The Montenegro national team hosts Croatia this Monday (17), at 4:45 pm (Brasília time), at the Gradski Stadium, in Podgorica, for the 8th round of Group L of the European Qualifiers for the World Cup. The local time for the match in Podgorica, Montenegro, is 7:45 pm. The clash brings two different realities face to face in the bracket. Croatia, led by coach Zlatko Dalić, has already secured qualification for the World Cup, leading the group with 19 points.
On the other side, the Montenegro team, led by Mirko Vučinić, tries to honor the field command and improve its position, despite being in 4th place with just 9 points, and with no chance of direct classification. The game marks the second meeting between the teams in this edition of the Qualifiers, the last being Croatian dominance. The expectation is for a tactically well-fought clash, even with the visiting team already guaranteed in the next major national team tournament.
Live stream and match details
The match between Montenegro and Croatia will be broadcast exclusively to Brazil on the subscription channel Sportv3. The game, which kicks off at 4:45 pm Brasília time (7:45 pm in Podgorica), will take place at the Gradski Stadion, located in Podgorica, capital of Montenegro. The weather forecast for the time of the clash in the city of Podgorica indicates good weather, with no risk of rain, which promises a field in good condition for both teams.
The main referee of the duel will be Halil Umut Meler, from Türkiye. He will have the assistance of Ibrahim Çaglar Uyarcan and Abdullah Özkara.
- Princ Refereeipal: Halil Umut Meler (Türkiye)
- Assistants: Ibrahim Çaglar Uyarcan and Abdullah Özkara (Türkiye)
- VAR: Fedayi San (Switzerland)
Confirmed rosters and coaches
The teams enter the field with their formations confirmed, seeking their respective objectives in the final stretch of the qualifying tournament. Croatia, despite qualifying, maintains a strong base to preserve the pace of the game, while Montenegro tries to surprise the favorites.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić opted for a formation that balances experience and youth, focusing on defensive solidity and the quality of his midfield. His opponent, Mirko Vučinić, is looking for the best tactical organization to exploit counterattacks and the intensity of the game at home.
- Montenegro (4-4-2): I. Nikić; M. Vešović, M. Tuci, S. Rubežić, A. Marušić; M. Janković, A. Bulatović, S. Lončar, M. Osmajić; N. Krstović, S. Jovetić. Coach: Mirko Vučinić.
- Croatia (4-2-3-1): D. Livaković; K. Jakić, J. Šutalo, D. Ćaleta-Car, J. Gvardiol; N. Moro, M. Pašalić; F. Ivanović, N. Vlašić, I. Perišić; I. Matanović. Coach: Zlatko Dalić.
Recent look back and match history
The recent history between the teams points to clear Croatian dominance, especially in direct confrontations valid for this same competition. The last game, held in September, ended withwith a 4-0 defeat to Croatia, highlighting the technical and tactical difference between the teams.
Montenegro’s last five games in the European Qualifiers show the team’s difficulty in scoring consistently. The team accumulated two wins and three defeats in the period, indicating an unstable trajectory in Group L. The team is trying to rehabilitate itself after the last defeat to the Czech Republic and is looking for a prestigious victory at home.
In turn, Croatia arrives with an almost impeccable performance, registering four wins and a draw in their last five matches of the tournament, demonstrating the consistency that led them to early classification. The Balkan team has the most effective attack in the group, with 20 goals scored so far.
Predictions and analysis for the duel in Podgorica
Expert predictions and betting odds indicate Croatia as the big favorite to win three more points. Technical superiority, experience in decisive games and the team’s current moment all weigh in favor of the Croatians. The most likely score indicated by statistical models suggests a 2-0 or 3-0 victory.
The main bet is on a Croatian victory, but there is a considerable expectation that the match will have more than 2.5 goals, considering Croatia’s high average number of goals in the championship and Montenegro’s defensive fragility. Even though they are classified, Croatia must enter the field with the necessary seriousness to maintain their unbeaten record and consolidate the first position in Group L.
Despite favoritism, Montenegro must exploit the speed of its attack, led by Jovetić and Krstović, to try to surprise in quick transitions. The home factor is the team’s main motivation, as they will try to use the atmosphere at Gradski Stadion to balance the match. Croatia’s defensive solidity, however, which has conceded few goals in the tournament, is a significant obstacle for the Montenegrin attack.
