Croatia women's national football team

Last updated

Croatia women
Nickname(s) Lavice (The Lionesses)
Association Croatian Football Federation (HNS)
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Nenad Gračan
Captain Doris Bačić
Most caps Iva Landeka (102)
Top scorer Maja Joščak (20)
FIFA code CRO
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First colours
Kit left arm cro22a.png
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Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 59 Decrease2.svg 1 (15 March 2024) [1]
Highest44 (July 2003 – June 2005)
Lowest65 (November 2010; July 2011)
First international
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 3–2 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Ižakovci, Slovenia; 28 October 1993)
Biggest win
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 8–2 Slovenia  Flag of Slovenia.svg
(Kecskemét, Hungary; 27 May 2001)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 10–0 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Bucharest, Romania; 2 October 2004)
Website hns-cff.hr

The Croatia women's national football team represents Croatia in international women's football matches. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Croatia. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours reference two national symbols: the Croatian checkerboard and the country's tricolour. They are colloquially referred to as the Lavice ('Lionesses'). So far, the Lavice have not qualified for any major tournament.

Contents

History

After winning independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, the newly established Croatian Football Federation immediately moved toward creating separate national football teams to represent the country, which included the establishment of the women's team. Three years after the men's team debut, the women's team of Croatia officially marked their international debut, playing against neighbouring Slovenia in a friendly on 28 October 1993, where Croatia lost 2–3 away.

Since its inception, the women's team of Croatia has suffered from the lack of coverage from the increasingly successful men's side. Most of Croatia's female footballers, unlike the male ones, are made up of only amateur or part-timers, and thus they are not adequately trained. As for the result, while the men's team has been largely competitive and qualified for several UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup, the women's team is unable to repeat the same as the men's one, and has a tendency of being finished near bottom or bottom of the qualifications for UEFA Women's Championship and FIFA Women's World Cup.

Team image

Nicknames

The Croatia women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Lavice".[ citation needed ]

Rivalry

Like the men's counterparts, the Croatian women's team also maintained a rivalry with its neighbour Serbia. However, unlike the men's, the women's team of Croatia, long suffered from lack of investment, could not demonstrate its domination against its Serbian arch-rival.

Recent results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Legend

  Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

2023

7 April Friendly Greece  Flag of Greece.svg1–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Athens, Greece
12:00
Report Stadium: Georgios Kamaras Stadium
Referee: Lotta Vuorio (Finland)
10 April Friendly Greece  Flag of Greece.svg2–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Athens, Greece
11:00  UTC+3
Report Soccerball shade.svg42'Stadium: Georgios Kamaras Stadium
22 September Nations League B Gr 2 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–1Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Varaždin, Croatia
20:15
Report
Stadium: Stadion Varteks
Referee: Maria Marotta (Italy)
Assistant referees:
  • Veronica Vettorel (Italy)
  • Giulia Tempestilli (Italy)

Fourth official: Deborah Bianchi (Italy)
26 September Nations League B Gr 2 Slovakia  Flag of Slovakia.svg4–0Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Senec, Slovakia
18:00
Report Stadium: NTC Senec
Referee: Alexandra Collin (France)
Assistant referees:

Fourth official: Emeline Rochebiliere (Italy)
1 December 2023 (2023-12-01) 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–0Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Velika Gorica
18:00 Report Stadium: Stadion Radnik
Attendance: 347
Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria)
5 December 2023 (2023-12-05) 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Romania  Flag of Romania.svg0–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Bucharest
19:00 (20:00 EET) Report Stadium: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf
Referee: Rasa Grigonė (Lithuania)

2024

27 February 2023–24 UEFA Nations League play-offs Norway  Flag of Norway.svg5–0
(8–0 agg.)
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Stavanger
Stadium: Viking Stadion
Referee: Veronika Kovarova (Czech Republic)
Note: Norway won 8–0 on aggregate, and therefore both teams remained in their respective leagues.

