World Cup 2022: Croatia preview

Beaten finalists four years ago, Croatia are preparing to play in their sixth World Cup, having first participated as an independent nation back in 1998.

They have been drawn in Group F alongside Belgium, Morocco, and Canada and will expect to finish in the top two and make the knockout stages.

Read on to inform your predictions for Croatia at World Cup 2022.

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World Cup 2022: Croatia key stats

Manager: Zlatko Dalić

Key player Luka Modrić

FIFA World Ranking (at time of writing): 12th

Recent performances: World Cup 2018 – Runners-up, World Cup 2014 – Group Stage

Odds to win Group F: 3.500 (+250)*

Odds to win World Cup 2022: 51.870 (+5087)*

World Cup 2022: Croatia’s schedule

All times listed are CET (Central European Time).

November 23, 11:00: Morocco vs. Croatia

November 27, 17:00: Croatia vs. Canada

December 1, 16:00: Croatia vs. Belgium

World Cup 2022: How will Croatia fare in Group F?

Croatia look capable of making it out of Group F and could make life difficult for favourites Belgium in the battle to top the group.

The runners-up from four years ago are unbeaten in their last five competitive matches, with four wins and one draw in their recent Nations League matches.

That run includes 0-1 wins in France and Denmark and the order of their fixtures might work in their favour, as they don’t face Belgium until the final group game.

World Cup 2022: An analysis of Croatia’s squad?

There were concerns that Croatia were an aging squad when they reached the final fours ago, but new faces have come into the squad and continued their progress.

Zlatko Dalić’s men finished top of their qualifying group, which included Russia, Slovakia, and Slovenia, losing just one of their 10 games.

Despite turning 37 in September, Luka Modrić is still performing at the highest level for both club and country. Fellow midfielders Mateo Kovačić and Marcelo Brozović are also key to Croatia’s hopes.

World Cup 2022: What tactics will Croatia use?

Croatia normally deploy a 4-3-3 formation, with Modrić pulling the strings in the middle of the park while Dalić has changed his options up front.

Hoffenheim frontman Andrej Kramarić and Osasuna striker Ante Budimir will fight it out to spearhead the forward line in the first match against Morocco.

World Cup 2022: Is there value in Croatia’s odds?

The Total Points in Group Stage market looks to offer good value for Croatia, with the target set at Over 4.5 points which can be backed at 1.704 (-142)*.

There is also 4.000 (+300)* on offer for the 2018 runners-up to reach the quarter-final stage of the tournament.

Looking forward to World Cup 2022? Check out the latest World Cup 2022 odds on every match, plus Outright markets and more, with Pinnacle.

And don't forget to read our previews for all 32 teams at World Cup 2022 where you can find in-depth analysis of each team competing in Qatar.