How Croatia’s football team keep punching above their weight

ZAGREB – Maksimir Stadium, Croatia’s national arena, has a storied past. It was where riots often broke out in the period before Croatia gained independence in 1991, and it has since become a fortress for the country’s national football team.

Visitors to the 112-year-old stadium are greeted by a pristine field, meticulously cut into two-toned green with undersoil heating technology, the 35,123-seater facility held up by thick columns of concrete pillars. To enter, one has to get through full-height metal turnstiles and climb makeshift stairs in this antiquated but iconic venue.

While world No. 10 Croatia are in the top echelon of Fifa’s world rankings along with the likes of Argentina (No. 1), France (No. 2) and England (No. 4), they are still playing catch-up in terms of stadium infrastructure.

Yet, in a country of only 3.8 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$78.9 billion (S$106.8 billion) as of 2023, there is no doubt that it has footballing pedigree.

Many have wondered how a nascent country has finished in the top three of the World Cup thrice, despite its 55,960 sq km size making it only the 18th largest country in the European Union by land mass.

Small country, big advantage

Croatian Football Federation (HNS) head of communications Tomislav Pacak believes its relatively small population and size are advantages when it comes to consolidating talent.

“It’s unlikely for us to miss out on someone who is really talented just because we have a small base,” Pacak said. “We usually find every talent in Croatia.”

In the country, talent spotting is simplified with a vast network comprising about 120,000 players playing for 2,000 football clubs and academies. These clubs are split into 21 counties, across the five major regions – Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and Varazdin.

Youth competitions are held regularly from the Under-sevens to U-19s. In each county, an instructor monitors the progress of high-performing players in the respective leagues.

The creme de la creme will eventually represent Croatia at international youth tournaments like the U-19 Euro and U-17 World Cup.

Scouring the diaspora

Beyond scouting locally, HNS also taps into its diaspora. Every few months, a team of scouts will travel to check in on foreign-born Croatian talents living abroad.

“Croatia has a long history of success of great talents that were born and raised in other countries,” Pacak said, referring to the likes of Josip Simunic (Australia), Niko and Robert Kovac (West Germany) and Ivan Rakitic (Switzerland).

“Long term, the idea is to find talents early enough so we can attract them to play for Croatia. If they don’t have sufficient coaching wherever they are, we try to offer them a better solution.”

Since 2004, a team of diaspora players have been competing with other top local clubs in an Under-14 tournament known as the Defenders’ Memorial. There are also other international competitions at U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels.

Passion and sporting culture

The U-17 tournament in Rijeka was where Leo Rimac got his big break. He was signed by Dinamo Zagreb in 2022 after impressing at a trial.

Born in Slovenia, he went on to make 14 appearances and notch five goals for the Croatia U-17 national team.

Rimac, who has dual citizenship, eventually wants to represent Croatia at senior level, despite the influence of veteran Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who helped kick-start his football career at the age of five.

The 18-year-old said: “It’s a big difference. Coming to Croatia, people take care of you. Everyone here has this mentality to always improve and there is a chance for players who show potential.

“Big names like (Luka) Modric and (Mateo) Kovacic. They are all so good. I want to be like them.”

Besides Modric, who was the first Croat to win the Ballon d’Or in 2018, there has also been no lack of inspiration since the 1998 squad, comprising the likes of Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinecki, won a bronze in their maiden World Cup appearance.

It was a “warrior mentality” that resulted in Croatia’s rapid success, said Zadar U-14 coach Zoran Erlic, 53.

Erlic, who fought in the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995, said: “In the 20th century, there were many wars and Croats led difficult lives. So many men turned to sports.

“The 1998 team fought from a love for their country. Playing for the national team was like going to war for the country.”

Till today, donning the red and white chequered national jersey holds added responsibilities.

Former Juventus winger Marko Pjaca, who played in the 2018 World Cup final defeat by France, said: “It was an honour to represent the national team and be part of such an incredible thing. When we came back to Zagreb, to see all the people that waited for us was unique. We knew we were carrying the weight of the nation on our shoulders whenever we stepped onto the field.”

Hardship breeds resilience

Even after the war ended, the country had to cope with the crippling effects to the economy.

Ex-professional goalkeeper Krsevan Santini, whose father fought in the war, said: “We didn’t have good shoes, we didn’t have the newest T-shirts and everything. All we could do is give the maximum with what we had.”

But growing up in these tough conditions moulded them into resilient footballers.

Modric grew up as a war refugee in a hotel, playing football in an empty carpark with grenades exploding nearby.

This street football culture also honed the skills of many young Croatian footballers in the 1990s, allowing them to improvise and develop creativity.

Battle to stay on top

While Croatia’s footballing success is commendable for a country of its size, there is still room for improvement, with infrastructure seen as the next key pillar.

Plans are under way to build a national football training centre near Zagreb with state-of-the-art facilities.

Pacak said: “Our stadiums and training facilities are nowhere near the level our national team deserves with the results they are achieving... Currently, the federation is also trying to lobby the state to improve or build new stadiums.”

There remains hope for the ailing Maksimir Stadium. In December 2023, Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic announced that the Zagreb City Assembly had ratified an agreement for the construction of a new stadium in Maksimir.

Concrete pillars and metal turnstiles will soon be replaced by steel-reinforced structures and electronic gates.

Dinamo historian Miroslav Tomasevic said: “We have been waiting for a new stadium for many years. It is the least that we deserve.”