Croatia took another confident step toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a strong performance against Gibraltar in Varaždin on Sunday night, winning 3-0.
Following a goalless draw with the Czech Republic on Thursday, Croatia entered the match knowing that a win would keep their fate firmly in their own hands. Coach Zlatko Dalić made several changes to his starting eleven, giving goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski the nod ahead of Dominik Livaković, and refreshing the squad with a few new faces eager to impress.
Photo by Slobodan Kadić
Lineups
Croatia: Kotarski – Marco Pasalic, Pongracic, Erlic, Bradaric – Moro, Kovacic – Majer, Baturina, Fruk – Ivanovic
Gibraltar: Hankins – Annesley, Lopes, Jolley, Ronan – Richards, Bent, Valarino – Scanlon, Perera, De Barr
Match report
From the start, Croatia dictated the tempo, moving the ball fluidly and pinning Gibraltar deep in their own half. Marco Pašalić was the liveliest figure in attack during the opening stages, narrowly missing the target. Lovro Majer attempted an audacious overhead kick that drifted wide, while Toni Fruk forced the Gibraltar keeper into his first save of the evening with a low shot from a difficult angle. Croatia’s pressure intensified, and Majer came close again after capitalizing on a defensive error.
The breakthrough came just past the half-hour mark. Pašalić sent in a superb cross from the right, and Fruk met it perfectly with a header that hit the back of the net, giving Croatia a deserved 1–0 lead. Gibraltar struggled to mount any real threat, while Baturina and Ivanović both came close to doubling the advantage before the break.
Croatia carried their momentum into the second half, with Luka Sučić firing narrowly wide after a clever setup from Baturina. Ivanović twice tested Gibraltar’s defense, first with a header and then with a strike from the edge of the area.
In the 54th minute, Croatia earned a penalty when Fruk was brought down inside the box, but Majer’s shot was saved. Pašalić had another golden opportunity moments later after another defensive lapse, but Gibraltar’s back line held firm.
As the match progressed, Dalić turned to his bench. Joško Gvardiol replaced the injured Pongračić, just before sending on Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić, and Luka Modrić in the 68th minute.
Pašalić came closest to doubling the lead in the 74th minute with a stunning strike from 20 meters, but Hankins once again came to the rescue with an excellent save. Moments earlier, Modrić had picked out Kramarić perfectly, only for the flag to go up for offside.
But the moment finally came in the 78th minute. After a cross from Bradarić caused chaos in the box, Luka Sučić reacted quickly to slot home for 2-0. Pašalić had another chance in the 81st minute, but it went wide of the goal.
In the closing minutes, Croatia continued to press for a third, with Modrić’s attempt blocked. And in the final seconds, Erlić’s header made it 3-0!
Photo by Slobodan Kadić
Croatia’s dominance was clear throughout, and the win keeps Croatia on course for another World Cup appearance. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers continue next month against the Faroe Islands at home and Montenegro away.
