced squads at the World Cup and Dalić will rely on that key know-how to re-invigorate their momentum.
Projected Croatia World Cup squad 2022
Dalic has until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of up to 55 players to FIFA, from which he will select a final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
Croatia made their preliminary roster available publicly on October 31, with 34 names on the chart. They announced their final roster will be released on November 9. These are the players listed on the preliminary squad:
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ivo Grbic | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 26 | 2 |
| Goalkeeper | Ivica Ivusic | Osijek (CRO) | 27 | 5 |
| Goalkeeper | Dominik Kotarski | PAOK Thessaloniki (GRE) | 0 | |
| Goalkeeper | Nediljko Labrovic | Rijeka (CRO) | 23 | 0 |
| Goalkeeper | Dominik Livakovic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 27 | 33 |
| Defender | Borna Barisic | Rangers (SCO) | 29 | 27 |
| Defender | Duje Caleta-Car | Southampton (ENG) | 26 | 23 |
| Defender | Martin Erlic | Sassuolo (ITA) | 24 | 3 |
| Defender | Josko Gvardiol | RB Leipzig (GER) | 20 | 12 |
| Defender | Josip Juranovic | Celtic (SCO) | 27 | 21 |
| Defender | Dejan Lovren | Zenit (RUS) | 33 | 71 |
| Defender | Marin Pongracic | Lecce (ITA) | 25 | 5 |
| Defender | Borna Sosa | VfB Stuttgart (GER) | 24 | 8 |
| Defender | Josip Stanisic | Bayern Munich (GER) | 22 | 6 |
| Defender | Josip Sutalo | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 22 | 3 |
| Defender | Domagoj Vida | AEK Athens (GRE) | 33 | 99 |
| Midfielder | Marcelo Brozovic | Inter Milan (ITA) | 29 | 76 |
| Midfielder | Luka Ivanusec | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 23 | 11 |
| Midfielder | Kristijan Jakic | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 25 | 4 |
| Midfielder | Mateo Kovacic | Chelsea (ENG) | 28 | 83 |
| Midfielder | Lovro Majer | Rennes (FRA) | 24 | 10 |
| Midfielder | Josip Misic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 28 | 2 |
| Midfielder | Luka Modric | Real Madrid (SPA) | 37 | 154 |
| Midfielder | Mario Pasalic | Atalanta (ITA) | 27 | 42 |
| Midfielder | Ivan Perisic | Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) | 33 | 115 |
| Midfielder | Luka Sucic | RB Salzburg (AUS) | 20 | 3 |
| Midfielder | Nikola Vlasic | Torino (ITA) | 25 | 41 |
| Forward | Josip Brekalo | VfL Wolfsburg (GER) | 24 | 33 |
| Forward | Ante Budimir | Osasuna (ENG) | 31 | 15 |
| Forward | Antonio Colak | Rangers (SCO) | 29 | 3 |
| Forward | Andrej Kramaric | Hoffenheim (GER) | 31 | 73 |
| Forward | Marko Livaja | Hadjuk Split (CRO) | 29 | 14 |
| Forward | Bruno Petkovic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 28 | 22 |
| Forward | Mislav Orsic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 29 | 20 |
Final 26-man Croatia World Cup roster
Croatia start their challenge in Qatar by facing Morocco on November 23, but first they’ll play one final friendly fixture against fellow World Cup hopefuls Saudi Arabia, on November 16.
The biggest injury to keep an eye on is that of midfielder Marcelo Brozovic who encountered a hamstring issue in late September and has missed all of October. He is thought to be nearing a return, but injuries this close to the World Cup can always raise questions.
Here’s a projected look at who could conceivably make it onto the plane for the Croats, assuming everyone is fully fit and available.
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Dominik Livakovic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 27 | 33 |
| Goalkeeper | Love Kalinic | Hadjuk Split (CRO) | 32 | 19 |
| Goalkeeper | Ivica Ivusic | Osijek (CRO) | 27 | 5 |
| Defender | Josip Stanisic | Bayern Munich (GER) | 22 | 6 |
| Defender | Borna Barisic | Rangers (SCO) | 29 | 27 |
| Defender | Martin Erlic | Sassuolo (ITA) | 24 | 3 |
| Defender | Dejan Lovren | Zenit St Petersburg (ITA) | 33 | 71 |
| Defender | Borna Sosa | VfB Stuttgart (GER) | 24 | 8 |
| Defender | Josko Gvardiol | RB Leipzig (GER) | 20 | 12 |
| Defender | Domagoj Vida | AEK Athens (GRE) | 33 | 99 |
| Defender | Josip Juranovic | Celtic (SCO) | 27 | 21 |
| Defender | Duje Caleta-Car | Southampton (ENG) | 26 | 23 |
| Midfielder | Lovro Majer | Rennes (FRA) | 24 | 10 |
| Midfielder | Mateo Kovacic | Chelsea (ENG) | 28 | 83 |
| Midfielder | Luka Modric | Real Madrid (SPA) | 37 | 154 |
| Midfielder | Luka Sucic | RB Salzburg (AUS) | 20 | 3 |
| Midfielder | Marcelo Brozovic | Inter Milan (ITA) | 29 | 76 |
| Midfielder | Nikola Vlasic | Torino (ITA) | 25 | 41 |
| Midfielder | Mario Pasalic | Atalanta (ITA) | 27 | 42 |
| Midfielder | Ivan Perisic | Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) | 33 | 115 |
| Forward | Andrej Kramaric | Hoffenheim (GER) | 31 | 73 |
| Forward | Marko Livaja | Hadjuk Split (CRO) | 29 | 14 |
| Forward | Bruno Petkovic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 28 | 22 |
| Forward | Ante Budimir | Osasuna (ENG) | 31 | 15 |
| Forward | Mislav Orsic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 29 | 20 |
| Forward | Josip Brekalo | VfL Wolfsburg (GER) | 24 | 33 |
Croatia World Cup group
Dalic’s Croatia look set for a straight shootout with Belgium for top spot in Group F, with the Red Devils also under pressure to squeeze the last hurrah from their veteran stars.
Canada will pose a threat if either of the European heavyweights struggles, and coach John Herdman could see his side upset the odds in this group.
Croatia Group F fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Morocco vs. Croatia | 5 a.m. | Al Bayt |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Croatia vs. Canada | 11 a.m. | Khalifa Int’l |
| Thurs, Dec. 1 | Croatia vs. Belgium | 10 a.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali |
