Croatia aims to continue their dominant World Cup qualifying campaign as they host Montenegro. With a flawless start and strong home form, Croatia is heavily favored. Montenegro, facing injuries and poor away form, seeks to upset the odds and revive their qualification hopes. The match promises to be a compelling clash of Balkan rivals, with Croatia expected to secure a comfortable victory.
Croatia welcomes Montenegro to Zagreb on Monday evening, aiming to solidify their position in Group L of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Having started their campaign flawlessly, the Croatians are eager to continue their winning streak and demonstrate their dominance on home soil. Meanwhile, Montenegro seeks to rebound from recent setbacks and reignite their qualification hopes in what promises to be a tightly contested Balkan clash.
Croatia's journey in the World Cup qualifiers has been nothing short of impressive. With three wins from three matches, they've showcased both their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. Their aggregate score of 13-1 speaks volumes about their intent and capability. While emphatic victories against Gibraltar and the Czech Republic highlighted their attacking flair, their recent 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands demonstrated their ability to grind out results even when not at their best. Andrej Kramaric's first-half goal secured the points, maintaining their momentum.
Currently positioned second in Group L, Croatia trails the Czech Republic by three points. However, with two games in hand, Zlatko Dalic's squad is well-positioned to claim the top spot and secure automatic qualification. Their defensive record is equally commendable, having conceded just once in three games. This resilience will be crucial as they face Montenegro for the first time in their history. Playing at home adds another layer of advantage for Croatia. Their last defeat on Croatian soil dates back to October 2023, a Euro qualifier against Turkey, underscoring their formidable home form.
However, Croatia faces some uncertainty with the fitness of key players. Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol, and Josip Stanisic all missed the Faroe Islands match due to fitness concerns and will require late checks. On a brighter note, Luka Modric, who was rested in the previous game, is expected to return to the starting lineup, bringing his wealth of experience and playmaking abilities. Ivan Perisic is also in line for a start, having gained valuable minutes off the bench on Friday.
Montenegro's aspirations of reaching a major tournament as an independent nation have encountered turbulence after a promising start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. Initially, Robert Prosinecki's team secured back-to-back home victories against Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands, raising hopes of a successful campaign. However, their momentum was abruptly halted by a 2-0 away defeat to the Czech Republic. A subsequent friendly draw against Armenia did little to lift spirits, and their hopes of redemption against the Czechs on home soil were dashed by another 2-0 loss.
These consecutive defeats have left Montenegro in a precarious position, third in Group L, three points behind Croatia with a game in hand, and six points adrift of the Czech Republic. With only four qualifiers remaining, their margin for error is rapidly diminishing. The challenge ahead is daunting as they prepare to face a Croatian team ranked 10th in the world in Zagreb. Adding to their woes is Montenegro's poor away form; they haven't secured a victory on foreign soil since March 2023, when they defeated Bulgaria.
Their task is further complicated by a string of injuries. Preston forward Milutin Osmajic, along with Igor Nikic, Risto Radunovic, and Adam Marusic, are all sidelined. Consequently, talismanic forward Stevan Jovetic will once again bear the responsibility of leading the attack, aiming to add to his impressive tally of 37 international goals.
Croatia enters this match as the clear favorite, boasting superior quality and a strong home record. Montenegro's struggles away from home and their mounting injury list further compound their challenges. Expect Croatia to control the game, dominate possession, and ultimately secure a comfortable victory, potentially without conceding a goal.
Verdict: Home win to nil
Best odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet