Seven wins in eight games

Major Croatia comeback to complete World Cup qualifying

17.11.2025.

Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS

Zlatko Dalić's men have completed 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying with a victory, despite Montenegro having a two-goal advantage.

MONTENEGRO - CROATIA 2:3 (2:1)
2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group L.
City Stadium, Podgorica.

Referee: U. Meler (Turkiye)

Goals: 1:0 - Osmajić (3'), 2:0 - Krstović (17'), 2:1 - Perišić (37' - 11m), 2:2 - Jakić (73'), 2:3 - Vlašić (87')

Cautions: Mario Pašalić (29'), Lončar (31'), Rubežić (37'), Osmajić (70')

Montenegro: Nikić, Marušić, Rubežić (46' Perović), Tući, Vešović (78' Šipčić), Osmajić, Lončar (62' Adžić), Bulatović (78' Brnović), Janković, Krstović, Jovetić (62' Vukotić). Head coach: M. Vučinić.

Croatia: Livaković, Gvardiol (46' Stanišić), Ćaleta-Car (46' Pongračić), Šutalo, Jakić, Moro, Mario Pašalić, Vlašić, Perišić (78' Modrić), Ivanović (Kramarić 55'), Matanović (59' Musa). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Croatia national football has completed the qualifying campaign in style, topping the Group L with seven wins and a draw, and a six-point advantage over second-placed Czechia.

Tonight in Podgorica, however, Montenegro took an early lead - three minutes gone, and Osmajić found the net. Less than fifteen minutes later, Krstović fired from the edge of the box to make it 2:0.

On 37 minutes, Jakić started the Croatian comeback by winning a penalty kick, that Perišić converted to mark his 150th international cap. In the second half, Jakić also found an equalizer, on the rebound after Musa hit the post, while it was Vlašić who scored the game-winning goal on 87 minutes, with a fierce strike under the bar.

In the other Group L match, Czechia defeated visitors from Gibraltar 6:0.

2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group L:
1. Croatia 22
2. Czechia 16
3. Faroe Islands 12
4. Montenegro 9
5. Gibraltar 0

Copyright by Croatian Football Federation. Quoting text from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to HNS as a source and providing direct link to the original content at hns.family. Re-use of the photographs is not permitted.