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UEFA Nations League · League A, Matchday 6

Croatia vs Czechia: Match Preview & Stats

Croatia crest Croatia
vs
Czechia crest Czechia
Opus Arena, Osijek

Our picks

Model predictions are published 48 hours before kick-off

To take in the latest form and rest days, the predictions for this match come out on . (If either team plays another match in between, they come out once that match is over.)

See today's ready predictions →

Match facts

Competition
UEFA Nations League, League A, Matchday 6
Kick-off
Venue
Opus Arena, Osijek
Since last match
Croatia: 3 days (UEFA Nations League) · England (2‑1) Czechia: 3 days (UEFA Nations League) · Spain (0‑2)
Next match
Croatia: not scheduled yet Czechia: not scheduled yet

Last starting XI

Croatia 4-2-3-1

  1. 1 Livaković
  2. 14 Smolčić
  3. 2 Stanišić
  4. 3 Vušković
  5. 4 Gvardiol
  6. 22 Mišić
  7. 8 Kovačić
  8. 17 Sučić
  9. 16 Baturina
  10. 13 Vlašić
  11. 20 Matanović

Coach: Slaven Bilić at England, 1-2 · UEFA Nations League · 12 Nov

Czechia 4-2-3-1

  1. 1 Kovár
  2. 5 Coufal
  3. 6 Zima
  4. 7 Krejcí
  5. 14 Jurásek
  6. 21 Král
  7. 12 Červ
  8. 13 Ambros
  9. 10 Hložek
  10. 17 Provod
  11. 9 Naderi

Coach: Santi Denia vs Spain, 0-2 · UEFA Nations League · 12 Nov

Our predicted line-ups come with our picks, 48 hours before kick-off. Until then: each club's last starting XI.

Injuries and suspensions

Croatia

  • DF Josip ŠutaloInjured · Early December 2026
  • DF Marin PongračićInjured · Late November 2026
  • MF Kristijan JakićInjured · Return unknown
  • MF Luka SučićInjured · Doubtful
  • FW Franjo IvanovićInjured · About 1-2 weeks

Czechia

  • DF Ladislav KrejcíSuspended · Mid November 2026

Players listed as injured, suspended or away with their national team, with their expected return.

Missing Players Impact

Croatia

Moderate impact
Missing attack share 6.0%
Missing minutes share 15.0%
5 players out 2 regular starters out
Key absences:
  • DF Josip Šutalo 1% attack · 6% mins
  • FW Franjo Ivanović 3% attack · 2% mins

Czechia

Moderate impact
Missing attack share 10.0%
Missing minutes share 6.0%
1 player out 1 regular starter out
Key absences:
  • DF Ladislav Krejcí 10% attack · 6% mins

Share of team playing time and attacking output over the last 9 matches accounted for by unavailable players.

Tactical Profile & Play Quality (0–100)

Croatia Czechia
Box & Territory Pressure 36 27
Set-Piece & Corner Threat 35 57
Finishing Efficiency 63 24
Defensive & Goalkeeper Wall 16 24
Underlying Play Power 21 17
Croatia Playing above results (positive regression candidate)
Czechia Playing above results (positive regression candidate)

OptimaGoal 0–100 performance indices built from the last 9 matches before kick-off.

Game-State Scenarios & Goal Timing

Croatia

When scoring first 75% won · 75% unbeaten (8 matches)
When conceding first 33% points rescued · 33% won (6 matches)
1st Half: 40% 2nd Half: 60%
First 15': 0% Last 15' (76-90'): 28%

Czechia

When scoring first 40% won · 80% unbeaten (5 matches)
When conceding first 11% points rescued · 0% won (9 matches)
1st Half: 53% 2nd Half: 47%
First 15': 24% Last 15' (76-90'): 18%

Reaction to scoring or conceding first and goal distribution across the last 15 matches.