Coaching staff

PositionStaff
Head Coach Flag of Croatia.svg Nenad Gračan
Assistant Coach Flag of Croatia.svg Jure Perković
Assistant Coach Flag of Croatia.svg Nenad Glušica
Assistant Coach Flag of Croatia.svg Helena Hercigonja-Moulton
Goalkeeping Coach Flag of Croatia.svg Blaž Bugarin

Source:

Players


Current squad

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11 GK Doris Bačić (1995-02-23) 23 February 1995 (age 29)770 Flag of Italy.svg Napoli
121 GK Ana Filipović (2003-07-04) 4 July 2003 (age 20)00 Flag of Croatia.svg Dinamo Zagreb
231 GK Laura Fiket (2002-06-05) 5 June 2002 (age 21)00 Flag of Croatia.svg Split

42 DF Leonarda Balog (1993-02-05) 5 February 1993 (age 31)651 Flag of Austria.svg St. Pölten
52 DF Kristina Nevrkla (2003-06-17) 17 June 2003 (age 20)884 Flag of Croatia.svg Osijek
32 DF Ana Jelenčić (1994-06-08) 8 June 1994 (age 29)471 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Servette
142 DF Antonia Dulčić (1997-02-04) 4 February 1997 (age 27)240 Flag of Turkey.svg ALG Spor
152 DF Maria Kunštek (1998-11-06) 6 November 1998 (age 25)280 Flag of Croatia.svg Osijek
42 DF Lucia Domazet (2003-06-17) 17 June 2003 (age 20)100 Flag of Croatia.svg Split
212 DF Barbara Živković (2005-02-15) 15 February 2005 (age 19) Flag of Croatia.svg Osijek
132 DF Tea Varćević (2006-04-25) 25 April 2006 (age 17)

223 MF Izabela Lojna (1992-05-11) 11 May 1992 (age 31)8112 Flag of Croatia.svg Osijek
103 MF Anela Lubina (1995-12-18) 18 December 1995 (age 28)432 Flag of Croatia.svg Osijek
73 MF Petra Pezelj (1998-10-28) 28 October 1998 (age 25)412 Flag of Turkey.svg Trabzonspor
63 MF Tea Krznarić (2004-08-09) 9 August 2004 (age 19)140 Flag of Austria.svg LASK
163 MF Ivana Kirilenko (2000-06-21) 21 June 2000 (age 23)80 Flag of Spain.svg Dux Logroño
113 MF Ivana Slipčević (1998-08-23) 23 August 1998 (age 25)110 Flag of Germany.svg FC Ingolstadt 04
3 MF Veronika Terzić (2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 24) Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Sarajevo
23 MF Ružica Krajinović (2002-05-10) 10 May 2002 (age 21)70 Flag of Austria.svg Sturm

94 FW Ivana Rudelić (1992-01-25) 25 January 1992 (age 32)4417 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Basel
174 FW Karla Jedvaj (2000-11-16) 16 November 2000 (age 23)130 Flag of Austria.svg Blau-Weiß Linz
4 FW Andrea Glibo (2002-04-05) 5 April 2002 (age 21) Flag of Austria.svg Sturm
194 FW Paula Vidović (2003-06-16) 16 June 2003 (age 20) Flag of Germany.svg FC Ingolstadt 04

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to a squad in the last 12 months.
This list may be incomplete.
Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
GK Danijela Vidović (2003-06-05) 5 June 2003 (age 20)00 Flag of Croatia.svg Rijeka Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia, 26 September 2023

DF Janja Čanjevac (1999-08-08) 8 August 1999 (age 24)90 Flag of Croatia.svg Hajduk Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia, 26 September 2023

MF Mia Došen (2003-09-25) 25 September 2003 (age 20) Flag of the United States.svg Parkside Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia, 26 September 2023
MF Helena Spajić (2000-02-08) 8 February 2000 (age 24)250 Flag of Croatia.svg Dinamo Zagreb Flag of Finland.svg  Finland, 31 October 2023
MF Fatjesa Gegollaj (2001-11-05) 5 November 2001 (age 22) Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ula Flag of Finland.svg  Finland, 31 October 2023
MF Ella Ljuština (2002-05-10) 10 May 2002 (age 21)111 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Zürich Flag of Romania.svg  Romania, 5 December 2023
MF Antea Batarilo (2005-10-02) 2 October 2005 (age 18)Flag of Romania.svg  Romania, 5 December 2023

FW Selma Kajdić (1996-05-03) 3 May 1996 (age 27)20 Flag of Austria.svg Dornbirn Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia, 26 September 2023
FW Jelena Đorđić (2002-01-27) 27 January 2002 (age 22) Flag of Austria.svg First Vienna Flag of Romania.svg  Romania, 5 December 2023
FW Nika Petarić (2002-06-02) 2 June 2002 (age 21)20 Flag of Croatia.svg Dinamo Zagreb Flag of Romania.svg  Romania, 5 December 2023

Competitive record

 Champions  
 Runners-up  
 Third place  
 Fourth place  
  Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGASquadPosPldWDLGFGA
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 1991 Part of Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
Flag of Sweden.svg 1995 Did not enter
Flag of the United States.svg 1999
Flag of the United States.svg 2003 Did not qualify 2/5 84131611
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2007 2/4 63031111
Flag of Germany.svg 2011 6/6 10028427
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2015 4/6 10226720
Flag of France.svg 2019 5/5 8035520
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Flag of New Zealand.svg 2023 4/6 10316618
2027 To be determinedTo be determined
Total0/90/6521293149107

Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out; correct as of 6 September 2022 after the match against Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania.

