Croatia is one of the most consistent nations in modern World Cup football. After reaching the World Cup final in 2018 and finishing third in 2022, Zlatko Dalić is once again aiming for the top. The opening match against England in Dallas will be a real litmus test – and the key to Croatia’s progress.

Manager Zlatko Dalić has named three goalkeepers for the Vatreni: Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski and Ivor Pandur. Croatia will face England, Panama and Ghana in Group L and, having reached the final in 2018 and the semi-finals in 2022, is one of Europe’s most experienced tournament nations. The trio of goalkeepers share two identical first names and an identical club background at the Dinamo academy, yet have three completely different career paths.

Livaković is 31 years old, hails from Zadar and has been the linchpin of the Croatian goal since 2018. His finest hour came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar: in the round of 16 against Japan, he saved three out of four penalties in the shoot-out, leading Croatia into the quarter-finals and becoming an international figure overnight. Croatia were only eliminated in the semi-finals against Argentina and went on to win bronze against Morocco.

After several years at Dinamo Zagreb, his career path took him to Fenerbahçe, where he established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper in the Turkish Süper Lig. In September 2024, he moved on loan to Girona in La Liga to cover for Marc-André ter Stegen’s absence. When ter Stegen returned, Livaković lost his place. He has been back on loan at Dinamo Zagreb since the end of January 2026, with his contract at Fenerbahçe expiring at the end of June 2026. With over 56 international caps, he is Dalić’s first and only choice. The World Cup kicks off immediately after the announcement of his loan deal.

Kotarski is 26 years old, hails from Zabok in the Krapina-Zagorje County, and has had a remarkably well-structured career path through top-flight European football. Having come through the Dinamo Zagreb academy, he moved to Ajax in 2017, progressed through Jong Ajax and made regular appearances in the Eredivisie. After four years at PAOK in Thessaloniki, where he established himself as a key player in the Greek Super League, he moved to FC Copenhagen in July 2025 for €5 million, signed a five-year contract and immediately secured a place in the starting line-up. This season, he featured in Champions League group stage matches against Napoli, Villarreal and Barcelona, proving himself competitive at international level. With just three international caps to his name, he is still a relative newcomer on the international stage, but possesses the qualities of a goalkeeper for the future. Dalić sees him as a clear second choice.

Pandur is 25 years old, was born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is a Croatian international. He progressed through all the Croatian youth national teams before embarking on an unusual club career: from the Internazionale academy via Grasshopper Zurich, Lucerne, St. Gallen and Sheffield United, right up to Hull City, where he has established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper in the Championship since the 2024/25 season. Pandur spoke candidly about his World Cup selection in a BBC interview: he wakes up every day with the World Cup in the back of his mind and knows that results and performance are what count. The fact that he has made it into the squad is the result of precisely this attitude.