Country profile
Croatia
Republic of Croatia
Key facts
Capital
Zagreb
Population
3,900,000
Confederation
UEFA
FIFA code
CRO
Overview
Croatia is a crescent-shaped Adriatic nation of stunning coastline, medieval cities and over a thousand islands, home to just under four million people. From the marble streets of Dubrovnik to the cafés of Zagreb, it punches astonishingly above its weight on the world stage.
Football is woven into the national identity, a source of pride that unites the country in red-and-white checks. The chessboard šahovnica on the famous kit is as much a symbol of nationhood as anything in the constitution.
Football culture
Football is the undisputed national obsession, with fierce passion radiating from clubs like Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. The checkered shirt is a unifying emblem, and the country produces an improbable conveyor belt of elite midfielders.
World Cup history
For a tiny nation, Croatia's World Cup record is staggering: a third-place debut in 1998, a heartbreaking runners-up finish in 2018, and another bronze in 2022. They have become the gold standard for small-country overachievement on the global stage.
Location
Did you know
- A country of four million has reached three World Cup semifinals.
- The necktie was invented by Croatian soldiers — 'cravat' comes from 'Croat'.
- Dalmatian dogs originate from Croatia's Dalmatia region.
- Luka Modrić's 2018 Ballon d'Or broke the Messi-Ronaldo decade.
- Croatia boasts over 1,200 islands along its Adriatic coast.
From Wikipedia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west. The Croatian…
Source: Wikipedia →