Croatia squad for UEFA EURO 2024: Who’s in and Who’s out, Key Players and Predicted Lineup

Since their appearance in the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Croatia have put themselves on the list of elite teams in Europe. Now, they are once again going to compete for the silverware in the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 starting this month in Germany.

The Luka Modric-led team have shown promising performances in the last few international tournaments. However, their last Euro campaign ended on a rather heartbreaking note as they bowed out of the competition after losing to Spain on penalties in the Round of 16. They seem to have started their Euro 2024 preparations with high intensity.

A 2-1 win against Portugal has shown how organized Zlatko Dalic’s boys are this time around. He has recently announced the 26-men squad for the summer tournament, which is scheduled to start on June 16. Let’s take a look at the players who made it to the list and who missed out.

Goalkeepers

Dominik Livakovic will undoubtedly be the first choice for the Croatian coach at Euro 2024. The Fenerbache goalie will enter the European Championships following a stellar performance that he produced at the club level. In the Turkish Super Lig alone, the 29-year-old kept 15 clean sheets and allowed only 28 goals in 34 appearances this season. He has already made 54 appearances for the Croatian national team.

The highly talented keeper will be assisted by his other two teammates – Ivica Ivusic and Nediljko Labrovic. These are the final goalkeepers who are going to compete in the Euro 2024 in Germany, with Livakovic being the key player in this position.

Defenders

Zlatko Dalic has formed a formidable defense since he took charge of the Croatian team back in 2017. Among the top defenders, Josko Gvardiol will be the key stopper to watch out for in Germany. His versatility earned him a spot in Manchester City’s starting line-up this season. The former RB Leipzig center-back nowadays gets deployed as a left-back in Pep Guardiola’s set-up. Having already made 30 appearances for Croatia, he has established himself as a key figure in defense. 

As Croatia prefers to play four defenders at the backline, they have eight defensive players in their 26-man squad. Each position in defense has one backup player. Players like Domagoj Vida, Josip Sutalo, and Borna Sosa will also take to the field alongside Gvardiol in this Euro.

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Midfielders

Croatia boasts a star-studded midfield which has a perfect mix of experience and talent. Luka Modric is the most dazzling jewel in their midfield armory. The Real Madrid superstar comes into the summer tournament following a successful season in the Spanish capital, including a Champions League victory. He is arguably the best player in the history of Croatia. The 38-year-old attacker will be leading a side that came an inch closer to becoming the World Champions six years ago. 

Croatia has included nine midfielders in their 26-man squad. Except for Modric, some notable players, including Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Pasalic, and Mateo Kovacic, will also show their skills in Germany. 

Forwards

After the retirement of Mario Mandzukic, Bruno Petkovic and Andrej Kramaric have shared the number 9 position between them in the Croatian team. However, it has changed over time. The 2018 World Cup runners-up have some of the finest attackers in Europe, who can change the fate of a game single-handedly. 

The key figure in their attack must be Ivan Perisic. He has quick feet, skills, trickery, and pace in his arsenal to tear through any defense in Euro 2024. Contrary to his stature, he failed to live up to expectations after scoring only 2 goals this season at the club level. But, a player like him needs only a moment to change the narratives.

The other attackers who might steal the spotlight in Germany are Andrej Kramaric, Marco Pasalic, and Ante Budimir. These forwards were also exceptional for their respective clubs this season. Zlatko Dalic has included six of the best forwards in his team.

Predicted Lineup for Croatia in UEFA Euro 2024

Zlatko Dalic is one of the most underrated coaches in the world. Despite leading Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, he is not given the importance and credit that he deserves. He will definitely build his starting line-up around Luka Modric. If everything goes according to plan, then Kovacic and Brozovic are likely to pair with the Real Madrid legend in midfield.

Gvardiol and Vida should be the starters in a 4-3-3 formation, which is the most used shape by Dalic. He has also won a victory against Portugal with this formation. In a three-man attacking front, Kramaric and Perisic will start undoubtedly. If Dalic somehow goes with a 4-4-2 formation, then Petkovic might start, meaning either Brozovic or Kovacic will stay on the bench. Kramaric will play as an attacking midfielder in that case, while Perisic will play as a false nine behind the main forward, Petkovic.

Croatia’s Predicted Formation (4-3-3): Dominik Livakovic; Josko Gvardiol, Vida, Stanisic, Juranovic; Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic; Perisic, Kramaric, Pasalic

Players Missing for Croatia in UEFA Euro 2024

The most notable names that have been excluded from the roster are Josip Brekalo and Duje Ćaleta-Car. The Hajduk Split winger, Brekalo, was a stand-out player in the Croatian league after he put in a great performance throughout the season, including 4 goals and 9 assists. Ćaleta-Car had also an impressive season this year with Lyon. But, Dalic decided to send the center-back out of the 26-man squad this summer, surprisingly. One of the most trusted players in Dalic’s past ventures, Dejan Lovren has also been left out of the preliminary squad. The Olympiques Lyonnais center-back has been playing for Croatia since 2013.

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