Croatia is known for their skill and mastery but after winning three extra time knockout matches in a row to make the final, it proves they are also a physical force.

With Croatia taking on France in Monday’s decider (AEST), here are five keys aspects you should know about their journey to the 2018 World Cup final, courtesy of Croatian journalist Davor Petrovic.

1. The team has finally matured 

Since Euro 2008 when Croatia made the quarter finals many fans believed this team could make history at some point. After all, there are some top football players from Croatia.

But unfortunately, we failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and didn’t make an impact at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup. We also lost to Portugal in the round of 16 at Euro 2016.

If you look at the goals, performances and saves, there is no way to pick out any single names - so there are no heroes.

We can only talk about the team. No less, no more. Just the team.

This is shown by how Croatia has been a goal down in every knockout phase match, but they have been able to came from behind to make it the 2018 World Cup final in Russia.

2. Luka Modric has shown he can be a leader

After Darijo Srna’s retirement a lot of supporters said that Vedran Corluka must be the next captain because of his leadership qualities.

But, Luka Modric was chosen for the role and those same people said he was not fit for the role because of his shy nature but at this World Cup he has showed everyone how wrong they were.  

Some people may hate him as a person because of his testimony at the Zdravko Mamic’s trial, but at the same time they admire him as a fantastic football player.

3. Ivan Rakitic has paid his debts

For the last 10 years Croatians have cursed Ivan Rakitic, saying that his performances for the national team have been considerably weaker than how he has played at club level with Barcelona.

Now, after the two-penalty shot-outs and the win against England he is a nation's hero.

4. Croatians are complete football lunatics 

In Croatia you can get away with a murder during the successful World Cup, especially this one.

A week ago, there was a public poll, asking Croatians what is the most important political event in July? Well over 30 percent of them answered – The World Cup.

And 10 days ago, the government announced they will seriously cut the pension fund and use the money to cover international debts, but most of the people said that they don’t care about it, as long as the national team is alive and kicking at the World Cup.

5. Croatia can win the World Cup

Croatia certainly can win the World Cup.

At this point the team is loaded with self-confidence and due to their age, most of the players know this is their last chance to win something in the Croatian jersey, and it doesn’t get any bigger than the World Cup.

Besides that, the coach Zlatko Dalic is a great psychologist and he knows how to handle the team. He has said that he’s not here to teach them how to play football because they know all about that and added that his main job is to make them believe they can do it. So far, he’s been very successful.

Also look at these statistics of the World Cup since World War II. - 1958. Brazil won its first World Cup - 1978. Argentina won its first World Cup - 1998. France won its first World Cup

As you can see, there’s been someone new to lift the trophy every twenty years

What would it mean to win the World Cup?

At this point Croatia is totally euphoric and if the team wins the World Cup final everyone will go berserk – again.

There will be significant feel good factor in the country, and that’s a good thing, because since we reached third place at the 1998 World Cup Croatians are convinced that their national team is a football superpower.

On the downside, a plane full of Croatian politicians are on their way to Moscow who no doubt will be trying to score a few cheap poliical points on the behalf of the national team’s football success.