Ahead of today's clash between Croatia and Argentina, the Spanish newspaper Marca decided to discuss the small country that produces so many sporting successes.

"It is almost inexplicable how a country with only 3.9 million inhabitants, the smallest in the round of 16 of the World Cup, only 31 years old, is so successful," writes Marca in the text presenting Croatia's sporting successes to its readers. Of the four national teams left in the World Cup in Qatar, France has a population of 67.5 million, Morocco has 37.3 million and Argentina nearly 46 million.

They highlight the two tennis Davis Cups won in this way, two Olympic handball golds, two world golds in water polo, the Olympic successes of Ivica and Janica Kostelić and Blanka Vlašić, and then turn to football and the incredible results.

Of the six times that Croatia has succeeded in getting to the World Cup they have recorded three semi-finals, a bronze from France, a silver from Russia and now they are in hunt of the gold.