Preview:Croatia vs Montenegro - prediction, team news, lineups

Croatia will look to maintain their 100% record in 2026 World Cup qualifying when they welcome Montenegro to Zagreb on Monday.

As for the visitors, they will be desperate to return to winning ways after losing back-to-back qualifiers against Czech Republic.

Match preview

Croatia have made an impressive start to their World Cup qualification bid, having won their opening three games by a combined 13-1 scoreline.

They scored 12 of those goals across victories over Gibraltar and Czech Republic, before they returned to action with a narrow 1-0 win in Friday's away clash against the Faroe Islands.

Croatia would have hoped for a bigger margin of victory, but Andrej Kramaric's first-half effort ultimately proved enough to ensure that his team left the Faroe Islands with all three points.

Zlatko Dalic's side may be sitting in second place and three points adrift from the Czech Republic, but with two games in hand over the leaders, they are the favourites to win Group L and secure automatic qualification.

After conceding just one goal in their three qualifiers, Croatia will be looking to produce another strong defensive display in their first meeting with Montenegro.

The Checkered Ones tend to be a tough team to beat on home turf, having gone nearly two years since suffering their most recent home defeat in a European Championship qualifier against Turkey in October 2023.

Montenegro's hopes of reaching their first major tournament as an independent nation seem to be hanging by a thread despite making a positive start to their qualifying campaign.

Robert Prosinecki's charges flew out of the blocks with consecutive home victories against Gibraltar and the Faroe Islands, before they were brought down to earth by a 2-0 away defeat against Czech Republic.

After wrapping June's international window with a friendly draw against Armenia, Montenegro would have had revenge on their mind when they resumed their World Cup qualifying bid with a home meeting with Czech Republic on Friday.

However, Montenegro ultimately fell to another 2-0 loss against Ivan Hasek's side, leaving them in third place in Group L with four games left to play.

Montenegro are three points adrift of Croatia and have played a game more, while they are now six points adrift of leaders Czech Republic following back-to-back qualifying defeats.

Monday's visitors know that getting their campaign back on track with a win will be an almighty task against a team placed in 10th spot in the FIFA World Rankings, especially as they have not won an away game since beating Bulgaria in March 2023.

Croatia World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

W W W

Croatia form (all competitions):

D W L W W W

Montenegro World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

W W L L

Montenegro form (all competitions):

W W L D L

Team News

The hosts will have to assess the fitness of Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol, and Josip Stanisic after the trio sat out the win over the Faroe Islands.

Luka Modric was rested for the narrow victory, but Croatia's all-time record appearance holder should come into the side for Monday's fixture.

Another of Croatia's experienced stars Ivan Perisic is likely to start after coming off the bench to play the majority of the second half on Friday.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Preston North End striker Milutin Osmajic, who withdrew from the squad prior to the recent defeat to Czech Republic.

Osmajic is not the only player unavailable through injury, with Montenegro also having to cope without the services of Igor Nikic, Risto Radunovic and Adam Marusic.

Montenegro's all-time record scorer Stevan Jovetic will continue to lead the line, with the striker looking to add to the 37 goals that he has scored for his country.

Croatia possible starting lineup:

Livakovic; Jakic, Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Sosa; Modric, Sucic; Perisic, Kramaric, Pasalic; Budimir

Montenegro possible starting lineup:

Petkovic; M. Vukcevic, Savic, Vujacic, A. Vukcevic; Jankovic, Bulatovic, Brnovic; Vukotic, Krstovic, Jovetic

We say: Croatia 2-0 Montenegro

Croatia will be heavy favourites to claim a fourth consecutive victory in 2026 World Cup qualifying, and we believe that they will live up to that tag by claiming a relatively comfortable victory against a team that tends to struggle on their travels.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.