It was in 1992 when the Croatian National Football Team was officially admitted to FIFA. Two years before Croatia obtained the independence from Yugoslavia and in the same year, they started to establish national team.
Yugoslavia National Football Team reached the final of European Cup twice in the 60s and also obtained a third place in the first World Cup in 1930. 
Since the dissolution, Croatia has been the best national football team of the ex-Yugoslavia.

In 1990 Croatia invited in Zagreb the USA national team to play a first unofficial match won by the hosts 2-1. Then in the 90s the croatian team will start to participate to the most important tournaments.
At the 1966 European Championships Croatia beat the reigning champions, Denmark, before reaching the quarter-finals against Germany and going out of their first participation.
Two years later the Croatian team was the surprise of the 1998 World Cup in France. Having in the squad players like Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinečki and Aljosa Asanovic, the Croatian side was in the stage group alonGside Argentina, Jamaica and Japan. Scoring in the 3-1 against Jamaica, Prosinecki became the first player to score in the World Cup for two different countries (Croatia and Yugoslavia). With a win against Japan and 1-0 lost against Argentina Croatia qualified for the round of 16. There Croatia defeated Romania thank to a goal by Suker, and reached the quarter-finals against Germany.

The game was a chance to avenge the 1996 European Cup quarter-finals. The Germans played the entire second half with a man less, due to a red card, and Croatia won 3-0. Revenge accomplished.
In the semi-finals against France (hosts of the competition) Suker scored right at the beginning of the second-half. One minute later France scored the goal for the draw and after fifteen minutes the winning goal.
By the way, at their first participation at the World Cup, Croatia, won 2-1 the third-place final against Holland. It's still the best international result for Croatia. 
Šuker scored in each game (6), being the top scorer of the competition. He was an incredible striker, maybe the best finisher in Europe between 1996 and 1998.

Then Croatia will reach the European Cup quarter-finals in 2008, losing against Turkey.

Twenty years after their first World Cup participation, Retrofootball® launches the retro shirt of the first Croatian national football team in 1990.

Buy the first retro shirt of Croatia national football team