Last season’s finalists Croatia will begin the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League coming off a forgetful Euro 2024 campaign. The team failed to make it out of a group containing Italy, Albania and eventual winners Spain without registering a win. The Croats suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to La Roja, disappointingly drew 2-2 with Albania and saw their lead cut off by Azzurri in the stoppage time of the 1-1 draw to knock them out of the competition. Zlatko Dalić’s team are desperate to bring back their standard in the upcoming Nations League with the ‘golden generation’ nearing its end. Croatia will face Portugal at Lisbon in a huge clash to kick off the campaign on 5 September 2024 before taking Poland three days later in the opening two games.
Last season performance
Croatia reached the final in the third edition of the Nations League but lost 5-4 on penalties to Spain after a goalless 120 minutes. It was another disappointment at the showpiece for Dalić’s side but it maintained its consistency to be in the top four of each competition, only Euro 2024 was the exception. The Checkered Ones topped their group containing Austria, France and Denmark pipping the latter with a point more from six matches. The team suffered a shock 3-0 loss to the Austrians in their opening match but remained unbeaten after that, picking up four wins and a draw. Hence, Croatia reached the finals of the Nations League for the first time and beat Netherlands in a thrilling semifinal which ended 4-2 after extra time.
Croatia squad UEFA Nations League 2024-25
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Fenerbahçe), Dominik Kotarski (PAOK), Nediljko Labrović (FC Augsburg)
Defenders: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Lyon), Borna Sosa (Torino), Josip Šutalo (Ajax), Marin Pongračić (Fiorentina), Martin Erlić (Bologna)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Luka Ivanušec (Feyenoord), Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad), Kristijan Jakić (FC Augsburg), Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb), Petar Sučić (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards: Ivan Perišić (Hajduk Split), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Igor Matanović (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Captain: Luka Modrić
Manager: Zlatko Dalic
The biggest news from the Croatia squad for the UEFA Nations League 2024-25 is captain Luka Modrić carrying on with the team after speculation of his retirement from international football post-Euro 2024. Therefore, the 39-year-old decided against joining Domagoj Vida and Marcelo Brozovic in their retirement soon after the tournament. Manager Dalic was impressed confirming Modrić to be a key part of his plan. The Real Madrid star will be useful for the team that is losing the experienced heads now with only Mateo Kovačić and vice-captain Ivan Perišić over the age of 30 remnaining in the squad. Croatia are looking towards young faces now with 20-year-old Petar Sučić and Igor Matanović aged 21 receiving debut call-ups to their national team.
Croatia Group for Nations League 2024-25
League A Group 1
Croatia
Portugal
Poland
Scotland
Croatia Fixtures for Nations League 2024-25
5 September 2024
Portugal vs Croatia - Estádio da Luz, Lisbon (00:15)
8 September 2024
Croatia vs Poland - Opus Arena, Osijek (00:15)
Croatia are drawn into a competitive group alongside 2016 Euro winners Portugal, Poland and Scotland in Group A of League A with the top two sides moving into the knockouts after a change in the format of the Nations League from this edition. Finalists in the last year should make it out of the group stage if they don’t crumble like in the Euro Championship. The opener against Portugal will be difficult but claiming a first-ever win in this encounter two months ago in the pre-Euro friendly might give them confidence to register another positive result here. The main focus will be the home fixture against Poland which the side might capitalise to have an early advantage in the group standings.
