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Croatia
Nickname(s)	Vatreni ("The Blazers")
Association	Hrvatski nogometni savez
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Slaven Bilić
Captain	Niko Kovač
Most caps	Dario Šimić (95)
Top scorer	Davor Šuker (45)
FIFA code	CRO
FIFA ranking	10
Highest FIFA ranking	3 (January 1999)
Lowest FIFA ranking	125 (March 1994)
Elo ranking	11
Highest Elo ranking	5 (July 1998)
Home colours 　 Away colours
First international
Croatia 2–1 U.S.A. (Zagreb, Croatia; 17 October 1990) (but see text)
Biggest win
Croatia 7–0 Australia (Zagreb, Croatia; 6 June 1998) Croatia 7–0 Andorra (Zagreb, Croatia; 7 October 2006)
Biggest defeat
Slovakia 4–1 Croatia (Bratislava, Slovakia; 20 April 1994 (but see text)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (First in 1998)
Best result	Third place, 1998
European Championship
Appearances	2 (First in 1996)
Best result	Quarterfinals, 1996

The Croatian national football team represents Croatia in international matches and is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation. The team has been in existence since 1990 and was recognised by FIFA and UEFA in the summer of 1992, one year after Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia.

The team played their first competitive matches in the qualifying campaign for the Euro 1996 and qualified for the finals to make their first appearance in a major international tournament. They have been a strong force in international football ever since, finishing third in the 1998 World Cup, led by Golden Boot winner Davor Šuker. They have qualified for every World Cup that they have entered as an independent nation.

The team was FIFA's "Best Mover of the Year" in 1994 and 1998, and have been more volatile in the FIFA World Rankings than any other nation, having been rated as high as third, and as low as 125th. They are still undefeated in all competitive matches they played on home soil since 1994. They also qualified for both 2002 and 2006 World Cups without losing a qualifying match.

Contents 1 Earlier history 2 World Cup record 3 European Championship record 4 Famous past players 5 Coaches 6 Top appearances 7 Top goalscorers 8 Current Squad 8.1 Goalkeepers 8.2 Defenders 8.3 Midfielders 8.4 Strikers 9 Last and next games 10 Famous matches 11 External links

Football was played in Croatia from the beginning of the 20th century, but before the 1990s the country was not independent. Before that, the players from Croatia participated in the teams of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1919–39), Banovina of Croatia (1939–41), Independent State of Croatia (1941–45) and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945–90).

For the Yugoslav periods, see Yugoslavia national football team.

Due to political circumstances in Kingdom of Yugoslavia shortly before World War II, Croatian sports teams were allowed to compete under Croatian flag, so the first international of Croatia could be considered a 4–0 victory over Switzerland played in Zagreb on 2 April, 1940.

• 1930 to 1990 - Was part of Yugoslavia
• 1994 - Did not enter, was not a full FIFA member until July 1992
• 1998 - Third place
• 2002 - First round (Third place in Group G)
• 2006 - First round (Third place in Group F)

• 1930 to 1990 - Was part of Yugoslavia
• 1996 - Quarterfinals
• 2000 - "Did not qualify"
• 2004 - First round
• 2008 - "Qualified"

LADIĆ ŠTIMAC BILIĆ ŠIMIĆ STANIĆ JARNI SOLDO (PROSINEČKI) ASANOVIĆ BOBAN (c) ŠUKER VLAOVIĆ

Croatia 3-5-2 lineup during the 1998 FIFA World Cup

• Aljoša Asanović
• Slaven Bilić
• Zvonimir Boban
• Alen Bokšić
• Robert Jarni
• Dražen Ladić
• Robert Prosinečki
• Dado Pršo
• Zvonimir Soldo
• Mario Stanić
• Igor Štimac
• Goran Vlaović
• Davor Šuker

• Dražan Jerković, 1990–91
• Stanko Poklepović, 1992
• Vlatko Marković, 1993
• Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević, 1994–2000
• Mirko Jozić, 2000–02
• Otto Barić, 2002–04
• Zlatko Kranjčar, 2004–06
• Slaven Bilić, 2006-present

As of November 21, 2007

Pos	Player	Caps	Tenure
1	Dario Šimić	95	1996-present
2	Robert Jarni	81	1990-2002
3	Niko Kovač	73	1996-present
4	Robert Kovač	70	1999-present
5	Davor Šuker	69	1990-2002
6	Stipe Pletikosa	65	1999-present
7	Aljoša Asanović	62	1990-2000
8	Zvonimir Soldo	61	1994-2002
9	Dražen Ladić	59	1990-1999
10	Josip Šimunić	58	2001-present

* The players in bold typeface are still active in football.

