CROATIA
Coach: Niko Kovač
Road to Brazil: Nr.2 in Europe-gr. A, beat Iceland 3-0 in play-off.
Honours: WC-Bronze in
1998
WC-app.: 4 (Incl.this) First WC: 1998 (1930 as Yugosl.)
Toppscorer: Davor Suker (1998) Association: www.hns-cff.hr
The modern Croatian
team was formed in
1991, shortly before
Croatia's
independence from
Yugoslavia, and by
1993 had gained
membership in FIFA
and UEFA. The team
played their first
competitive matches
in the successful
qualifying campaign
for UEFA Euro 1996,
leading to their
first appearance at
a major tournament.
In Croatia's World
Cup debut in 1998
the team finished
third and provided
the tournament's top
scorer, Davor Šuker.
Since becoming
eligible to compete
in international
tournaments, Croatia
have missed only one
World Cup and one
European
Championship.
i
English football