Croatia Crush Czech Republic in Race to Qualify for 2026 World Cup (5-1)

In front of a packed Opus Arena in Osijek, Croatia took another vital step toward the 2026 World Cup, winning against Group L leaders the Czech Republic in their second qualifying match.

Lineups

Croatia: Livaković – Stanišić, Šutalo, Ćaleta-Car, Gvardiol – Modrić, P. Sučić – Perišić, Mario Pašalić, Kramarić – Budimir

Czech Republic: Kovar – Zeleny, Krejči, Holeš – Provod, Souček, Sadilek, Coufal – Černy, Šulc, Schick

Match report

From the first whistle, Croatia came out pressing high and creating chances. Just two minutes in, Andrej Kramarić found Ante Budimir with a clever pass, whose header nearly beat Czech keeper Matej Kovar. The ball was miraculously cleared off the line.

The early pressure continued with Joško Gvardiol earning a dangerous free kick in the 5th minute after being brought down near the box. Luka Modrić stepped up moments later with a shot from distance, though it sailed over the crossbar.

In the 11th minute, Croatia thought they had gone ahead when Gvardiol volleyed in a free kick from Modrić, but the goal was disallowed after VAR called it offside.

The Czech side briefly responded with a wave of pressure midway through the half. Patrik Schick forced a solid save from Dominik Livaković in the 22nd minute, followed by a rebound attempt from Černý, which was heroically blocked by Duje Ćaleta-Car.

Despite the surge, Croatia quickly regained control. Modrić orchestrated the midfield and launched a flurry of attacks. There was a blocked shot in the 27th minute, a dangerous setup for Josip Stanišić in the 35th, and a golden opportunity for Budimir in the 40th minute.

The breakthrough finally came in the 42nd minute. After a well-worked build-up that included a perfect ball from Pašalić into the box to find Gvardiol’s head, Kramarić headed the ball past Kovar, giving Croatia a well-deserved 1–0 lead.

The half ended with some controversy as Pašalić went down in the box after a Perišić cross, but the referee waved play on, and no VAR review was initiated.

Croatia unleashed a clinical second-half performance. The visitors briefly leveled the score in the 58th minute, when Tomáš Souček fired home to make it 1–1. The goal came after a period of growing Czech pressure, including near-misses from both Souček and Schick.

But Croatia responded immediately. Just two minutes later, Ante Budimir was fouled in the box, prompting a VAR check and a penalty call. Luka Modrić stepped up and sent Croatia back into the lead at 2–1.

The floodgates opened from there. In the 69th minute, Ivan Perišić extended the lead with a clean finish after a well-placed assist from Kramarić. Moments later, a handball by Holeš handed Croatia another penalty. This time Budimir stepped up to make it 4–1 in the 72nd minute.

In the 75th minute, Modrić dazzled with an assist, slipping the ball to Kramarić who netted his second of the night for 5–1.

The Czech Republic nearly pulled one back in the 80th minute, rattling the crossbar through Šulc’s powerful strike, but Livaković’s fingertips helped steer it away.

In the final minutes of the match, Croatia introduced 17-year-old Luka Vušković, the promising Tottenham center-back, marking his senior debut for the national team.

Croatia comfortably saw out the rest of the half, dominating possession and keeping the Czech attack at bay.

It was a statement win for Zlatko Dalić’s side, who outclassed the group leaders with clinical finishing. The victory gives Croatia a major boost in the race for the 2026 World Cup.