Euro 2024 team guide and best bets: Croatia
Croatia have reached a semi-final and final in two of the last three major tournaments — so could this summer finally be their time to triumph?
Get the full lowdon on Zlatko Dalic's men with our comprehensive team guide here at Odds Now, which features tactical analysis, players to watch out for, predicted line-ups, betting tips and more.
How Croatia qualified for Euro 2024
Croatia are becoming World Cup specialists in the modern era but their European Championship record flatters to deceive — as did their performances in qualifying for this summer’s showpiece.
Zlatko Dalic’s men started on the back foot with a sloppy home draw to Wales, conceding an injury-time equaliser having failed to convert their dominance into a decisive cushion.
Three consecutive wins without conceding over Turkey, Latvia and Armenia swiftly put them back on track before a disastrous four days in October 2023 almost saw their dreams derailed.
A 1-0 home defeat to the Turks was followed up by a humbling 2-1 reverse in Cardiff, meaning Dalic’s side had seen their fate taken out of their hands.
Thankfully, narrow wins over Latvia and Armenia coupled with a slip-up from Wales against the latter saw the Croats sneak through in second place.
Improvement is undoubtedly going to be required in Germany, where they have been drawn in a devilish group alongside Spain, Italy and Albania.
Croatia’s squad for Euro 2024
Croatia named a 26-man squad ahead of the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Ivica Ivušić (Pafos), Nediljko Labrović (Rijeka), Dominik Livaković (Fenerbahçe)
Defenders: Martin Erlić (Sassuolo), Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Josip Juranović (Union Berlin), Marin Pongračić (Lecce), Borna Sosa (Ajax), Josip Stanišić (Leverkusen), Josip Šutalo (Ajax), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens)
Midfielders: Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb), Marcelo Brozović (Al-Nassr), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Luka Sučić (Salzburg), Nikola Vlašić (Torino)
Forwards: Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Luka Ivanušec (Feyenoord), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marco Pašalić (Rijeka), Ivan Perišić (Hajduk Split), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb), Marko Pjaca (Rijeka)
Croatia's predicted starting XI for Euro 2024
Croatia’s star player — Luka Modric
Cemented as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Modric will be desperate to enjoy one more magical tournament run with his nation this summer.
All being well, the Euro 2024 group stage will see him become enter the top 10 players of all-time in terms of international caps won — a feat all the more remarkable when considering his continued influence.
Football fans often describe the Real Madrid star as ageing like a fine wine, though his 2023-24 campaign at club level has perhaps hinted at the first stages of decline.
Los Blancos boss Ancelotti started Modric in just 18 of 38 LaLiga matches this term, while all of his appearances in the Champions League knockout stages have came from the bench.
Dalic would much rather his talisman was playing regularly but admits the reduced game time will have no impact on his selection.
The Croatia boss said: “Luka playing less this season? It's not good for Luka to be dosed.
“He has to be on the pitch every game, then he is even better. He played less games this season, but we expect him to be our leader in Germany.”
If this is to be his international swansong, a player of Modric’s calibre will surely be determined to avoid exiting with a whimper.
Croatia’s one to watch — Josko Gvardiol
After a slow start to life at Manchester City, Josko Gvardiol finished the 2023-24 campaign as one of the English champions’ leading performers.
Club boss Pep Guardiola put that down to the £77 million acquisition being “a little bit shy” when arriving from RB Leipzig.
The Spaniard remarked: “He came into the team who won the treble and at the beginning he was shy, a little bit like, ‘I don’t want to ruin all the structure they have.’
“But it is a question of time. He has come here for many, many years and he is proving to himself that he can do it and play with us.”
Endorsement from Guardiola is about as good as it gets in the modern game and such comments will be music to the ears of the Croatian public, who already know of Gvardiol’s immense talent.
It is easy to forget the versatile defender is still just 22. Not only does he have the look of someone older and wiser, he plays like it too.
A gruelling physical specimen standing at 6ft 1in, opposition players must be surprised when witnessing the grace with which he handles the ball.
Dalic will surely hope to use the talented technician at his preferred role of centre-back but a shortage of quality left-backs could yet prompt a reshuffle.
Croatia’s manager - Zlatko Dalic
Closing in on seven full years in charge of his national side, 57-year-old Dalic is now Croatia’s longest-serving manager ever and arguably the most decorated coach at this summer’s finals.
After all, he has steered his modest nation to remarkable second and third-place finishes at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, while last year his side were a penalty shootout away from winning the Nations League.
It has not all been plain sailing, though. In between those historic triumphs, he faced calls for his head in 2020 and recent performances have not exactly set pulses racing back in Croatia.
But Dalic’s strongest asset is undoubtedly his ice-cool nature, which he seems to effortlessly inject into his playing squad.
The former Al-Hilal boss is not an innovative tactician but is a master man-manager, akin in his approach to greats such as SIr Alex Ferguson or Carlo Ancelotti.
He carries an aura of conviction in his decision-making and puts complete trust in his players to perform, enjoying an outstanding relationship with captain and talisman Luka Modric.
Assured of a place in Croatia’s history regardless of how this summer pans out, the only crying shame is that Dalic’s glorious reign has not been topped off with a trophy — yet.
Croatia’s Euro 2024 betting odds
Croatia to win Euro 2024 - 40/1
Croatia to reach the Euro 2024 final - 20/1
Croatia to win Group B - 5/1
Croatia top team goalscorer - Andrej Kramaric 2/1, Bruno Petkovic 5/1, Ivan Perisic 5/1, Luka Modric 6/1, 10/1 BAR
*All best UK prices as of 28/05/24
Analysis and best bets for Croatia at Euro 2024
Expert analysis from Odds Now’s Matt Hill
“At 40/1 for glory, you could argue Croatia are one of the most attractive prices in the outright market given their recent tournament pedigree.
“This experienced crop seem to save their best for the big occasion and with Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic still running the midfield, they pose a threat to any leading nation.
“Being pooled alongside Spain and Italy means a contender will have to settle for third spot in Group B, though Zlatko Dalic’s side will be quietly confident of avoiding that fate.
“While the presence of Josko Gvardiol elevates a mediocre backline into a solid one, an underwhelming forward line may prove costly when it comes to crunch time.
“But at over double the price of Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, this Croatia side will quite rightly have their backers.
“In the team top goalscorer market, Modric makes appeal for a rather goal-shy outfit at 6/1 given he remains chief set-piece specialist.
“Also, star defender Gvardiol is also worth a small investment at 25/1 given his aerial threat, driving runs and potential shunt out to left-back, which would increase his attacking output significantly.”
Matt’s Best Bets:
Luka Modric top Croatia scorer - 6/1
Josko Gvardiol top Croatia scorer - 25/1