Croatia

Croatia, nicknamed Vatreni (Blazers), are a UEFA member who have established themselves as one of Europe's most consistent overachievers since gaining independence — reaching the World Cup final in 2018 and finishing third in both 1998 and 2022, all with a relatively small footballing pool.

Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and played their first international match on 17 October 1990, defeating the United States 2–1. FIFA membership followed in 1992 and UEFA membership in 1993. The country's rapid rise was immediate: from a FIFA ranking of 125th in 1994, they climbed into the top three by 1999, setting a record as the youngest nation to reach that level.

The 1998 World Cup in France announced Croatia to the world. Davor Šuker won the Golden Boot as top scorer, and the team finished third — a remarkable debut on football's biggest stage. Although early exits followed in 2002 and 2006, the squad regenerated around a midfield core that included Luka Modrić and Ivan Rakitić.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia was Croatia's finest hour: Zlatko Dalić's team beat Russia, Argentina, and England on the way to the final, where they lost 4–2 to France. Four years later at Qatar 2022 they claimed third place again, defeating Morocco. Croatia also reached the final of the 2023 UEFA Nations League, losing to Spain, and qualified for the 2026 World Cup unbeaten.