List of Croatia national football team appearances

As of November 21, 2007

Pos	Player	Goals	Tenure
1	Davor Šuker	45	1990-2002
2	Goran Vlaović	16	1992-2002
3	Darijo Srna	15	2002-present
4	Franjo Wölfl	13	1940-1944
5	Eduardo Da Silva	13	2004-present
6	Zvonimir Boban	12	1991-1999
7	Niko Kovač	12	1996-present
8	Robert Prosinečki	11	1993-2002
9	Alen Bokšić	10	1993-2002
10	Boško Balaban	10	2000-present

* The players in bold typeface are still active in football.

List of Croatia national football team goalscorers

Staff

Head Coach Slaven Bilić

Assistant Coaches Aljoša Asanović Nikola Jurčević Robert Prosinečki

Goalkeeper Coach Marijan Mrmić

Team (caps correct as of November 21, 2007)

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club 1 GK Stipe Pletikosa January 8, 1979 (age 28) 65 0 FC Spartak Moscow 12 GK Mario Galinović November 15, 1976 (age 31) 2 0 Panathinaikos FC 23 GK Vedran Runje February 10, 1976 (age 31) 4 0 RC Lens

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club 2 DF Dario Šimić (vice-captain) November 12, 1975 (age 32) 95 3 A.C. Milan 3 DF Josip Šimunić February 18, 1978 (age 29) 58 3 Hertha BSC Berlin 4 DF Robert Kovač (vice-captain) April 6, 1974 (age 33) 70 0 Borussia Dortmund 5 DF Vedran Ćorluka February 6, 1986 (age 21) 16 0 Manchester City F.C. 6 DF Hrvoje Vejić June 8, 1977 (age 30) 1 0 FC Tom Tomsk 13 DF Dario Knežević April 20, 1982 (age 25) 4 1 A.S. Livorno Calcio 26 DF Dino Drpić May 26, 1981 (age 26) 1 0 Dinamo Zagreb

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club 7 MF Ivan Rakitić March 10, 1988 (age 19) 5 1 FC Schalke 04 8 MF Marko Babić January 28, 1981 (age 26) 48 3 Real Betis 10 MF Niko Kovač (captain) October 15, 1971 (age 36) 73 12 FC Red Bull Salzburg 11 MF Darijo Srna May 1, 1982 (age 25) 52 15 FC Shakhtar Donetsk 14 MF Luka Modrić September 9, 1985 (age 22) 22 3 Dinamo Zagreb 15 MF Jurica Vranješ January 30, 1980 (age 27) 26 0 SV Werder Bremen 16 MF Jerko Leko April 9, 1980 (age 27) 49 2 AS Monaco FC 19 MF Niko Kranjčar August 13, 1984 (age 23) 38 5 Portsmouth F.C. 24 MF Danijel Pranjić December 2, 1981 (age 26) 7 0 SC Heerenveen 25 MF Ognjen Vukojević December 20, 1983 (age 24) 2 1 Dinamo Zagreb

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club 9 FW Boško Balaban October 15, 1978 (age 28) 34 10 Dinamo Zagreb 18 FW Ivica Olić September 14, 1979 (age 28) 50 9 Hamburger SV 20 FW Igor Budan April 22, 1980 (age 27) 3 0 Parma F.C. 21 FW Mladen Petrić January 1, 1981 (age 26) 21 9 Borussia Dortmund 22 FW Eduardo February 25, 1983 (age 24) 21 13 Arsenal F.C. 27 FW Mario Mandžukić May 21, 1986 (age 21) 1 0 Dinamo Zagreb 28 FW Nikola Kalinić January 5, 1988 (age 19) 0 0 Hajduk Split

PLETIKOSA ŠIMIĆ R.KOVAČ ĆORLUKA ŠIMUNIĆ SRNA KRANJČAR (PRANJIĆ) MODRIĆ N.KOVAČ (c) EDUARDO (PETRIĆ) OLIĆ (RAKITIĆ)

Croatia lineup on the last game vs. England (UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying) - November 21, 2007.

• Last game:  England 2-3 Croatia  - London, England - 21 November 2007. (UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying)

• Next game:  Croatia - Netherlands  - Split, Croatia - 06 February 2008. (Friendly match)

• Croatia 2–1 U.S.A.