Matches
First match
Biggest win
Biggest defeat

UEFA Women's Championship

UEFA Women's Championship recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGASquadPosPldWDLGFGA
Flag of Italy.svg 1969 Part of Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
Flag of Italy.svg 1979
Flag of Denmark.svg Flag of England.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of Sweden.svg 1984
Flag of Norway.svg 1987
Flag of Germany.svg 1989
Flag of Denmark.svg 1991
Flag of Italy.svg 1993 Did not enter
Flag of England.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Norway.svg Flag of Sweden.svg 1995 Did not qualify 2/4 6312818
Flag of Norway.svg Flag of Sweden.svg 1997 4/4 8017223
Flag of Germany.svg 2001 4/4 6105719
Flag of England.svg 2005 3/5 84131722
Flag of Finland.svg 2009 3/4 320196
Flag of Sweden.svg 2013 5/5 8017626
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2017 4/5 8215815
Flag of England.svg 2022 4/5 8215719
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 2025 To be determinedTo be determined
Total0/150/8551463564148

Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out; correct as of 23 February 2021 after the match against Flag of Romania.svg  Romania.

Matches
First match
Biggest win
Biggest defeat

UEFA Women's Nations League

UEFA Women's Nations LeagueFinals record
SeasonLGGPPosPldWDLGFGAP/RRKYearRoundPldWDLGFGASquad
2023–24 B 2 2nd6303510Steady3.svg23rd 2024 Did not qualify
Total6303510Total0/1000000

Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks; correct as of 5 December 2023 after the match against Flag of Romania.svg  Romania.

Matches
First matchFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 2–1 Romania  Flag of Romania.svg
(Varaždin, Croatia; 22 September 2023)
Biggest winFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 2–0 Slovakia  Flag of Slovakia.svg
(Velika Gorica, Croatia; 1 December 2023)
Biggest defeatFlag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 4–0 Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg
(Senec, Slovakia; 26 September 2023)

Individual statistics

As of 5 December 2023

Most capped players

Iva Landeka has played 102 matches for Croatia, making her most capped Croatian player 2014-10-11 - Fussball 1. Bundesliga - FF USV Jena vs. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Iva Landeka - IMG 4270 LRc by Stepro.jpg
Iva Landeka has played 102 matches for Croatia, making her most capped Croatian player
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer
1 Iva Landeka 102142006–2022
2 Sandra Žigić 94102005–2019
3 Kristina Nevrkla 8742008–
4 Izabela Lojna 82122010–
5 Maja Joščak 77202006–2019
Doris Bačić 02011–
7 Leonarda Balog 6812009–
8 Kristina Šundov 5982003–2020
9 Violeta Baban 5882002–2016
10 Ana Jelenčić 4712011–

Top goalscorers

With 20 goals, Maja Joscak is the top goalscorer for the Croatia's women's national football team Maja Joscak 2012 (cropped).jpg
With 20 goals, Maja Joščak is the top goalscorer for the Croatia's women's national football team
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1 Maja Joščak 20770.262006–2019
2 Ivana Rudelić 18460.382015–
3 Katarina Kolar 16400.42006–2014
4 Iva Landeka 141020.142006–2022
5 Marina Koljenik 13350.371994–2007
6 Ljiljana Jakšić 12220.551995–2005
Izabela Lojna 810.152010–
8 Sandra Žigić 10940.112005–2019
9 Violeta Baban 8580.142003–2020
Kristina Šundov 590.142002–2016

See also

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References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. Nakon fantastičnog uspjeha, osvojenog drugog mjesta u skupini Lige nacija, hrvatska ženska reprezentacija igrat će protiv Norveške za plasman u elitnu Ligu A: izbornik Nenad Gračan objavio je popis igračica za ove povijesne dvoboje! Prva utakmica na rasporedu je 23. veljače na prekrasnoj osječkoj Opus Areni, a ulaz je za sve navijače besplatan! 🇭🇷🇳🇴