Croatia

Messi's World Cup triumph to Ronaldo's fall: Football's journey in 2022

Messi established himself as the greatest of all time by winning the World Cup but Ronaldo had to part ways on a sour note with Manchester United

Croatia beats Morocco 2-1 to claim 3rd spot at Fifa World Cup 2022

Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great's last appearance at the World Cup. The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match on Saturday. Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before halftime at Khalifa International Stadium to ensure Modric finished on a winning note, if this does turn out to be his last World Cup match. At the age of 37, that seems likely, even if there are hopes he will lead his country at the 2024 European Championship. Josko Gvardiol put Croatia ahead in the seventh minute, but Achraf Dari evened the score in the ninth. It is the second time Croatia has taken third place. The team also achieved that feat in its first World Cup as an independent nation 1998. After becoming the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, Morocco's tournament ended in two losses. But the team's achievements in Qatar will be remembered for the outpouring of pride among

Fifa World Cup, 3rd place play-off CRO vs MAR: Croatia win, take third spot

Fifa World Cup, Croatia vs Morocco, third place play-off highlights: Josko Gvardiol and Mislav Orisic scored as Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar

Fifa WC, CRO vs MAR, 3rd place play-off preview: The last dance for Modric!

Fifa World Cup 2022, Croatia vs Morocco, third place play-off preview: It will be a match between the two losing semifinalists, two teams which definitely punched above their weight in this tournament

Croatia coach hopeful that Modric will continue till Euro 2024

'Knowing how he feels about the national team and about football, I'm pretty sure he will be but of course this is his decision'

Fifa World Cup ARG vs CRO Highlights: Alvarez, Messi get Argentina in final

Fifa World Cup, Argentina vs Croatia Highlights: The Albiceleste beat Vetreni 3-0 in a battle of Messi and Modric. Argentina reached a record sixth World Cup final. Croatia go home without the trophy

Fifa World Cup 2022: A tournament of underdogs and major upsets in Qatar

Fifa World Cup 2022, Qatar: The tournament has seen a lot of upsets, and Morocco has been the best team that has upset many big teams in the world.

Fifa World Cup 2022: Tonight's Messi vs Modric match goes beyond trophies

Messi-led Argentina will clash with Modric-led Croatia at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar in the Fifa World Cup 2022 semi-final today

Fifa World Cup 2022 semi-final: Argentina take on Croatia tonight

Fifa World Cup 2022, Argentina vs Croatia, semi-final preview: It will be a test of Messi and co's attacking prowess against the midfield dominance of Modric and company

Messi, Modric carry Argentina, Croatia into Fifa World Cup semis

Tears are flowing from soccer's biggest superstars as they make emotional exits from what might be their last World Cup. First it was Neymar. Then it was Cristiano Ronaldo. Could Lionel Messi be next? Momentum is building behind Messi's push to cap his career with the biggest prize in the game. The 35-year-old Argentina playmaker has carried his team to the semifinals, almost in the same way Diego Maradona the man with whom Messi is so often compared led the South American nation to its second and most recent World Cup title in 1986. Now in Argentina's way is Croatia, a country with a population of 4 million which is establishing a reputation as the most stubborn and durable of opponents while also boasting one of soccer's most graceful players in Luka Modric. The teams go head to head at Lusail Stadium also the venue for Sunday's final in a meeting between the last two runners-up at the tournament: Argentina in 2014 and Croatia in 2018. Argentina might have been expected to b

Fifa WC, CRO vs BRA Highlights: Croatia win shoot-out, send Brazil packing

Fifa World Cup Quarterfinal, Croatia vs Brazil Highlights: Once again, Croatia and penalty shoot-out have had a fairy tale ending and last edition's runners-up have sent five times champions back home

FIFA WC: Brazil must be at their best to beat Croatia, says Danilo

In the event Sandro is ruled out, Danilo said he could stand in at left-back

Schengen area welcomes Croatia, but leaves Bulgaria and Romania out

Croatia will become the 27th member state in the visa-free Schengen area from January 1, 2023, EU officials announced

Croatia beats Japan 3-1 in penalty round to enter World Cup quarterfinals

Croatia is going deep at another World Cup, and the team is taking the long route once again. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks Monday in Croatia's 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up in the 2018 tournament. On its run to the final four years ago, Croatia needed extra time in each round in the knockout stage and twice came through a penalty shootout. This time, Mario Pasalic converted the clinching penalty for Croatia after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time. Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida, and it was the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper who took most of the acclaim from the jubilant Croatia team after the shootout. Japan had been looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time but fell short again, just like in 2002, 2010 and 2018. The Asian team lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 in 2010. Croatia, which also reached the semifi

Fifa World Cup, JPN vs CRO Highlights: Croatia go through, win shoot out

Fifa World Cup, Round of 16, Japan vs Croatia Highlights: Croatia once again have won in the knockouts as they have beaten Japan 3-1 in the penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regulation, extra time

Fifa World Cup 2022: Belgium crash out; Morocco, Croatia march to last 16

Fifa World Cup 2022 Highlights: Belgium, full of club football stars failed to translate that energy at the national level and crashed out of the World Cup in group stage after 0-0 draw with Croatia

Fifa World Cup: Why are players wearing Batman-style facemasks in Qatar?

Fifa World Cup masked men: Who are these players wearing stylish black masks and why are they wearing the masks? Find out here

Croatia's Modric unwilling to compare 2022 World Cup with 2018 campaign

Croatia captain Luka Modric said his team should put aside their 2018 World Cup memories and focus on the group match against Morocco on Wednesday

FIFA World Cup: Croatian forward Kramaric happy with timing, conditions

"They have been better than I expected, although it's a little bit windy. And considering the air conditioning in the stadiums, it will even get cold during the games," Kramaric explained.

Croatia's population falls by almost 10% in a decade: 2021 Census

Croatia's population has decreased by 413,056 persons or 9.64 per cent over the past decade, the final results of the country's 2021 census revealed