Croatia — the end of a golden generation and the question of what comes next

Croatia's golden generation — Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, Marcelo Brozović — is at its final tournament. The players who took Croatia to a World Cup final in 2018 and a semi-final in 2022 are ageing. The question hanging over every Croatian match in 2026 is not whether they can win a game but whether this group has one last deep run left in them before the cycle ends.

Tactical Identity

Strength: Tournament experience and tactical intelligence. No squad in this World Cup has more collective experience of performing at this level under pressure. Croatia know how to manage games, how to win penalty shootouts, and how to make themselves deeply uncomfortable opponents regardless of the scoreline.

Weakness: Age and energy. The Croatian midfield that dominated games in 2018 cannot press for ninety minutes the way it once could. Against younger, faster opponents in the knockout stages, the physical decline of the core players becomes a tactical problem.

"Watching Luka Modrić play football is one of the genuine privileges of following this sport. In 2026 we are almost certainly watching him for the last time at a World Cup." — Viviana Reyes

Key Players

Luka Modrić — Midfielder, the greatest Croatian player ever. Still magnificent.

Ivan Perišić — Forward, experienced, clinical when it matters most.

Joško Gvardiol — Defender, the next generation arriving at exactly the right time.

Viva's Verdict

"Croatia will make at least the round of sixteen and probably the quarter-finals. Whatever they achieve, Modrić's last tournament is worth watching for that reason alone."

The Road Back

The post-Modrić era is already beginning. Joško Gvardiol at centre-back represents genuine world-class quality for the next decade. Croatia will continue to produce technically excellent players from a small population.