00:00The second golden generation began to emerge during a run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.
00:07The squad contained Vedran Chorluka, Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric, all aged 22 or under.
00:19Their progress was overseen by Slavin Bilic, but after he left in 2012, progress stalled.
00:26There was particular disappointment at a poor Euro 2016 campaign.
00:32There was a silver lining to an early exit, the appointment of Zlatko Dalic.
00:40Dalic was the coach who figured out how to maximise the enormous potential of Modric, now into his thirties,
00:47gifting him a free role in midfield alongside Rakitic and the hard-working Marcelo Brozovic.
00:52Together, that trio controlled matches, monopolising possession and feeding Maria Mandzukic and Ivan Parisic ahead of them.
01:05At Russia 2018, Croatia entered ranked 20th in the world.
01:09But a 3-0 group stage victory over Lionel Messi's Argentina put the tournament on notice.
01:19Daniel Subasic's penalty-saving prowess then came to the fore, saving his side in consecutive penalty shootouts.
01:27Before an extra-time finish from Mandzukic made Croatia the 13th country to reach a World Cup final.
01:35And the second smallest by both population and land area.
01:42The final against France did not go according to plan, but Croatia still returned to Zagreb to a hero's welcome.
01:53The Covid-interrupted Euros of 2020 were a disappointment, but the Croatian squad remained one of abundant quality,
02:02enhanced by the emergence of Jozko Gvaryal in defence.
02:06So a strong performance at Qatar 2022 was still expected.
02:12Even so, it was still an accomplishment to advance out of the group phase at favourite Belgium's expense.
02:19Then, for the second World Cup in a row, survive back-to-back penalty shootouts to reach the semi-finals.
02:26Dominic Livakovic this time, writing his name into history.
02:32Dominic Livakovic was powerless to deny Lionel Messi's destiny in the semi-finals.
02:37But victory over Morocco gave Croatia a second World Cup bronze medal to go with silver from four years earlier.
02:48Seven possible World Cups as an independent country.
02:51Six appearances at the finals and three visits to the podium.
02:56It is a remarkable record.
03:00The challenge now is maintaining that status, as living legends depart the stage.
03:06Modric and Perisic continue to rage against the dying of the light.
03:10But there is only so long they can carry the team on their shoulders.
03:15A third golden generation does not appear to be forthcoming.
03:21But nobody would bet against one materialising.
03:25Croatia have proven repeatedly during their short existence
03:28that they are not to be underestimated as a leading football nation.
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