Last World Cup: Did not qualify
Nickname: The Blazers
Coach: Niko Kovac
Star man: Mario Mandzukic
Tournament best: Third 1998

They may not be the class of '98 standard but there is enough quality within the squad with the talents of Bayern Munich's Mandzukic and Real Madrid's Luka Modric supplemented by the likes of Niko Kranjcar, Eduardo and Nikica Jelavic.

Strengths: Croatia netted 43% of goals from inside the 6 yard box, the highest proportion of any team headed for Brazil, and also created the most chances from the wings with nearly two thirds of their goals being set up from a wide position. At the back they kept their focus late on, being one of just three finalists not to concede in the final quarter of an hour during qualifying.

Weaknesses: The number of goals they can score is a concern however. They netted at the lowest rate of any finalist during qualifying, averaging just 1.17 goals per match and, along with only Nigeria, never scored more than twice in a match. At the back, close range goals were something of a problem: they conceded a greater share of goals from inside the six yard box than anyone except Iran.

Prospects: None of their opponents in Group A are conveniently flawed from Croatia's perspective, with Brazil and Mexico difficult to break down from the wings in particular. Brazil have offered little close range quarter while the Mexicans look capable of getting in behind the Croatian defence in return, having scored nearly a third of their goals from close range.