USA TODAY: 3 reasons why you should jump on the Croatia bandwagon

3 reasons why you should jump on the Croatia bandwagon
By: Nick Schwartz | July 1, 2018 8:05 am  
The U.S. men’s national team is nowhere to be seen, and both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been eliminated from the World Cup. You may be searching for a new team to root for with the knockout rounds progressing, and Croatia is a fantastic choice.

1. Croatia’s never made it to a World Cup final

Croatia’s best-ever finish at the World Cup came in 1998, when Davor Šuker led all scorers with eight goals and helped Croatia advance to the semifinals, knocking out Germany along the way. Croatia fell to eventual champions France, but beat The Netherlands to finish in third place for the tournament.
By winning Group D, Croatia ended up on the weaker side of the bracket – and you could make a strong argument that Croatia should be the favorite to go all the way to the final. A potential quarterfinal matchup with Spain awaits, but the 2010 champions have been inconsistent and vulnerable in defense. Later on, Croatia could face England for the right to play in the World Cup final.

2. They’re one of the most entertaining teams in Russia

Croatia was the only team in Russia to score multiple goals in each Group Stage game, and they’re scoring in a variety of ways. This is a squad that can punish teams from corner kicks, free kicks, and open play.

3. Luka Modrić is making his case as the best player in the world

With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi out of the World Cup entirely, it’s Luka Modrić’s time to shine. The 32-year-old virtuoso has been a vital cog of the Real Madrid machine for years, powering the team to four Champions League titles, but he’s now in a position to take an incredibly talented Croatian side into uncharted territory.



https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/07/3-reasons-why-you-should-jump-on-croatia-bandwagon