Croatia World Cup profile: Guide to squad, record, path to final, manager, team news, latest odds and star man

AFTER coming through a topsy-turvy qualification campaign, Croatia are on the plane to Russia.

Zlatko Dalic's men will be looking to the Class of '98 for inspiration, who finished third - but the Croatians have not got past the group stages since.

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Here's all you need to know about the Group D hopefuls, who are up against Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria in the first round.

In a nutshell: An inconsistent qualifying campaign eventually saw Croatia squeeze through the play-offs with a victory over Greece. This will be their fifth World Cup finals.

Flag: Unfussy tricolor of red, white and blue with an inset Croatian coat of arms featuring the red and white checks you’ll be hard pressed to avoid at the World Cup Finals.

Population: 4.17 million

Nickname: Vatreni, or "The Blazers".

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Manager: Zlatko Dalic never played for Croatia but he was the assistant coach of the national Under-21 side under Drazen Ladic.

World Cup news

FEELING THE CRUNCH

Sainsbury's fans rejoice as biscuits with a twist scan for just 16p

NO KIDDING

Social services came to my door when I had my first baby, says Ashley James

NOT JEAN ON THEM

MAFS fans starting a petition to BAN clothing item worn by bride

HRT 'RISK'

Doctors must warn women HRT treatment for menopause increases risk of cancer

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Captain: Former Spurs schemer and Real Madrid star Luka Modric.

Star Man: Modric again. He may be 32 but he’s still the beating heart of this Croatian side.

Rising star: Napoli’s Marko Rog is a familiar face in Serie A and will give coach Zlatko Dalic a useful option if Messrs Modric, Rakitic and Perisic aren’t delivering.

Most caps: Former skipper Darijo Srna (134).

All-time top scorer: Legendary striker and current President of the Croatian Football Federation, Davor Suker (45).

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Nice kit? You know what to expect from a Croatia kit, ie, red and white checks, much like a gingham picnic tablecloth. It’s the same this time around but with an added zig-zag pattern.

Most offensive haircut? Quite why Luka Modric persists with his long lady locks and Alice band is beyond us.

Any names we can laugh at like kids? Standard Liege striker Duje Cop is a headline writer’s dream, not least because it doesn’t matter if he has a good game or a bad game.

Rivals? Serbia. To say they’re not exactly on each other’s Christmas cards list is an understatement akin to saying Robbie Savage quite likes mirrors.

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National anthem: Lijepa naša domovino, or ‘Our Beautiful Homeland’

Sample lyric:
Whilst his fields are kissed by sunshine,
Whilst his oaks are whipped by wild winds,
Whilst his dear ones go to heaven,
Whilst his live heart beats.

National dish: Zagorski Štrukli is the dough that keeps Croatia together. It’s also a hell of a score at Scrabble too.

National drink: Slivovitz. It’s a spirit made from fermented plums, a bit like a clear plum brandy. It will knock your head off.

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World Cup Finals Record: P16 W7 D2 L7 F21 A17

World Cup Win Ratio: 43.75%

Best World Cup Performance: Third place in France in 1998.

FIFA World Ranking: 15

Path to final: Croatia have the talent to stun Argentina just as they did Spain in their Euro 2016 group.

But in the more likely event of a second placed finish, they are set to face France in the last 16, followed by their European Championship conquerors Portugal, or Uruguay, in the quarter-finals and a repeat of their controversial World Cup 2014 opener against Brazil in the semis.