Maksimir Stadium (30,000 spectators) - Zagreb, 17 October 1990 - friendly match

• Spain 0–2 Croatia

Estadio Mestalla (40,000) - Valencia, 23 March 1994 - friendly match

• Italy 1–2 Croatia

Stadio Renzo Barbera (39,000) - Palermo, 16 November 1994 - Euro '96 qualifying match

• Croatia 1–0 Turkey

City Ground (20,000) - Nottingham, 11 June 1996 - Euro '96 first round match

• Croatia 3–0 Denmark

Hillsborough Stadium (30,000) - Sheffield, 16 June 1996 - Euro '96 first round match

• Germany 2–1 Croatia

Old Trafford (36,000) - Manchester, 23 June 1996 - Euro '96 quarterfinal match

• Greece 0–1 Croatia

Kaftanzoglio Stadium (35,000) - Thessaloniki, 30 April 1997 - World Cup '98 qualifying match

• Ukraine 1–1 Croatia

Olimpiysky stadion (77,500) - Kiev, 15 November 1997 - World Cup '98 play-off match

• Croatia 3–1 Jamaica

Stade Félix Bollaert (40,000) - Lens, 14 June 1998 - World Cup '98 first round match

• Croatia 1–0 Japan

Stade de la Beaujoire (39,500) - Nantes, 20 June 1998 - World Cup '98 first round match

• Croatia 3–0 Germany

Stade Gerland (50,000) - Lyon, 4 July 1998 - World Cup '98 quarterfinal match

• France 2-1 Croatia

Stade de France (80,000) - Paris, 8 July 1998 - World Cup '98 semifinal match

• Croatia 2–1 Netherlands

Parc des Princes (50,000) - Paris, 11 July 1998 - World Cup '98 third place match

• Yugoslavia 0-0 Croatia

Stadion Crvena Zvezda (47,000) - Belgrade, 18 August 1999 - Euro 2000 qualifying match

• Croatia 1–0 Belgium

Maksimir Stadium (35,000) - Zagreb, 6 October 2001 - World Cup '02 qualifying match

• Croatia 2–1 Italy

Kashima Stadium (36,500) - Ibaraki, 8 June 2002 - World Cup '02 first round match

• Croatia 4–0 Belgium

Maksimir Stadium (19,000) - Zagreb, 12 October 2002 - Euro '04 qualifying match

• Slovenia 0-1 Croatia

Stadion Bežigrad (10,000) - Ljubljana, 19 November 2003 - Euro '04 play-off match

• France 2-2 Croatia

Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa (29,000) - Leiria, 17 June 2004 - Euro '04 first round match

• Croatia 1–1 Brazil

Poljud Stadium (30,000) - Split, 17 August 2005 - friendly match

• Croatia 3–2 Argentina

St._Jakob-Park (15,000) - Basel, 1 March 2006 - friendly match

• Croatia 2–2 Australia

Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion (52,000) - Stuttgart, 22 June 2006 - World Cup '06 first round match

• Croatia 2–0 England

Maksimir Stadium (38,000) - Zagreb, 11 October 2006 - Euro '08 qualifying match

• England 2–3 Croatia

Wembley Stadium (88,000) - London, 21 November 2007 - Euro '08 qualifying match

• Official Croatian Football Federation(HNS) page
• Croatia National Football Team (Croatian)
• Croatia - International Matches, at RSSSF
• Croatia - Record International Players, at RSSSF
• JadranSport.org - South-Eastern European football news coverage (English language)
• NogoNet.com - Croatian soccer news portal

Football in Croatia v • d • e
League competitions HNS Cup competitions 1.HNL Croatia National Cup 2.HNL U-21 Super Cup 3.HNL League system List of clubs List of venues
International football v • d • e
FIFA | World Cup | Confederations Cup | U-20 World Cup | U-17 World Cup | Olympics | Asian Games | All-Africa Games | Pan American Games | Island Games | World Rankings | Player of the Year | Teams | Codes
Asia: AFC – Asian Cup      Africa: CAF – African Cup of Nations      North America: CONCACAF – Gold Cup      South America: CONMEBOL – Copa América      Oceania: OFC – Nations Cup      Europe: UEFA – European Championship      Non-FIFA: NF-Board – VIVA World Cup
National football teams of Europe (UEFA) v • d • e
Albania | Andorra | Armenia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Belarus | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | England | Estonia | Faroe Islands | Finland | France | Georgia | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Republic of Ireland | Israel | Italy | Kazakhstan | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | FYR Macedonia | Malta | Moldova | Montenegro | Netherlands | Northern Ireland | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Russia | San Marino | Scotland | Serbia | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Turkey | Ukraine | Wales
2006 FIFA World Cup finalists v • d • e
Champions: Italy  Runners-up: France  Third place: Germany  Fourth place: Portugal  Eliminated in Quarter-finals: Argentina • Brazil • England • Ukraine Eliminated in Round of 16 Australia • Ecuador • Ghana • Mexico • Netherlands • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland Eliminated in Group Stage Angola • Costa Rica • Côte d'Ivoire • Croatia • Czech Republic • Iran • Japan • Korea Republic • Paraguay • Poland • Saudi Arabia • Serbia & Montenegro • Togo • Trinidad and Tobago • Tunisia • United States
UEFA Euro 2008 finalists v • d • e
Group A: Czech Republic • Portugal • Switzerland • Turkey Group B: Austria • Croatia • Germany • Poland Group C: France • Italy • Netherlands • Romania Group D: Greece • Russia • Spain • Sweden