Only a few teams in Russia will be able to boast a better midfield; Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are both world-class playmakers in their primes, ably supported by the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Milan Badelj.

The presence of Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic should also ensure sufficient firepower in the final third.

Here’s all you need to know about the Group D hopefuls, who are up against Argentina, Iceland, and Nigeria in the first round.

Group Opponents:

Croatia vs Nigeria – 20:00, Saturday 16 June
Croatia vs Argentina – 19:00, Thursday 21 June
Croatia vs Iceland – 19:00, Thursday 26 June

Star Man: Real Madrid’s Schemer, Luka Modric. He may be 32 but he’s still the beating heart of this Croatian side.

Rising star: Napoli’s Marko Rog is a familiar face in Serie A and will give coach Zlatko Dalic a useful option if Messrs Modric, Rakitic and Perisic aren’t delivering.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Lovre Kalinic (Gent), Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb).

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), Ivan Strinic (Sampdoria), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool), Sime Vrsaljko (Atletico Madrid), Josip Pivaric (Dynamo Kiev), Tin Jedvaj (Bayer Leverkusen), Duje Caleta-Car (Red Bull Salzburg).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Milan Badelj (Fiorentina), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Filip Bradaric (Rijeka).

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Ivan Perisic (Inter Milan), Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Pjaca (Schalke), Ante Rebic (Eintracht Frankfurt).