Match Preview: Croatia vs Montenegro Clash

The upcoming matchday 6 fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign will see Croatia host Montenegro on September 8th at the iconic Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. This eagerly anticipated encounter presents a compelling narrative, offering insights into team form, statistical analysis, and potential betting opportunities.

Croatia’s Dominant Run

Recent Form and Defensive Strength

Under the guidance of Zlatko Dalić, the Croatian national team secured a hard-fought 1-0 away victory against the Faroe Islands in their last fixture, extending their winning streak to five consecutive matches in the World Cup qualifiers. A notable aspect of their campaign has been their defensive solidity, keeping clean sheets in three of their last four World Cup qualification games. In Group L, Croatia boasts an impressive record of just one goal conceded, marking them as the strongest defensive unit in the quintet. While currently sitting in second place overall, they have two crucial games in hand over current leaders Czech Republic.

Key Statistical Insights for Croatia

• The national team has netted at least two goals in 6 of their last 8 World Cup qualification fixtures.
• At home, the team has triumphed in 9 of their last 11 World Cup qualification clashes, drawing the other two.
• In 12 of their last 13 home matches in this tournament, the Croatians have not conceded more than one goal.

Predicted Croatia Starting XI (3-5-2)*

Dominik Livaković – Borna Sosa, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Marin Pongračić – Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Mario Pašalić, Toni Fruk, Andrej Kramarić – Ante Budimir.

Montenegro’s Qualification Struggles

Consecutive Defeats and Defensive Concerns

Montenegro recently suffered their second consecutive 0-2 defeat to the Czech Republic. Their World Cup qualification journey has been challenging, yielding only two wins from their last seven matches (1 draw, 4 losses). A particular area of concern is their defense, which has conceded at least two goals in five of those encounters. Alarmingly, Montenegro has managed to keep a clean sheet in only one of their last seven World Cup qualifiers. With 6 points, the team currently occupies the 3rd spot in the group.

Key Statistical Insights for Montenegro

• No more than three goals were scored in 7 of Montenegro’s last 9 World Cup qualification matches.
• Away from home, the team has failed to win in 5 of their last 7 World Cup qualification fixtures (1 draw, 4 losses).
• In 6 of their last 7 away games in this tournament, Montenegro conceded the opening goal.

Predicted Montenegro Starting XI (4-4-2)*

Danijel Petković – Igor Vujačić, Stefan Savić, Marko Vukčević, Andrija Vukčević – Andrija Bulatović, Marko Janković, Miloš Brnović, Stevan Jovetić, Milan Vukotić – Nikola Krstović, Stevan Jovetić.

Croatia vs Montenegro Match Prediction

Croatia’s Potent Attack

After a blistering start to their campaign, scoring 12 goals in their first two matches, Zlatko Dalić’s squad was surprisingly limited to a single goal in their most recent outing. Despite this, Croatia unleashed nearly 30 shots on the Faroe Islands’ goal, with only a lack of clinical finishing preventing a more substantial scoreline. Overall, the national team rarely struggles with converting opportunities, having scored at least twice in 6 of their last 8 World Cup qualification matches. This consistent offensive firepower has been key to their steady accumulation of points, contributing to an impressive 11-match unbeaten streak in the tournament, which includes nine victories.

Montenegro’s Defensive Weaknesses

Conversely, Montenegro’s defensive unit has proven to be less reliable. On the road, they have conceded goals in 6 of their last 7 World Cup qualification fixtures, with their only clean sheet coming against Gibraltar. Furthermore, in five of these matches, the Montenegrin defense allowed opponents to find the back of the net at least twice. It’s also worth noting that Montenegro has tasted defeat in 3 of their last 4 away games in this competition, with their solitary away victory being against the aforementioned Gibraltar side.

Expert’s Betting Pick

My refined prediction for this match is: “Croatia to Win and Total Goals Over 1.5”.

Author and Notes

Author: Alexey Tarabrin

*The indicated starting lineup for each team is based on their previous match in this tournament.