Since the 2018 World Cup final, Luka Modric's Croatia team has always been considered a potential candidate for the championship in every arena they participate in. That is, after being the runner-up at the 2018 World Cup, Croatia has finished 3rd at the 2022 World Cup and second at the 2023 Nations League.
According to captain Zlatko Dalic, a championship medal will help Croatian football penetrate the minds of fans more deeply about the impressions of this generation of talented players.
"We have always been considered dark horses in every tournament. There were times when the Croatian team did not receive the trust of anyone. However, in the past 6 years, the team has won 3 medals. Croatia deserves more respect because we deserve it" - Dalic shared with The Guardian.
The first leg of the 2025 Nations League quarter-final against France is one of the evidences of Croatia's true strength. The 2-0 lead is a large enough capital for Modric and his teammates to be confident before the away match in the second leg at Stade de France. In 2018, Croatia lost to France in the World Cup final, so they are still hoping for a day to defeat Les Bleus to prepare for glory. The Nations League may not be as prestigious as EURO or the World Cup, but it is still a big, official title for everyone to aim for.
Looking at France's 0-2 defeat in the first leg, it was their 5th defeat since 2021 in the context of not scoring any goals. In those 5 defeats, the French have fallen twice against Croatia. The team under Zlatko Dalic may not always be overwhelming but it is very difficult to defeat. Since EURO 2020 (held in 2021), Croatia have only lost 3 matches with a difference of 2 goals or more. The first leg of the quarter-final against France was their 18th clean sheet in their last 47 matches.
Croatia's squad at EURO 2024 has the 4th highest average age and they still bring it to the 2025 Nations League. Croatia's current FIFA rankings are 13, the lowest since August 2022. The retirement of retired stars such as Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Rakitic has reduced the depth of the team's strength.
However, this is not the first time Croatia has brought a squad of veterans to compete in major tournaments. Since the 2018 World Cup, Dalic's team has won France twice, also against Argentina, forcing Spain to play over 90 minutes in knockout matches or eliminating Brazil from the World Cup. This time, they are expected to sink France once again.
The victory in the second leg will be very important, it will affirm whether Croatia can make a difference in this year's Nations League or not.
