In the team’s first appearance at the tournament in France 1998, it stunned the world by finishing third.
It was one of the young nation’s proudest moments.
"Croatia being a very young country, football was the integral part, it was our way of getting across there. What happened at the '98 World Cup was so brilliant it put Croatia on the map," Australian Croatian Mark Jukic says.
Preparations underway for FIFA World Cup
Croatia’s large migrant community in Australia has had a significant influence on this nation’s football fortunes.
That was highlighted when the two nations met at the 2006 World Cup, when nine players on both sides had Australian Croatian backgrounds.
"I always got goosebumps and sang the Australian national anthem proudly, but to have the opportunity to sing the Croatian national anthem as well, I probably didn't sing as loudly as I wanted to, I sort of hummed along to it," recalls then Socceroos Goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.
The local community here will once again be supporting both teams when the World Cup begins in June.
A win against for Croatia against hosts Brazil in the tournament’s opening game is sure to be celebrated with typical Australian Croatian flair.
Click on the video above for the full story.
