Croatia vs Montenegro prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-09-07 18:45.
[p]Croatia look to maintain their perfect record to the halfway stage of World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) as they welcome the faltering Montenegro to Stadion Maksimir.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Direct World Cup qualification is firmly in sight for Croatia, who kicked off the international break with a 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands to maintain their perfect start to this WCQ cycle (W3). Such a blistering start was expected for FIFA’s #10-ranked side as they have finished in the top three of the last two World Cup tournaments, while qualifying for all but one of their seven entries as an independent nation. Despite playing two fewer games than the group leaders, Croatia enter this clash as the highest scorers in the group with over four goals per match on average all whilst conceding only once. [/p]
[p]After losing to group leaders Czech Republic at the beginning of this break, Montenegro’s prospects of qualifying for a first World Cup finals as an independent nation appear to hang by a thread as they enter the second half of their campaign (W2, L2). Led by Croatian boss Robert Prosinečki, Montenegro will know anything short of a surprise victory here could leave them cut adrift of the top two. Playing away is unlikely to quell Montenegrin nerves as they’ve now lost three of their last four WCQ away games without reply and by 2+ goal margins. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be the first encounter between these Slavic nations, although Montenegro’s manager Robert Prosinečki has previously faced his homeland as Azerbaijan’s manager, grinding out a 0-0 draw as outsiders on that occasion. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Croatia haven’t lost a WCQ home game in approximately 12 years (W10, D3). [/p]
[p]Croatia have scored three or more goals in five of their last eight WCQ games. [/p]
[p]Montenegro have conceded in both halves in each of their last four WCQ away defeats. [/p]
[p]Only one of Montenegro’s last 20 internationals ended in a draw (W8, L11). [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Andrej Kramarić continued to be Croatia’s most credible threat as he kept up his 100% scoring record in this WCQ cycle against Faroe Islands with his fifth goal in three games. Recently securing a big-money move to Atalanta, Montenegro’s Nikola Krstović scored two of his last three club goals from the penalty spot and has already scored six times for his nation. [/p]
[p]Mateo Kovačić is Croatia’s most notable absentee through injury, while Montenegro are unable to call upon the in-form Milutin Osmajić here. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Croatia have proven almost foot perfect in this WCQ cycle and given their 13-goal haul across three games, backing Croatia to score over 2.5 goals could prove shrewd play. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]