World Cup 2018: Top 5 dark horses in Russia

Portugal v France - Final: UEFA Euro 2016 — Portugal for the win?

#4 Croatia

FBL-EURO-2016-MATCH5-TUR-CRO — Croatia is placed in group D

Placed in group D along with Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria are Croatia. Like Switzerland, the Croats have a tough group in hand, but they have a pretty balanced side that could take them far in the competition.

Croatia is managed by countryman Zlatko Dalic and has been in charge since October 2017. The team has only lost one of the five games that they played after the arrival of the 51-year-old.

Vatreni have got players who have gained experience playing for top teams in Europe's best five leagues. Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Perisic and Dejan Lovren are only a few of them.

If all these stars can find the perfect sync between them, there is no doubt that Croatia is strong enough to pip their group opponents to be come out as leaders.

Star Players - Luka Modric & Ivan Rakitic

Dalic will want the Real Madrid and Barcelona midfield maestros to be firing on all cylinders to increase his hopes of success in the tournament.

Ivan Rakitic won the La Liga title this season, while Luka Modric will be joining the side on the back of yet another UEFA Champions League triumph with Los Blancos.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Shambhu Ajith