Before this year, only one Slavic country had reached the World Cup final - Czechoslovakia, which does not exist any longer today after it split into Czech Republic and Slovakia back in 1993.

The Czechoslovaks made it to the final match twice, in 1934 and 1962, but never won the title, losing it to Italy and Brazil respectively.

Now Croaia have already repeated their achievement by reaching the final for the first time ever. Thus, Croatia is the second ever Slavic and the first Balkan nation to go that far at a World Cup - and they still have a chance to lift the thophy!

Does the fact that the tournament is held in Russia, another Slavic country, help the Croats? It is hard to say, but maybe...