Croatia take on the visitors Montenegro in a World Cup 2026 qualification match. The match will be played on Monday, September 8th at Stadion Maksimir (Zagreb).
Croatia are in need of new major success. The “Checkered Ones” reached their peak under Dalic, with back-to-back second and third places at the last two World Cups. However, they collapsed at Euro last summer, failing to hold on to leads against Albania and Italy and as a result not even reaching the knockout rounds. They did manage a respectable Nations League run, finishing second in their group, and in March they even claimed a convincing 2-0 win over France in the first leg before losing the return and being eliminated on penalties. In June, the team produced dominant displays with a 7-0 victory in Gibraltar and a 5-1 win at home against the Czechs. Their latest qualifier brought a narrow win over the Faroe Islands, sealed by a first-half strike from the experienced Kramaric. Croatia have now won four of their last five games, showing attacking efficiency with 16 goals scored in that span. Still, questions remain about their defensive concentration, as they often allow weaker sides to create dangerous moments.
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Montenegro are the only former Yugoslav nation besides newly recognized Kosovo to have never qualified for a major international tournament. In the previous qualification campaign, they had a chance to challenge neighbors Serbia but fell short when it mattered most. Last autumn in the Nations League, they managed only three points in a group with Iceland, Turkey, and Wales, finishing bottom and dropping to a lower division. Their new qualification cycle started with wins in March, though the opposition was modest — Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands. This summer they lost 0-2 in the Czech Republic and were held to a 2-2 draw in a friendly against Armenia. On Friday, they again faced the Czechs and suffered a 0-2 defeat, conceding early and late with little response in between. Montenegro have just one win in their last six matches against non-minnow opposition, highlighting their lack of cutting edge. Defensively, they have also conceded at least twice in four of their last five competitive fixtures.
Interestingly, this will be the very first meeting between these neighbors — they have never faced each other even in a friendly. The stronger side are playing at home, and this looks straightforward. We back the “Checkered Ones” to cover the -1.5 handicap.
Prediction for the match: Croatia to win with -1.5 handicap.
