Few pundits considered Croatia a chance to replicate their 2018 run in Qatar prior to the tournament, but they find themselves a game away from doing just that as they prepare for their semi-final against Argentina.
For a nation of their size, they punch well above their weight. While the old firm of Luka Modric, Ivan Peresic and Dejan Lovren form the spine of the side, the emergence of Dominik Livakovic and Josip Juranovic points to a development pathway that’s currently the envy of the football world. The Guardian’s Aleksandar Holiga takes us inside their success.