Croatia

Croatia have punched far above their weight, reaching the 2018 final (losing 4-2 to France) and finishing third at both 1998 and 2022. For a nation of under four million, two World Cup semi-finals and a final in three tournaments is a staggering achievement built around a world-class midfield.

• Veteran maestro Luka Modrić, now 40, captains the side under long-serving coach Zlatko Dalić.
• A new midfield generation (Sučić, Baturina) is emerging to carry the torch.
• Perennial overachievers who cannot be written off despite an ageing core.