Luka Modrić is 40. Just let that sink in for a second. While most players his age are busy launching podcast careers or golfing in Marbella, the Croatian captain is still the first name on the Croatia national team roster. It’s kind of absurd, honestly. But that’s the thing about Croatian football—it defies logic. A country with fewer people than the city of Los Angeles keeps churning out world-class talent, and as we look toward the 2026 World Cup, the squad is in this weird, fascinating transition phase.
You’ve got the old guard who refuse to go home and a bunch of teenagers who look like they’ve been playing in the Champions League for a decade. It’s a mix that shouldn't work. Yet, Zlatko Dalić has them cruising through qualifiers again.
The Midfield Metronome (and Why It’s Different Now)
For years, the Croatian midfield was a closed shop. Modrić, Brozović, Rakitić. Then it was Modrić, Brozović, Kovačić. Now? Marcelo Brozović has stepped away from the international scene, leaving a massive, lung-busting hole in the defensive midfield spot.
Enter Petar Sučić.
The kid moved to Inter Milan in the summer of 2025 and has basically hijacked the "destroyer" role. He’s averaging over three tackles per 90 minutes. He’s mean, he’s efficient, and he gives Mateo Kovačić the freedom to actually carry the ball forward instead of babysitting the backline.
Then there’s the Modrić factor. He’s at AC Milan now, still pulling strings. Is he as fast as he was in 2018? No. Does it matter? Not really. His vision is still better than 99% of the planet. Beside him, Martin Baturina is the one everyone is whispering about. People call him the "next Modrić," which is a heavy tag to carry, but at 22, he’s already showing that elite press-resistance that Croatia craves.
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The 2026 Defensive Wall
If the midfield is the heart, the defense is a literal fortress. Joško Gvardiol is the superstar here, obviously. The Manchester City man is arguably the best ball-carrying center-back in the world. But he’s not alone.
The biggest shock on the recent Croatia national team roster is the emergence of Luka Vušković.
He’s 18. He’s huge. Tottenham fans are already losing their minds watching his loan spells because he plays like a 30-year-old veteran. Seeing an 18-year-old and a 23-year-old (Gvardiol) lead a World Cup defense is terrifying for opponents. It’s a 15-year window of stability just sitting there.
- Dominik Livaković: Still the undisputed #1. Now at Girona, he’s kept his shot-stopping reflex at an elite level.
- Josip Stanišić: The Bayern Munich man provides that tactical flexibility at right-back.
- Josip Šutalo: The Ajax connection remains strong; he’s the quiet partner to Gvardiol’s flair.
Duje Ćaleta-Car and Martin Erlić are the depth pieces. You need those guys for the grind of a tournament. Honestly, this might be the most athletic defense Croatia has ever had.
Where do the goals come from?
This is the part that keeps Dalić up at night. Andrej Kramarić is 34. He’s still clinical—scored six in the recent qualifying cycle—but he’s not a traditional "number nine" who’s going to bully defenders for 90 minutes.
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The search for the next Mario Mandžukić has been... complicated.
Igor Matanović and Franjo Ivanović are the new hopes. Matanović is 6'4" and plays for SC Freiburg; he’s the physical presence they’ve missed. Ivanović is more of a technical, modern forward. Neither is a "sure thing" yet, but they are getting the minutes.
And then there’s Ivan Perišić. The man is 36, playing at PSV, and still looks like he could run a marathon before breakfast. He’s second on the all-time scoring list for a reason. You can't leave him out. Even if he’s just coming off the bench to whip in crosses, his presence in the locker room is massive.
The "Vatreni" Mentality
People keep waiting for Croatia to fall off a cliff. They’ve been saying it since 2018. "The squad is too old." "The talent pool is too small."
The reality is that the Croatia national team roster is deeper now than it was four years ago. You have Nikola Vlašić, Mario Pašalić, and Lovro Majer all fighting for one or two spots. These are players starting in top European leagues who often have to settle for 20 minutes at the end of a game.
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That competition breeds a specific kind of toughness.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Cycle
If you're following this team toward the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, keep an eye on these specific shifts:
- Watch the 6-position: If Petar Sučić stays healthy, Croatia’s transition from defense to attack will be much faster than the "possession for possession's sake" style we saw in 2024.
- Monitor the Young Strikers: Follow Igor Matanović's Bundesliga stats. If he hits double digits this season, he starts in 2026.
- The Modrić Minutes: Expect Dalić to manage Luka's time more strictly. He might not play 120 minutes in every knockout game anymore, but he’ll be there for the moments that matter.
- Full-back Rotation: Borna Sosa and Josip Juranović provide more width, but Dalić is increasingly leaning toward more defensive-minded full-backs to allow Gvardiol to roam.
Croatia isn't just a "dark horse" anymore. They are a fixture of the elite. The roster for 2026 proves they aren't going anywhere, even when the legends eventually decide to hang up their boots.
To track the progress of these players leading up to the June kick-off against England, keep a close watch on the UEFA Nations League performances and domestic form in the Bundesliga and Serie A, where the bulk of the squad currently plies its trade. Check the official HNS (Croatian Football Federation) releases for final fitness updates on the veteran wingers before the June friendlies.