Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been named to the Croatia World Cup 2022 team and will captain his country at the competition in Qatar. Croatia may possibly have a team that is superior to the group that made it to the 2018 final thanks to a good balance of experienced veterans and exciting recruits, who are not all necessarily young guns. Let’s have a quick look at the leading players of the Croatia team for the FIFA World Cup 2022:
Luka Modric
- Position: Central midfielder
- Age: 37
If the word “resilient” perfectly fits Croatia, then perhaps the word “infinite” best represents their captain Luka Modric’s contributions to football. He is a multi-talented midfielder who excels at winning possession, distributes the ball superbly, and finishes with power and finesse. He is the total package. When you combine all of these attributes, you get a football player that unquestionably deserves to be listed among the all-time greats.
Among Modric’s many accolades are his 2018 Best FIFA Men’s Player victory, which highlighted his exceptional talent on an individual level. Modric has become as one of the most storied midfielders of the contemporary era thanks to his humble and gracious demeanour off the field and his awareness and influence there.
Ivan Perisic
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- Position: Winger/Wingback
- Age: 33
Without Ivan Perisic, this list of Croatian heavyweights wouldn’t be complete. The attacking wideman, who moved from Inter Milan to Tottenham during the summer, played a key role for the Vatreni in several World Cup matches, scoring against Iceland in the final group match, tying the score and providing an assist in the semi-final victory over England, and then scoring again to offset France’s opening goal in the championship game.
Perisic, who is likely to be one of the first names on the team sheet, will be a key player for Croatia under Dalic. He is also another strong leader who can inspire the group from the start, as he did during the most recent UEFA European Championship.
Marcelo Brozovic
- Position: Central midfielder
- Age: 29
On November 16, a few days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Marcelo Brozovic will be 30. The dynamic playmaker is in the prime of his career, allowing him to fully utilize his arsenal of abilities and depth of knowledge. Because of this, the Inter midfielder will unquestionably be a cornerstone of Dalic’s team.
He is a smart player who can give teams balance in both offense and defence. He has advanced significantly in recent years, succeeded in Serie A, and emerged as one of the most reliable holding players not just in Italy but also internationally. In order to improve his game, the Zagreb-born midfielder worked closely with Antonio Conte, who is now reaping the benefits.
Mateo Kovacic
- Position: Central midfielder
- Age: 28
One of the most formidable midfield combinations to be seen in Qatar 2022 is the combination of Brozovic, Modric, and Kovacic. Mateo Kovacic, a resolute tackler with the ability to turn loose balls into opportunities, is another all-around player for the Croatians in the middle of the field, demonstrating the depth of their quality.
He was a key player in Croatia’s title run in 2018, and his recent travels will make him an even more intimidating presence this time. Kovacic transferred from Real Madrid to Chelsea after the 2018 World Cup, where he has continued to refine his mindset and abilities. You can only go so far with natural talent in the physically demanding Premier League.
Mario Pasalic
- Position: Attacking midfielder
- Age: 27
Mario Pasalic still scores his fair share of goals, many of which are critical, from his preferred position as an advanced playmaker or wide central midfielder rather than as an outright striker. His ability to slink into gaps left by opposing defences will increase Croatia’s competitive edge in the midfield.
Last season, Pasalic scored 13 goals for Serie A team Atalanta, a remarkable total for a team led by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, a strong proponent of positional rotation. The Mainz-born player has had trouble scoring thus far in the season, but with the red-and-white Croatia jersey, he will have more leeway to try to add to his total of seven goals for his country in this FIFA World Cup tournament.
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