World Cup 2018: 3 underrated teams that can change the course of the tournament

#1 Croatia

Croatia's captain and midfield maestro - Luka Modric

Croatia has never really given an extraordinary performance at the World Cup but the past won't stop the current side from defying all odds at the tournament. In the recent years, a fresh crop of players have emerged on the Croatian soil, but particularly the current batch, has the potential of changing the fate of their national team.

We cannot deny the fact that Croatia have a midfield that every other team in the competition would wish for and with Real Madrid's Luka Modric (104 caps) and Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic (90 caps) taking to the centre of the pitch, quality and experience can be found in abundance in the Croatian midfield.

Juventus star Mario Mandzukic has the ability to do wonders at any given point of the game. His bicycle kick in 2016-17 Champions League Final is one such great example. Plus, Modric and Rakitic's expertise in reading games, their vision, pin-point passing accuracy and ability to prompt teammates on the forefront can give a tough time to any opponent.

With a versatile player like Ivan Perisic who can play superbly as a winger but can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder or second striker, Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalic has some quality players at his disposal but an even more difficult strategy to form.

Liverpool's centre back Dejan Lovren will also make a solid impact in the team's defence. His impressive form throughout the 2017-18 season helped the Reds reach the UEFA Champions League final after 13 long years.

Being spearheaded by Luka Modric at the upcoming World Cup along with quality players and a balanced side, the team surely has the calibre of leaving a mark at the 2018 edition of the highly anticipated FIFA tournament.