The star studded Croatia side has performed below expectations many times. This time, in Russia, the team is hoping to match expectations. Luka Modric recently bossed the Champions League final, controlling the game with his passes and dribbles. He is a game changer and his blend of skills is expected to help propel the team beyond the group stage of the World Cup.

Modric has the support of Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic, Barcelona’s IvanRakitic and his club mate MateoKovacic.There are also brand names like Ivan PerisicDejanLovren, SimeVrsaljko and others, expected to make a strong push in the finals.

The team has other members like DanijelSubasic. LovreKalinic, DominikLivakovic, VedranCorluka, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic, JosipPivaric, Tin Jedvaj, MatejMitrovic, DujeCaleta-Car, Borna Sosa, Milan Badelj, Marcelo Brozovic, Nikola Kalinic, Marko Pjaca, Andrej Kramaric and Ante Rebic.

The team clearly has top individual talents but they have not been as effective as a whole. They stuttered in the qualification process with current head coach ZlatkoDalic coming in midway to help them through the playoffs.
They are expected to qualify from their group as runners-up, behind Argentina. Nigeria and Iceland are the other group members of Group D. If they meet top ranked France in the Round of 16, that could be the end for them. Nigeria is also gearing up to cause an upset. A draw between Croatia and Nigeria would now depend on other results for the runner-up to emerge.