Croatia records 50th victory in history of World Cup qualifiers with goal difference +100

In an interesting duel garnished with a turnaround in results, the Croatian national team secured a victory and ended its most successful qualifying campaign in history in great style. The "Vatreni" defeated Montenegro in Podgorica 3-2, concluding the World Cup qualification cycle with 22 out of possible 24 points, which is a success rate of 91.7%.

The Croatians formally secured their spot in the World Cup on Friday with a victory over the Faroe Islands and finished the competition in Group L with six points more than the second-placed Czech Republic, who will have to seek their path to the World Cup through additional qualifiers.

This was also the "round", 50th victory of the "Vatreni" in the history of World Cup qualifiers. Starting with the cycle for the 1998 World Cup in France, Croatia has played a total of 80 matches in the group stage and additional qualifiers, recording 50 wins, 21 draws, and nine losses.

On that journey, they have a goal difference of 155:55, which is +100. This, of course, means that Josko Gvardiol scored the milestone 150th goal of the "Vatreni" in World Cup qualifying cycles in the match against the Faroe Islands on Friday. If we add the final tournaments of the World Cups to this calculation, Croatia is approaching its 200th goal! Currently, they have stopped at 198.

In their first visit to Montenegro, the "Vatreni" played in a somewhat mixed lineup, coach Dalić managed the players' efforts, and with such a lineup, the home team started vigorously and energetically. Croatia threatened first, however, Mario Pašalić crossed from the right in the 2nd minute, Igor Matanović headed from the top of the six-yard box, but the ball flew just above the crossbar.

Immediately afterwards, the net on the other side shook. Duje Ćaleta-Car failed to control the ball in moments when he was seemingly calmly creating an attack for Croatia. The local left winger Milutin Osmajić lurked from the sidelines, swiftly took the ball, broke out on the right side in front of Dominik Livaković and scored into the opposite "small net" from about ten meters away.

The hosts tried again in the 11th minute, Marko Janković took a strong shot from the right, but Livaković managed to deflect the ball.

Montenegrins rushed to a two-goal lead in the 17th minute. Captain Stevan Jovetić surged from the right and played a short pass to Nikola Krstović. The home striker received the ball in the middle, slightly to the right, with his back to the goal, then skillfully maneuvered away from the defenders and scored from 18 meters with a half-turn into the opposite lower corner.

Just three minutes later, Nikola Vlašić had a chance on the other side, he was alone at the top of the six-yard box on the right side, but failed to strike the ball well.

Croatia returned to the game in the 37th minute, Kristijan Jakić ran in from the right into the penalty area. At the same time, the home defender Slobodan Rubežić took both the ball and Jakić with a sliding tackle. The referee, after reviewing the VAR, pointed to the penalty spot which Ivan Perišić converted into a goal, reducing the score to 2:1 in the 37th minute.

The guests threatened right at the start of the second half, Pašalić shot from 18 meters, and goalkeeper Igor Nikić punched the ball.

Krstović played a great parallel pass to Jovetić from the left side in the 51st minute. He sharply aimed from 17 meters towards the goal, but Livaković made a brilliant save by tipping it over for a corner. Just eight minutes later, Krstović attempted to replicate his earlier move for the second goal of the home team. Again, he shot from a similar position, this time slightly to the right from 18 meters, hitting the opposite post.

The equalizing goal came in the 72nd minute, as Pašalić played a short vertical pass into the penalty area, where Petar Musa controlled it and hit the post. Jakić rushed in and placed it into the net.

A complete turnaround in the result was completed in the 87th minute, Josip Stanić sent a long ball from his own half from the right side, young Marko Perović tried to head it to a teammate, but lost his balance in the process, which was exploited by Vlašić, who sprinted towards the goal and launched the ball into the closer corner from the edge of the penalty area for the victory

They were close to equalizing in the second minute of referee's stoppage time, but Livaković saved the points for the "Vatreni" with an amazing reaction. Former Dinamo II player, Milan Vukotić, tried in a crowd from six meters, Livaković was already off balance, but managed to stop the ball with his hand on the goal line while falling.

Podgorica, November 17, 2025.

World Cup Qualifiers, Group L

Montenegro - Croatia 2:3

City Stadium Podgorica

Montenegro: Nikic - Vesovic (78th Shipcic), Tucic, Rubezic (46th Perovic), Marusic - Jankovic (62nd Vukotic), A. Bulatovic (78th Brnovic); Osmajic, Jovetic, Loncar (62nd Adzic) - Krstovic

Coach: Mirko Vucinic

Croatia: Livaković – Jakić, Šutalo, Ćaleta-Car (46. Pongračić), Gvardiol (46. Stanišić) – Mario Pašalić, Moro; Ivanović (55. Kramarić), Vlašić, Perišić (78. Modrić) – Matanović (59. Musa)

Manager: Zlatko Dalić

Referee: Umut Meler (Turkey)

<style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Scorers: 1:0 Osmajić (3rd), 2:0 Krstović (17th), 2:1 Perišić (37th - 11m), 2:2 Jakić (72nd), 2:3 Vlašić (87th)