Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Gibraltar
Match Time & Date:
06/06/2025
20:45
Prediction: 0-3
Croatia
Gibraltar and Croatia go head to head at Estadio Algarve in a David-vs-Goliath clash. Gibraltar made a slow start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, losing to both Montenegro and Czech Republic in the first two group games and they face yet another uphill task against Croatia. Bernando Lopes continues to miss out with injury for the home side.
Zlatko Dalic’s men, on the other hand, are determined to kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign in style. As over the years Croatia have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in European football, anything but a routine away win would be a big surprise. The likes of Luka Modric, Josko Guardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, and Ivan Perisic are the most notable players in the Croatian squad. When the two national teams met in a friendly back in 2015, Croatia recorded a routine 4-0 win over Gibraltar.
Highlighted Player (Mateo Kovacic):
Born to Croatian parents in Linz, Austria, Mateo Kovacic spent seven years in the LASK Linz youth academy before joining Dinamo Zagreb, where he showed a great deal of potential shortly after being promoted to the senior squad.
The good return of 7 goals in 43 league appearances saw him secure a high-profile move to Inter Milan, where he acted as both holding midfielder and attacking midfielder, during the three years at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. And despite not exactly impressing in Italy, Kovacic was purchased by mighty Real Madrid, where he has been ever since. The youngster is widely regarded as one of Croatia’s most talented footballers at the moment and he has represented the country on international stage since the age of 19.
In just three years he managed to make over 25 appearances for the national team, playing at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 finals for Vatreni. Kovavic has yet to be given a real chance to impress at Real Madrid, but he has entire future ahead of him.
Highlighted Team (Croatia):
While the national football team of Croatia also played international matches between 1940 and 1944, they only resumed their duties in 1990 after the country gained independence from Yugoslavia. Vatreni enjoyed a remarkable start on the international stage, winning the third place on their first ever World Cup appearance in France in 1998, while crashing out in the group stage at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 tournaments.
Croatia also reached the quarter-finals at the 1996 and 2008 European Championships, proving they are rightly considered one of Europe’s top sides at the start of the 21st century. Long-serving captain Darijo Srna is their most capped player with over 130 appearances for the national team, whereas former Real Madrid striker Davor Suker is one of their most famous players and top scorer with 45 goals.
Other notable footballers to have played for Croatia include Luka Modric, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic. Miroslav Blazevic and Slaven Bilic are the coaches that have been behind team’s biggest success stories up to date.
Spain
France
Ecuador
Brazil
Chile
Argentina
Norway
Italy
Colombia
Peru
Bosnia Herzegovina
San Marino
