With a population of approximately four million, Croatia has become the gold standard for smaller nations on the global football stage. Consistently outperforming expectations in major tournaments, the team exemplifies the power of exceptional youth development. Although only two of their 26-man squad currently play domestically, the vast majority honed their skills in Croatian academies before moving to clubs across Europe.
Luka Modric: The Embodiment of Croatian Football
The poster boy for this success remains Luka Modric, the captain and midfield maestro who began his career at Dinamo Zagreb before spells at Tottenham, Real Madrid, and now AC Milan. A Ballon d'Or winner in 2018 after leading Croatia to the World Cup final, Modric is preparing for one final tournament at the age of 40. With 196 caps, he is poised to surpass 200 if Croatia advances far.
Historical Rise and Consistent Achievement
Croatia's ascent can be traced to Euro '96 and the 1998 World Cup, where stars like Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, and Slaven Bilic reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Since then, their record has been remarkable: World Cup finalists in 2018, semi-finalists in 2022, and multiple deep runs in European Championships.
Given the similarities in population and size, Croatia is often cited as the model for Scotland to emulate in major tournaments. While Scotland lacks a player like Modric, consistent overachievement from modest resources offers valuable lessons.
Scott McKenna's Perspective
Scotland defender Scott McKenna, who now plays for Dinamo Zagreb, appreciates this comparison. 'Look at the players Croatia have produced over the last 10-15 years, and they continue to do so. It's interesting how they do it. They're doing it at club level, and that feeds into the national team. They've had a lot of success in tournaments.'
McKenna noted that many Croatian players now feature in Europe, with few from the domestic league called up. 'Our goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic, is one. It's normal for them to go to World Cups and Euros with expectations to reach semi-finals and finals.'
Academy Excellence
'In Croatia, especially Dinamo, they keep bringing players through the academy. I haven't had a chance to see it yet, but I'd like to in the next few years because the conveyor belt keeps producing. No club in Scotland has produced anything like that, and population-wise we're similar, so maybe it's a culture thing.'
McKenna was part of a Dinamo side that won a league and cup double, validating his decision to test himself abroad after spells with Nottingham Forest, FC Copenhagen, and Las Palmas.
Adapting to Different Styles
'When you go abroad, every country has a different style and managers have different ideas. The biggest thing is not the language barrier but different nationalities coming together and learning each other's games. It's been completely different from the Scottish Premiership or English Championship. The tempo is different, and you have to adapt and learn as much as you can.'
Scotland's Prospects
McKenna earned his 50th cap in a 4-1 win over Curacao at Hampden before Scotland flew to the US for friendlies against Bolivia, Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil. He believes Scotland can reach the knockout stages this summer. 'Of course we can – that's the test everyone has set us. We need to rise to the challenge. No game will be easy, as shown in the first half against Curacao. But we were clinical in the second half and got a feel-good factor. We're in a good place heading to America.'
