· Croatia misplaced 4-2 in opposition to France within the 2018 World Cup last in Moscow on 15 July 2018. Solely West Germany (runners-up 1986, winners 1990) and Brazil (runners-up 1998, winners 2002) have received the World Cup after being runners-up within the earlier match.
· Croatia can develop into the primary workforce to achieve the World Cup last in successive editions since Brazil (3, 1994-2002). Be aware: France also can attain the ultimate once they face Morocco on 14 December.
· Croatia can develop into the second nation to come back on high in opposition to each Brazil and Argentina in a single World Cup knockout stage, after Germany in 2014 (7-1 versus Brazil in semi-finals and 1-0 after additional time versus Argentina within the last).
· Croatia misplaced solely one in every of their final 21 matches (W12-D8-L1, recreation determined by a penalty shootout classed as a draw), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June.
· Croatia didn’t rating the opening aim in any of their final 9 World Cup video games (conceded the opening aim seven instances and drew 0-0 twice).
· Croatia have received all 4 of their World Cup penalty shootouts. Solely Argentina (5 from 6) and (West) Germany (4 from 4) have received as many World Cup penalty shootouts as Croatia (4 from 4).
· Croatia transformed 14 of their 18 penalties in these 4 shootouts (78%). Their opponents solely transformed eight of their 18 penalties (44%).
· Of Croatia’s final 9 main match (World Cup/EUROs) knockout section matches, eight went to additional time. The one exception in that run was a 4-2 defeat versus France within the 2018 World Cup last.
· Croatia can develop into the primary workforce to be concerned in as many as three penalty shootouts at a single World Cup.
· Of the final 21 instances a workforce scored the opening aim in a World Cup knockout match, solely 4 groups did not advance/win: Russia within the 2018 quarter-finals, England within the 2018 semi-finals, Japan within the 2022 spherical of final 16 and Brazil within the 2022 quarter-finals. All of these groups have been eradicated by Croatia.
· Zlatko Dalic managed Croatia on the 2018 World Cup (runners-up). 5 coaches have reached the ultimate at a joint-record two World Cups: Vittorio Pozzo (Italy, 1934 & 1938), Helmut Schön (West Germany, 1966 & 1974), Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany, 1986 & 1990), Carlos Bilardo (Argentina, 1986 & 1990) and Mário Zagallo (Brazil, 1970 & 1998). Dalic and Didier Deschamps (France) can be part of them.
· Dalic’ Croatia beat Argentina by a 3-0 scoreline within the 2018 World Cup group stage. Dalic can develop into the third coach to win a number of World Cup matches in opposition to Argentina, after Enzo Bearzot and Germany’s Joachim Löw (each 2). Be aware: matches determined by penalty shootouts are classed as a draw.
Courtesy of Gracenote