Croatia will end 2023 ranked #10 in the world by FIFA. There really wasn’t much movement this year with no major tournament taking place and nations merely playing friendlies and continental qualifiers.
However, out of the teams in the top-10 currently, how many should Croatia be ranked ahead of?
The answer is simple: 3 nations.
#9 Italy: Croatia has a better all-around team than this current Jekyll & Hyde Italian side. Sure, they are the reigning Euro champions, but they have missed out on two straight World Cups; and there’s something to be said for that. However, we will know who the better side is come six months at Euro 2024 when the two Adriatic sides matchup in a group finale. I like Croatia’s chances.
#6 Netherlands: Croatia just beat the Dutch in their own back yard six months ago in the Nations League seminal. Based on that victory AND Croatia having better results over the past three tournaments, I would have Croatia over the Dutch in the overall world rankings today.
#4 Belgium: How are these guys still here? 3rd place at the 2018 World Cup and not making it out of group stage in 2022 ends the conversation right there. Belgium had a chance to move on in Qatar by defeating Croatia on the last group stage day but Romelu Lukaku forgot to bring his “good boots” to the stadium. For that reason, I would move Croatia ahead of an ailing and aging Belgian side.
I would comfortably put Croatia at #7 with that logic. I truly believe we would win the majority of games played against Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium today. I know we just beat Brazil in a shootout a year ago, but I would still rank them above Croatia based on offensive firepower and style.
They should have a separate grouping for countries who have the majority of their key players as immigrants from another nation and use imported talent. This is would include: England, Netherlands, France, Belguim, and Netherlands, and even possibly Germany, where one could consider Miroslav Klose as their best player by far from the past decade. This is like having transexuals playing in women’s sports actually.
In that light, I say Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Portugal are #1 thru #4, respectively, Croatia is #5.
Croatia might be part of the latter group here very soon, unfortunately, which is where my interest no longer exists, based on an evening out in Disney Dubrovnik, where the only language you won’t hear is Hrvatski, and the guitarist outside the ancient security draw bridge gates plays Bob Marley, “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, in a thick Croatian accent, rather than Ciribiribela Mare moja, in his own native tongue.
if we qualified in our group without the losses to Turkey and Wales in October, I would agree with you in saying we are top 5 but after our weak minded mental lapses, I’m ok saying we belong in top 10. the better/best teams are consistently better and don’t lose two games in a row to teams they should beat.
Ciribiribela Mare moja, koliko je rupa tvoja!
😉
Just too many things went wrong in a very short period of time. A small country can only absorb so much adversity at one time I believe.
The Cardiac Kids must always remain true to form as well. The have a reputation to honor.
France and England should still outrank us.
Yes, we give England nightmares and any game against them would be 50/50, but England have been consistently good these past few years and only got knocked out at the World Cup as a result of meeting France.
France is probably the top team in the World right now. They are better than Brazil and Argentina (now that Neymar and Messi are gone).
“Miroslav”. Interesting German name.
Don’t worry be happy isn’t by bob marley.
The entirety of the Brazil and Argentina teams are immigrants.
Just like USA
We’re unquestionably a top-10 side.
Nobody would debate us being ahead of teams like USA, Colombia, Mexico, etc.
Netherlands and Belgium are a tad overrated and I would put them at the bottom of the top-10 list in the 8-10 range.
They’re definitely top-10, but haven’t actually beaten any top sides in years.
Netherlands lost to Italy, Croatia, France (twice) just in this 2023 year alone. Almost all of them being home games.
Belgium got bounced at the World Cup, and haven’t had a chance to play a top side since. Netherlands did well at the World Cup, but also had the easiest path in the tournament.
Both are still good teams, but I would put us ahead of them and Italy (who I would rank somewhere in that 8-10 range with them).
Croatia is #7 for me, with Spain and Portugal being rightfully ahead of us.