Key Attacking Threats

Croatia

  1. 1. FW Ivan Perišić 2G · 3A
    Team attack 14.0% Team shots 9.0%
  2. 2. MF Petar Sučić 2G · 1A
    Team attack 11.0% Team shots 8.0%
  3. 3. MF Mateo Kovačić 0G · 1A
    Team attack 10.0% Team shots 12.0%

Czechia

  1. 1. FW Adam Hložek 0G · 2A
    Team attack 14.0% Team shots 15.0%
  2. 2. DF Vladimír Coufal 0G · 1A
    Team attack 9.0% Team shots 1.0%
  3. 3. MF Michal Sadílek 1G · 0A
    Team attack 9.0% Team shots 12.0%

Top available players by share of team attacking production and shot volume over the last 10 matches.

Croatia Czechia
Over 1.5 goals 9/10 10/10
Over 2.5 goals 9/10 7/10
Over 3.5 goals 3/10 2/10
Both teams scored 8/10 6/10
Clean sheet 1/10 0/10
Failed to score 1/10 4/10
Goals per match (scored / conceded) 1.3 / 2.4 0.9 / 2.0

Last 10 matches, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.

Form guide

Croatia

  • L 1-2 at England (A) UEFA Nations League · 12 Nov
  • L 1-2 vs Spain (H) UEFA Nations League · 6 Oct
  • L 0-7 vs England (H) UEFA Nations League · 3 Oct
  • L 1-4 at Spain (A) UEFA Nations League · 29 Sep
  • W 2-1 at Czechia (A) UEFA Nations League · 26 Sep

Czechia

  • L 0-2 vs Spain (H) UEFA Nations League · 12 Nov
  • L 0-3 at England (A) UEFA Nations League · 6 Oct
  • L 1-3 at Spain (A) UEFA Nations League · 3 Oct
  • L 0-2 vs England (H) UEFA Nations League · 29 Sep
  • L 1-2 vs Croatia (H) UEFA Nations League · 26 Sep

Last five competitive matches before kick-off, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.

When the goals come

ScoredConceded

Croatia

Czechia

Goals in each 15-minute period, UEFA Nations League this season. Stoppage time counts with its half.

Top scorers

Croatia

Player G A
Ivan Perišić 1 2
Dion Drena Beljo 1 0
Luka Modrić 1 0
Marco Pašalić 1 0
Petar Sučić 1 0

Czechia

Player G A
Adam Karabec 1 0
Jirí Sláma 1 0

Goals and assists in the UEFA Nations League this season.

Corners and yellow cards

Croatia Czechia
  • 3.8 Corners won 1.6
  • 5.0 Corners conceded 6.6
  • 1.6 Yellow cards 1.6
  • 1.0 Opponents' yellow cards 1.2

Per match in the UEFA Nations League this season. Average per club and match: 4.5 corners, 1.8 yellow cards.

Attack and defence ratings

CroatiaCzechia
Attack 74 58
Defence 70 51

0 to 100 against this season's UEFA Nations League clubs (100 = best). The rating is our model's long-run strength before this match: it uses the last three years and counts recent matches most, so a few results do not move it at once. Under each rating: this season's actual goals per match.

2018Elo #13 Elo rating 1867Elo #29

Head-to-head

2Croatia wins
3draws
0Czechia wins

5 meetings since 2010, results after 90 minutes.

  • 26 Sep 2026 · UEFA Nations League Czechia 1-2 Croatia
  • 9 Oct 2025 · World Cup Qualification UEFA Czechia 0-0 Croatia
  • 9 Jun 2025 · World Cup Qualification UEFA Croatia 5-1 Czechia
  • 18 Jun 2021 · EURO Croatia 1-1 Czechia
  • 17 Jun 2016 · EURO Czechia 2-2 Croatia

Table

League A - Group 3

#Team PWDLGoalsGDPts
1 Spain 5 500 14:5 +9 15
2 England 5 401 16:4 +12 12
3 Croatia 5 104 5:16 -11 3
4 Czechia 5 005 2:12 -10 0

Our table from the results; the two clubs of this match are highlighted. Full table

More UEFA Nations League matches

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Times are UTC.