Croatia face Montenegro on Saturday in the World Cup qualifier round at the Stadion Maksimir. The Checkered Ones head into the match full of confidence after a 1-0 away win over the Faroe Islands, while the Brave Falcons will be looking to get back to winning ways following a 2-0 loss to Czechia.
Croatia will be going up against Montenegro’s solid and determined defence and whoever comes out on top will take a big step forward in the race to qualify for the World Cup.
Read our Croatia vs Montenegro predictions and preview to find out, but remember to also check our other Europe World Cup qualifiers predictions.
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Croatia vs Montenegro prediction: The Blazers to win by a big margin
Key statistics
- Croatia have won their last two qualifying games.
- The Checkered Ones have not conceded in their last two games.
- The Blazers have scored three or more goals in their last two game.
Correct score prediction: Croatia 4-0 Montenegro
Looking ahead to this World Cup qualifier, Croatia appear to have a clear advantage over Montenegro and we have predicted a 4-0 victory for Croatia.
While the head-to-head record between the two nations provides little insight due to the lack of recent meetings, the contrast in form is telling.
The Blazers have consistently displayed a ruthless, clinical edge in front of goal that the Brave Falcons have not been able to match, making a comfortable home win the most likely outcome.
Pre-match odds and win probability: Croatia given easy winning odds
- Home: 2/9 (1.22) – 81.82%
- Draw: 11/2 (6.50) – 15.38%
- Away: 11/1 (12.00) – 8.33%
*Odds provided by Ladbrokes. Subject to change.*
The odds indicate that Croatia are heavy favourite, with decimal odds of 1.22, giving them roughly an 82% chance of winning. A draw is priced at 6.50, which corresponds to about a 15% chance, while Montenegro are clear underdog at 12.00, with just over an 8% chance of victory.
Most recent head-to-head: No previous record
This upcoming game between Zlatko Dalic’s team and Robert Prosinecki’s side does not have any previous meetings because the two countries have not played each other in recent times.
With no head-to-head history to look back on, this match feels like new ground for both sides, and their current form and style of play will be the main clues for what to expect.
After reviewing our key Croatia vs Montenegro predictions, be sure to visit our website for the remaining football betting tips today.
Croatia preview: Three players out
Several players will be unavailable for selection due to injuries. Martin Erlic is sidelined with a calf injury, while Luka Ivanusec is out through injury as well. Mateo Kovacic is recovering from an Achilles tendon problem that has ruled him out and Borna Sosa is unavailable as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Predicted lineup: Livakovic (GK), Gvardiol, Stanisic, Sutalo, Caleta-Car, Modric, Pasalic, Sucic, Kramaric, Perisic & Budimir
Last five fixtures
- 05.09.25 – Faroe Islands 0 – 1 Croatia
- 09.06.25 – Croatia 5 – 1 Czech Republic
- 06.06.25 – Gibraltar 0 – 7 Croatia
- 23.03.25 – France 3 – 0 Croatia
- 20.03.25 – Croatia 2 – 0 France
Montenegro preview: No injury worries
Ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Croatia, Montenegro have received a boost in terms of squad fitness. The team has no injury concerns to report, meaning the manager will have a full squad available for selection, which could prove important in such a challenging and high-stakes fixture.
Predicted lineup: Stanek (GK), Doudera, Holes, Krejci, Zeleny, Soucek, Cerv, Kusej, Sulc, Provod & Schick
Last five fixtures
- 05.09.25 – Montenegro 0 – 2 Czech Republic
- 09.06.25 – Montenegro 2 – 2 Armenia
- 06.06.25 – Kosovo 5 – 2 Armenia
- 23.03.25 – Georgia 6 – 1 Armenia
- 20.03.25 – Armenia 0 – 3 Georgia
Player to watch: Andrej Kramaric
The player to watch for Croatia is forward Andrej Kramaric. His recent form has been exceptional, as he has scored five goals in three qualifying matches for Croatia.
Kramaric was also in action for Croatia against the Faroe Islands and scored the only goal that won the match for his team. His ability to find the back of the net makes him the attacking threat for Croatia and a key player to watch.