Montenegro vs Gibraltar prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-03-21 17:00.
[p]Two relative minnows of the footballing world lock horns as qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup commences. Montenegro have never reached a major finals since joining FIFA and UEFA as an independent nation back in 2007, and they’re also chasing their first World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) win since October 2021, which came against opponents here Gibraltar (3-0). [/p]
[p]Despite their failure to qualify in the last World Cup cycle, Montenegro produced a decent showing, avoiding defeat in six of their ten matches (W3, D3, L4). Combine that with a 3-1 win over Turkey in their last international outing back in November, then Robert Prosinečki’s men should be in a confident mood, especially as it ended a rotten run of seven successive defeats. [/p]
[p]So often the whipping boys of qualifying, Gibraltar start a fresh cycle still chasing their first-ever WCQ win, and indeed point. They did score in their last WCQ game against Latvia (L 3-1), but that was their first strike on this stage in four matches, while 3+ goals conceded in 14 previous WCQ games highlights how hard the minnows have found the qualification process in the past.[/p]
[p]They will aim to improve that record under new interim boss Scott Wiseman, who is also the Women’s Football Development Manager for the Gibraltar Football Association, having been appointed to this second role with the men’s side after the departure of Julio CĂ©sar Ribas. His new team are undefeated in seven international matches (W2, D5), with their 0-0 draw against Wales back in June, which kicked off that run, the standout result. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Nikola Krstović heads into this clash in ideal form with three goals in his past two club matches with Lecce, while he also grabbed a hattrick in Montenegro’s November win over Turkey. Liam Walker looks likely to be Gibraltar’s biggest goal threat, having scored in each of their past two international matches, though it is worth noting that both came from the penalty spot. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Surprisingly, just one of Gibraltar’s past ten international matches has produced more than two match goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by David H[/i][/p]